Christmas 2022: Celebrate His First Arrival -- He is Coming again!

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Introduction

Merry Christmas! Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The first arrival of Jesus Christ in the flesh, yet we also celebrate that He is coming back again and He will not be coming back as a baby! Last night we looked at a reading of the Christmas story to calm our minds and hearts and over the past several weeks of Advent we have looked at different aspects of the Christmas story. The first Sunday we looked at Jesus being willing to leave the halls of Heaven to the Depths of our Depravity. The second week we looked at the message of angels to proclaim the good news to Elizabeth, Mary, and the shepherds. The we looked at the steadfast faith of Mary and Joseph who were going to have challenges based on when Mary became pregnant and we saw from John’s Gospel that rumor of illegitimate birth of Jesus was still around during His ministry, yet they remained faithful in God’s calling. Last week we looked at the dark world in which Jesus came and how much of what we see in our world is the same as then. Yes, nations change, technology change, but the world has many of the same issues as it was 2000 years ago. Today we are going back to Luke’s Gospel and look at the text in this passage in Luke 2 with some new eyes and then we are going to look toward His second coming.

Luke 2

So over time this story has become so familiar to us. We can almost say it by heart. We have seen the images on Christmas cards and TV specials. We have this guy who wants to tax the world and Mary and Joseph are caught in the middle so they have to travel to this little town called Bethlehem where Joseph’s family is from to pay the taxes, but they get there at night and Mary is about to have Jesus, but all the rooms are booked in the village and then inn keeper turns them away and so they find a barn and give birth to Jesus in the barn.

Except that is not what the text says.

Luke 2:1–7 NKJV

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

When studying for this as well as preparing for the new series coming sometime next year I have been reading Jesus through Middle Eastern eyes by Kenneth Bailey. Some of his insights I have read in other places, but between our Western mindset and some of the words used by early English translations our view of the Christmas story has been shaped.

In the King James it says that the world was going to be taxed (this is an old Elizabethan word for census (maybe for the purposes of taxes), but as I mentioned last week Caesar Augustus (was formerly known as Octivan) was only recently put in power and this was a way to look over his empire.

Joseph’s family (father/grandfather) had moved from Bethlehem at some point in the past to Nazareth, but he knew his line (see the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel). He needed to go his home where his family was from, which we knew his family had lived in that tiny village since the conquest of Canaan and had returned there after the exile ended.

The text says that “WHILE THEY WERE THERE” it does not say that the night they arrived in Bethlehem that she was going into labor. We have no idea how far along she was when they went to Bethlehem nor how soon after she gave birth. It happened while they were there.

Swaddling cloths (something the lowest class did)

No room for them in the inn

Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels Chapter 1: The Story of Jesus’ Birth (Luke 2:1–20)

1. Joseph was returning to the village of his origin. In the Middle East, historical memories are long, and the extended family, with its connection to its village of origin, is important. In such a world a man like Joseph could have appeared in Bethlehem, and told people, “I am Joseph, son of Heli, son of Matthat, the son of Levi” and most homes in town would be open to him.

2. Joseph was a “royal.” That is, he was from the family of King David. The family of David was so famous in Bethlehem that local folk apparently called the town the “City of David” (as often happens). The official name of the village was Bethlehem. Everyone knew that the Hebrew Scriptures referred to Jerusalem as the “City of David.” Yet locally, many apparently called Bethlehem the “City of David” (Lk 2:4). Being of that famous family, Joseph would have been welcome anywhere in town.

3. In every culture a woman about to give birth is given special attention. Simple rural communities the world over always assist one of their own women in childbirth regardless of the circumstances. Are we to imagine that Bethlehem was an exception? Was there no sense of honor in Bethlehem? Surely the community would have sensed its responsibility to help Joseph find adequate shelter for Mary and provide the care she needed. To turn away a descendent of David in the “City of David” would be an unspeakable shame on the entire village.

4. Mary had relatives in a nearby village. A few months prior to the birth of Jesus, Mary had visited her cousin Elizabeth “in the hill country of Judea” and was welcomed by her. Bethlehem was located in the center of Judea. By the time, therefore, that Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem they were but a short distance from the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. If Joseph had failed to find shelter in Bethlehem he would naturally have turned to Zechariah and Elizabeth. But did he have time for those few extra miles?

5. Joseph had time to make adequate arrangements. Luke 2:4 says that Joseph and Mary “went up from Galilee to Judea,” and verse 6 states, “while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered” (KJV, italics added). The average Christian thinks that Jesus was born the same night the holy family arrived—hence Joseph’s haste and willingness to accept any shelter, even the shelter of a stable. Traditional Christmas pageants reinforce this idea year after year.

Now this word “Inn” has caused so many sermons about an innkeeper and no vacancy. It is not that the sermons and stories are not good and I am sure that the LORD has used them, but the word that some of the earliest translators used for “Inn” gives us a wrong meaning and combined that with the manager.

Luke 10:34 NKJV

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Luke 22:11 NKJV

Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’

House layout

In the text, the time spent in Bethlehem before the birth is not specified. But it was surely long enough to find adequate shelter or to turn to Mary’s family.

Bailey, Kenneth E. Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008. Print.

Matthew 5:14–15 NKJV

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Luke 13:10–17 NKJV

Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels A Christian Novel

Today, on the sabbath you untied an animal. I “untied” a woman. How can you blame me? The text reports that “all his adversaries were put to shame” (v. 17).

This is just a brief look at the birth of Jesus! Yet, regardless of when He was born (from the next part of Luke it appears to be in the summertime), the fact is that Jesus was born. Luke wanted to document that fact. This was His first arrival! Yet, Jesus came to be the sinless Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world and He is coming back again.

Second Coming

When Jesus comes back He will not be a small baby wrapped in Swaddling cloths laying in a manager, but rather He will be in the clouds of Heaven!

Daniel 7:13–14 NKJV

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

Matthew 26:63–65 NKJV

But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!

Revelation 19:11–16 NKJV

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

The question is are you ready to meet Him? Do you know Him?

Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Today is the Day

Make this Christmas the day you come to know Him personally!

John 3:14–18 NKJV

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

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