Pathway to Victory

Speaker 1

Hi, I'm Robert Jeffress. Before we begin today's podcast, I want to invite you to partner with us at Pathway to Victory.

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Speaker 2

Hey podcast listeners, thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress.

And right now your generous gift will have twice the impact thanks to the Now Is the Time Matching Challenge, active now through December 31st. To give a special year-end gift, go to ptv.org/donate or follow the link in our show notes.

Now here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Speaker 1

Hi, this is Robert Jeffress and I'm.

Speaker 3

Glad to study God's Word with you every day on this Bible teaching program.

Speaker 1

On today's edition of Pathway to Victory.

Speaker 3

Today I'm going to do the best I can to encourage you to spend a few unrushed moments as together we stop and smell the manger of Bethlehem.

Today we're going to look in the Nativity scene and learn some eternal lessons about what it means to love and obey God.

Speaker 2

Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress. As December 25th quickly approaches, you're likely in the throes of getting ready for Christmas, maybe wrapping some gifts or making up that grocery list, arranging travel plans to go visit your family.

Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress takes time to pause and reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. But first, let's take a minute to hear some important ministry updates.

Speaker 1

Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. As we begin today, I'll remind you that time is running short to request the Pathway to Victory daily devotional for 2026. If you respond today, you'll receive this volume in time to begin the new year in God's Word. This is a handsome and hefty leather-bound book with inspirational readings for every Monday through Friday in the New Year, printed in a larger font so that it's easy to read. And it's my gift to you when you give a generous year-end gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory.

In addition to receiving this brand new edition, we have an enormous matching challenge that's active right now, and we're focused on reaching the spectacular goal of $1.7 million before December 31st. Here's what that means to you: when you give a generous gift today, the amount you give is automatically doubled in size because of this matching challenge, equipping us to impact our nation and the world for our coming King, Jesus.

Look, Jesus' birth changed history forever. The arrival of Christ marked the moment when God's radiant hope entered our world, offering life and salvation to all who believe. But he's coming back soon. Now's the time to take action together. Let's shine the bright light of Christ through Pathway to Victory. I'll say more just after my message, but right now, let's get started with our study in God's Word. I titled today's message "Stop and Smell the Manger."

Speaker 3

Today we're going to look at the five major characters in the nativity scene. We're going to start with Mary. First of all, Mary was pure. When God is looking for somebody to use, He chooses those who are not necessarily the most gifted people in the world, the most talented, or the most beautiful, but those who are pure. That was Mary.

Now, the second character we're going to look at in this nativity scene is Joseph. Joseph reminds us that God uses and honors those who are obedient. Here, the angel comes and says, "God is the one responsible. You take her as your wife." There was no arguing with Joseph. He didn't understand how it happened, and he didn't understand how it would turn out. But in the darkness, he obeyed God. That's what it means to be obedient.

When you see Joseph in these nativity scenes, ask yourself the question: Am I being obedient to what I know God has told me to do, even though I can't see the outcome of my obedience to Him? God uses those who are obedient.

Speaker 3

The next characters in the Christmas story are the shepherds. The reason I love these shepherds is that God could have chosen anyone to announce the coming of the Savior of the world, the birth of Jesus. But of all the people He chose, He didn't select kings, princes, rulers, or the rich. Instead, He chose the lowest rung of Jewish society: the shepherds. Shepherds were absolutely despised in Jesus' day, and the reason is obvious. They didn't get invited to the A-list parties in Jerusalem because of their work. They worked with sheep, which meant they smelled like sheep as well. Nobody wanted to be around the shepherds.

And yet, it was this group—of all the people God could have chosen—that God selected to announce the coming of the Savior of the world. Listen to the words of Luke 2:8-14. I bet you can recite them by heart: "In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened, understandably so. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be for all people. For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'"

Why did God choose to announce this news to the shepherds?

Speaker 3

Because the shepherds were humble. God chooses to bless and to save those who don't have any sense of pretense about them, those who are humble.

And you see that in their response in verse 15 to the news. Look at this. When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing which has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

And so they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph and the baby as he lay in the manger.

Speaker 3

What was their response when they heard this news? Immediately they dropped everything they were doing and they walked. They ran to Bethlehem to see this child. What is it that made them so anxious to see this child after hearing the news? I think it's one word the angel used. For unto you is born this day in the city of David. A savior. A savior.

Somebody has said, if man's greatest need had been for money, God would have sent an economist. If our greatest need had been education, God would have sent a teacher. But man's greatest need is for forgiveness. And that's why God sent a Savior. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. These shepherds understood their sin, their need for forgiveness, and that's why they resonated with that word Savior. And they ran to see the one who had been born.

You know, the only way to really understand and appreciate the humility of the shepherds is to contrast their reaction to another group of people in Jerusalem that night. And that is the religious leaders. There were thousands of religious leaders in Jerusalem. And when they heard the news that the Messiah that they supposedly had been waiting for for hundreds of years was here, what did they do? Nothing. They stayed right where they were, in Jerusalem. They wouldn't even walk the couple of miles to Bethlehem to see the Savior.

