Luke chapter 2 and look at verse 17 the Bible reads and when they had seen it
they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child so
the title of this morning is they made known abroad they made known
abroad we'll see this theme play out in this chapter that as soon as
people see of Christ or hear of Christ they make known abroad that Christ has
come okay they we see from the very beginning since the birth of Christ
people are teaching of Christ people are pointed to Christ and as we like to
term it people were soul winning okay people were showing people the Lord
Jesus Christ even from his birth okay let's pick it up from verse number one
Luke chapter 2 verse 1 and it came to pass in those days that there went out
a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed so we see
here from the Caesar from the Roman Empire it will see soon that
everybody had to return back to their place of birth where they were raised
up and be registered to be taxed I mean this taxation is actually
recorded in secular history okay it's quite a quite a known event that
everybody had to go back to their place of birth and register to be to be
taxed okay they didn't have the internet back then they had to go back
to the to the public office and register themselves to be taxed look at
verse number two and this tax taxing was first made when Cyrenus was
governor of Syria and all went to be taxed everyone into his own city okay
and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea
and to the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the
house and lineage of David and obviously there in verse number four what
is according to the New Testament what is the city of David the city of
David which is called Bethlehem okay now we'll go into that a bit later but
the city of David in the Old Testament was not Bethlehem we'll go into that
later okay but I want you to notice that God uses or God knew of this
this events that that Caesar would require everybody to be registered and
taxed and to go back into their own city that's what caused Joseph to go
back into Nazareth now why is that important why is it important that
Joseph had to go back to Nazareth was it important so he could get taxed
no it was important so Old Testament prophecy would be played out okay this
proves to us that God knows the end from the beginning God knows
everything that takes place even the taxation of the Roman Empire because
in Micah 5 to you don't need to turn there in Micah 5 to the Bible
teaches it says but thou Bethlehem Ephrathah though thou be little among
the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to
be ruler in Israel whose going forth have been of old from everlasting so
the Bible tells Micah that in Bethlehem there would come the one of
old from everlasting the one that would be ruler of Israel okay now this does
not point to any man okay because every man has a beginning every man has a
birth right every man is conceived in the mother's womb and born and and
lived but we all have a beginning we're not from everlasting okay so the
fact that Micah 5 to talks about this rule of Israel coming from
everlasting it can only be the Lord God himself that would be born in
Bethlehem you know so that was prophesied hundreds of years ago before
the birth of Christ and we see so how important is that they had to go
back into Nazareth right and so it's not just some minor information but
God knew this was an important part of the birth of Christ this was an
important prophecy that had to be fulfilled I mean we're not going to go
through it now but when you consider all the prophecies of Jesus Christ how
they were fulfilled to the you know to the most important detail it's
amazing you know it's impossible for someone to truly if they know the
scriptures to truly deny Jesus Christ because he came in a few hundreds or
not yet hunt well at least a hundred prophecies of himself okay and yeah
something that is truly impossible this is something that just proves to us
just this very one mention proves to us that the word that we hold in our
hands the Bible that we hold in our hands is the Word of God something
that it's true that's accurate without contradiction the Word of God but look
at verse number five there in Luke to look look at verse five to be taxed
with Mary his espoused wife being great with child so if you remember in
chapter one it talked about Mary Mary being espoused to Joseph and one I'm
era that a lot of people preach a lot of some false doctrine if you will
it's not it's nothing too serious but it's false anyway they teach that Mary
was engaged to Joseph okay when they talk about being a spouse they talk
about him being engaged and she wasn't actually his wife yet but what we see
here in verse number five it confirms for us that she is in fact his wife
because it doesn't say she's espoused to him it says here to be taxed with
Mary his espoused wife being great with child so you see that she's not
just engaged but he's she's actually his wife they are legally married but they
had not yet consummated that marriage they had not yet come together obviously
we know the teaching of Mary the Bible teaches that Mary was a virgin
when she fell pregnant with the Lord Jesus Christ okay but notice that also
that Joseph takes Mary with him from Galilee into Bethlehem and it says
they're being great with child so she's late in her pregnancy she's heavily
pregnant okay so again think about this concept if they were just engaged right
and we know these are this Joseph was a godly man we know that Mary was a
faithful believer in the Lord would you do you think a single woman who is
engaged married would go with a man who's heavily pregnant alone who's
heavily pregnant into another town of course not that would bring great
reproach upon them okay it would seem like if they were just engaged that
she felt she felt pregnant out of wedlock and it's kind of confirming oh
yeah you know this is out we did this and that's why she's pregnant so you
need to understand there as we read verse five that you know she was his
wife okay otherwise she would not be traveling alone with a man into another
town okay so this is a godly couple they are indeed married but they just
hadn't consummated that marriage verse number six and so it was that while
they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she
brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and
laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn so
let's talk about another false doctrine another false teaching that
comes out of the heretical the damnable heretical Roman Catholic
Church what do they teach about Mary they believed that well first of all
they believe she's the co-mediator that she plays a role in your salvation okay
they believe that without Mary Jesus Christ will not be sufficient to save
us that Mary needs to play a part in redeeming mankind but what they also
teach is that even today that she's still a virgin okay that she she
never was intimate with any man she was not even intimate they teach with
her own husband okay and the Bible teaches the Bible teaches that it's
fine you know it's a God-given responsibility between man and woman
between husband and wife to be intimate with one another okay so if
Mary was to refrain from being intimate with Joseph and be a
perpetual virgin then should be in disobedience to the laws of God should
be in disobedience to the commands of God and yet we know this was a godly
couple but the first thing I just want you to notice in verse 7 it says that
