Why Jesus Was Born Among the Jews | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Can we bow our heads, one more time, as we open up God's word

and ask him to help us as we seek to discover the mystery of

the Incarnation together. Lori.

Thank you with all of our hearts for the inexpressible gift in

Jesus Christ and Lord. In this moment, we ask that you

would arrest our attention and that you would win our affection

as we recognize again and realize the beauty of the

humility in Jesus, the mission that was ordained before the

world was even created for Christ to come and save Sinners

Lord. Pray that the objective of this

message would win our obedience and our worship.

And so Lord, we just ask that by the power of the Holy Spirit, as

we Endeavor to exalt Jesus Christ, you would Empower us to

do. So Empower us to communicate it

and power us to understand it and Empower us to apply it to

our lives. Lord, we trust in you, in this

moment as we long to know our savior that much more in Jesus

name. We ask these things.

Amen. And amen.

Well, we're beginning this week when traditionally Believers in

the western world are giving their attention to reflect to

rehearse and to even rent be reminded of the Incarnation of

the Lord Jesus Christ. And though it is true that the

Christmas season calls for believers to be fixated on that

specific moment when God became a At the same time, there are so

many surrounding events in details, around that event that

are worthy for our recognition and so that's what we're going

to do today. We're going to explore, just one

of the facets, one of the details of Jesus Christ becoming

a man And this Friday and this Sunday by God's grace, we will

also consider other things. And so the purpose, the purpose

of today is to just look at one element.

And by looking at one of these elements that connects to the

birth of Christ, we would by God's grace add to our wonder

and our aw concerning the goodness, in the wisdom of God.

Two thousand years ago. God became a man.

Two thousand years ago, God entered into this world not to

just visit as a theophany not just appear as a person with to

actually take on flesh and it is this time of the year that

ministers and Ministries make great efforts to offer their

insights from the scriptures to answer that thematic question.

Why is it that God became man? Why is it that he entered into

this world in such a way? And as Believers, hopefully, in

that truth, we are gathered this morning.

Not just to explore that but to look at another layer to the

question. To look at another facet of it.

Yes, God became man, but we're going to aim this afternoon to

look at this question. Yes, he became, man.

But why did this man become a Jewish, man?

Why was this man? Link to the nation of Israel.

Why was it that from all the people groups, all the tribes,

all the tongues God chose to be born from this specific race

Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't come as a Roman?

Have you ever wondered why Jesus did not come as an Ethiopian?

Have you ever wondered why God did not become a Man From The

Far East and some Asian country? It seems like an insignificant

thought it seems like this this is just a detail that doesn't

matter but you would be amazed to recognize that the Holy

Spirit doesn't just give us the answers to why God became man.

The Holy Spirit finds it necessary to tell us why he

became an Israelite. Why it is that God from eternity

past chose to come through this people.

Why did God become a Jewish man? And perhaps to our surprise.

When we understand that truth, we would also be expanded in our

understanding that this was given to us by the Holy Spirit

to actually frame a certain conviction that would cause us

to view and treat others in a specific way.

You know, when realizing that and when studying that, I

couldn't believe that even understanding Jesus as a Jewish

man practically impacts my life, it actually calls me to a

certain action to perceive the world in a different way again.

Not just that, God became a man but let me reiterate God became

a Jewish man. That's a turn with your Bibles

to me and that wonderful epistle to the Romans in chapter 15.

Romans 15. beginning in verse 8, This morning or this afternoon

rather we have three answers to that question among many.

That will help us reach a level of understanding concerning the

depths and the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God.

The Bible reads in Romans 15, 84.

I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to

show God's truthfulness. In order to confirm the promises

given to the Patriarchs and in order that the Gentiles might

glorify God for his Mercy as it is written, therefore, I will

praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.

In This Very straightforward passage, we read Paul and

forming Gentile, Christians that Jesus, Jesus the Savior Jesus,

the Lord, Jesus the crucified one, Jesus.

The resurrected one came to be a servant to the circumcised and

that expression the circumcised, there is no debate about it.

It speaks of the ethnic people of Israel speaks Specific people

group, it speaks of one nation that God has chosen to fulfill a

specific purpose. And he's given the command of

circumcision to this people group as a symbol, that would

represent their Covenant relationship with the true.

