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The Birth of the Savior (Luke 2:1-20)
A birth is a big deal…shrouded w/ a bit of mysteryNormally…the baby will grow up into adulthood & make his way in the worldWhen you hold a newborn baby though…you don’t know what’s in store1. Where the child is born plays a roleIf born in the slums of Sao Paulo, Brazil…future might be limitedLife Expectancy is only 48 — 20 yrs less that national averageLow Literacy…Low Education…50% are Unemployed2. The time period in which the child is born plays a roleIf born in 1800s…you’re not considering a career in computer programmingIf born in 1st century Israel…you’re limited by rule of Roman law
*So no one expected much of a guy…from nowhere Nazareth…in the 1st centuryThere eyes were fixated elsewhereThat’s the way the world works
Illust: Take the year 1809 — Chuck Swindoll notes…world focused on Napoleon Sweeping through Austria…conquering EuropeNo one cared about babies — They were overlooking some significant birthsWilliam Gladstone — born that year…& become one of England’s finest statesmen Alfred, Lord Tennyson — born…& would greatly impact the literary worldIn America: Great writers Oliver Wendell Holmes & Edgar Allan Poe were bornAlso in 1809…a child by the name of Charles Robert Darwin born And that same year saw a infant…by the name of Abraham LincolnSwindoll says, “If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I'm certain these words would have been heard: ‘The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.’”But that wasn’t the case…The world didn’t yet know what was in the cradles of Europe & America in 1809
In the same way…the world didn’t know what was in…a Bethlehem manger around the year 4 B.C.Listen to the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:1-20 — Read
About 4 B.C…Headlines might have read, “Taxation of the Entire Roman Empire!” What was missed…was a young Jewish girl in Bethlehem…giving birth to the Savior
So, today let’s not be distracted by the events of the world around us…But instead…fix our gaze on the Savior…who was born at the perfect time…to live, die, & rise again…to secure our Salvation
1. God’s Providence in the Savior’s Birth (v.1-7)
Providence is a word we don’t use often — It means…“purposeful sovereignty”In other words…Sovereign God…ordains or allows…all things for His purposesSo God’s plans…are not thrown off by politics, social condition, or geographyThe Future…is present tense for GodGod is not hampered by human events…& they never surprise HimSo, at time of the Savior’s birth…everything is providentially planned out
God provides the perfect event.Caesar Augustus…issues a decree…declaring Census be takenCensus…was a registration for purpose of taxationEveryone is going to ancestral homeWhy to ancestral home? — Well, b/c the Emperor said so…but more than that…Really b/c King of Kings (& emperors) is providentially guiding history
God provides the perfect timing. Joseph and Mary…live in Nazareth Nazareth isn’t a bad place to be from…unless you intend to fulfill prophecyMicah 5 says the Messiah (Christ)…must be born in BethlehemNow being born in Nazareth is a problem — But that’s no problem for God
In God’s providence…Emperor decrees census Joseph must return to Bethlehem (David’s line)Mary is probably not required to go…She may have gone…to avoid scandal (pregnancy)Maybe didn’t want to be away from Joseph at birthWhatever the reason — Main Reason: She’s going…b/c God is moving herLuke wants us to know…God brings Politics, Prophecy, Geography, & Time together…To fulfill His purposes
After all…the People aren’t dumb…& wouldn’t be duped by a Christ from NazarethIn John 7:41-42, the people asked, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” — They know!But very little about Mary from Nazareth…giving birth to Jesus…under Roman rule…in Bethlehem…makes sense to the Human mind…
C. Through it all…God provides the perfect hope.
We have Hope in the God…who ordains & guides history according to His perfect willWe have Hope in the God…who asked Abraham in Gen. 18:14, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”…& then told him “at the appointed time” a son would comeWe have Hope in a Greater Son…who also came “at the appointed time”…And according to Rom. 5:6, “at the right time” died for sinners like you & meTrans: At just the right time…as God is providentially guiding history…we have…
2. God’s Announcement of the Savior’s Birth (v.8-12)
As soon as Mary gave birth…there was an announcementWasn’t an announcement to Kings… w/ powerWasn’t an announcement to Religious Leaders…thought to be spiritual giantsThe angelic announcement came to Shepherds out in the fieldGod’s glory is shining…Shepherds are in fear…& an angel said to them…Read (v.10-12)
Let’s not miss what the angel is doing…and sayingThe Good News came to Shepherds — These are not kind, gentle…cuddling w sheepShepherds…were lowly…& unclean according to the Law…considered dishonestBob Stein says, “They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came.”See…A. The gospel of Jesus is good news to even the worst sinner.