she brought forth her firstborn son okay her firstborn son it doesn't say
she brought forth her only son okay but it was her firstborn what is
that basically teaching what is it teaching there behind you know without
being we have been obviously just spelling it out is that Jesus was her
firstborn meaning that she had other children after him okay if Jesus was
her first there must have been others for that to be specific about him
being the firstborn son okay so you know I just want to show you some proof
that Mary did not remain a virgin the Roman Catholic Church is teaching
false doctrine if you guys can just keep a finger there turn to Matthew
chapter 1 Matthew chapter 1 verse 24 Matthew chapter 1 verse 24 Matthew
chapter 1 verse 24 we're just going to go through a few passages here
teaching in the Bible that Mary did not remain a virgin she was intimate
with Joseph after she gave birth to Jesus Christ Matthew chapter 1 verse 24
the Bible reads then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel the
Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife and and knew her not till she
brought forth her firstborn son and called his name Jesus so notice there
in verse 25 the Bible says that Joseph knew her not till she had
brought forth her firstborn son if you know your Bible okay God uses
language okay obviously he doesn't want to be completely I guess what's the word
you know what's the word I'm looking for I don't know completely you know
when he's talking about the intimate relationship between husband and wife
okay God uses some poetic language you'll see a lot of that in the song
of Solomon but also uses language that is you know pretty acceptable to most
people but often the Bible talk about a man knowing a woman or knowing his
wife in the context of being intimate okay so the Bible says there that Joseph
knew her not till she gave birth to her firstborn son meaning that he knew
her in that intimate level between husband and wife after Jesus Christ was
born isn't that what he's teaching there okay so we have a second
passage confirming to us that she definitely you know fell pregnant later
on had children with Joseph now go to John chapter 2 John chapter 2 verse 16
John chapter 2 verse 16 John chapter 2 verse 16 I want to show you another
passage here so this is Jesus when he goes into the temple and rebukes them
for making merchandise out of the temple in John chapter 2 verse 16 it
says Jesus saying these words and said unto them that so doves take these
things hence make not my father's house and house of merchandise so of
course we know the story of Jesus going into the temple turning the
tables making a whip and driving out those that are making profit out of
God's temple out of God's house there and then in verse 17 what do the
disciples think about in verse 17 and his disciples remembered that it was
written the zeal of thine house have eaten me up so the disciples remember a
scripture about Jesus Christ being zealous for the house of the Lord now
you don't need to turn them going to read to you where that's found in
the Old Testament that's in Psalm 69 verse 8 Psalm 69 verse 8 the Bible
reads I am become a stranger unto my brethren and to my brethren and an
alien unto my mother's children my mother's children what are your
mother's children they are your brothers and sisters are they not okay
and then verse 9 for the zeal of thine house have eaten me up and the
reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me so you see in
verse 9 Psalm 69 verse 9 where it says for the zeal of thine house have eaten
me up that was what led into that was verse number 8 I am become a
stranger unto my brethren unto my brothers as you're saying well that
could be you know just the Jews in general no the Bible confirms and an
alien unto my mother's children so we see this prophecy from the Old
Testament confirming even in the Old Testament that Jesus Christ had his
mother had children meaning that he had brothers and sisters now turn with
me to John chapter 7 John chapter 7 you guys are in John to John 7 verse
5 John 7 verse 5 just a quick verse there John 7 verse 5 the Bible says
for neither did his brethren believe in him okay now if you think that's
talking about Jews in general well there were some Jews in the time that
didn't believe on Jesus Christ but at this point in time in the story of
Jesus it says that his brethren meaning his his siblings did not believe on him
okay that obviously would have been I guess a little difficult having grown
up with with Jesus all right now I'm sure we see Jesus was a wise even as
a child he was wise and grew in knowledge but yet it took a while for
his own brethren to believe in him and be saved now through Jesus Christ
okay now turn with me to Mark chapter 6 Mark chapter 6 verse 2 I hope you've
still got a finger there in Luke 2 we'll go back to that but Mark chapter 6
verse 2 Mark chapter 6 verse 2 the Bible reads and when the Sabbath day
was come he began to teach in the synagogue and many here in him were
astonished saying from whence hath this man these things and what wisdom is
this which is given unto him that even such mighty works are wrought in his
hands speaking of Jesus is not this the carpenter the son of Mary the brother
of James and Joseph and of Judah and Simon and I'm not and I'm not his
sisters he with us and they were offended at him okay so how many
siblings did Jesus have well we don't know exactly but we're given some
names of their of his brothers there right it's his sisters and his
brothers one of his brothers was James one was Joseph and Judah and
Simon so he had at least four brothers and then it says that and I'm
not his sisters here with us so if you're gonna say sisters you need to
have at least two so let's add two more so Jesus had six at least maybe
well at least six siblings right so we see there that Mary and at least and
Joseph in that family was that there was a family of seven children at least
at a minimum okay but notice there that it talks about James being the
brother of Jesus now I'm going to read to you very quickly Galatians
chapter 1 verse 18 you don't need to turn there it says this is Paul
speaking he says then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see
Peter and abode with him fifteen days but other of the Apostles saw I none
save or accept James the Lord's brother James the Lord's brother so
that confirms for us in March of the six that James was a brother of the
Lord Jesus Christ meaning that Mary was his mother so did Mary stay a
virgin of course not okay she was a good woman okay she was a wife you know
Joseph was a husband of course that were intimate okay and she had
children she had children and Jesus Christ had brothers and sisters half
brothers half sisters if you want to put it that way and Joseph was not his
biological father but was his stepfather okay so in a sense they
were still his parents okay in a sense but obviously not biological as far
as as far as Joseph was concerned okay now let's go back to Luke chapter 2
Luke chapter 2 Luke chapter 2 verse 8 Luke chapter 2 verse 8 and there were in
the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their
flock by night and lo the angel the Lord came upon them and the glory of
the Lord shone round about them and that was sore afraid and again notice in
chapter 2 as we notice in chapter 1 when the angels appear they were afraid
okay they're so afraid this is not normal okay it's not normal for the
angels to just appear you know and I'm reminded of the Pentecostal and the
