Choices
Luke 2:1-7
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ” (Luke 2:1–7, NIV)
He Chose the Manager
· He Chose His Family
o The Jewish People
§ Unfaithful, Unproductive
o The Lineage
§ 4 unfaithful kings, 3 prostitutes, 2 illegitimate sons
§ Several Gentiles also
o Joseph
§ Only mentioned a few times but one of the bright lights
§ Righteous but kind and caring
§ Obedient
o Mary
§ An Uneducated Child
Why such a family? Because of you… To illustrate that you too, through God’s Grace and unfathomable love, can be part of His family!
· He Chose the Time
o A time of Oppression
§ External Oppression from the Romans
§ Internal Oppression from a cruel king
o A time of Chaos
§ Forced uprooting from home and life
§ Material, emotional, financial hardship
Why? To me it illustrates the willingness of Jesus to come into our lives in the worst of times
· He Chose the Place
o Bethlehem
§ Not the capitol, just a little town on a hill like so many little towns
o The Stable
§ An unclean place tucked back out of the way.
o The Manger
§ A hard place
Jesus come and commune with me? Live in my heart? Why would he choose me?
I am not important or clean and I can be very hard… Like a hard manger in the dirty stable in the backwater town of Bethlehem!
He Chose the Cross
· He Could Have Stayed
o Genesis
· He Could Have Strayed
o Temptation in the Wilderness
§ “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” ” (Matthew 4:8–10, NIV)
· He Could Have Stopped
o “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ” (Matthew 26:53, NIV)
He Chose You