First Baptist Church of El Dorado - Sermons
Tune in each week as Pastor Taylor Geurin leads us into a study of God's Word.
First Baptist Church of El Dorado - Sermons
A Magnificent Arrival: Embracing Greatness Through Humility: Lessons from Jesus’ Birth | Luke 2:1-7
What if the most profound act of greatness was hidden in the humblest of beginnings? Discover how the biblical account of Jesus' birth in Luke 2:1-7 reveals the divine blueprint for true sovereignty and humility. By drawing parallels to modern narratives like "Undercover Boss," we examine how high-ranking figures entering lowly environments have been echoed throughout time and originally stem from this sacred story. We unravel the geographical challenges posed by Old Testament prophecies and celebrate the remarkable way God's plan guided Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, fulfilling ancient promises and affirming our faith in His unwavering commitment to keeping His word.
Join us as we unpack the theme of greatness through humility, evident in the unexpected simplicity of Jesus' birth and echoed throughout His life and teachings. Reflect on cultural touchstones like the WWJD movement, reminding us to align our actions with the servant Savior's example. We invite you to embrace the qualities of humility and service, inspired by Jesus' life of love and compassion. Through heartfelt discussions and prayer, celebrate the essence of Christmas, a time of hope and redemption, and be encouraged to live a life marked by humility, gratitude, and unwavering faith.
1st Baptist Baptist El Dorado, will you join me now in listening to our sermon from this week, if you'll open with me this morning to Luke, chapter 2, we'll be looking at verses 1 through 7 this morning. In Luke, chapter 2, I'm going to read verse 7 for us before we begin. Luke chapter 2, verse 7 says this and she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the end. Let's pray together. Lord Jesus, thank you for your word. Speak to us this morning. Transform us by your word. Lord, let us see the sovereignty and the humility of our Savior, holy Spirit, please give me the words. I ask in Christ's name, amen.
Speaker 1:In February of 2010, cbs debuted a new television series. They debuted it right after the Super Bowl there in February of 2010. And if you ever want a good rating on night one, let the Super Bowl be your lead in. That was smart on their part, but this new show really went on for, I think, 10 or 11 seasons. I imagine many people in the room have watched it or at least you probably know the premise of it. It's called Undercover Boss. Maybe you know this show. The premise is simply this A CEO of a major major company I'm talking major major Things you use every day, companies you know well they would go undercover.
Speaker 1:They would create a fictional story Even they get really creative to create a fictional story of why in the world there's a film crew here at my job today. But they would go undercover to really entry-level positions at their company and just see what life was like. Boots on the ground, on the ground floor of a company, and sometimes it might be a little awkward. Things were different than the CEO thought from. You know the ivory tower of his office. Sometimes it was heartwarming where the CEO would just have these beautiful tear-jerking stories of these individuals, that they would get to see what life is like for so many that work under them. It was a beautiful thing when the CEO and the boss would go to these entry-level positions and just see what life was like. But the reality is this In terms of thinking about an elevated one going to a lowly position, that idea didn't start with some CBS network executive in 2010.
Speaker 1:The idea of the high up one, the one in charge in authority, being willing to enter into the lowly lives of those under him. That didn't begin in 2010. We read that really began long before. We read in Luke, chapter 2, where the ultimate high and lifted up one would be willing to come, be born of woman, to come to you and I, the lowly of the lowly. And yet this is exactly where Christ came.
Speaker 1:Today, in these seven verses, I want us to simply see this God's sovereignty and his simplicity. I want us to see a sovereign arrival and a simple arrival. First of all, a sovereign arrival. Look with me at the beginning of Luke 2, but I just want to begin this with this way. We've got a problem. You and I have a problem this morning, and it's really. I'm nervous about it. It seems to be a problem with the Word of God. I shouldn't say that, but it's just the truth, because last week we learned that you know, in the kingdom of God, all promises are kept. That's what we learned, that's what I believed this time last week, and yet I've got a problem this morning. It's a problem of geography, because we read these Old Testament prophets, like Isaiah that was just read this morning of a promised one who is coming.
