Window Shopping - Week 4 - Pastor Nick Grim

Last week, I wasn’t here but I was here in spirit and watched Tim deliver an excellent message. He left us with this thought: Our priorities need to reflect God’s priorities

Every week we ask you to do the same thing before a message:
1. God has a message for you not the person that is not here.
2. Let God speak to you not me.
3. If God asks you to live differently to day do something about it. Remember that little changes are what creates growth in Jesus.

We started this series called window shopping and it all culminates in this message of: who Jesus is despite our expectations.

We all love rags to riches stories, but the story of Jesus isn’t one.

Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus is not a rags to riches story, He is a riches to rags to humility to King story.

Where we left Jesus last was in a small, insignificant town that no one cared about called Bethlehem. Best known for raising sheep that would be brought into Jerusalem to be sacrificed. Isn't it interesting that this is the town and one of Jesus’s first titles is the Lamb of God. This was also to fulfill a prophecy by Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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.

Jesus was born in an insignificant town and was raised in one:

Luke 2: 4 "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth
Matthew 2:23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene."

Jesus will be from an insignificant people and insignificant parents

John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Mark 6: 2-3 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus could have been born to:
--A King
--A Religious leader
--A Doctor
--A Rich Merchant
--Any high level place in society

Jesus is viewed as insignificant to so many. If we are going to have a series called "Window shopping" and we are going to talk about how people view Jesus. The view of so many and what they want are these:
1. Conquering King
2. Peaceful Ambassador
3. Condemning Judge
4. Patient Father
5. Brilliant Scholar
6. Victorious Debater

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus is all of them not just one of them; that sounds like significance to me.

Jesus began from a place of insignificance because everyone could be invited to His Kingdom

Luke 2:8-20 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

God sent angels to proclaim his message to shepherds.

The world would not have chosen: shepherds, fisherman, tax collectors, to be the delivers of the Gospel. We would have chosen scholars, kings, rich people, and powerful people.

But Jesus wanted all people to be able to receive and deliver the Gospel:
It does not matter where you came from.
It does not matter who are your parents are.
It does not matter what tribe you are from.

The expectation is that this message is only for good people when it was really for all people.