God, we're told here that Jesus became a servant to this people,

but this is not the first time that Paul speaks about Jesus

Christ and his relationship with this physical Israel.

It's not the first time in this letter that he brings us subject

up. In fact earlier he spends three

chapters explaining so eloquently.

Why and how and who and when all the details surrounding how does

God relate to this people? And how does this people relate

to God? Why is that important for us to

understand again? Jesus Christ didn't come into

this world as a child as a neutral person.

He didn't disconnect himself from culture, he didn't

disconnect himself from of people.

He came specifically through this line through this race.

Through this nation. Romans 9, 10 11, is all about

that. And in Romans 9, verse 4, we

Romans 9:4

read about the privileged position that Israel enjoyed

since their election back in Genesis with a man named Abraham

in Romans 9 for you. And I read something that we are

familiar with their Israelites and to them belong.

The adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the

law, the worship. And the promises You see it to

them belong. The adoption.

And the adoption that is Spoken Here.

Concerning this nation. Is not the adoption that you

read of. And Romans 8, the spirit of

adoption is a completely different thing.

Paul tells us in that chapter that the spirit of adoption that

gives us the right to cause we sang.

God Abba, Father is an inheritance that you and I

receive upon salvation upon receiving Jesus Christ as Lord.

We are now adopted. We have now been marked with

son, Ship concerning our relationship with God, but this

adoption here is not speaking about that.

This adoption that the Holy Spirit brings up concerning this

people group deals with a special place, a position, A

peculiar purpose that Israel has amongst all the other nations

and I'm sure you are aware that the Bible is so absolutely clear

that this one nation has been lavished with.

Pacific. Wonderful realities.

One of them is what you read in verse 5, right after verse 42

them belong to Patriarchs and from their race.

According to the flesh is the Christ.

Who is God over all blessed forever.

Amen. You want a verse that says Jesus

Christ is God. You can't find it any plainer

than that. Who is God over all blessed

forever? I men.

There it is again. Christ came from this people

Christ, according to the flesh, came from Israel and it still

begs the question. Why?

And why is it important? Why are we taking a whole Sunday

morning? Just to talk about that?

Because I'm sure perhaps there's a couple in here.

Thinking, how does this actually help me?

How does this actually help my walk with the Lord?

What is this have to do with me knowing him in a deeper way?

We'll stick around. And the first reason why God

chose this people. Why God chose from eternity past

to work with the partner with this nation, is because he

wanted to display his undeserving love.

He wanted to display his unmerited compassion.

The answer to why God selected this.

People group from all the others that populated the world, at

that time to serve this peculiar Mission.

Even till this day, It's found in Deuteronomy. 7 verse 7. when

Deuteronomy 7:7

preparing to lead, the people of Israel, into the promised land,

the Lord spoke through Moses, and he tells them exactly why he

delivered them from Egypt, and he's bringing him to the

promised land, and why he has given them, this special calling

to be a light to the world, Deuteronomy 77 It was not

because you were more in number than any other people that the

Lord set his love on you and chose you for you were the

fewest of all peoples, but it is because the lord loves you.

And is keeping the oath that he swore to your father's that the

Lord has brought you out of with a mighty hand and redeemed.

You from the house of slavery, from the hand of pharaoh king of

Egypt. Israel.

I want to tell you why God is giving you this opportunity to

step across this River and go into a land flowing with milk

and honey. And here it is, because I want

you to understand, I want you to be clear.

I want you to know for certain that there is nothing impressive

on your part know where there's anything compelling about you

that would cause the Eternal God to sanctify you In such a way.

It's because he loves you. It's because he chose you.

In other words, the Lord wanted to communicate to this people

group that they had no part to play and their adoption.

You didn't contribute anything. You didn't attract me.

There was just something about you that made me say.

This is who I want my name to be associated with.

And that's why he says, in case you thought, you were something

special, you were the fewest of all the peoples.

There are many kingdoms. At that time, there are many

nations at the time, that had great power, great status, great

success, great Prosperity, but it is not because of these

things I've chosen to come at the say, this is who I'm going

to make a covenant with this is who I'm going to link myself to,

but I will tell you why. If you really want to know, I

will inform you, why? It is that, I've done all these

wonderful things. It's because the lord loves you.

