Heaven is Here - Part 1 [Notes]

You are invited to Heaven is Here, a four-week series that helps focus our hearts and minds on Jesus this Christmas season. Together we will look at His birth and life through the unique lens of each of the four Gospels and discover that Jesus is the King, Servant, Savior, and Light of the World. 

Takeaway: Jesus is the King of the world

Heaven is Here
11/30 Matthew – King 
12/7 Mark – Servant 
12/14 Luke – Savior 
12/21+24 John – Light  

An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers, Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram,
Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,
Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse,
and Jesse fathered King David. David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, Abijah fathered Asa,
Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, Joram fathered Uzziah,
Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,
Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, Amon fathered Josiah,
and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
After the exile to Babylon Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, Abiud fathered Eliakim, Eliakim fathered Azor,
Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, Achim fathered Eliud,
Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, Matthan fathered Jacob,
and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.
– Matthew 1:1-17 (CSB) 

“Matthew introduced his gospel by emphasizing the legal right of Jesus of Nazareth to be the king of the Jews and the entire world. Matthew included Jesus’s genealogy to argue for the validity of his claim to David’s throne. In Christ’s humanity, he was legally a son of David and was a rightful heir to the throne.”
– Dr. Michael Vanlaningham, The Moody Bible Commentary

An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.
– Matthew 1:1 (CSB)

The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
– Genesis 12:1–3 (CSB) 

So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: “This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.”’ ‘Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’”
– 2 Samuel 7:8–16 (CSB)

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.
–  Isaiah 9:6-7 (CSB)

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations. 
– Matthew 1:17 (CSB)

D (4) V (6) D (4) = 14

“Matthew’s genealogy answered the important question a Jew would rightfully ask about anyone who claimed to be King of the Jews. Is He a descendant of David through the rightful line of succession? Matthew answered yes!”
– Dr. Louis Barbieri, The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!  
– James 5:9 (CSB)

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant  and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
– Matthew 1:18-25 (CSB) 

and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
– Matthew 1:16 (CSB)

Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a Son, and name Him Immanuel.
– Isaiah 7:14 (CSB)

When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he named Him Jesus.
– Matthew 1:24–25 (CSB)

“As soon as Joseph awakened from this dream, he obeyed. He violated all custom by immediately taking Mary into his home rather than waiting till the one-year time period of betrothal had passed. Joseph was probably thinking of what would be best for Mary in her condition. He brought her home and began to care and provide for her. But there was no sexual relationship between them until after the birth of this Child, Jesus.”
– Dr. Louis Barbieri, The Bible Knowledge Commentary

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”
After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.
Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
– Matthew 2:1-12 (CSB)  

A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.
– Numbers 24:17b (CSB)

When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
– Matthew 2:3 (CSB)

After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
– Matthew 2:9–11 (CSB)

“Some believe the gifts had further significance by reflecting on the character of this Child’s life. Gold might represent His deity or purity, incense the fragrance of His life, and myrrh His sacrifice and death (myrrh was used for embalming). These gifts were obviously the means by which Joseph took his family to Egypt and sustained them there until Herod died.”
– Dr. Louis Barbieri, The Bible Knowledge Commentary

So Much // Heaven is Here // Reckless Love // There Is A King

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