charismatic churches and their visions of angels and the things they talk
about as though it happens all the time this is not normal okay it's
happening because we have a very important time in history of the Savior
being born in Bethlehem okay and of course the angel comes and appears to
righteous godly people but even they're afraid even that this is not
something they're used to as far as angels appearing to God's people but
notice what the angels say in verse number 10 and the angels said unto
them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall
be to all people okay what are good tidings the Bible also says glad
tidings another way of saying the same word is the gospel you know the
word gospel means good tidings it means good news it means glad tidings
okay so we see the angels coming preaching the gospel preaching the glad
tidings of great joy and as we know later that Jesus Christ will be born
okay now I believe these these shepherds were already saved okay I
truly believe that but they're just hearing it that finally the Savior has
come but notice that the end of verse 10 it says which shall be to all
people okay it's not and look there is a method of interpretation called
dispensationalism okay and look I think it's wise to know what
dispensationalism teaches I believe it's wise because amongst the
independent fundamental Baptist churches many of the preachers adopt
dispensationalism as they as their sort of framework to interpret the
Bible okay but one of the silly one of the most ridiculous teachings I've
heard of dispensationalism is that Jesus Christ really only came to
Israel only came to the house of Judah only came to the Jews and what
they teach is because by and large Israel rejected Jesus Christ then he
went to the Gentiles then the gospel was preached to the Gentiles as
though the Gentiles were plan B or something okay look the Gentiles were
plan A the Jews were plan A this was always God's plan that he would come to
all people to all nations okay to the Jew first yes he came to his own people
first but the goal was they would receive him and go and preach the
gospel to the whole world and of course many did that his apostles his
disciples did that okay but by and large yes the nation of Israel
rejected him and we'll see later on this was prophesied that many would
reject him as well anyway the point is Jesus Christ came for you all you're
not plan B you're not a lesser human being that just you you just you know
you get salvation because the Jews rejected him no Jesus Christ came for
all people verse number 11 for unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior which is Christ the Lord so notice the city of David where
was that we were told earlier that it's Bethlehem Bethlehem okay now you don't
need to turn they'll just quickly read to you from second Samuel chapter 5
verse 7 2nd Samuel chapter 5 verse 7 talking about King David okay the city
of David is obviously a reference to the Old Testament King King David 2nd
Samuel 5 7 it says nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion so David
came and he I captured Zion which is Jerusalem okay in the Bible the same is
the city of David and verse 8 it says and David said on that day who saw the
getteth us getteth up to the gutter and smite of the Jebusites and the
layman of blind that I hated of David so he shall be chief and captain
wherefore they said the blind and the lame shall not come into the house
so we see this is this is a time when King David goes in and drives the
Jebusites out of Jerusalem or kills them in warfare and he takes Jerusalem
for himself Bible also calls it Zion also known as the city of David if you
look in your Old Testament and look up some I don't know how many there is
there's many references to the city of David it's it's pointing back to
Jerusalem yeah I just thought that was interesting I don't have a full
answer to this but Bethlehem was only nine kilometers away from Jerusalem
okay so it might be the city of David in the context that it's within the
surrounding area I mean it would only but by walking it only take you one
hour to get from Bethlehem to Jerusalem which is the main city okay
but another reason that it's probably called the city of David is because
David himself was born and raised in Bethlehem okay if you remember the
story of Samuel when when God instructed Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to
look for the next king you read about Samuel traveling into Bethlehem and
that's where they were that's where they were being raised that's where
David was mined in the sheep was in Bethlehem so in that context you might
say well that was the city of David as well okay today but I just wanted
to point out to you that the city of David in the Old Testament points
to Jerusalem the city of David New Testament points us to Bethlehem okay
they both have to do with King David because that's where David was
raised and that's where he would then eventually become king and obviously
that applies to Jesus Christ he was born in Bethlehem and in the millennium
anyway he's going to be ruling and reigning from Jerusalem then ultimately
the new heavens and the new earth heavenly Jerusalem will be coming down
and the Lord will make his abode there as well okay now verse number 12
Luke 2 verse 12 Luke 2 verse 12 and this shall be a sign unto you you
shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger so the angels
are telling the shepherds look this is how you know the Savior this is how
you'll know the promised one is that you'll find a baby in swaddling clothes
I don't think that would be so unusual finding a baby in swaddling
clothes is just like in cloths and stuff but then lying in a manger that's
what makes him unique now what's a manger that's where the animals would
come it's it's a feeding trough where the animals would come and you'd
put food in there and the animals would come and feed in there okay
unfortunately this was the situation you know they didn't have a place to
stay and you know we don't know exactly where they were you know
tradition teaches that they were in a stable or in a cave with animals now
the Bible doesn't really make that clear all we know is that Jesus Christ was in
a manger okay so we do know they were struggling to find a place to stay
because there was no place in in the inn for Jesus for the for the couple
and but obviously she gave birth somewhere where wasn't really the most
comfortable place and they had to have the feeding trough of an animal to
lay the baby in okay they didn't have a cot they didn't have a
bassinet but they had a manger to lay the baby so that was the sign that was
what what made it unique so when the shepherds came to see him they were
oh here it is here's the baby lying in that manger okay and verse 13 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 good will
toward men okay so what's the reason that we sing Christmas carols is because
we see the angels praising the Lord right there praising the Lord for the
birth of Christ and notice that it says on the earth peace because it's
through Jesus Christ that we can have peace with God himself okay and
good will toward men okay so this is God's goodwill okay this is the will
of God that he would send his son and and give favor unto men okay it's
through Jesus Christ praising him verse 15 and it came to pass as the
angels were gone away from them into heaven and this is what I like about
the shepherds the shepherds said one to another let us now go even unto
Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass which the Lord hath made
