1. Matthew 2:1-12 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

2. Matthew 2:1-12 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

3. Matthew 2:1-12 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”

4. Matthew 2:1-12 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

5. Matthew 2:1-12 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

6. Matthew 2:1-12 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

7. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-12

8. Christmas’ Eyes Looking Back To Look Ahead

9. I. LOOK AT THE BABY

11. II. SEE THE SON Luke 2:41-48 41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.

12. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

13. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” Already about His Father's business. (v. 49, KJV)

14. III. CHECK OUT THE MAN

15. He descended that we might ascend “ For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38) “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)

16. He became poor that we might become rich For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. (II Cor. 8:9)

17. Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5)

18. He was born that we might be born again And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1: 14)

19. 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”, 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:2,7)

21. He had no home that we might have a home in heaven Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matt. 8:20) “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

22. He was hungry that we might be fed And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. (Matt. 4:2) “This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. (John 6:50)

23. He was thirsty that we might be satisfied After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)

24. He was stripped that we might be clothed They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. (Matt. 27:28) For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Gal. 3:27)

25. He was sad that we might become glad He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isa. 53:3) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Phil. 4:4)

26. He was bound that we might go free and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor. (Matt. 27:2)

27. 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

28. 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:32-36)

29. He was made sin that we might be made righteous He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)

30. Christmas’ Eyes I. LOOK AT THE BABY II. SEE THE SON III. CHECK OUT THE MAN

31. John 1:29 - The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” IV. WATCH THE LAMB OF GOD

32. He was the Lamb that Abraham talked about in Genesis 22:7-8 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

33. He was the Lamb of Exodus 12:3 “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household.

34. V. BEHOLD THE KING Cameras can give us pictures of yesterday and today, but only God can give us a picture of the future Jude 1:14 - It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones…”

35. Revelation 1:7 – BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. Revelation 1:18 – …and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

36. How do we know these things are going to happen?

37. God Keeps ___ _________! His Promises