1.
Our invisible God made
Himself visible to His people
"He is the image
of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by
Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers. All things were created through
Him and for Him." Colossians 1:15-16
"...hidden in God
who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the
intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known
by the church to the principalities and powers in the
heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He
accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." Eph 3:9-11
2. Revelation to a select few.
Only some lowly shepherds saw the
angels and heard the message. Where there other shepherds in the
field who were not privileged to see and hear? Probably. And no one
else in Bethlehem (which was crowded because of the census ordered
by ) were invited to the heavenly feast.
"Now there were in
the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping
watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the
Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, fand they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to
them, '
Do not be
afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy
hwhich will be to all people. For there is born to you
this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a
Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
"And suddenly there
was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God
and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:8-14
A large army of God's
victorious angels were made visible to Elisha and his servant in Old
Testament days. God opened their eyes, and they saw what no one else
could see:
Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he
consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such
and such a place.” And the man of God [Elisha] sent to the king
of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for
the Syrians are coming down there.” Then the king of Israel
sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him.
Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or
twice.
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was
greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and
said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king
of Israel?”
And one of his servants
said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in
Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in
your bedroom.”
So he said, “Go and see
where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him,
saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” Therefore he [the Syrian
king] sent horses and chariots and a great army there,
and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when
the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there
was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And
his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
So he [Elisha]
answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are
more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and
said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”
Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.
And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of
fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:8-17
3. The birth of Jesus
is central to the timeless drama of human history and God's
unfolding, eternal plan.
"...another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red
dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven
diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of
heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood
before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her
Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child
who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her
Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled
into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that
they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty
days." Revelation 12:3-6
To understand the
dragon's assault and the mortal danger to Jesus, ponder the next
passage. Remember, Herod was an intensely paranoid, brutal and
murderous ruler. Fearing competition and rebellion from his family
as well as court, he assassinated several wives and many of his
sons.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the
Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to
worship Him.”
When Herod the king heard this,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is
written by the prophet:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least
among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will
shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men,
determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent
them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the
young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to
me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
When they heard the king, they
departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young
Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house,
they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and
worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they
presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Then, being divinely warned
in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they
departed for their own country another way." Matthew 2:1-12
More will be
added.
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