known unto us I love that about them right that's why I believe they
already saved and they heard this great news and immediately let's go to
Bethlehem let's see this sign let's go see this babe laying in the manger
okay and and they go they have faith that this is true and they go and
confirm what they found what I heard they went to confirm that sign okay
now verse 16 verse 16 and by the way just just a small points and I think
this is good practice even for us okay and I've said this before but whatever
you hear preached okay whatever you hear someone teach the Word of God what
should you do you should be like these shepherds go and confirm it go
and confirm now we have the Word of God to confirm it with okay that's what
we instructed to do but we see these angels do go and confirm it for
themselves with their own eyes to see the Lord Jesus Christ all right now in
verse 15 sorry verse 16 and they came with haste did they delay were they
taking their time no they came with haste they came running right they
came quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger and
when they had seen it now this is this is the title of the sermon they
made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child hey
they went preaching Jesus Christ once it was confirmed that he was born they
did not keep the information to themselves right they didn't just stay
and rejoice and kept it hidden no that was so that was so happy
they're so filled with joy they this was great news that God had given them
they confirmed that and they went out preaching the Lord Jesus Christ they
went abroad and made this known okay they were one of the very early soul
winners going out and preaching the Lord Jesus Christ hey this is our
responsibility this is our responsibility okay we know Jesus
Christ okay we have the gospel we know the goodwill that God has given to
man but what are we gonna do about it are we gonna keep it to ourselves you
know Wow God has shown us great God has shown us these things but are we
going to go and make known these things to others are we going to preach
this abroad okay this is the responsibility of every believer every
believer to do this man and woman we'll see later on a woman does this
too okay now verse 18 verse 18 and all that hurt us and all they that
hurt it wondered at those things which are told them by the shepherds okay all
they that hurt it wondered at those things which were told them by the
shepherds so you see they went they actually went out and preached about
Jesus Christ okay now again we go out we preach the gospel and many times
they're not people don't listen to us right but we try to get some of
that some of that teaching we try to get you know John 3 16 in okay our goal
guys is to make people wonder to make them think about something different to
make them think about eternity to consider what we've told them about
Jesus Christ we can't force them to get saved we can't force them to believe we
can't force them to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ but what we can do is
make them wonder you know bring these things into their minds bring it to
their attention and hopefully even for a few seconds even for a few minutes
think about the message of Jesus Christ okay verse 19 but Mary kept all these
things and ponder them in her heart so Mary as his mother just takes note of
these events and ponders or meditates on these things okay of Jesus Christ
she's thoughtful about Jesus Christ verse 20 and the shepherds returned
glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and
seen and it was told unto them hey and we too ought to praise God and
glory when we get the opportunity to go out and preach the gospel okay so well
we didn't get anyone saved doesn't matter okay well you know we have to
glory and praise God it says as it was told unto them okay the things
that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them hey we go out we
preach we speak of Jesus Christ even if it's been a dry session even if no
one wanted to hear you even if you didn't get much out hey we ought to
come glory in any way okay because we've been given this great responsibility
like the shepherds verse 21 and when eight days were accomplished and the
circumcision of the child his name was called Jesus which was so
named of the angels before he was conceived in the womb and when the
days of a purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished they
brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord as it is written in
the law of the Lord every male that openeth the womb shall be called
holy to the Lord now keep your finger there turn to Leviticus chapter 2
Leviticus chapter 2 sorry Leviticus 12 Leviticus chapter 12 sorry
Leviticus chapter 12 let's look at this okay so we see that eight days
after the birth of Christ he was circumcised according to the law of
Moses right and then it said in verse 22 when the days of a purification
according to the law of Moses were accomplished they brought him to the
temple so to present him to the Lord so let's understand this a little bit
in the context here in Leviticus chapter 12 verse 1 and the Lord spake
unto Moses saying speak unto the children of Israel saying if a woman
have conceived seed and born a man three days she would still be going
through this purification of herself so when you total it all up it's seven
days plus 33 so there's 40 days according to the Bible where she would
be considered I guess unclean or purifying herself after the birth now
I don't have all the answers here as to why this was the case and when he
came to a being a girl being born it was actually double that time okay
double time we won't go into all that now okay but just keep that in mind go
to Leviticus 15 Leviticus 15 verse 13 Leviticus 15 verse 13 now before we
read this I just want to say that there is no known medical reason okay
in 2018 there's no known medical reason why a woman would have to wait this long
be considered unclean I can give you some of my thoughts but there's no real
biblical reason but it doesn't exactly tell us why and then there's no
medical reason for this either okay I thought perhaps I was looking at this
and kind of going well Jesus Christ came into Jerusalem on the 10th day of the
month then he was crucified on the 14th day then he was dead and buried
for three days and three nights so that's four days plus three is seven
days then he rose from the dead maybe that's a picture of circumcision the
flesh being cut off being taken up like a resurrected body and then I
thought what's a 40 days or enough Jesus Christ was you know I showed
himself 40 days after his resurrection but that wouldn't match up anyway
because it's 40 days plus the seven days and so I was trying to figure
out reasons what this meant spiritually but I couldn't really
figure out anything out okay but I just want to show you look there are there
the Bible tells us certain things okay and in this case we see that if a
woman was to give birth to a son she would have to purify or cleanse
herself obviously when a woman gives birth there's a lot of blood loss as
well okay and the Bible even talks about a woman who goes through her
menstrual cycle she's considered unclean during that time as well it's not
sinful she's just unclean okay and I believe the reason for this is probably
some health reasons probably some medical reasons that is not known to us
today okay and that might sound weird but I got into turn to Leviticus
15 verse 13 because there was a time guys only a few hundred years ago maybe
