SINGLE SERMON SERIES
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
DR. JIM DIXON
MICAH 5:2
DECEMBER 22, 1991
Every Christmas as you drive along, you can see Christmas signs and greetings. Sometimes you see signs that say, “Merry X-mas.” The letter X has been a sacred letter for Christians throughout the centuries. It has been a symbol of Christ and Christianity throughout the Christian era. For the early Christians, the X reminded them of the cross of Christ. In the Greek language, the name of Christ begins with the Greek letter Kai, which looks exactly like the letter X. For this reason throughout the centuries, even up until the 20th century, when Christian people signed documents next to their signature, they wrote an X. They were saying that this is signed under Christ and in the sight of Christ, it was like a note of republic and made the document official. Sometimes Christians would actually kiss the X, sealing it with a kiss.
Today there are other ways to make documents official. And today, with the exception of Christmas, which is sometimes spelled “X-mas” the letter X has lost its association with Christ and Christianity. Strangely enough, the X has retained its association with kisses. And many people at the end of their letters will, will put X’s and O’s, which refers to hugs and kisses.
I must say frankly that the secularization of the letter X means very little to me. My assumption is that it means very little to you. We don’t need to be overly concerned with the fact that the X no longer generally refers to Christ or Christianity. But we should be very much concerned with the secularization of Christmas itself. We should be very much concerned with the fact that Christmas is sometimes now disassociated from Christ and from Christianity. Now, I don’t mean to be a scrooge. I love Christmas trees, house decorations and food and I love family get-togethers. I love exchanging gifts and giving gifts. But none of these things wonderful as they are, were never meant to replace or be a substitute for Jesus Christ. Christmas has to do with Christ.
This morning I want us to focus on Christ. I want us to focus on this baby born in Bethlehem through the eyes of a man whose name was Micah. Now this is really unusual because Micah was actually born 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. But you see, Micah was a prophet and by prophetic utterance, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he was able to look through the portals of time and he saw the birth of the Christ child. Micah describes this baby born in Bethlehem in three ways. First of all, he describes this person as a shepherd King. Jesus Christ, the one born in Bethlehem is the shepherd King. “You oh Bethlehem of Ephrathah though you are little among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth from me. One who is to rule, he will rule and he will be great to the ends of the earth. But he will rule as a shepherd. He shall stand, feed and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, the shepherd King.”
Richard the first ruled as King of England for a decade from 1189 to 1199. And like Winston Churchill, Richard I became a legend in his own lifetime. After his father Henry II died in 1189, Richard I ascended the throne at thirty-one years of age. He was exceptionally tall, strong in body, and splendidly handsome. He had reddish golden hair and his eyes were piercing blue. Today he could star in Hollywood. Richard I was also hallowed and venerated because he was a crusader. He was the first prince in Western Europe who took up the cause of the cross in 1187. He was a champion of Christ and his valor was renowned throughout the civilized world. He was Richard the lionhearted, courageous in battle, loved by his people and feared by his enemies.
However, he wasn’t a shepherd king. He had very little love for the British people. He ruled England for ten years and in that time he spent less than six months in England. He spent most of his time in the Holy Land, France or anywhere else. The truth was he didn’t like England or the British people. They loved him. They held him in awe. He was a superhero. He was bigger than life and they loved him unconditionally. It didn’t matter how he treated them, they still loved him even though he didn’t love them. He was rugged in body and he viewed the British people as kind of flabby and wimpy. He drained their treasuries to fund his wars and his crusades. He was a warrior King, but he was not a shepherd King.
And when you stop to think about it, throughout history, there have been very few shepherd kings, very few kings, queens, monarchs, majesties, or rulers that have had a shepherd’s heart for their people. Even those very few who have had a shepherd’s heart for the people did not have the power to provide for their people. Micah is saying this one born in Bethlehem is unique and truly the Shepherd King. The Bible tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be clutched. He emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of a man. Our Lord Jesus Christ told us that he came into our world not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends.” The Shepherd King laid down his life and gave his life for his sheep. He didn’t come with a sword or a spear. He came with a wash bowl and a towel.
Now, I would guess that most of you want him to be your shepherd. I trust and pray that most of you have him as your shepherd. God wants the message of Christmas to be clear and I must tell you, you can’t have him as your shepherd unless you’ve taken him as your King. He’s the Shepherd King. He provides for his flock, but you only become part of his flock when you accept his reign.
I don’t want to dilute the message of Christmas. This child born in Bethlehem is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Son of God. We live in a world where a lot of people want a God who will love, provide and have compassion towards them, but they don’t want to obey God. They don’t want a God who sits on the throne. And you see, you really can’t enter the kingdom of God’s son until you make that decision of if you’re going to let him sit on the throne and you’re going to live for him. He’s a shepherd and he’s a King. Micah tells us not only that this child born in Bethlehem is the Shepherd King, but Micah also tells us that this child born in Bethlehem is the Ancient of Days. He is the Shepherd King and the Ancient of Days.