So the angels announce the birth of the Christ…& it is Good News (incredible)This isn’t Good News…b/c it was convenient…or comfortable to everyoneIt will challenge Thinking…Beliefs…TraditionThis isn’t Good News…b/c it will bring peace & harmony to the world (Division)This IS Good News…b/c the Savior has come
Keep in mind though…B. The Gospel of Jesus is Good News…only to those who know they’re sinners. — (if you have a great problem…you need saving from)Illust: Imagine you’re at home one evening…& Fire Department rolls up in drivewaySirens & lights are going…guys are running around hooking up hosesThey come to your door…& tell you they’re here to save youIf you don’t believe there’s a fire…it won’t make sense (thank & send away)If they point to the problem…blazing fire on back side of house…then you need savingThen the message of the Fire Fighters…is Good News
Church: We live in a country that often doesn’t see the Gospel as Good NewsWe tell people they’re “good”…or being Christian is about being “moral”But what people need to understand is…“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23)And they need to know that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23)…Not merely Physical Death…but Spiritual/Eternal DeathAnd when they understand their sinfulness…hopelessness apart from God…Then they’re ready…for the announcement of Good News…Not a baby lying in a manger…but God becoming flesh…The Son of God coming…to suffer God’s wrath for sin we all committedNot that “good people” go to heaven when they die…But that repentant sinners…placing faith in Christ…receive extravagant GraceChurch: That is the Good News…in the announcement of the Savior’s birth Trans: So what’s the response?
3. God’s Glory in the Savior’s Birth (v.13-20)
Illust: Have you ever been to big game…maybe Your Team vs. Arch-rival?As the game starts…you can tell…the crowd is just waiting for the 1st big playThey are waiting to burst…w/ celebration & excitementThis is the mood of heaven…as the “Heavenly Host”…awaits the birth of Christ
A. We see…The angels confess the glory of God.
They know what it all means — They know Jesus is the Christ (Savior)So immediately after the angel announces Jesus’ birth…Read (v.13-14)We have a response of worship…by angels…that’s noticed by shepherds
B. The shepherds confess the glory of God.
When angels left…the Shepherds immediately say, “Let’s go see”Hearing Good News always calls for a response — So shepherds respondedThey went to see & experience…Good NewsThey went over to Bethlehem (w/ haste)…& found Mary, Joseph, Jesus
Now…the Good News couldn’t be kept to themselves…(v.17) says they told everybody what they heard from angelsThen when they’re finished…(v.20) says, “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
It’s not just angels & shepherds…confessing God’s glory
C. Mary treasures up the glory of God.
While everyone “wondered”…or “marveled”…at what the shepherds said…(v.19) says “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” She didn’t fully understand…but she knew something special had happened
The Angels, Shepherds, & Mary…all saw salvation…lying in a mangerThey heard the news — This child is the Savior…the Christ…the Lord of allAnd they couldn’t help but…give glory to God*Sometimes we take the hymn…Silent Night…a little too literally…All may have been calm…before the birth of JesusAfterward…it was all Praise & Worship!Church: We’ve seen the response…of those who witnessed Jesus’ birth…But more important…D. What’s your response to the Glory of God in Christ?
Don’t miss the Good News…of the Savior’s birth…& the glory it revealsEasy to miss the significance of Christmas…for the sentimentalism of ChristmasIllust: In December 1903…after many failures along the way…the Wright Brothers finally got their “flying machine” to lift off the groundThey were thrilled…telegraphed their sister Katherine…“We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.”Katherine quickly went to editor of local newspaper…showed him the messageHe look at the message: “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.”He saw the message…but missed the Big News! (They had actually flown)
Conclusion:
Church: Don’t miss the Good News today…in the midst of the fun…the traditions…& the sentimentalism of the season“Good News” is here…in the person of JesusIf haven’t received Him…You need Him — (He is Savior)If you’re not praising Him…You need a bigger view of Jesus
At just the right time…God providentially sent His Son…as the SaviorIt was glorious Good News proclaimed…that 1st Christmas morning…It’s the same Good News…we proclaim today
But do you know the Savior Today?