even a hundred years ago that the medical world did not understand the
need of washing of running water okay and we're reading Leviticus 15 verse 13
it says and when he hath an issue sorry and when he hath an issue is
cleansed of his issue then he shall number to himself seven days for his
cleansing and wash his hands and bathe his flesh and running water and
shall be clean just just one example there but Leviticus 15 talks about
being cleansed with water with running water we've been bathed because we know
today how important it is to wash yourself with running water okay if
you're sick you know in the hospitals they advise you to wash your
hands you know doctors wash your hands before they go to see the next
patients because they can carry all matters of diseases with them okay and
in the past hospitals would lose a lot of lives because they would not
wash they would not clean after themselves my point is there was a time
in the medical world where they didn't even acknowledge the washing of hands
or the washing of running water as an important part of being clean of
keeping viruses and you know medical you know just keeping people now the
point I want to raise there guys is because in Leviticus 12 you know some
people might mock that and say well woman shouldn't you know is considered
unclean or cleansing herself look I don't know look the wisdom of man is
foolishness next to the wisdom of God okay God's wisdom in God's wisdom he
instructs a woman to keep herself away from the sanctuary to be
unclean now why maybe there's a bit of protection for herself maybe
there's a protection for the child maybe there's protection to other people
but it wouldn't surprise me if sometime in the future we find out there's a
reason behind this a medical reason and that it's it's healthy and it's good
and it's clean to follow this process now we've not done that with my
wife I'm just saying I'm just saying look there's a reason for this God
knows the reason just because we don't know that doesn't mean this
makes no sense okay but the greater point of all this is this that God
gave the law God gave this command okay and if Christ was going to
fulfill the law of God then he needed a mother that would do such thing okay the
mother we see that Mary was a godly woman was a faithful woman and you
know if she had skipped this part of Christ being circumcised on the eighth
day then there'd be a part where Christ did not fulfill the law and would be
insufficient for us as our Savior okay so even these small things are
important in the sight of God Jesus Christ had to fulfill these things if
you guys can go back to Luke chapter 2 Luke chapter 2 so remember she was to
purify himself for 40 days okay and then we read in Luke chapter 2 verse
22 that when the days of a purification according to the Lord of
Moses were accomplished they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the
Lord so how old was Jesus he was at least 40 days old at least maybe more
okay but after her purifying time Jesus Christ being 40 days old a bit
over a month came to introduce him to be presented look at verse 24 Luke 2
24 Luke 2 24 well says and to offer so what else did she have to do this
you see about you we won't go into it now but you read this in the Lord
Moses and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the
law of the Lord a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons now actually I
did have the reference here I'll just read it to you quickly it's in
Leviticus 12 verse 6 it's it's the same chapter that we'll read from but
verse 6 as this and when the days of a purifying are fulfilled for a son
or for a daughter she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt
offering and a young pigeon or a turtle dove for a sin offering unto the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation unto the priests who shall
offer it before the Lord and make an atonement for her and she shall be
cleansed from the issue of her blood this is the law for her that
have born a male or female and then look at verse 8 it says and if she be
not able to bring a lamb then she shall bring two turtles or two
turtle doves and or two young pigeons the one for the burnt offering and the
other for a sin offering and the priest shall make an atonement for
her and she shall be clean so we see Mary in Luke chapter 2 following this
process now notice that she could not bring a lamb the Bible says if she
can't bring a lamb what is she to bring a turtle dove or a pigeon okay so
in Luke chapter 2 verse 24 we see that she brings a pair of turtle doves or
two young pigeons right what does this tell us about Mary what does this
tell us about Joseph they couldn't afford the lamb the other says if you
can't bring the lamb then bring the bird and you see that they bring the
birds why because they were Jesus Christ was born in a poorer family okay
Jesus Christ king of heaven and all the riches of the universe all the
riches of creation belong to Jesus Christ but when he was coming to the
world he was born into a poorer family okay now the point that I
want to bring out of this guys is that she came and brought a sin offering
what does this mean means that she herself was a sinner okay Mary herself
was a sinner we spoken a little bit about the Catholic Church but another
false doctrine that comes out of the Roman Catholic Church is that Mary is
sinless that's what they teach they believe in order for Christ to be
sinless then he must have had a mother who was sinless okay but this
is easily disproven from the Bible because she follows the law of Moses to
bring an offering a sin offering not just a burn offering but a sin offering
that she would be forgiven and cleansed okay playing this part so you can see
that the Roman Catholic Church really messes up the doctrine of Mary okay I
mean Mary is just a normal woman a godly woman a blessed woman okay but
that's all she needed a Savior we saw that in chapter 1 she acknowledges
Christ as a Savior but in chapter 2 we see that she comes and has to bring
an offering for her sin okay verse 25 verse 25 boy times getting away from me
verse 25 and behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and the
same man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the
Holy Ghost was upon him so we see a godly man Simeon here verse 26 and it
was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death
before he had seen the Lord's Christ and he came by the Spirit into the
temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after
the custom of the law then took him up in his arms and blessed God and
said Lord now let us thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou has prepared look at this
before the face of all people again we have confirmation a second time in the
same chapter that Christ is the salvation of all people okay God had
intended for Christ to come and save both Jews and Gentiles look at verse 32
I like to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel okay
Jesus Christ is the Christ is the Messiah of the Jews and of the Gentiles okay
meaning that if you're a Gentile and I guess most of you are all of us are
then Christ is your Messiah Jesus Christ is your Messiah don't listen to
these crazy dispensational teachers that say no the Messiah was only for the
Jews they can only see you because Christ means Messiah okay no Christ has
come to be a light to the Gentiles as well okay he's the Messiah he's the
Christ of the Jews and to the Gentiles all right now notice verse 33 it says
and Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which which was spoken of
him notice in verse 33 it says Joseph and his mother was Mary the mother of
Jesus yes okay as a man he was born of Mary obviously but was Joseph his
father or his biological father no okay again we believe the King James Bible
is perfect okay without error and and the King James Bible is very clear
to say that Joseph and his mother he doesn't call Joseph his father okay but
again we have the corruption of the modern Bibles and I'm going to read to
you from a few corruptions I'm sorry to read from you to you from these Bible
corruptions but the ESV the English Standard Version reads this in verse 33
and his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him I mean
heresy immediately okay because this is pointing to Jesus being born of a man
no okay he was the son of man that's one title he went by but he was not a
biological son of an earthly man the New American Standard Bible says this and
his father and mother were amazed at the things which were said about him
and the NIV says the child's father and mother marveled at what was said
about him hey these three Bibles are some of the more popular Bibles today
more popular modern Bibles today but the only one that gets this right is of
course the King James Bible okay so if you've got some of these Bibles in your
your bookshelf look just light a fire I mean if you're gonna have a barbecue
you need some firewood you need something to burn that's something worth
burning okay these corrupted Bibles that teach heresy Luke chapter 2 verse
34 Luke chapter 2 verse 34 and Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his
mother behold this child is set for look at look at the words here this
child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign
which which shall be spoken against so notice that Jesus Christ would be the
cause of many to fall in Israel and many to rise in Israel okay because
Jesus Christ was a stumbling block to the unsaved ungodly Jewish religion at
that point in time okay Judaism as we know it today is not a premature
Christianity no it is a false religion of its own it has nothing to do with
the teaching of the Old Testament because those that believe the Old
Testament received Christ okay and those that do not believe the Old
Testament and make up their own false religions like the religion of Judaism
they're the ones that would fall to Christ and Isaiah 8 verse 8 14 tells us
about this prophesize of this it says and he shall be for a sanctuary so
Christ would be a sanctuary okay a place that we can hide a place that
we can be protected a place that we can find refuge but then it says but
for some sorry but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to
both the house of Israel for again and for a snare to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem and many among them shall stumble and fall and be broken and be
stared and be taken Jesus Christ is both these things you either arisen in
him born again or maybe even the resurrection that could be pointing for
that or you stumble at Jesus Christ you make up your false religions you
think salvation's by your works without Jesus Christ or Christ plus
works or whatever and you're going to stumble at the message of Jesus Christ
okay this was prophesied by Simeon he was filled by the Holy Ghost and look
at verse 35 yay a sword shall pierce thy own soul also and the
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed what I believe verse 35 is
talking about who's speaking to Mary and he says yay a sword shall pierce
through thy own soul also I believe this is basically him prophesying of
Mary that she will suffer okay she will see her own firstborn son being
tortured and crucified and of course we know that Mary was at the
crucifixion so I believe this is basically pointing to her that she would
go through some pain herself seeing her own son being tortured and
crucified let's go to verse 36 what time what time I forgot let's keep
going verse 36 this is an important part of this chapter as well and there
was one Anna so this is a woman the Bible calls her a prophetess now is
there anything wrong with a woman being a prophetess well we'll go we'll cover
this in okay but she's a prophetess the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe
of Asa she was of a great age and had lived with her husband seven years
from her virginity so it sounds like she was married for seven years and then
she was a widow from that point on okay she lost her husband very early in her
marriage and then it says verse 37 and she was a widow of about four
school and four years so she's about 84 years old which departed not
from the temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day and
she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of
him to all them that looked for redemption in Israel now notice I just
want you to notice there it says that Anna was a prophetess okay and she's
serving in the temple night and day but so what I've heard guys and
obviously we're an independent fundamental Baptist Church but more
important than that we're biblical Christians we believe the Bible we take
it at face value will I ever have a woman teach us the Word of God no we
already know this we cover that in Corinthians so keep a finger there go
to 1st Corinthians 14 verse 34 let's look at this very quickly let's
refresh our minds here 1st Corinthians 14 verse 34 1st Corinthians 14 1st
Corinthians 14 verse 34 the Bible says let your women keep silence in the
churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak but they commanded to be
under obedience as also saith the law and if they will learn anything let
them ask their husbands at home for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the
church what came the Word of God out from you or came it unto you only if
any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that
the things that are right unto you are the commandments of the Lord guys are
these the commandments of the Lord that a woman is not to speak in the
church yes if you consider yourself spiritual or even a prophet you need to
acknowledge that these are the commands of the Lord now Anna was a
prophetess meaning that if she had the writings of Paul she didn't obviously
in her time but she would acknowledge this to be the writings of
God she would acknowledge that in the church in the house of God she would
not be able to speak now what does that mean are you like ladies are you
supposed to not say a single word like if I come to you and say you
know how are you today you know while we're gathered together you like
you can't answer because you're in disobedience no the Bible explains to
us you guys can turn there if you want first Timothy chapter 2 verse 11 first
Timothy chapter 2 verse 11 first Timothy chapter 2 verse 11 again the
writings of Paul here first Timothy chapter 2 verse 11 the Bible says let
the woman learn in silence with all subjection so it's she's to learn in
silence is she to teach no is she to learn yes okay she's to learn she's not
to teach but then verse 12 but I suffered or but I suffer not or I do
not allow a woman to teach not to accept authority over the man but to
be in silence for Adam was first formed in Eve and Adam was not
deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression so when we
put these passages together we see both times women have to be silent in the
church what does the silence mean what does it represents that she's not
teaching okay she's not standing behind a pulpit and teaching the Word