Why is that? They didn't think they needed a savior. A savior? I may not be good enough, but I'm a religious leader. I know the Torah backwards and forwards. I've been circumcised. I'm from the lineage of Abraham. I'm okay with God. I don't need a savior. The shepherds understood in their humility that their need for God was total. And that's why God chose to deliver the good news to them.

First of all, every time you see these shepherds in a nativity scene, ask yourself the question: have I, like the shepherds, admitted to God that my need for him is total and not partial, that I have no hope of heaven apart from faith in Jesus Christ? God blesses. He saves those who are humble.

Speaker 3

The other group, a more mysterious group in this nativity scene are what we call the wise men, the Magi.

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They apparently were astrologers, astronomers of some sort. They came from the East. Most scholars think they came from Persia, which is Iran today. Why did they travel such a long distance? They came probably several years after Christ's birth because by the time they arrived, Jesus and Mary are in a home by this point in time. But we find their account in Matthew chapter 2, beginning with verse 1.

Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod, the king, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and we have come to worship Him." Well, people wonder, how could astronomers in Persia have known about the Jewish Messiah who was coming? Where did they get that news? Why would they have been looking for a messiah to come?

I think as I've studied it, the answer is that area of the world 700 years earlier had been introduced to the idea of a messiah by a man named Daniel. Daniel operated in that part of the world. He was taken captive, remember, to Babylon. And through his teaching, he influenced those in the king's court, which included the Magi. They served in the king's court. I believe it was through that influence of Daniel 700 years earlier that there was a knowledge in that part of the world of a Messiah who would come not just for the Jewish people, but for the entire world. And so they followed a star trying to search out for the Messiah.

You know, the wise men remind us that God directs those who are sincere in their search for Him. Again, the only way to appreciate the response of the wise men is to contrast it to the response of King Herod and his reaction when he heard the news that the Messiah had come. Verse three says that when Herod the king heard about this new king, he was deeply troubled. That word, translated troubled in Greek, means to be agitated, to be stirred up. When Herod heard that someone claiming to be the king of the Jews had arrived on the scene, he was agitated on the inside.

You see, Herod suffered from paranoia. You remember from history that when his two sons were alleged to have cooked up an assassination plot against their father to take over the throne, he had both of his sons executed. Later on, when he heard about the baby being born, the Messiah, he didn't think anything about ordering the mass murder of every baby male, 2 years of age and under, to extinguish the possibility of a king of the Jews. It underscores why it was that Herod was agitated. He didn't want to give up his rule to anyone.

And by the way, that is a great explanation for why today people turn away from God. Why there are atheists in the world. You know why people turn away from God or try to deny God? It's not because they have come across some special information in science or archaeology that disproves the existence of God. It's not because of their towering intellect that they cannot admit that there is a God. It is because of their pride. They don't admit there is a God because instinctively every human being knows that if there is a God who created us, we have an obligation to fall down and to worship that God and obey that God. And the unbeliever is unwilling to do that.

Somebody has said the reason an atheist can't find God is the same way a thief can't find a policeman. Neither is really looking for somebody else like that. People don't want to worship a God that they have to serve and submit their lives to. And that was Herod. And that's why, look in verse 8 of Matthew, chapter 2. When Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem, he said to them, "Now go and search carefully for the child, and when you have found him, report to me so that I may too come and worship him." Sure, he didn't want to worship the Messiah. That's why he never found him. He wanted to kill him.

But notice how God supernaturally protected the Christ child. Verse 9 and 10: After hearing the King, they went their way. The Magi and the star which they had seen in the east went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Herod died in the darkness without ever finding Christ. But these Magi who came all the way from Persia were led to Jesus. Why was that? It's so simple. God gives direction to those who sincerely want to know Him. Think about your own experience.

Speaker 3

Not all of you are Christians yet who are listening to this message. But many of you are. Think about how God led you out of spiritual darkness into the light of His Son.

God probably sent his own star, his own light to you that led you to Christ. It might have been your mate, might have been a godly parent or grandparent. Perhaps it was a pastor or a Sunday school teacher.

But God, when He saw a heart that wanted to know him, sent the light into your life to lead you to Christ.

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When you see these magi, these wise men, ask yourself the question, am I sincerely seeking to know God so that I may worship Him?

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If so, he'll give you light. He'll give you direction. Remember his words through Jeremiah the Prophet. Jeremiah 29:13. And you will find Me when you search for me with your whole heart. God directs those who are sincere.

Speaker 3

And of course, that leads us to the central figure in this entire Christmas story, the baby in the manger, Jesus Christ.

CS Lewis said one time, the greatest miracle of all is not the atonement. It's not even the resurrection. The greatest miracle of all is the incarnation.