That's the motive. No other explanation for God's

promotion other than the fact that he has a deep affection set

on them. Essentially what God is saying

is that he blessed this people because he freely chose to bless

this people. It's a sovereign will, it's

something that he chose to do that is his prerogative that is

his right and no man can change his right to choose whom you

serve what purpose on his behalf.

But more than that, this choice would teach Israel.

Something about the quality of the love of God.

He says you were chosen because I love you, but he doesn't

explain why he loves them. I love you, why?

Because I love you. But why?

Because I love you why because I love you.

It's not merited. It's not conditioned by

something, it's not provoked by what they could offer him.

And that's God's love, isn't it? It meets us when we least expect

it. It changes us.

When we are least deserving of it, it's an astounding love

because it comes from a God who is so holy that it doesn't make

sense. A God who doesn't need anything

chooses to love chooses to partner with people chooses to

save them and redeem them, and use them?

How can that be? So all they heard with little

explanation, is God, chose you? Because he's God and he can do

that. And God loves you, not because

you're anything special, but because he is He is love and he

wants to display his love to you and so he lavished upon them

promises Patriarchs. Covenants, worship the law to

which someone might object and say well.

Isn't this show that God loved Israel more than other nations?

Doesn't this prove that he had some special kind of love to

them to which I may surprise you and answering no.

No God. Choosing Israel to carry the

blessings is no indication. That he has reserved more

compassion, more, grace, and more Mercy for them and

comparison to everybody else. Any more than us knowing that

when God chooses to bestow certain gifts, upon one child of

God, over the other is no indication that he loves that

child, more than the other. We trust that God adorns and

that he provides certain things to one person not in the same

way as another because God has the freedom to call, whoever he

calls and to use whoever uses in a way that he thinks is

necessary for him to be glorified.

If you believe that because somebody has a public Ministry

or somebody has a specific purpose that that seems more

effective than you is an indication of God's love.

Have to go back to the basics of the Gospel.

And it is something that we fight continually, but the point

that I'm trying to make is that the scriptures simply read

concerning Israel, that in choosing them, it was an

expression of his love. And it would cause onlookers to

say, surely the Lord is good, and surely.

He is wise, and surely is merciful for inviting Abraham.

And his descendants though, unlikely to be used of all

people, to hold such an honorable position on the Earth.

In fact, would you be surprised to know that God often had to

Humble this people? Because they were very quick to

be puffed up and to look down upon foreigners and even to be

so falsely secured in their Covenant that they can live how

they want, because God chose us. God chose us so surely he's not

going to break his promise with Abraham and surely he's not

going to destroy the temple and surely he's not going to pull us

out of the land and you read that false confidence throughout

the Old Testament. And it's a picture of the false

confidence that many Believers have in that wonderful truth of

your salvation being secure. Go to Amos, chapter 9 verse 7.

Amos 9:7

I want to see with you hear how God humbles his people.

A name is 9:7, God speaks to an idolatrous Israel.

Isaiah 9:7

So steeped and false worship that he sends this Prophet to

rebuke them and not just rebuke them to Humble them.

And look what he says to this. Chosen people to this elect

people to the selected people. He says, in chapter 9 verse 7,

are you not like the kushites to me?

Oh, people of Israel. Declares the Lord.

Did I bring up Israel from the land of Egypt and the

Philistines from calf door and the syrians from Cur?

See what God is saying, first? What he's saying is, as I Look

To You Right Now, Israel in the current condition that you're

in, you are no different to me than the cushion seats.

In other words, my Covenant with you though it makes you unique.

It's not this agreement that separates you.

It's the conduct that this Covenant inspires you to that

actually separates you from the world.

But right now, as I'm looking to you, as I'm looking at you, I

see no difference between you. And the Pagan worshipers around

you, what a terrifying thing for God to say, imagine the god

looked God looking at the church today and saying the same thing.

There is no difference between you and those who don't know me,

that's exactly what he's saying here.

But that's not the main point. The main point that God brings

in this verse as much more profound than that.

Notice what he says. Did I not bring up Israel from

the land of Egypt? Yes, you did.

But there's no period. There, he continues.

And the Philistines from catheter and the syrians from

Kur. Though, Israel enjoyed a special

stance with God. And experienced the Creator and

sustainer of the universe intervening on their behalf.