of God all right she's to learn in silence okay not to teach so how do
we understand then and I've been a prophetess all right so let me give
you an answer to this very quickly well actually keep your finger oh let's
go go to judges judges chapter 4 judges chapter 4 verse 4 let's go to all these
passages that your Joyce Meyer or your other female pastors and preachers
will turn to to say this is the reason why they're permitted to teach
in the church okay so we already saw the commandments of God that a woman is
not to teach or to accept authority over the man in the church that's
crystal-clear okay let's go to judges chapter 4 verse 4 judges chapter 4 verse
4 let's look at another prophetess here judges chapter 4 verse 4 and
Deborah a prophetess the wife of leopard off she judged Israel at that
time and notice she's a she's caught a prophetess and she's a judge of
Israel now normally the Bible tells us that the judges are to be a man okay
these are people that hold authority in Israel they're passing judgment they're
making judgment calls and notice now there's a woman judging Israel you
might say this is a great thing no it's not a great thing okay verse
number five and she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Rhema and
Bethel in Mount Ephraim and the children of Israel came up to her for
judgments now immediately guys what's going on here there are no male judges
there are no men stepping up to be accountable and responsible and
responsible for the nation this is a bad time for Israel we'll see this
soon look at verse 6 and she sent and caught Barak the son of Abinom out
of Kadesh Naphtali and said unto him hath not the Lord God of Israel
commanded saying go and draw toward Mount Tabor and take with thee ten
thousand men of the children of Naphtali and the children of Zebulun so
we have Deborah telling Deborah telling Barak didn't God tell you to get an
army and draw sword like she has to tell him again verse 7 and I would
draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sira the captain of Jabin's army with his
chariots and his multitude and I will deliver him into thine hand now look
at look at Barak obviously Barak is some sort of army general some sort of
captain someone that is in leadership right and then look what Barak says to
her in verse number 8 and Barak said unto her if thou wilt go with me
then I will go but if thou wilt not go with me then I will not go look Barak is
supposed to be like the chief of the army he's some sort of captain and God
has already told him go and fight and I will deliver the enemy into your
hands what do we see in what's supposed to be a man of God who's
supposed to be a leader in Israel what do we see about him he's too
afraid he goes look if you go with me woman if you go with me prophetess
then I will go you see the state of manhood at this time in Israel they
had fallen they had failed right and God does not honor him right in this
regard because look at verse number 9 and she said I will surely go with
thee notwithstanding the journey thou takest shall not be for thine own
honor or for thine honor for the Lord shall send Sira into the land
sorry into the hand of a woman and Deborah arose and went with Barak to
Kadesh so God look is disappointed in Barak he didn't take this into his own
hands he didn't raise and be a man and God would give the honor to a
woman that they would win this battle okay so I just want to show you God
is not happy when women have to take leadership positions because it means
men are failing hey this is a bad state of affairs when we look at all the
women preachers today standing up okay first of all it's command that they are
not to teach in the church but it also shows us how men are today okay
that men are not taking the responsibility they're not manly
and they're letting women take control they're letting the women of
serve authority over them in the house of the Lord when it's clearly
commanded that they are not now Deborah she was a godly woman don't misunderstand
this she was a godly woman she was doing the right thing okay God had
made her a prophetess okay but still God wanted Barak God wanted Barak God
wanted a man to take ownership but he would not we see this story to play
out okay so let's go back to Luke chapter 2 Luke chapter 2 verse 36 so we
saw there and actually turn to Acts chapter 2 as well turn to Acts chapter 2
so we see that Anna is a prophetess Anna's not doing anything wrong in of
herself but what is Anna doing is Anna teaching in the temple is she teaching
is she a serpent authority over the men no she's not okay now go to Acts
chapter 2 Acts chapter 2 verse 17 this is after the day of Pentecost when the
Holy Ghost would fill the believers and they'd go out and preach the gospel
okay there were men there were women there were children okay verse
Acts chapter 2 verse 17 and it came to pass in the last day saith God I
will pour out my spirit upon all flesh look at this and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your
old men shall dream dreams and on my servants and on my handmaidens as a
woman I will pour out in those days my spirit and they shall prophesy so
are they prophets and prophetesses yes they are and I will show wonders in
heavens above and signs in the earth beneath blood and fire and vapor of
smoke the Sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon into blood
before the great and notable day of the Lord come but notice this in verse
21 and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be saved what are the prophets and the
prophetesses doing when the field of the Holy Ghost both men and women what
are they doing they're preaching the gospel they're preaching the gospel and
as a result of that people are calling upon the name of the Lord and being
saved okay am I for women prophets am I for women preachers yes to a
separate authority over the man to teach in the church no that's not the
teaching that we see in the Bible that's against the commandments of the
Lord okay but to preach the gospel yes look at look go back to Luke 2 Luke 2
what is Anna the prophetess doing is she teaching in the temple no the Bible
tells us exactly what she's doing she's praying and fasting night and day
she's praying and she's fasting night and day in verse 37 and look at verse
38 and she coming in that instant so when they come and bring Jesus to
Jerusalem she coming in in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord look
at this and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in
Jerusalem so what made Anna a prophetess that she was pointing
people to Jesus Christ she was preaching the gospel as well she was
proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ we see it with the shepherds we see it
with um Simeon and now we see it with a prophetess Anna is she is she
is she having authority over the man she teaching the church no she's
pointing people to Christ and she's serving the temple with prayer and
fasting hey ladies this is something you can do you can pray and fast and
serve the Lord in this way and of course you ought to be prophetesses as
well preaching the gospel pointing Jesus Christ pointing people to Jesus
Christ that is not just the responsibility of man that is the
responsibility of every man woman and child Luke chapter 2 Luke chapter 2
verse 39 Luke chapter 2 verse 39 sorry guys it is another long chapter
when I want to wrap it up we'll get through this quickly and when they
had performed all things according to the law of God they returned into
Galilee to their own city Nazareth and the child grew and waxed strong in