Speaker 3

That God, the great majestic creator of this universe, poured all of himself into this tiny baby Jesus that goes beyond our comprehension.

Not only how could God do such a thing, but why would he do such a thing?

Why would the Son of God leave the throne of heaven, come and be born in an animal feeding trough, live a humiliating life and suffer an excruciating death?

Why did he do it all?

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He didn't come to this earth to teach us great truth. He didn't come to set a great example. This baby came for one reason.

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To die for our sins. To provide not just one way, but the only way to God the Father. That's why Jesus came. Jesus came to die for you and me.

You see that even in his name, Jesus; you shall call his name Jesus. That's the Old Testament name, Joshua. The Lord saves you.

Remember what the angel said? She shall bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. For he will save his people from their sins.

Speaker 3

You know, the wise men even had an understanding of that. There's no reason to think that there were just three wise men. There probably was a whole group of magi who came. But they did bring three gifts.

Speaker 2

Gold.

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That's what you bring a king. They brought frankincense, which was a sign of purity. But the third gift they brought was myrrh. You know what myrrh was? One of its most common uses in New Testament times was it was used for the preservation of a dead body to prevent premature decomposition of that body.

Remember later when Jesus died on the cross and they took him down before they placed him in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, they wrapped his body in substances, including myrrh, to prevent the decomposition. They didn't realize they were wasting their time, but they did that anyway to try to prevent that decomposition. They brought to this baby as a baby gift, myrrh. I mean, that would be like today, going to a baby shower and bringing a tiny coffin for a baby to the shower. Can you imagine the reaction? You'd get thrown out of the party for doing such a thing.

But you see, the magi understood that this baby was a baby who was born to die, to die for the sins of the world. There are not many ways to God. Not all roads lead to heaven. If there had been any other way for us to have a right relationship with God, the Christmas story would have been unnecessary. But the reason the God of the universe was willing to humiliate himself, take the form of a bondservant, and become obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, was that Jesus was the only way for the forgiveness of sins.

And whenever you look at this manger, this feeding trough, ask yourself, have I trusted in God's only provision for my sins? You see, Jesus reminds us that God saves those who believe in him for eternal life. Jesus said it this way: For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him, trusts in him, clings to him, shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.

Someone has said, there is majesty in the name God, there is personality in the name Jehovah. There is power in the name Lord, there is intercession in the name Mediator. But there is salvation in no other name except the name Jesus.

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You shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.

Speaker 1

I hope today's message has encouraged you. Pausing in our busy day to smell the manger has been good for your radio pastor as well. I never tire of reliving the moment when Jesus broke onto the world stage and changed our lives forever.

So let me suggest your next step down the Pathway to Victory. While you have a little extra time today, I'm asking that you go to our website and check out the Pathway to Victory Daily Devotional. In this brand new edition for 2026, I've written a devotional for every single weekday in the coming New Year. This leather-bound volume will help you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus every weekday in 2026, and I'm prepared to ship this book to your home when you give a generous year-end gift to double the impact of Pathway to Victory in the coming New Year.

In addition to receiving the Daily Devotional, your gift today will be automatically doubled in size because of the record-shattering matching challenge of $1.7 million. I don't need to describe the darkness that has blanketed our nation and the world in 2025. It's appalling to see the blatant expressions of sin.

Well, Pathway to Victory is uniquely postured to shine the bright light of hope in 2026. And that light, of course, is Jesus Christ. Would you join us in this worthy effort to broadcast the good news about the light of the world? This is the perfect time to invest your charitable giving in Pathway to Victory because every dollar you give is multiplied by two because of the Matching Challenge.

Thank you for your generosity, my friend. Especially if you've never reached out to Pathway to Victory or maybe it's been longer than you think since your last gift. Here's David to give you all the details for getting in touch today.

Speaker 2

Today, when you give a generous year-end gift toward our Now Is the Time Matching Challenge, we'll say thanks by sending you the brand new 2026 Pathway to Victory Daily Devotional. To request your very own copy, call 866-999-2965 or go online to ptv.org. When your gift is $100 or more, we'll also include the teaching series Celebrate the Savior on DVD, video, and MP3 format audio discs.

Remember, right now, because of our Now Is the Time Matching Challenge, your gift will be doubled in impact by another generous donor. So request your copy of these resources today by calling 866-999-2965 or visiting ptv.org. If you'd prefer to write, jot down this mailing address: P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222. That's P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222.

I'm David J. Mullins. Join us again next time when Dr. Jeffress answers the question, "What child is this?" here on Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church, Texas.

You made it to the end of today's podcast from Pathway to Victory, and we're so glad you're here. Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. Right now, your special year-end gift will be matched and therefore doubled in impact, thanks to the Now Is the Time Matching Challenge.

Take advantage of this opportunity to double your impact before the deadline on December 31st. To give toward the matching challenge, go to ptv.org/donate or follow the link in our show notes. We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.