With blessed guidance. God is reminding them.

You're not the only nation that is experience my mercies because

they are also under my sovereign Authority.

Think about it. He is reminding this people,

this privileged people that there are other nations who are

recipients of his mercy. So Israel, who prided herself

that that God has provided Divine Guidance.

Just learned, you're not the only one who experienced my

providential power. I actually deliver the

Philistines and brought him out of a place.

Actually delivered, the syrians from another place.

So you're not so unique in the world that my compassion and

love is exclusive just to you. Now, it's much broader than

that, and you can imagine how this must have wounded their

pride. And I bring this up to say to

you, that let this verse serve as evidence that although God

selected Israel to perform certain duties, it was not to

the extent that his love was compressed and reserved just for

them where nobody else could experience his love.

His choosing of this people was an expression of his love among

many other manifestations of his love, it's because I love you

that I chose you. And so you're wondering well,

why? Because he's sovereign Okay.

But why? Because he loved them.

But why? Because he loved them, but why?

You know, the answer to that. He chose.

He chose them to work with them. And as he did, as you do,

reading your Bible, you realize this people are now worthy.

Exactly this people, the fewest of the people there was Empires.

There were so many others that God could have chosen.

Why? That, because God was

illustrating, he was displaying, that's the quality of my love.

I give it to those who don't deserve it.

I work with those who don't deserve it.

I redeem those who don't deserve it and exam.

A Israel. Look at them.

Get a taste of my love, as I deal with them as I've chosen

them. But we come back to our main tax

to continue the thought as we come to our second point of why

Christ came as a Jew, why Christ came through this people group?

And we read In Romans 15. Verse 8, for I tell you that

Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's

truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to

the Patriarchs. so Point number two, God chose to work with his

people, not just to display his undeserving love, but to also to

demonstrate his faithfulness, Christ came.

In order to show that God is a truthful.

God, Every prophecy that Jesus Christ.

Fulfilled concerning his birth, everything from the location of

it, everything from the lineage that he would be associated with

was and still is a testimony, a memorial that When God Says

something, he keeps it. We got vows he's not going to

break it when he promises, it's going to come to pass and Paul

saying, I want you to realize that when Jesus Christ came to

this people he fulfilled what God communicated to the profits,

rather the Patriarchs Abraham. Isaac and Jacob, who heard that

there was going to be this one seed that's going to come

through them. That's going to redeem the

world. They heard it and Christ is the

Fulfillment of it. This is crucial.

This is crucial to understand why, because it doesn't just

speak of the Salvation of God. You and I, when we think about

the baby Jesus, what we see is what Simeon saw in that Temple

behold the salvation of God, right?

Yes, but it's more than that, it's much more than that. as you

see Christ in that manger as you see him being cradled by that

young virgin girl, as you try to imagine these wise men traveling

from so far to worship a two-year-old.

You and I must say to our souls. God keeps his word.

God, fulfills his promises. God gave a promise to his friend

Abraham that there would be one coming from his seed that would

cause all the families in the earth to be blessed.

And when Jesus showed up, that's the Fulfillment of the promise

among many other promises and between that declaration where

God spoke to the Patriarchs and the Fulfillment of it in Jesus

Christ, all you have to do is come to Friday night, bible

study for a few years to realize Just how Unfaithful Abraham's

descendants were to This Promise keeping God and yet the Lord did

not waver with his word and yet God didn't take back his word.

He chose to be determined. To stick with what he said.

Why? Because Israel was worthy.

No, because he is committed to his glory.

God has committed to his glory and his Integrity demands him to

keep his word when he says something.

This puts a new dimension on understanding of the Incarnation

of Christ. Yes, you see the salvation of

God in that bay, but you also see the faithfulness of God, it

happened. It came to pass.

It was fulfilled things that were said, thousands of years

ago are now manifest and as you. And I reflect on that truth, we

realized that if God was so faithful with the details of the

first coming, do you think he's going to mess up with the second

one? In fact, I challenge you today

to realize the faithfulness of your God is so powerful, so

profound that God is willing to move, Heaven and Earth to make

sure that every detail of what he has said, would come to pass,

it would not be ignored. It would not be neglected.

