Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Open your Bible to Luke Chapter 2, we will read verse 1-20

Jesus is the reason for the season.

I don't like the phrase because the reality is Jesus is the reason for everything.

Jesus is the reason for peace, the lack of fear, the creation, everything.

Think about it today, the reason for everything was born in Bethlehem on this first Christmas evening.

Let’s read

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy and Infallible Word

Let’s Pray

Transition

The first 7 verses of chapter 2 gives the date and details of Jesus birth.

There are an amazing about of traditions and stories that are believed about the Birth of Christ,

for example Aeiparthenos that means ever-virgin.

Idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary was believed within the early church, and was taught by people like Augustine.

But the scriptures give no idea of these traditions, there is no clue in Luke’s account here that would lead us to believe such traditions of men.

Lets read verses 1-7

Body

Time and Place of His Birth

In those days,

The hint here is that the decree and the actual census.

Caesar Augustus

Careful scholar gives us the point in time in a why that his reader would understand.

The time line is consistent and chapter 3 starts with, “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar” (Lk 3:1, ESV)

We don’t have records of this census, but we records from 20 AD on....

Informed faith

In time and space

Quirinius was governor of Syria.

More information that matches history, because we know that right near, just before 0 AD Judea annexed to Syria

And all went to be registered, each to his own town

The taxes for each area would be based on the number of men of working age in that area.

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,”

The importance of lineage from Sunday.

And while they were there

The story is often told in a way that seems like Jesus was born the night they got there, but that is not clearly stated, they should have been there for a time.

“ she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger”

Oh the depth of the statement first born son

Gen 4:4 “Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.

And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,” (Ge 4:4, ESV)

Exodus 11:5 “every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.”

(Ex 11:5, ESV)

“Consecrate to me all the firstborn.

Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

(Ex 13:2, ESV)

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

(Is 7:14, ESV)

Col 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”

(Col 1:18, ESV)

But what a place for the preeminent firstborn to be laid

a feeding trough

How well did the Apostle write he “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Php 2:7, ESV)

Becoming a king would have been a step down, but he became a servant.

No room in the Inn.

Much can be said of this living situation, but what is important is God’s reasons.

Calvin comments “We see, at the same time, what sort of beginning the life of the Son of God had, and in what cradle he was placed.

Such was his condition at his birth, because he had taken upon him our flesh for this purpose, that he might “empty himself” (Phil.

2:7) on our account.

When he was thrown into a stable, and placed in a manger, and a lodging refused him among men, it was that heaven might be opened to us, not as a temporary lodging, but as our eternal country and inheritance, and that angels might receive us into their abode.”

[1]

Transition

How can we be received before a Holy God?

This is fundamental to the fear faced by the shepherds in verses 8-14.

This God that kills ever firstborn of those that resist him and worship themselves and creation.

The Shepherds are right to fear, but the angles call, do not be afraid!

What child is that that at his birth fear is banished?

Do Not Fear Because He Is HERE!

I have heard is said, though I have not checked myself Fear not appears as means as 365 time int he Bible.

Why is that

God is whole and we are not.

The angle appears to these Shepherds and the angles says Fear not

But why?

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Every single instruction in scripture to fear not the presences of this Holy God is bound us in this Childs birth.

This saviour!

He saves us from God, for God, and By God.

This is the new of great joy.

I bring you good news of great joy

This joy is expressed by the heavenly host

“angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest”

The angel rejoice when the glorious God is glorified.

“on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Textual Variant

“Good will toward men”

“among men with whom He is pleased”

Transition

What do you do when heavenly display, verse 15 -20

Glorying God!

Let’s go, and see.

This is not a picture of doubt

“17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.”

Calvin Comments “It would have been to no purpose that Christ was born in Bethlehem, if it had not been made known to the world.

But the method of doing so, which is described by Luke, appears to the view of men very unsuitable.[3]

They watched their flock, I think we should see some divine poetry that God used Shepherd to hail the birth of the Great Shepherd.

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Calvin give us real clarity here,

“Mary’s diligence in contemplating the works of God is laid before us for two reasons; first, to inform us, that this treasure was laid up in her heart, for the purpose of being published to others at the proper time; and, secondly, to afford to all the godly an example for imitation.”[3]

There had to be those saying, wait a minute here, Mary is having a Baby and they have not even been married 9 months yet.

This is quit literally a public vindication of Mary be God.

What are we to do then, verse 18 speaks of those that “wondered at what the shepherds told them”