The Reason for Everything

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

Luke 2:1–20 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 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. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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

Luke 2:1–7 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

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!

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

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!

Luke 2:15–20 ESV

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 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. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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”

This is external and one can wonder when they hear a strange thing.

Mary treasured, yes we fond what God has done wonders and wonderful but those that are God treasure his reveling.

Do you treasure Christ today?

Just a Mary did with scripture at the Magificate so will the Believer do when they treasure the living Word.

The beautiful over flow will be just like the Shepherd is verse 20, “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Lk 2:20, ESV)

Conclusion

Examine yourself brothers and sisters is there a beautiful overflow of “glorifying and praising God for all [you] have heard and seen”

Benediction

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

References

[1]John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 112.

[2] Ibid, 113.

[3] Ibid, 124.

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and William Pringle. Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.