Every single detail of Christ's first coming came to pass.

I want to show you just one example of how God is willing to

shake the world to actually show.

Take the world in order for every Insight, every inch of

what he had said concerning his son would come to pass.

Go to Luke Chapter 2, beginning in verse 1, this is just one

Luke 2 · chapter mention

example. And Luke 2 verse 1, we read in

Luke 2:1

those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus.

And all the world that all the world should be registered.

This was the first registration when quirinius was governor of

Syria and all went to be registered each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up From Galilee from the town of

Nazareth to Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem

because he was of the House of the lineage of David, be honest,

you've read that. How many of us have just skipped

over the details? Best.

Some would argue that what these verses provide is?

Some kind of evidence that the scriptures are consistent with

historical events and historical people.

And that's that's wonderful. We can use it for that but if

you want to get Revelation from the Bible, you read a verse you

read, scripture. You read a portion of the text

and you ask. What is this reveal about?

My God, what does it say about the concrete character of my

Lord? What town did Micah the prophet

say that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem.

That obscure town that little that little village that was the

place where Jesus Christ had to be born.

Here's the problem, you have Joseph and Mary and Mary is very

pregnant. She is ready to give birth at

any moment. And the issue here is that she

is not in Bethlehem. She's in Galilee.

She's at Nazareth. And so we see that they are not

where they're supposed to be. So what does God do?

God reaches Into the Heart of the most influential person of

that day. The most feared and revered,

man, Caesar, Augustus. And he stirs his heart to make a

decree and this decree would cause all the families in the

known world. At the time to get up and move

locations. And God even gave Caesar the

authority to make such a mandate that had demanded The Obedience

of every person living under his Rule and reign.

As Jesus told pilot No Authority that you have has not been given

apart from Heaven Earth or Rising it.

Same with Caesar Augustus. So consider this that God has

ordained that Caesar, Augustus would have such a Authority.

And he stirred his heart to make this decree.

And by making this decree, it would cause a holy havoc.

Yet people planning families, packing, the roads are unusually

busy, the markets are knowing sales, like they wouldn't know

unless it's a feast time. Hotels are booked.

And now you zoom in and to this couple this young couple with a

mysterious pregnancy who are probably reluctant to get up and

move and spend energy and endanger themselves by traveling

because you have a woman ready to give birth at any moment and

yet because of this decree Joseph and Mary get up and they

get going. Why?

In the human understanding. It's because they are obeying

the Commandment of a politician. But in the Divine understanding

God, Through this providential leading is causing them to walk

in the direction where they will fulfill an ancient prophecy.

See what God was willing to do to make sure that Jesus was born

in Bethlehem. He cause Caesar Augustus, and he

caused all the families of the earth to get up and move.

I'm sure many things were accomplished in that, but the

main thing was the main thing, my son has to be born in

Bethlehem. behold how God ensures that what he declared

through his servants would come to pass even if he has to shake

the world to make it happen, should not cause our hearts to

worship. Should not cause your heart to

be in such awe of the sovereignty of God.

That even the most powerful man in the world.

At the time was subject to the control of God that no matter

what kind of authority. He boasted in no matter what

kind of power he thought he had He's she's thinking he's gonna

prove his administrative wisdom. When in reality God is

fulfilling prophecy. And shouldn't it caused us to be

comforted to know that though. Joseph and Mary were in

conveniently, let out of their home through disruption through

difficulty, where let out of their comfort to travel.

Not in the way that you and I understand travel. but through

all those circumstances in reality, God was accomplishing,

his will This is all to say that Christ came in a manner that he

came to set up an eternal memorial for all generations.

That God is faithful with his word.

When he says it, it will come to pass.

And he's so accurate. He is so accurate.

And as I said earlier, if he's accurate with the first Advent,

you think politicians are going to stop his return.

Eating the world being shaken up right now is outside of God's

control. Or could it be?

I'm not, don't stop me now because I'm not a prophet.

Nor I claimed to be a prophet, could it be that the same way

God shook the world through Caesar Augustus?

To advance his prophetic calendar.

That what we are seeing today, though you may not see a, you

don't, you don't see how good and you don't see how this, how

that plays into this just like, I'm sure Mary and Joseph didn't

understand how this senses had to do with prophecy at the time.