Speaker 1:And we read another prophet, micah, in Micah 5.2. He says something interesting. 700 years before the birth of Christ, micah says this but you, o Bethlehem, ephratah, ephratah, just being the region, you, o Bethlehem, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Basically, micah is prophesying, 700 years before the birth of Christ, that out of Bethlehem will come the ultimate ruler, the one we've been waiting for since this ancient of days. For a long time in the past we've been waiting on this one, and where's it coming? Again? Bethlehem. Here's my problem this morning.
Speaker 1:Gabriel came to Mary last week at a place called Nazareth. Now I know geography enough to know Nazareth and Bethlehem are not the same place, and so I've got two options this morning with my problem, and we're going to figure this out. Option number one is this that God will not keep his promise. Now, from the start, I don't love that option. I'm not excited about that one. I hope that's not what we end up with. Number one God does not keep his promise. The second option is this God's going to find a way to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. I'm really hoping that one pans out this morning Either God does not keep his promise or God, in his sovereign care, will find a way to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
Speaker 1:And now we read Luke 2, beginning in verse 1. In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus 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 and lineage of David. Now, from the start in Luke 2, beginning in verse 1, I just want to comment on this. What I love is that it says this in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus. These are real people. This is real history. This is a real story of a real place.
Speaker 1:What do we read in fairy tales, in fictional accounts? Our stories begin like this once upon a time. Then the story continues. What do we read here? A real event, real people. You can look them up in your textbook Caesar Augustus, the governor, quirinius. This is a real story. This is a historic narrative that we have before us, but we also see a picture of God's sovereignty.
Speaker 1:Because just when we were nervous about how in the world are Mary and Joseph going to get to Bethlehem, we read that Caesar wants a census, that Caesar, out of the blue, just decides. I probably better know just how many people are around here. I probably better count them up. And because of this census, everyone needs to return to their hometown. And because Joseph, mary's fiancee, betrothed future husband, because he is from Bethlehem, he and Mary must return to Bethlehem to be. But it's amazing just how significant this is.
Speaker 1:Think who Caesar Augustus is. He's a big deal. He's a big deal. He's the great-grand-nephew of Julius Caesar, then the adopted son of Julius Caesar. He takes over the throne as the Roman emperor in 27 BC. He reigns until AD 14. He is the emperor in Rome, at a time where Rome had a greater land mass than the continental United States. He oversaw the whole Roman Empire. If Caesar said it, it happened. If Caesar said it, there was a delegation of people, an army of people that would do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Speaker 1:Augustus, caesar, augustus, augustus means this supreme, sublime, majestic one. That's quite a title Supreme, sublime, majestic one. Basically, in the world's eyes, caesar is the sovereign one. In the world's eyes, caesar is a god, a lowercase g god. Caesar is, above all, the head of the empire of Rome. But who is Caesar Augustus in the eyes of God?
Speaker 1:In the story we read this morning, he's a stage prop Able to be used to do the Lord's bidding, to get someone from here to there. He's a line in a verse. In God's sovereignty, god is not worried about Caesars or Kings or Quiriniuses, or Pontius Pilate or anyone else. If God needs to work out the pieces and move the puzzle around, he can do it. To work out the pieces and move the puzzle around, he can do it and he's done it many times.
Speaker 1:Throughout scripture we see God using people in high places when the people of God needed to be saved from a coming famine. What did he do? He used Pharaoh at the time to find this guy, joseph, who was sitting in a prison cell, and raise him up to second in command so that the people of God could be saved. When a new Pharaoh arose that did not know Joseph but wanted to enslave the people of God, what did God do? Harden the heart of this king Pharaoh, so that God would get even more glory as the people come out of Egypt.
Speaker 1:When Cyrus, king of Persia, sat on the throne and Assyria and then Babylon had taken the people of God into exile, then Cyrus, king of Persia, takes over and he's got nothing to do with Yahweh. He doesn't care this or that if Yahweh is on the throne, but he's still a piece in the hand of God that God can use for his bidding. And so Cyrus has this idea. What if we just let the people of God go, rebuild Jerusalem and this pagan king lets the people of God go home? Why? Because God is over kings. Here's the ultimate example when Pontius Pilate thought he was in charge, he put the Lord of glory on a cross. Thought he was in charge, he put the Lord of glory on a cross. And yet that was exactly what God had in mind to bring many sons to glory, to bring redemption to the world.
