A Story of IntrigueSurrounding

the Birth of the King

John 3:16, John 3:16For God so loved the world that He

Gave His only begotten SonThat whosoever believeth in Him

Should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Purpose of that

Holy Night

On the night Christ was bornJust before break of morn,As the stars in the sky were fading,O'er the place where He lay,Fell a shadow cold and grayOf a cross that would humble a King.

Born to Die

Born to die upon Calv'ry,Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;Born to die upon Calv'ry,He was wounded that I might live.

Born to Die

Jesus knew when He cameHe would suffer in shame,He could feel ev'ry pain and sorrow.But He left Paradise,With His blood He paid the price -My redemption to Jesus I owe.

Born to Die

Born to die upon Calv'ry,Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;Born to die upon Calv'ry,He was wounded that I might live.

Born to Die

Still, Still, Still

Still, still, still: The night is calm and still.

The Christ child in his crib lies sleeping, Angels round him watch are keeping. Still, still, still: The night is calm and

still.

Still, Still, Still

Sleep, sleep, sleep: Sweet Jesus, softly sleep,

While Mary sings and gently holds you, Safely in her arms enfolds you.

Sleep, sleep, sleep: Sweet Jesus, softly sleep.

Still, Still, Still

Joy, joy, joy; Glad tidings of great joy!

For through God’s holy incarnation,Christ is born for our salvation.

Joy, joy, joy! Glad tidings of great joy.

The Intrigue

of Revelati

on

1. Betrothal2. Mary’s missing3. News!4. Night musings5. Angelic

Revelation

– “Jesus”– after 400 yrs!

The Intrigue

of Revelati

onThe Glory of God’s Revelation –

Transforms our darkest nights

into our most brilliant blessings

The Intrigue

of Politics

1. Herod the KingIdumean (Edomite)Building projects–Temple, CaesareaAllied by marriage w/ Sadducees

(religious aristocracy)

The Intrigue

of Politics

1. Herod the King2. Wise men from East3. “King of the Jews”4. “Troubled!”5. Gifts

Gold – KingFrankincense –

PriestMyrrh – Death!

– Bethlehem

– saw His Star

– came

– Born king

The Intrigue

of PoliticsThe God

who governs the universemakes even kings

to serve His purposes

The Intrigue of Power1. Another Dream

2. “Herod the Great”Ruthless – won favor militarilyDeposed of his wife & several sons“Better to be his dog than his son”

The Intrigue of Power1. Another Dream

2. “Herod the Great” - about to…

3. “Tricked (i.e., mocked) . . . furious”

4. Sent & killed all male children

5. By night, departed to Egypt

The Intrigue of Power

True “greatness” – Born to die for others, but first to die to self

and live to God

The Intrigue of Power

This life wasn’t to be taken,but given.

The Intrigue

of Profanity

1. The carpenter’s dreams3rd & 4th timesGod spoke as many times to Joseph as He had to all others combined

– Zechariah– Mary– Simeon– Shepherds

all “nobodies”

The Intrigue

of Profanity

1. The carpenter’s dreams2. Return to Israel3. Withdrew to Galilee4. A city called Nazareth

Can anything good come from Nazareth?“No beauty that we should desire him”

The Intrigue

of ProfanityGod specializes in

choosing & using those who are otherwise quite

ordinary, or even rejected.

The Intrigue

of Profanity

Come to him, a living stone rejected by men,

but in the sight of God chosen and precious

– 1 Pet 2:4

The Intrigue

of ProfanityAnd whoever believes in Him

will not be put to shame– 1 Peter 2:6

But, the greatest

intrigue of this story remains…

God so loved the world that HeGave His only begotten Son

That whosoever believeth in HimShould not perish, but have

everlasting life.

But, the greatest

intrigue of this story remains…“I came that they may have

life and have it abundantly.”

But, the greatest

intrigue of this story remains…“For He shall save His people from their sins.”