Jesus Comes Among Us(25th Sept. 2011)

I. Recap of Past SessionsII. IntroductionIII. Prophecies On the MessiahIV. The Meaning of the

IncarnationV. Other Expressions of the

Incarnation in the BibleVI. Why the Incarnation?

Recap, Revisit, Recollect….

1. Introduction to the Bible(21st August 2011)God’s Word (Promise), Will (Purpose), Way

2. God’s Plan for us begins with Creation (28th August 2011)Genesis, Good, Godliness (in His image & likeness

3. God’s Gift - our rejection (4th September 2011)Revelation, Rejection (Sin), Redemption (Salvation)

4. God’s Plan Unfolds in the Old Testament (11th Sept 2011)Creation, Covenant, Commandments, Chosen People

5. Priests, Judges, Kings and Prophets Prepare the Way (18th Sept 2011)•Sacrifice (Priests), •Selected Leaders (6 Local Judges), •Strong Leaders (Kings) •Spokesmen of God (Prophets)

6. Jesus Comes Among Us(25th September 2011)

JESUS COMES AMONG US

The incarnation of Jesus Christ,the Saviour, Messiah, andRedeemer.

The Old Testament: The tumultuous journey of the

“Chosen People”; God’s continuing faithfulness

to the Covenant, remaining in their midst

all the time; God’s promise of the Messiah.

THE PREDICTIONS OF THE INCARNATION

IN THE OT

1. The Place of the Incarnation: Bethlehem in Judah.

3. The Lineage of the Incarnation: The Line of David.

2. The Manner of the Incarnation: A Virgin Birth.

GENESIS 3:15““I will put enmity between you and the woman, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will and between your offspring and hers; He will

strike at your head, while you strike at his heel." strike at your head, while you strike at his heel."

700 YEARS BEFORE HE WAS BORN

““Therefore the Lord Himself will give Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. The Virgin Herself will be you a sign. The Virgin Herself will be with a Child and give birth to a Son with a Child and give birth to a Son

and will call Him Immanuel." and will call Him Immanuel."

Isaiah 7:14Isaiah 7:14

““Immanuel” meansImmanuel” means “ “God with Us !”God with Us !”

Where will He be born?Where will He be born?• But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be

among the clans of Judah, From you shall come among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God; And they shall remain, for now his LORD, his God; And they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace.shall be peace.

Micah 5: 1 -4Micah 5: 1 -4

How will He appear on earth?How will He appear on earth?

• He will be divinely conceived and born of a virgin mother (Isa 7:14).

• He will be adored by the Magi (Isa 60:3,6). • He will be linked to the family of Jesse (Isa 11:1). • He will be a Galilean (Isa 9:1).• He will perform miracles such as giving sight to the

blind, speech to the dumb, and strength to the lame (Isa 35:5,6, 42:7).

Eternity into Time

Divinity into Humanity

What will the Messiah be like? What will the Messiah be like?

• He will be kingly (Isa 9:6-7, 32:1-3, 42:1-4). He will be kingly (Isa 9:6-7, 32:1-3, 42:1-4). • He will have wisdom, understanding, power, and He will have wisdom, understanding, power, and

knowledge (Isa 11:2). knowledge (Isa 11:2). • He will come to those who repent of their sins (Isa He will come to those who repent of their sins (Isa

59:20).59:20).• He will be preceded by a messenger (Isa 40:3). He will be preceded by a messenger (Isa 40:3). • He will be born as a child (Isa 9:6). He will be born as a child (Isa 9:6).

What did the other great religious What did the other great religious teachers and reformers say?teachers and reformers say?

Others: “I will help you attain undying life”

Others : “I will point out the way”

Jesus – “I am the way”

Others: I will tell you how to possess truth or how to discover light”

Jesus – “ I am the light of the world”

Jesus – “I am the life”

All claimed to be signposts pointing towards All claimed to be signposts pointing towards Heaven Heaven

Christ : I am the life and the resurrectionChrist : I am the life and the resurrection

Socrates : “Wait for another”Socrates : “Wait for another”

Jesus : “I am here”Jesus : “I am here”

Buddha refused to be the lamp to guide the poor Buddha refused to be the lamp to guide the poor dying Ananda, dying Ananda,

Christ: I am the light of the world”Christ: I am the light of the world”

Confucius refused to see himself as the Confucius refused to see himself as the personification of his ideal sinlessness,personification of his ideal sinlessness,

Where do they point to?Where do they point to?

