Jesus Who?  BABY IN  BETHLEHEM           	 Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  12-24-00  A.M.     		Matthew 2:1-12    		
	Jesus... The "Seed" of the Woman; The Son of God; The Supernatural One... WOW!  Who Is 
This Jesus To YOU???  Well... there is more.. He is The Baby In Bethlehem.... born in the "shadow" of 
Herod (the great).  He had been designated... Herod, the “king of the Jews.”  There is great contrast between
Herod... and Jesus!  
	But notice why Jesus was born as the "Baby In Bethlehem"... 
I.  TO FULFILL BIBLICAL PROPHECY.. (Authenticity) 
	Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, 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 goings forth have 
	been from of old, from everlasting. (KJV) 
II. TO TAKE ON HUMAN NATURE..  (Relationship)
 ** Announcement to Lowly Shepherds of Judea... and Directions to the "foreign wise men".. powerful 
	men from near Babylon? 
  A. With His Earthly Parents.. 
    1. They assumed responsibility for His care and "up-bringing" 
    2. He was submissive to them..  Luke 2:51 
    3. He grew up as other children did and do..  
	- Luke 2:52  In wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man 
  B. With The Religious Leaders.. 
    1. They were intrigued by His wisdom... at 12.. Luke 2:41-48 
    2. They were enraged by His claims... at 30.. Jn.8:59; 10:31 
  C. With The Government Rulers.. 
    1. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's... Mt.22:21 
  D. With His Followers.. teaching, mentoring, discipling 
  E. With His Enemies..  at the cross.. "Father Forgive them.." Lu.23:34 
III. TO RECEIVE A BODY..  (Propitiation).. 1Jn.2:1,2 
  A. For An Acceptable Sacrifice.. Heb.10:5-10; (Psalm 40:6-8); Eph.1:6 
  B. For Our Salvation..  Eph.2:16; Col.1:22; 1Pet.2:24 
  C. For Our Sanctification..  Heb.10:5-10,14; 13:12; Eph.5:25,26 
IV.  TO ASSUME THE BLOODLINE OF DAVID..  (Authority) 
  A. Jesus Was Born.. "King of the Jews"; Herod was only appointed.. 
  B. Jesus Was Born of Jacob's line (David).. Herod of Esau (Edomite) 
    1. The promise Isaac & Rebekah.. the younger would rule the elder.. 
	- Gen.25:23 (to Rebekah); 27:29 (Isaac's blessing); Num.24:14-19 (Balaam's "blessing" in the
	   presence of Balak) 
  C. Jesus Will One Day Occupy The Throne! 
	- Is.9:6,7; Mt.1:1,20; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30,31; 21:9,15; 22:42; Jn.7:42; Ro.1:3,4; Rev.5:5; 22:16 

HEROD CAME.. LEFT HIS LEGACY OF BUILDINGS.. HE IS GONE.. NO IMPACT! 
   JESUS CAME.. LEFT NO BUILDINGS.. HE LIVES.. IMPACTED THE WORLD! 
	(IT HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME... and NEITHER WILL YOU!)
      HAS HE MADE AN IMPACT ON YOU YET?  IF NOT... NOW IS THE TIME!

	“He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman,
	He grew up in still another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop
	until he was thirty.  Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher.
		He never wrote a book.
		He never held an office
		He never had a family or owned a house.
		He didn’t go to college.
		He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place where he was born.
		He did none of the things usually associated with greatness.
		He had no credentials but Himself.
		He was only 33 when public opinion turned against Him.
		When He was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing.
		When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend,
	YET.. all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever
	sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much
	as that ONE SOLITARY LIFE.”