Could it be that? What is happening in the world?

Right now is just one step closer to the return of Our

Lord? Think about it.

Think about it and let it cause you to worship at the

sovereignty of your God. God chose to work with this

people because he wanted to display his undeserving love.

Secondly God in Christ coming to this people group is a

fulfillment of many promises saying something of his

character. God wanted to show the

generations. Do you want to see how faithful

I am to my word? You want to see how committed I

am to my glory? Let me choose this people and

watch how inconsistent and rebellious they are and watch

how I'm going to I promise is nonetheless.

But as we come back to the text, we come to our final point.

God in Christ, chose this nation to work with this nation.

To link himself to this race to show Mercy to everyone else.

We read in verse 9 in Romans 15 and here's a second reason or

third rather and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God

for his Mercy. Pause concluding his thoughts

here and he's saying as much as God worked with this people

group. God had every nation in mind.

I had a Muslim, come up to me once and asked me sincere

questions about the faith. And one of the top questions

that she had was, can you please explain to me?

Why? The god of the Bible seems to

show special attention to the Jews.

I mean, what about the rest of us?

And my answer to that question was along the lines of?

Well, you see when God did choose to bless Abraham and his

descendants. He had in his mind to bless

Every Other Nation at the same time, isn't that what he told

Abraham? And I will make you a great

nation and I will bless you and make your name great, so that

you will be a blessing. So that you will be a blessing.

That really brings Clarity. Doesn't it too?

Many misunderstandings? Why did God work with this

people group? We already determined that.

It's not because he showed favoritism no, no, it's even

more. Simple than that.

God chose to work with this people simply to make them a

vessel that would pour out the blessings on everybody else that

was first poured into her. God Sanctified, this people to

be a servant to the nation's a channel.

That would touch every tribe and tongue and culture and Country

nothing more than that. And this is a great place to

consider a principle that's not necessarily related but it's

helpful to understand. When God told Abraham, I will

make your name great when he said you will be blessed.

So that what you will be a blessing, he set a principle

that is unchanging that however you and I are blessed by God.

God always has the intent that through that blessing others

would be blessed, always Doesn't matter what you have been

blessed with, it could be a great mind, it could be certain

abilities that you are wired with.

It could be resources that are unusual but I want you to be

reminded today that whatever God has enriched you with God, had

every intent that you would build others up that you would

serve others. As Abraham's name would be

promoted. It was not for Abraham shake, it

was so that others could be blessed.

Scripture tells us that Paul tells the Corinthians you will

be enriched in every way. That's a second Corinthians 9 by

the way and he's talking about something that Christians get

uncomfortable with, he's actually talking about money.

And he says, in verse 11, you will be enriched in every way to

be generous in every way. Which through us will produce

Thanksgiving to God, that's not just limited to giving that's

giving and every aspect your spiritual gifts your time, your

energy. You have been enriched in every

way for what purpose, so that you can, you can be comfortable

no to be generous in every way. Abraham you're going to be

blessed. You're going to have the

sentence, like, the stars and that black Sky, why?

So that others would be blessed the election of Israel Christ.

Working with this people was not isolated because he has some

favoritism with this people. They were the chosen vessel,

that would touch the world. But this truth about God working

with this people is important to realize, you know, why?

Because you have many Christians who are under the

misunderstanding that. Because if you're not doing

here, by the way by Blood, you're a gentile.

And you have many Christians who believe that our inclusion into

the promises of God was God's plan B.

In other words, God, he really wanted to just work with the

Israel prize Israel primarily and because they rejected Jesus

at the first coming, God's like, well, I have to work with

somebody. So let's just open the doors for

the Gentiles. That is not true.

God had every single one of us in mind from the beginning.

And if there's any doubt about that, may I reach you a prophecy

700 years before the Incarnation of Christ that really deals with

this, with certainty and Isaiah 49:6.

Isaiah 49:6

We read, he says it is too light.

A thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes

of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel.

He's talking about the Messiah. He's saying, you know, it's too

light for you. My servant the Lord Jesus Christ

to only revive and bring back to me one nation.

That's too easy for you. I will make you a light for the

Nations. That my salvation May reach to

the end of the Earth. Can you imagine how standing

that is God? The Father speaks of his son.