We live in a world that is focused on and measured in time. When midnight ushers in January 1st, 2000 A.D, for all the nations and peoples around the world who use the Christian calendar, it’ll be the beginning of a new century and the dawn of a new millennium. For other nations and other peoples around the world that day will have no meaning. In Jerusalem, it won’t be the year 2000 A.D., but rather the year, 5760. The Jewish calendar starts with the first day of creation as determined by theologians who lived in the days of Solomon.
In Sri Lanka, it won’t be the year 2000 A.D., but it will be the year 2544 because the Buddhist calendar starts with the year in which Buddha allegedly died. In Calcutta it won’t be the year 2000 A.D., it will be the year 1921 because the Hindu calendar begins with the first year of the rule of Vikram Samvat, who was a legendary king that ruled much of the geographical land space that includes modern day India. In Mecca it won’t be January 1st, 2000 A.D. It will be the month of Ramadan, the 24th day and year 1420 because the Islamic calendar begins with the day and the year that Mohamed allegedly fled Mecca for Medina. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar rather than a solar calendar, like ours.
For astronomers all over the world, the Julian date will be five million four hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred and forty-five years because they use a dating system developed by a 16th century astronomer whose father’s name was Julian. The Julian date is not to be confused with the Julian calendar named after Julius Caesar and replaced by the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. If all this seems confusing to you, that means you’re normal.
See, we live in a strange world. Everyone is focused on time and wants to measure it. People measure time differently all over the world. However, all people in all nations would agree on this, human beings don’t live long enough. Doesn’t matter how you measure the years; it doesn’t matter how you measure the months. It doesn’t matter where you begin your calendar, human beings just don’t live long enough.
I was reading through a Reader’s Digest a few weeks ago and I came across a little article on a plant called the Box Huckleberry. It’s an evergreen shrub that flowers in the spring. The box huckleberry sends out runners that grow six inches a year. Now according to this article, in the state of Pennsylvania, there is a single box huckleberry along the Juniata River that is now more than a mile long. Botanists claim that it is 13,000 years old. I find that hard to believe. Now, I knew trees could live a long time. I know the bristlecone pine can live 5,000 years and the giant sequoias can live 4,000 years. But here’s a plant that at least has allegedly lived for 13,000 years. That doesn’t seem fair. I mean, all that plant has done is vegetate for 13,000 years.
Human beings are capable of so much. We can receive and give so much to life. It is unfair that our time in this world is fleeting and brief. In the United States of America, the average man lives to age 71 or 72 and the average woman lives to age 78 or 79. That span of time doesn’t seem long enough. We’re frail and riddled by disease. Just this last week, the newspapers have reported that by the year 2000, six million people will have died of AIDS in the continent of Africa. By that same year on the African continent, 14 million people will be HIV positive. Here in the United States, the most serious diseases that kill people are heart disease and cancer. Most scientists will tell us the real problem facing mankind is senescence. Senescence is a word that means aging. Gerontologists, those who study old age, tell us that even if you have a perfect genetic heritage, and you never get an illness, or a disease, probably the greatest length of time you could ever possibly live is 120 years. Internally, the organs of the body, either wear down, lose their capacity to regenerate, or perhaps scientists think there’s some kind of a time clock that just shuts off.
Life in this world is short and temporary but this baby born in Bethlehem, Micah tells us is unique. He’s the Ancient of Days. He didn’t even begin when he was born in Bethlehem, his origin and his goings forth are from days everlasting and eternal. In Daniel chapter seven we get a great glimpse of the throne of God. As Daniel looks by the power of the Holy Spirit, the portals of heaven are opened and he sees the throne of God. He sees God surrounded by the angelic hosts, enthroned in glory and God is called the Ancient of Days. Micah is telling us that this one born in Bethlehem shares his nature. He is eternal.
The Bible says of Jesus Christ he is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. He has neither a beginning of days nor an end to life. He continues forever. As it says in Isaiah chapter nine, he is the father of eternity. He has found the earth in the beginning and the heavens are the works of his hands. They will perish, but he remains. All things were made by him and for him and through him. In him all things are held together. He was in the beginning with God and is God. Jesus Christ, this baby born in Bethlehem is the Ancient of Days.
Maybe you’re sitting thinking, I’m not sure that means anything to me. I can understand that; I’ve had people come up to me and brag about the longevity of their family’s genetic heritage. They say, “My family lives long. Mom and Dad are 75 and they’re so healthy. My grandma and grandpa are 96 and 97 and they’re still going strong. It seems like all of my family live well into their nineties and they are approaching the century mark.” I don’t know how you feel whether you applaud that or think down deep, so what? Because maybe Mom and Dad died at age 40 and you think your genetic heritage is horrible. Maybe you’ve never had anybody in your family live beyond 65. Maybe you’re just trying to diet, exercise, and kind of lengthen the string a little bit.