Speaker 1:God is sovereign. Above all. God is not impressed by Caesars or presidents, or kings or rulers, anywhere. God will do what God wants to be done. Because here's the thing Caesar Augustus died in AD 14. His reign ended. God is still on the throne even now. His reign will never end. He is above all. And so I see the sovereignty of God even in the movement of the pieces to get the pieces in place so that all of God's promises can come to light.
Speaker 1:But do you see God's sovereignty even in your own life? I'm not talking about kings on thrones and Caesars. I'm talking about in your own life, in your own story, as you look back over the course of history in your own life, where maybe you didn't see it in the moment. But you look back and see that every step of the way God was moving and working on the throne and God was working in your life to bring you even to this moment and moments you didn't think you'd make it through. God was working in the midst of it. One pastor, john Piper, says it like this that God is always doing 10,000 things in your life and you might know about three of them. God is doing 10,000 things in your life and you might be aware, you might know about three of them that the sovereign God, who moves kings and nations in place, also is moving within your life, within your story, and even when you walk through things that if you were writing the story of your life, you might would have done it differently. You might would have chosen a different path, and yet the sovereign God is still working and moving.
Speaker 1:My question is this can we trust the sovereignty of God? Can we trust the fact that the one who sits on the throne can have full control of our lives, because sometimes we like to compartmentalize things? God take control of everything except for this one thing. If I could just keep control of this, whatever this is, if I could just keep control of the finances, god, take everything else the career. Take everything else this family situation. You take everything else the career. Take everything else this family situation. You take everything else, god. But can we trust God with everything? Can we trust that the God who literally can move Caesar Augustus to do his bidding, can handle my own circumstances in my own life? Can we trust him, even when we can't trace him, when we can't see where he's going? Because here's the good news In the kingdom of God, God is in control. In the kingdom of God, we have a God who, at every moment, at every second of every day, is in control of our lives, even to the point that he can move kings to do his bidding.
Speaker 1:So we see a sovereign arrival in terms of Jesus coming to us. Kings are moved and pieces are put in place, but we also see this a simple arrival and pieces are put in place, but we also see this a simple arrival. A simple arrival. Let's go to verse four again. I'll read that again and continue through seven. 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 and lineage of David to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth and she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them. In the end, I want us to see the simplicity of this arrival First.
Speaker 1:Luke will not let us get away from the fact that Joseph is of the lineage of David. He won't let us get away from it. It's all Gabriel talked about last week and now he reminds us once again. But it is critical because we talked about God's sovereignty and God moving the pieces and God's sovereignty weaving throughout the tapestry of scripture, this family that's started in 2 Samuel, chapter 7, in a covenant with David that he will be a king that will always have a king upon the throne, and all the way to Jesus, even now, through Joseph, that this is the promised one who is coming, even now, through Joseph, that this is the promised one who is coming. And so this Joseph and his betrothed wife Mary, they load up and they head down to Bethlehem. It's about a 70-mile journey. It's from maybe here to Monroe or here to Texarkana, and if you say, well, that's not all that long, try it. You know, nine months pregnant and on a donkey and see how long you think that is. And it's the 70 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And they arrived there in verse six and we see this. And while they were there Now let's talk about that phrase for a second while they were there, because in one sense and I hate to do this we may ruin a little bit of your thoughts that you've formed in your head about the night of Jesus' birth.
Speaker 1:Because the reality is and I think I always thought this that we almost envision a midnight ride with Mary and Joseph, this midnight ride where Mary is riding a donkey, but with Mary and Joseph, this midnight ride where, you know, mary is riding a donkey but is already in labor. We got to find somewhere quick and they knock on the door of the Haywood, bethlehem, and there's no room there. And it's this midnight and fast and moving. The reality is, while they were there, so they had been there a little bit of time no midnight ride here but this story is equally as powerful that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth Verse 7, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the end. Now, I just made a joke about the haywood.