He says it's too light for you. To win the hearts of a

rebellious people in Israel. Your glory is too great, your

light is to radiating and so when you do come your ministry,

your sacrifice will touch the four corners of the earth, and I

have every intention for that to be so, You know, when I read

this, I thought to myself if that is a light thing for Jesus,

then why do I worry consider that you have troubles this

morning? Are you burdened by difficulty?

Are you before a wall that you do not know how God will help

you climb. Remember this verse.

It's a light thing. For the Son of God to win an

entire nation to him. And if that's a light thing,

then what's your problem? Is it too complicated for God to

conquer? Is it too difficult for God to

solve? We have difficulty seeing one

person saved in our lifetime and we are told here of the servant

that he will one day and that is a future thing.

He will one day have the nation of Israel, bow their knee and

declare that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah and that's a light

thing by the way. When I read this, I thought to

myself. This was partially fulfilled.

This is partially fulfilled. In fact, look how the Holy

Spirit quotes Isaiah 49:6 in the book of Acts chapter 13, you're

Isaiah 49:6 Acts 13 · chapter mention

going to be touched by this. I hope and acts 13:47 Paul, just

Acts 13:47

finished with Barnett is preaching to Jews and guess

what? They resisted, they rejected.

And so he rebukes them. And he tells them, you know

what? Enough is enough.

We're going to the Gentiles. We're going to preach to the the

other nations. It was right that you would

receive the Gospel first, but now is the time for other

nations to receive the Soul, Saving truth.

And look what he quotes and verse 47 of chapter 13 for soul.

The Lord has commanded us saying, I've made you a light

for the Gentiles that you may bring Salvation to the ends of

the Earth. He quotes Isaiah 49:6.

Isaiah 49:6

Did you see that little phrase though?

You go to Isaiah 49:6 and it's clear.

Isaiah 49:6

It's talking about the Messiah, the person of Jesus Christ,

being the light to the nation's and being the one that would

bring Salvation to the ends of the Earth, and look at how Paul

by the spirit quotes that application he says for.

So, the Lord has commanded who us How can you say that?

How can you say us when that prophecy is?

So, clearly about Jesus, Paul? You're treading on Dangerous

Ground here. But no, pause not a heretic.

He's being moved by the spirit to say that he understood that.

There's a partial fulfillment here for who the church.

In other words, do you want to know how Christ will reach the

ends of the world with this salvation?

That would include all peoples? Through his mystical body.

Through his current mystical body on the earth, this will be

partially accomplished as the Great Commission is honored and

fulfilled by my people. That's why Paul could say the

Lord commanded us to bring this light to the ends of the Earth.

Does that not make you feel privileged to be a part of the

Church of Jesus Christ? That you and I have a

international mission on the earth that we have a global

mandate on the earth that Christ.

So chooses to work with us. That even a prophecy that deals

with him is partially fulfilled in 2021.

Buy a Tesla filled Apple plague generation.

This mission is still happening and you're a part of it and I'm

a part of it. And look at the reaction of

verse 48. And when the Gentiles heard

this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord.

And as many as were appointed to eternal life believed they

rejoiced, I can just I can just imagine that scene as as Paul's

confronting these Jews. There are Gentiles watching this

confrontation and then Paul quotes, Isaiah 49:6, and as a

Isaiah 49:6

result, you had Gentiles high-fiving each other.

We're in. We we get to be saved, we get to

know the promises. We get to be known as a chosen,

people of God as well. We're part of this.

And they began to rejoice and glorify the word of the Lord.

This is what the Christmas season is about.

That as we are reminded of the gospel and as people come in to

hear the gospel because they don't show up any other time of

the year, they would rejoice and glorify God, as the truth is

declared that all men can be saved. but yeah, God came as a

Jewish man but in in that plan he was just a vessel to serve

the world. And to bring them in to know the

mercy of God. Because God wanted to

demonstrate his unmerited. Love, Jesus became a Jew because

God chose Israel has that vessel that would Usher in the Messiah

to illustrate, to the world. The faithfulness of God, he made

promises to ancient people and thousands of years later.

When, when Christ appears on the scene now only do we see the

salvation of God, we see the faithfulness of God.

And lastly to stir the nation's, through the relationship.