Jesus pointed to himselfJesus pointed to himself

Socrates: “to wait for some greater teacher who would Socrates: “to wait for some greater teacher who would tell us how we were to conduct ourselves before God”tell us how we were to conduct ourselves before God”

Buddha – “Be a lamp unto yourself and a refuge unto Buddha – “Be a lamp unto yourself and a refuge unto yourself”yourself”

Confucius- the great reformer of the orient- repeated Confucius- the great reformer of the orient- repeated disclaimed “ How dare I?” rank myself with the sage disclaimed “ How dare I?” rank myself with the sage and the man of perfect virtueand the man of perfect virtue

They all point to an ideal outside themselves.They all point to an ideal outside themselves.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM?WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM?• He will be rejected by His people (Isa 6:9-10, 8:14, He will be rejected by His people (Isa 6:9-10, 8:14,

29:13) and by all nations and peoples (Isa 53:1,3, 29:13) and by all nations and peoples (Isa 53:1,3, 65:2).65:2).

• He will be persecuted (Isa 49:7). He will be persecuted (Isa 49:7). • He will be insulted and beaten (Isa 50:6). He will be insulted and beaten (Isa 50:6). • He will be silent when accused (Isa 53:7). He will be silent when accused (Isa 53:7). • He will be crucified with sinners (Isa 53:12), and He will be crucified with sinners (Isa 53:12), and

buried with the wealthy (Isa 53:9).buried with the wealthy (Isa 53:9).

A Man who fulfilled 109 major prophesies !

WHO IS THIS MAN?• He walked the talk - performed miracles & raised

the dead• Others walked and talked• He proclaimed to be God• Others proclaimed wisdom from God• He forgives sins• Others sought forgiveness• He suffered, died, resurrected and ascended into

Heaven• Others died .

THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM !THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM !

• "O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears” 1 Chronicles 27:1

• “There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might.” Jeremiah 10:6

The Meaning of the Incarnation1. The Definition of the

Incarnation:The word incarnation simply

means, "in flesh." Although the word incarnation

does not appear in the Scripture, Its components

"in" and "flesh" do.

The Apostle John wrote that the Word became flesh in John 1:14

(1 John 4:2 and 2 John 7.

The word incarnation denotes the act whereby

the eternal Son of God took upon Himself an additional

nature, humanity, through the virgin birth.

The result is that Christ remains forever unblemished deity,

which He has had from eternity past; but He also possesses

true, sinless humanity in one person forever,

the God-Man Christ Jesus (cf. John 1:14; Philippians 2:7-8).

THE NEW TESTAMENT:

The Messiah comes! Christ comes among us!

An overview of the 4 Gospels – written from the perspective of someone who has encountered

the Risen Christ! Focused on his humanity, showing us the face of God

The Incarnation

1. When Mary pronounced her Fiat or YES

– the eternal Word of God was made flesh! (Jn. 1:14);

2. The Son of God assumed our human nature to be fully Man,

one of us. “…but making himself nothing, taking the very nature of a

servant, being made in human likeness..” (Ph. 2:7);

•God is with us, the Immanuel, like us in all things

except sin (Heb: 4:15).

3. The name of “Jesus”, another form of “Joshua”

which means “Yahweh gives Salvation”.

Christ means “the Anointed One”)

V. OTHER EXPRESSIONS USED TO SPEAK OF

CHRIST'S INCARNATION:

•John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,

and we beheld His glory,glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."•John 3:13, "And no one has

ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven,{even} the Son of Man.”

•John 3:17, "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the

world should be saved through Him.“

•John 6:51, "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven...”

Romans 1:3, "concerning His Son, who was born of a

descendant of David according to the flesh." (KJV -

made of the seed of David)

Galatians 4:4, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son,

born of a woman..."

1 Timothy 1:15. "It is a trustworthy statement,

deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came

into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost {of all.}”

1 Timothy 3:16, "And by common confession great is

the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh,

Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels, Proclaimed

among the nations, Believed on in the world,

Taken up in glory.”

Hebrews 2:9, "But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than theangels, {namely,} Jesus..."Hebrews 2:14, "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same..."Hebrews 2:17, "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

VI. WHY THE INCARNATION?

THE PURPOSES OF THE INCARNATIONWhy did God send us His Son? What are the purposes for the incarnation?

1. To Fulfill the promises of GodRomans 15:8, "For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision onbehalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers."

2. To Reveal God directly to mankindJohn 1:18, "No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."

3. To Provide an effective sacrifice for sin 1 John 3:5, "And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin."

4. To Provide an example for our lives1 Peter 2:21, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps."

1 John 2:6, "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."

5. To Function as the ultimate High PriestHeb. 2:17-18, "Therefore, He ad to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in tings pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."6. To Subjugate all to Himself1 Corinthians 15:25, "For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under Hisfeet." (Cf. Ephesians 1:9-10)

Summary•So that we might know God’s love;•So that we might learn to live with

Jesus Christ as our model;•So that we might long for the eternal life with Jesus

•So that we might be reconciled with the Father.

THE BIRTH NARRATIVESRead Luke Chapter 1 & 2

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