When somebody comes to you and says, “Jesus Christ is the eternal one; Jesus Chris has everlasting life; Jesus Christ is the ancient of days; you shouldn’t say, “So what?” This is critical. This is what makes the message of Christmas so important because he offers to share with you everlasting life and never-ending years. Jesus Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die yet shall he live. And he who lives and believes in me will never truly die. God loved the world so much he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life everlasting.” He offers this life to all who would believe in his name and have faith to commit their lives to Him as their shepherd and king. He is the ancient of days and the giver of never-ending life.
Micah says there’s another truth concerning this baby born in Bethlehem. He’s not only the shepherd king, and not only the ancient of days, but he is also the one of peace. Micah says, He shall be the one of peace. That reminds us of Isaiah chapter nine, where Isaiah gives his prophecy of the Christ child and tells us that he shall be called Shar Shalom. He shall be called the Prince of peace. We live in a world where there’s not a whole lot of peace.. I think you would agree it’s a pretty volatile world and sometimes it feels scary.
There are five nations right now that are declared nuclear powers, five nations that have openly stated that they have stockpiled nuclear weapons. These nations are Great Britain, France, China, the United States of America, and the now dissolved Soviet Union. There are three nations in the world that are undeclared nuclear powers. These three undeclared nuclear powers are Pakistan, India, and Israel. There are six nations in the world right now that are earnestly seeking nuclear weapons, earnestly seeking to become nuclear powers. And this is known to the international community. And these nations are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, North Korea, and Algeria. These six nations are third world nations, and they have volatile governments and radical tendencies.
Come 1993, North Korea is expected to develop nuclear weapons. The last issue of Time Magazine suggests it’s becoming an increasingly possible reality that radical revolutionary groups might acquire thermonuclear weapons. That’s pretty scary. In this last issue of Time Magazine, they had an article titled “Nukes on the Loose,” in which they expressed their concern about the dissolving of the Soviet Union and their vast nuclear arsenal. Time Magazine says it could lead to one of the greatest proliferation of nuclear weapons in history because now Russia has nuclear weapons, Ukraine has nuclear weapons, and Kazakhstan has nuclear weapons. I don’t know where it’s all heading. I don’t know whether we’re ever going to have nuclear war, but I do know this from the prophecy of scripture. I know it’s all heading to Armageddon. Our world is heading to Armageddon. The Bible says there will be wars and rumors of wars until the very end, until Armageddon. The truth is that while we’ve had incredible technological advancements in the 20th century, knowledge has increased exponentially on the earth and our creature comforts vastly improved; and yet, there has been no progress in the human heart.
There is much hate, racism, greed and pride. It’s a dangerous world. We have this great message of Christmas. The child born is the Prince of Peace. He’s one of peace and he will bring peace to our world. The Bible says he will beat our swords into plow shares our spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore. The day will come when Jesus comes again. And the kingdoms of our world will become his. And he shall rule the heavens above and the earth beneath. And it shall be an age of peace.
Even now, today, this child born in Bethlehem offers peace. He offers you and I peace. It’s a peace the world doesn’t understand. Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The people of Christ were never meant to be afraid because of the one of peace. You know how there is the eye of the hurricane? In the midst of the storm there are raging, swirling violent winds, 75 to 150 miles per hour; but, in the middle there’s that mysterious tranquility in the eye of the storm. If you’re Christian deep within you, the peace that Christ gives is meant to be like the eye of the storm in the midst of a raging world of chaos.
I was studying a little bit recently about a man whose name was Eric Barker. He was a British missionary to Portugal. Eric Barker loved Jesus Christ and had a great love for people. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Eric Barker led thousands of people to faith in Jesus Christ. He did the work of an apostle founding churches and seeing them grow. Eric Barker had a wonderful marriage and the love he had for his wife and her love for him ran deep. They were best friends and co-labors in Portugal with their three children. Eric Barker’s sister and her two children were also there with him on the mission field. In the midst of World War II and the Nazi threat became so great throughout Europe, Eric Barker began to be concerned for his wife, their three children and his sister and her two children. He made arrangements for them to board a ship and return to England safely.
The next Sunday, as he preached his sermon, he announced to the congregation that he had received word that his wife and his children and his sister and her children were all safely home. It was only later that it was discovered that the announcement he actually received was that their ship was torpedoed by a German submarine and all lives were lost. Eric Barker knew his wife loved Jesus. He knew his children were Christians. He knew his sister and her children believed in Jesus Christ. He knew that truly they had gone home. He knew they had left this world and gone to a better one. So he was able to stand up the next Sunday and preach the word of Christ.
I’ve got to say, if that ever happened to me, and God forbid that ever it would, I don’t think I could preach the next week or for many weeks. I think you would all agree with me on this, there is a peace that Christ brings. In the midst of the storm, in the midst of the tragedy, in the midst of the sufferings, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, there’s a peace he brings. The world will never understand. It’s a special peace from the Prince of Peace. And the reason He is the one of peace really is because He is also the Shepherd King and His flock know of His care. The reason He is the Prince of Peace is because he is also the Ancient of Days. His flock know they’ll never truly die. He is the Shepherd King, Ancient of Days, the one of peace. Let’s close with the word of prayer.