With Israel, they too would be able to say, I want to share in

the blessings that this nation has known.

And Christ says, come all who thirst come all who are weary

doesn't matter where you're from the invitation belongs to you.

But why is Paul in conclusion talking about all of this at

this point in the Book of Romans?

This is what we're Landing here. Why is he bringing this up?

Is he trying to satisfy some Complicated theological topic.

Is he just giving information for the sake of giving

information? No, and this is what we believe

as a church. The reason why he goes really

deep. The really, the reason why goes

to this nuanced thing is because he has an application in mind,

in fact, all that you just heard this afternoon.

Everything about why Jesus became a Jew, why God chose

Israel and why, that was the seed that he worked with all of.

That was the motivation for the church to behave in a certain In

way. Which proves to us that no

matter how much theology, we discover and preach and learn

and read. Its end is always application,

always, it's not just data dump, it's not just like the Athenians

who want to hear something new. It caused us, it commands us in

a specific area of life to reflect what?

We just learned, go back to Romans 15 and I want you to see

why Paul brought this up. In verse 7.

He's telling this church. That's mixed that has people who

believe that there are some days that are holding some foods that

you can eat. And there are some who say all

days are alike and it doesn't matter what you eat got

Sanctified at all. And he says, in verse 7,

therefore, welcome one. Another as Christ has welcomed

you for the glory of God. And then he goes on to say, for

I tell you, in verse 8, it's a continuation of thought.

Listen to how astounding this is all that we just heard was Paul

by the spirit trying to illustrate to the Christians.

Of how they can be more accepting toward one another.

Church you and I should welcome one another.

You and I should accept one another, you and I should be

hospitable reconcilable toward one another.

In other words, if there's somebody that comes in here and

they might not share your culture.

And so there's a disconnect, you don't fail to greet them because

of that, you don't fail to serve them because of that.

Just because there's so many that comes in or was part of

this ministry and they don't have the same taste or the

hobbies that you enjoy. It doesn't mean that you

disassociate yourself with them, it doesn't mean that you failed

to embrace them doesn't mean that you don't serve them.

You welcome them. You walk up one another, you

accept broaden your arms. If you think this is an issue,

right? It is an issue.

It's an issue in many churches. Broaden your arms.

Why you want motivation? That's what Jesus did.

That's what Christ did. He came.

Into this world as a Jew, but he opened his arms to gentiles.

He came with a specific. Mission.

And I'm mission was not just to deal with one people, but to

touch as many people as possible.

Christ isn't reserved his Mercy. He didn't Reserve his love.

He didn't Reserve his forgiveness.

He didn't Reserve his attention, his energy, his time.

He even died to welcome, anybody who's willing to accept that,

welcome. and so as you and I read something, As what it may

seem irrelevant to my life. What is Jesus Christ?

Becoming a Jew. Have to do with me practical.

You just heard it. Look at his example.

Now imitate him. Now imitate him. and so you and

I today, And this week we are not just celebrating God who

became man Hugh and I are celebrating God who became a

Jewish man. And I hope that you have that

much more clarity to see something about the wisdom of

God, the goodness of God. And that it would cause you to

fall more in love with him and I just fall in love with him, but

to imitate him. So let's prepare our hearts to

give thanks for these truths. Louis.

Thank you, this afternoon, we get to reflect on something that

perhaps we've never asked or bothered to inquire about Below,

we see that Christ became a servant to the circumcised.

Because he wants to display. A love that is undeserving.

because he wanted to show he wanted to make a statement about

his faithfulness, and so he recruits a people and through

that people, he shows his unwavering Covenant of Love And

the glory that he longs to show through his own commitment to

his word. And Lord we think about how

through the relationship that you shared with Israel.

It would cause a nation's to say, this is what I want.

I want the true Living God. Now, you do not tease the world,

you did not withhold yourself from the world, but you open

your arms to the world. And so Lord, we bask in your

wisdom this afternoon and we want to worship you.

Because there's no detail in this book.

There's no detail about who you are that fails to touch our

hearts. And so receive our adoration as

we give, thanks. As we reflect upon you becoming,

not just a man, but A man among the Jews.

We bless you now as a church who strives to welcome one another

as Christ welcomed Us. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Can we stand as We Worship the

Lord together?