THESIS: To examine the doctrine of Christ’s incarnation. INTRO.:
A.“Mary had a little lamb, it’s fleece was white as snow…” - so goes the nursery rhyme. “Mary had a little Lamb, His soul was white as snow…” – so goes the Scriptures concerning the virgin birth of our Savior.
B. Every lamb offered on Israel’s altar was a picture of Mary’s Lamb, Jesus. John the Baptist, seeing Christ coming to him for baptism exclaimed: “Behold the Lamb…”! The last book in the Bible refers to Him as “the Lamb slain…"
TRANS.: While the emphasis of each of these references deals with His death, we want to speak of the birth of the Lamb of God…
I. MARY HAD THE LITTLE LAMB: MAJESTIC MYSTERY vv. 1-6
A. The City of His Birth:
1. It was prophesied in the O.T.
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.
2. It was pre-arranged thru the Governor Cyrenius:
ILLUS.: 💥The Roman government unwittingly cooperated in His birth. “The heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord." God squeezed the ruler’s heart to have a census taken at the strategic time! Gal. 4:4 “The Scriptures cannot be broken.” 💥Bethlehem was approximately 80 miles, in a straight line, south of Nazareth where Jesus was raised. He is called “Jesus of Nazareth” not “Jesus of Bethlehem” – part of Satan’s plot to discredit Him.
B. The Site of His Birth: v.7 “…in a manger”
1. Privacy was needed for this event, so “there was no room in the Inn.” 2. A manger or stall was a perfect place for a Lamb to be born!
II. MARY HAD THE LITTLE LAMB: DIVINE HUMILITY:
A. He did not Come as a Man at the Peak & Prime of Life (like the first Adam)
B. He did not Come as a Proud Roman, a Stately Greek, but as a Peasant Jew:
1. He was not born in a palace, or even at the Roman or Jewish seat of Govt. 2. But He came to be a King and will one day rule and reign with a “rod of iron.”
C. He did not Come Spouting the Wisdom, Philosophy and Political Ideology of the World:
1. He spoke in meekness and humility. 2. He spoke in parables and stories. 3. He spoke in divine wisdom and common sense.
III. MARY HAD THE LITTLE LAMB: PROFOUND COMPLEXITY: v.5
A. That Day, Paradoxically, A Virgin Gave Birth:
NOTE: Note the implication of v.5 – “Mary, his espoused wife…” They had not consummated the marriage relationship.
B. That Day, Paradoxically, the Eternal God was “Born:” cf. v.11
C. That Day, Paradoxically, One Was Born to Die:
1. Not to live for life’s sake, 2. But to die for life’s sake – our life – eternal life!
ILLUS.: He was to be the “Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” He came to “seek and to save that which was lost.” He could only accomplish that by dying.
IV. MARY HAD THE LITTLE LAMB: SUBLIME SIMPLICITY
A. Stated Simply is the Supreme Fact of History: v.11
B. Stated Simply is the Most Sublime Theme of Eternity:
1. God stepped across the stars to visit planet earth. 2. God spanned the universe to meet the prime need of man – salvation.
POEM:
Mary Had The Little Lamb Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth; Self-existent Son of God, from Heaven He came to Earth. (Micah 5:2)
Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall-- Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall. (Isaiah 7:14)
Mary had the little Lamb, obedient Son of God; Everywhere the Father led, His feet were sure to trod. (John 6:38)
Mary had the little Lamb, crucified on the tree The rejected Son of God, He died to set men free. (1 Peter 1:18)
Mary had the little Lamb—men placed Him in the grave, Thinking they were done with Him; to death He was no slave! (Matthew 28:6)
Mary had the little Lamb, ascended now is He; All work on Earth is ended, our Advocate to be. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Mary had the little Lame—mystery to behold! From the Lamb of Calvary, a Lion will unfold. (Revelation 5: 5,6)
MARY HAD THE LITTLE LAMB - Of this be very sure, Unlike a Lamb when He returns – it will be with the Lion’s roar! (Psalm 2:12; Revelation 19:11-16)
Marv and Marbeth Rosenthal (last stanza changed by P.F.)