BEFORE REVELATION

  
BEFORE REVELATION

Today, we are on the eve of celebrating one of the greatest revelations that ever happened on earth - the revealing of God in human flesh...we know His name to be JESUS CHRIST, or, EMMANUEL: God with us!

Note the following verses:

Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Introduction:
Amazing, amen?! Now, let's consider three "before birth" truths about Mary and Joseph before baby Jesus was revealed. 

I. There was obedience before revelation.

Mary Obeyed: 

Luke 1:38 "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."

Joseph Obeyed:

Matthew 1:24-25 "Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."

Before Mary and Joseph Obeyed, Jesus Obeyed:

Psalm 40:6-8 "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."

Hebrews 10:5-10 "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Philippians 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Our service to God is founded on obedience to the Lord's command, so..."Serve, because that's just what servants do." Pastor James Schneider (Sunday School - 12.24.17)


II. There was love before revelation.

Mary loved her child within...any mother who has carried her own child can relate to this.

Joseph loved Mary and the Holy Child, and therefore he dedicated his life to taking care of them in obedience to the Lord's command!

God loved us before Christ was revealed to man!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

III. There was pain before revelation.

The pain of Mary giving birth. The pain of Joseph feeling so helpless in the presence of this birth. We will have many pains in this earth before the revelation of Jesus Christ, but it will be worth it all!

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

In the presence of PAIN there was so much PEACE because of the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Conclusion:
We never have and never will see the revealed Saviour as a little baby. We have never witnessed the life of Christ when He walked on this earth, but, one day, we shall behold Christ as He IS - the glorified risen Saviour, "...but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2b

Before this revelation of Christ to us, let's allow the Celebration of remembering His birth bring about a life of loyalty to God through obedience, love and pain, because HE is worthy!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!
Blessed Beyond Measure,
Pastor Justyn Smith - CrossroadsPeoria.com