Geographically It’s closer than you might think

Geographically

It’s closer than you might think.

Sea of Galilee

Dead SeaBethlehemJerusalem

But you, O Bethlehem But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. small village in Judah.

Yet a ruler of Israel will Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one come from you, one

whose origins are from whose origins are from the distant past. the distant past.

Micah 5:2 (NLT)

Historically

It’s closer than you might think.

“I bring you good news of great joy for

everyone! The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem,

the city of David!”

Luke 2:10-11 (NLT)

Finally, they came to Finally, they came to a place called The a place called The

Skull. All three were Skull. All three were crucified there—crucified there—

Jesus on the center Jesus on the center cross, and the two cross, and the two criminals on either criminals on either

side.side.Luke 23:33 (NLT)

Spiritually

It’s closer than you might think.

So Jesus grew both in So Jesus grew both in height and in wisdom, height and in wisdom, and he was loved by and he was loved by God and by all who God and by all who

knew him. knew him.

Luke 2:52 (NLT)

Who could have made the

journey?

The Innkeeper

She gave birth to her She gave birth to her first child, a son. She first child, a son. She

wrapped him snugly in wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid strips of cloth and laid

him in a manger, him in a manger, because there was no because there was no room for them in the room for them in the

village inn. village inn. Luke 2:7 (NLT)

……there was no there was no room room for for

themthem in the in the village inn. village inn.

Luke 2:7 (NLT)

The InnkeeperRepresents people

who don’t know and don’t care

King Herod

Herod was furious Herod was furious when he learned the when he learned the

wise men had wise men had outwitted him.outwitted him.

Matthew 2:16 (NLT)

“There are some people who want to throw their arms round you simply because it is Christmas; there are other people who want to strangle you simply because it is Christmas.”

~ Robert Lynd

King HerodRepresents people

who resent the religious nature of

Christmas

The Shepherds

That night some That night some shepherds were in the shepherds were in the

fields outside the village, fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of guarding their flocks of sheep… They ran to the sheep… They ran to the village and found Mary village and found Mary

and Joseph. And there was and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the the baby, lying in the

manger. manger. Luke 2:8, 16 (NLT)

The ShepherdsRepresent people

who are “flash in the pan” Christians

The Wise MenRepresent people who are sincerely

seeking Jesus

Mary

Standing near the cross Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary his mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and (the wife of Clopas), and

Mary Magdalene.Mary Magdalene.  

John 19:25 (NLT)

MaryRepresents people

who are 100% committed

““I am the Lord’s I am the Lord’s servant, and I am servant, and I am willing to accept willing to accept

whatever he wants.” whatever he wants.”

Luke 1:38 (NLT)