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The sermon presents the incarnation as the coordinated work of the triune God, with the Father sending the Son and the Spirit involved in His incarnation. Jesus is portrayed as the eternal Son who truly became man, came as the promised ruler of spiritual Israel, and undertook salvation for His people from eternity. Bethlehem’s location and timing reveal God’s sovereign providence over rulers and history. The proper response is humble, earnest faith: sinners, especially the broken and afflicted, are urged to seek Christ, trust Him, and receive Him as their abiding Savior.
Theological center: The eternal Son of God was sent by the Father and became truly human in Bethlehem as the covenant Savior and spiritual King of His people.
Applications: Trust Christ alone · Seek Christ in prayer · Remain humble before Christ · Receive Christ as King
Primary texts: Micah 5:2 · Luke 2:35 · Matthew 10:35-36
“But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2 THIS is the season of the year when, whether we wish it or not, we are compelled to think of the birth of Christ. I hold it to be one of the greatest absurdities under heaven to think that there is any religion in keeping Christmas day. There are no probabilities whatever that our Savior Jesus Christ was born on that day, and the observance of it is purely of Popish origin. Doubtless those who are Catholics have a right to hallow it, but I do not see how consistent Protestants can account it in the least sacred. However, I wish there were ten or a dozen Christmas days in the year, for there is work enough in the world, and a little more rest would not hurt laboring people. Christmas day is really a boon to us, particularly as it enables us to assemble round the family hearth and meet our friends once more. Still, although we do not fall exactly in the track of other people, I see no harm in thinking of the incarnation and birth of the Lord Jesus. We do not wish to be classed with those— “Who with more care keep holiday The wrong, than others the right way.” The old Puritans made a parade of work on Christmas day, just to show that they protested against the observance of it. But we believe they entered that protest so completely, that we are willing, as their descendants, to take the good accidentally conferred by the day, and leave its superstitions to the superstitious. To proceed at once to what we have to say to you, we notice, first, who it was that sent Christ forth. God the Father here speaks and says, “Out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel.” Secondly, where did He come to at the time of His incarnation? Thirdly, what did He come for? “To be ruler in Israel.” Fourthly, had He ever come before? Yes, He had. “Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” I. First, then, WHO SENT JESUS CHRIST? The answer is returned to us by the words of the text. “Out of thee,” says JEHOVAH, speaking by the mouth of Micah, “out of thee shall he come forth unto me.” It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come forth without His Father’s permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent of the Father that He might be the Savior of men. We are, alas! too apt to forget that while there are distinctions as to the persons in the Trinity, there are no distinctions of honor, and we d…