spirit filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him so we see
Jesus Christ growing in age in height waxing strong in spirit the same thing
was spoken of John the Baptist okay they're becoming more spiritual filled
with wisdom he's growing in knowledge growing in wisdom this is what we
need to be doing with our children guys helping them to grow in spirit
and to grow in wisdom growing knowledge all right and verse sorry
verse 41 now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of
the Passover and when he was 12 years old they went up to Jerusalem
after the custom of the feast and when they have fulfilled the days I
believe these are the days of the unleavened bread and they returned the
child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem and Joseph and his mother knew
not of it okay but they supposing him to have been in the company went a
day's journey and they sought him among the king's folk king's folk and
acquaintances so after they had done their duty in Jerusalem they travel
away okay and the traveling and they think Jesus Christ is with them okay
and they travel a day's journey and they thought he was with their king's
folk and acquaintances they thought he was with family and friends now you
might look at this and say Wow Mary and Joseph you're pretty negligent
your negligent parents here why did you leave Jesus alone well first of
all Jesus was 12 years old it's not like a little child okay Jesus was 12
years old but secondly we know Mary had other children you know at least the
mother of seven kids at least right so obviously her attention was on the
little kids right attention the smaller ones and Jesus Christ had stayed in the
temple now let's look at verse 45 and when they found him not they
turned back against Jerusalem seeking him and it came to pass that after
three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the
doctors both hearing them and asking them questions when they can't find
Jesus is he out fishing is he playing with all the kids is he running around
being silly is he causing havoc is he rioting what do they find him they
find him in church they find him in the temple learning about God right
verse and look sitting in the midst of the doctors the doctors like
physicians but doctors of the law those that study the law of God both hearing
them and asking them questions notice this about Jesus Christ he is God okay
100% God who increases in wisdom as a man in knowledge as a man but notice
how he discusses the Word of God is he there showing off is he showing off
yes of course he does present his knowledge and answer questions but what
is he interested in he's interested in hearing them and asking questions okay
now I love talking doctrine I love talking doctrine I mean that is
something that we all should do right come to church and talk doctrine yes
talk about our lives as well fantastic but talk about what we heard preach
talk about what we read in the Bible but notice it's not about you always
instilling your wisdom to others but also stopping asking questions and
hearing from other people we see even Jesus doing this and he's got okay but
we see this was an important part of his growth as a child that he would
hear from others and and confirm that to be true all right now look at
verse 47 and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and
answers Jesus had increased in wisdom as a child he was 12 years old and
Christ has come to set us an example okay my point is at 12 years old you're
old enough to learn doctrine you're old enough to teach you're old enough
to learn and discuss the things of God you know think about yourself if
you're 12 or older do you have an interest in the Word of God do you
like discussing doctrine and if you don't reread Luke chapter 2 because Jesus is
your example and even he as a child was interested in doctrine was
interested to discuss the Bible you know this is something parents that we
need to raise our kids to love doing talking about the Word of God giving
their thoughts letting them ask questions all right let's keep going I don't
want to take Jason's sermon away I'm not sure what you're covering in this
same passage here but it says here we're almost done now guys verse 48 and when
they saw him they were amazed and his mother said unto him son why has out
dealt why hast thou thus dealt with us behold thy father and I sought thee
sorrowing now notice there that the Bible earlier did not call Joseph
Jesus father all right but we see Mary now these are the words of Mary okay
she called Joseph his father okay now notice how Jesus corrects her in verse
49 and he said unto them how is it that you sought me wish you not that I
must be about my father's business okay so he says look my father's
business is to be teaching the Word of God to be in Jerusalem and and talk
doctrine all right that's the business of the father of his father correct in
what Mary had said about his father being Joseph he said no he had got the
father his father and he was doing the father's business all right now
something might say well this sounds like Jesus was being rebellious why
didn't he go with his parents but again look he wasn't doing anything
wrong he was in the house of the Lord he was with us it was in his
father's business and he's he's so surprised he goes how is it that you
sought me like why why are you looking for me like as far as Jesus
was concerned and maybe he's pulling rank a little bit here because he is
the Almighty God all right but he's saying look there's there was no need
for you to be worried and looking for me I'm about my father's business all
right so you know any time Jesus was missing probably from the family he
was out doing the Lord's business he was out doing righteous acts okay but
notice even though this happened we read verse 51 I love this what it says here
and this was 51 yet says and when he went down with them and came to
Nazareth and was subject unto them but his mother kept all these things
in her heart so even though Jesus kind of pulls rank here when he's in
Jerusalem the Bible is very clear to tell us that when he went back home
with his parents that he was subject unto them God was subject under his
earthly mother and his stepfather okay and this ought to be an instruction
for our kids all right where your biological parents you know you need to
be subject unto us as we see Jesus Christ himself even though he truly had
the authority over them he was still as a child subjected under his parents
in verse 52 and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with
God and with God and man and that's the end of it so we see him
increasing wisdom in favor with God and man hey he got along yes we've got
the father but he was also got along with man he was a user user he was
someone that wasn't you know divisive on purpose he wasn't someone
trying to cause problems mankind in general found favor in Jesus Christ
okay so you know he wasn't a problem maker he wasn't a trouble trouble
rebellious child or anything like that he was truly the the god of the
universe and we see even he had to grow as a man in wisdom and stature and
that really is the instruction for our children today you need to grow in
wisdom and stature love the Word of God learn from Jesus Christ and
and honestly for my boys at the age of 12 I want them out there preaching the
gospel all right when we go out soul winning at the age of 12 I would like
to see my sons going out there and being part of that ministry that we
have okay let's pray