Micah 5:2-5a
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.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace.
We thank you for gathering us here today. Open our hearts to Your Word as we reflect on your promises fulfilled through the birth of Jesus. Help us to understand the deeper meanings of the stained glass windows, symbols that draw us closer to you. May Your Holy Spirit guide us so that our faith grows stronger as we reflect on your love and grace in Jesus. Name we pray amen.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, together today, we gather to reflect on the beautiful stained glass windows that adorn our sanctuary. These windows are more than just art. They are a visual representation of our faith and God's word. Each symbol, each color, speaks volumes about God's love for his unfolding plan for salvation. Let's take a moment to observe some recurring symbols in the windows at the top of each theme window, the theme window is the one with the circle that to the top we see a symbol familiar to many, a fleur de lis history, historically has been represented the Virgin Mary and Church's nature. It reminds us of Mary, chosen by God to carry Jesus, and it points to Christ, who took on flesh to dwell among us and to redeem us. Below the Florida lay we see vines and branches. This imagery comes from John 15, verse one where Jesus said, I am the true vine and you are the branches. The green symbolizes life, growth and nourishment we seek we receive from our Savior. Jesus is our life source, and through him, we grow in faith and in grace. Finally, we notice a red circle in the center of the windows. The circle with no beginning or end, represents the eternal nature of God. The red color symbolizes the sacrifices of Christ, the blood Christ shed for us, and the fire of the Holy Spirit that enlivens us and sustains our faith, the circle is divided into seven parts, and that may represent divine perfection, God's perfect plan for redemption. Each of these symbols speaks to us about the core truths of our faith, but today we focus on the windows that point us to Bethlehem and the Beth and the birth of Jesus. So let's turn our attention to the Bethlehem window. It is up on the screen, or if you want to turn around, look to your right, back behind most of you, there is the Bethlehem window. The window portrays Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Savior. It depicts a small, dark, domed, humble city hidden in the hills, almost too insignificant to notice. This imagery reflect the words of Micah two, verse five, but you O Bethlehem, ephrathah, who are too little to be among clans of Judah, from you shall come forth from me, one who is to be ruler in Israel. Ephrata means fruitful. Bethlehem, a small town surrender surrounded by Brown hills, much like the hills we see here in Southern California might seem insignificant, but through this humble town, God chose to reveal His great plan for salvation. Micah's prophecy spoke of a ruler whose origins are from ancient days. Bethlehem was the chosen place where the long awaited Messiah would be born, a reminder that God works through the humble and the lowly. Above Bethlehem, we see a shining star that guided the three wise men to Jesus, the newborn king in. The star represents God's revelation, the light that shines in the darkness, leading all nations to the Savior, just as a star shone brightly over Bethlehem, the light of Christ shines in our lives, guiding us to the truth. The light of Jesus shines in the darkest places of our lives today. Now let's look at the window of Jesus birth, which is beside the first window. In the center of the window to is the Bethlehem. We see the babe Jesus wrapped and lying in a manger. Surrounding his head is a halo symbolizing the holiness and Divinity of Jesus, though born in humble circumstances, Jesus is no ordinary child. He is Emmanuel, God with us, even as a babe, Jesus is set apart as holy, marked as the promised Savior. The prophecy from Micah five two points to the humble origin of Jesus. Micah lived hundreds of years before Christ, but He foretold the coming of the ruler whose origins were from ancient days rooted in eternity. This ruler would come from Bethlehem, a place of seeming insignificance, but chosen by God to be the birthplace of the King of kings, this prophecy reminds us that God's plans often defy human expectation. God exalts so lowly and brings salvation from unexpected places. Matthew confirms the fulfillment of this prophecy. In Matthew, chapter one, verses 18 to 22 he traces Jesus' lineage back to David and Abraham, establishing him as the Promised Messiah. The birth of Jesus occurred just as the prophets had said, fulfilling God's promise made centuries before. Matthew also recounts the story of Joseph, who initially wanted to quietly have Mary or leave Mary when he discovered she was pregnant, but an angel appeared to him, telling him that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The angel confirmed the prophecy from Isaiah, Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a child, and they shall call his name Emmanuel. This is in Matthew one verse, 23 God's promise to save his people was coming to pass through the birth of Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the prophecies in the Old Testament, in all these windows and word of Scripture, we see the faithfulness of God. God is sovereign. His plans cannot be thwarted, and his promises never fail. God's sovereignty is displayed in his perfect plan of redemption, bringing salvation from a small town like Bethlehem through humble beginnings to the ends of the earth, from the ancient days of the prophets to the miraculous birth of Jesus, God orchestrated history to bring about our salvation. What God says He will do this is the assurance we cling to in our lives. When we face uncertainty or doubt, we remember that God is faithful. His promises to you are true, and his problems plans for you are good. God remains faithful to all his promises to you today, Micah, five states, and he shall be stand and shepherd his flock and the strength of the Lord in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now, He shall be great to the ends of the earth, and He shall be their peace. These verses show Jesus is a shepherd king who leads his people, provides them with security and brings true peace and. What does the prophecy of Micah five and the scripture of Matthew one mean for us today?
It shows that God promised. God's promises never fail, just as Micah foretold, Jesus came as a ruler who would Shepherd his people bring peace and security. Micah five tells us that he would stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, and they would dwell securely because he's he is great to the ends of the earth. This means that Jesus leadership, care and protection over his people are constant and unfailing. You can count on his promise of forgiveness and eternal life. This brings great comfort. Jesus is not just a ruler. He is our shepherd. He cares for each of you, individually, tending to your needs, guiding you and protecting you with divine strength, just as a Shepherd leads his sheep to safe pastures. Jesus leads you through the uncertainties of life. When you feel lost, burdened or overwhelmed, remember that Jesus is your shepherd, standing watch over you, guiding you through every valley and challenge. Micah's prophecy also tells us that Jesus will be your peace. The peace you seek is in this chaotic world comes only through Jesus as a prince of peace, Jesus doesn't offer a temporary peace, but a lasting one, rooted in reconciliation with God. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has made it possible for us to dwell securely, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love and care. In this peace, you find the security to face life's trials without fear, even when the future feels uncertain or when the burden of sin weighs heavily upon you. You can trust in Christ. He stands firm as our shepherd and King, offering us peace that surpasses our understanding. His peace is for you, and his presence bring calm in every storm. If you feel weary or burdened today, know that Jesus, your Shepherd, offers you rest. He brings peace to your soul, securely for your future. In conclusion, as we think about the stained glass windows depicting Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus, we are reminded of the fulfillment of God's promises in the coming of the shepherd King Micah's prophecy. From Micah five points us to a ruler who would not only come from the humble town of Bethlehem, but who would also stand as the shepherd of his people, bringing them peace and security. The rule that ruler is Jesus Christ, as you look upon these windows, let them remind you of God's faithfulness and his deep care for you. Just as the light shines through the stained glass windows over here, bring your the light also shines in your heart, bringing you peace and security. Trust in Him, rest in His promises and let his peace guide you every day. Jesus is not the only the holy ruler who came from Bethlehem, he is the shepherd who cares for your soul, lead you to dwell securely in his love.
Let us pray, Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your son, our Savior, Shepherd and our peace help us to trust in his care and to rest. His security he provides. May he remember your faithfulness as his face. Let life as we face life's challenges, and may your peace fill our hearts and guide us daily in Jesus name we pray amen.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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