Speaker 1:The reality is it's likely not so much a hotel as we think of them, it's probably more. There was no guest quarters in one of Joseph's relatives' home. There maybe have been many people in town because of the census, and none of Joseph's relatives had a guest quarters available, and so they got to sleep where the animals were kept. It could have been a stable as we sometimes think of it. It could have even been a cave out back, a cave that had this manger feeding trough in it. But whatever it was, verse 7 strikes me Because, if I'm being honest, it just seems so simple.
Speaker 1:If I could say this and forgive me for saying this, I don't mean to sound rude, maybe this is not something a pastor should say there's something about verse 7 that just sounds a little anticlimactic, isn't it? I mean, it's just. We've been waiting on this moment. All of scripture. You go back to Genesis, 3.15,. Adam and Eve have just sinned, sin has entered into the world. God looks to the serpent, 3.15, and says one will come from the seed of woman who will crush the head of Satan. And ever since then we've been waiting on this promised one, and Abraham and his family, and the patriarchs, and to David and to the prophets and exile and return. Then we've been waiting on this promised one and Abraham and his family and the the patriarchs, and to David and to the prophets and exile and return. And we've been waiting and waiting and waiting, and all this moment.
Speaker 1:I want chapters on this, this, this night. I want books written about this night. What do we get? Verse 7 it's just Mary doing what moms do very quickly. Verse 7 she gave birth to a son, as moms do. She wrapped him up in swaddling clothes. She laid him in a manger not even a crib, likely a feeding trough where the animals would come feed. And that was our Savior's first bed. That's where he spent his first night. Why? Because there was no room in the inn. There wasn't a guest room available.
Speaker 1:There's something so simple about this, isn't it? The reality is I think that's the point Because in a world of Caesars and Quiriniuses and Pilates, a new king has landed, a different kind of king, who hasn't come in some grand, noble way. He hasn't come with paparazzi lined up to get pictures or social media influencers wanting to be the first at the scene. He hasn't. You know, cnn and Fox News have not arrived yet. There's not this grand reveal of Jesus. In this moment it's a very simple, simple night. It's Mary and Joseph, it's a stable or cave, it's a manger and it's the king of the universe Right there.
Speaker 1:It's one quick verse, but here's why this is important that in the kingdom of God, greatness is displayed through humility. In the kingdom of God, greatness is displayed through humility. In the kingdom of God, greatness is displayed through humility. That didn't end in Bethlehem. Matthew 5,.
Speaker 1:Jesus preaches his first sermon the Beatitudes. Who is it that is blessed? It's not the impressive, the elite, the noble, the high up. It's those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the poor in spirit. It's the humble ones that are blessed In John 13,. The night before he'd be put on a cross, what does Jesus do? He washes the feet We've talked about this so the very ones who would soon betray him.
Speaker 1:Isaiah 53, 600 years before the birth of Christ, when Isaiah is talking about a savior that is coming, what does he describe? An impressive king who's coming with sword and is coming to overthrow governments? No, no, no. He describes a suffering servant, no form of majesty that we should really recognize him, him, the one who would be pierced for our transgressions. Where do we most see the humble nature of jesus? It's, it's actually not in the manger, it's actually on the cross, where the lord of glory would humble himself philippians 2 even to the point of death, death on a cross. Yet it is through that death that you and I can have life In the kingdom of God. Greatness is displayed through humility. A new king has landed, a new kingdom is being ushered in.
Speaker 1:I remember back in the 90s I was a kid and there was a new trend that just absolutely took over. We couldn't get enough of these. We'd buy them, and then we'd buy more, and then we'd buy more. You may remember them too. They were a fashion accessory. I love my fashion accessories, but this one specifically, but this one specifically, WWJD. And we had them. We had them in every color. We had them 10 deep, going up our arm. We had them. They were selling everywhere People who really had nothing to do with Jesus and wanted nothing to do with Jesus. Even they were putting on these WWJD bracelets.
Speaker 1:What would Jesus do and it's a fair question, and I think we should always ask that question what would Jesus do? That'd probably help us all in life. Anytime we come up to a situation, we don't know what direction to go, we don't know how to respond, we don't know what to say or do. Next, a good question is hey, if Jesus were standing where I'm standing today in my shoes, what would Jesus do? That's a great question, but I think even more than that to think through, what would Jesus do? Let's also look what has Jesus already done?
Speaker 1:And as Jesus came to this earth, as Jesus was born of Mary, as Jesus grew up, as Jesus ministered to those around him, what did he do? Time and time again, he took the place of the servant. He took the place of humility. It started in a stable in Bethlehem, but it didn't end there. He took the place of that servant, willing to go low to serve those around him.
Speaker 1:And so my question is this if you and I, if our goal is to be like Jesus, if our desire, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ, then what will that mean for us? That you and I will take the form of a servant that, to do what Jesus did, to go where he went, to live the way he did, to serve the way that he serves, looks like you and me being ready and willing to take a very humble position in a world that applauds pride, being willing to go low in a world that applauds those who finish on top, being willing to serve those around us, to serve those within this building, to serve those outside of this building, to serve those within our community, to be a church that exists for serving those around us, not for the sake that First Baptist Eldorado can be put on this pedestal and say, isn't that a model church? No, but for the sake that we could go low and say we just want to be the best church for our community and serve our community as best we can and be individuals that point to Christ, as we're willing to serve the least of those around us. That's what Jesus did. He didn't wait for his public ministry to do that. The first time he was ever let go of out of his mother's arms, where was he put? The feeding trough for animals. He is forever and always the servant who served us most, once again on the cross, and through that cross, forgiving sins through, through his resurrection, defeating sin. Now you and I, who have that redemption, empowered by his spirit, are sent out to take that same form of humility that he showed us. So I just want to ask you what does that look like in your life? What does that look like on the ground for you? What does that look like around your coworkers? What does that look like in the ground for you? What does that look like around your coworkers? What does that look like in your home with your family? What does that look like with your children? What does it look like with your family, your wider families you assemble during the holidays? What does it look like in this church? What does it look like in our community. What does it look like for you to take the form of a servant, just as our Savior did?
Speaker 1:I'm thankful for what Christ has done. I'm thankful that he didn't show up in some grand form of power, some impressive display. He will Second coming, he will. But I'm thankful he didn't come to just show us how incredibly impressive he is. He is that for sure. But I'm thankful that Christ came as the humble servant. Why? Because I need a humble Savior. Because in my sinful condition outside of Christ, I needed someone that was ready and willing to go low, because that's where I was. In your life, outside of Christ. What you needed more than anything was a Savior that wouldn't look down on you from an ivory tower but would come right where you are, right to the stable of your life, the manger of your living room, right to your heart. That would find you where you are. You needed that humble Savior and in Christ you got a sovereign arrival. But you got a simple arrival, a humble arrival, a Savior that would come for you and for me and that changes everything. Maybe for you this morning you want to meet that Savior for the first time. He came for you too. Maybe for you this morning.
Speaker 1:You want to be a part of a church family that is ready and willing to serve, and that's the kind of church you want to be a part of. We you want to be a part of. We want you to be a part of a church like this one. Maybe for you, you just want somebody to pray with you. I'd love nothing more than to do that.
Speaker 1:I'm going to be right down front as we sing in just a moment, but however you'd like to respond, maybe it's you just praying right where you're at. I'm just praying, lord, you are the servant savior. I'm just praying. Lord, you are the servant savior. Show me how to live like you. Give me, lord, even this week, ways to serve you well, ways to humble myself and be the kind of servant that you've taught me to be. However, you need to respond, I pray you. Do it in just a moment. Let me pray for us.
Speaker 1:Lord Jesus, we thank you. We thank you for this morning. We thank you for your Savior, god. You are sovereign, you're also humble. You are mighty, but you're also near. You are high and lifted up, but there is also an intimacy to our relationship with you and, lord, we don't deserve it, we couldn't earn it, but thank you that you provide it, thank you that in my lowest of positions you found me. And for all in here who know you personally, they could say too that at their lowest, dead, in trespasses and sins, you found them. And so, lord, teach us what it means to respond to you with a life of service, with a life of love and care and compassion for a lost world around us. Thank you for Christmas, for what it means. Thank you for the Savior. We pray this in Christ's name Amen. Would you stand now as we sing?