Christmas 2022 - Sermon 3

God’s Hand In Christmas

Text: Luke 2

Introduction

Question: How many of you have had Christmas gifts sent to your home? Who delivered them?

Here are some astounding logistic company revenues 2020:

Ups — $71.86 billion

Deutsche Post — 67.11 billion

FedEx — $65.45 billion

CSX Transportation — $38.2 billion

I don’t know about you, but I really appreciate who delivers what I order to the right location, in a timely manner and without damage.

The amazing story we have before us today is God delivering the most valuable gift, the gift travels without gaining any imperfection, to a place where people desperately needed it, at a time that was perfect. The gift I am talking about is Jesus Christ!

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: The Lord Is Come! (Luke 2)

Life was difficult at that time just as it is today. Taxes were high, unemployment was high, morals were slipping lower, and the military state was in control. Roman law, Greek philosophy, and even Jewish religion could not meet the needs of men’s hearts. Then, God sent His Son!

Joshua 4:24 “24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.”

I want to present a message today that speaks of God’s mighty, loving and sovereign hand which works out a logistical miracle.

1) The King’s Heart In The King’s Hand

A. The King makes a decree

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: The Lord Is Come! (Luke 2)

Rome took a census every fourteen years for both military and tax purposes, and each Jewish male had to return to the city of his fathers to record his name, occupation, property, and family.

Augustus Caesar was ruling, but God was in charge.

Before the decree of Caesar was made, the King of Heaven made a decree.

Joseph and Marys 80 miles of travel was not just the result of some mere earthly Caesar.

1 Peter 1:20 “20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”

Micah 5:2 “2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

A.T. Pierson said, “History is His story.”

President James A. Garfield called history “the unrolled scroll of prophecy.”

With God’s sovereignty and man’s freedom in play, we arrive at this point.

Man rules and God over-rules.

This family, this Caesar, this town and their travels were not a surprise to God.

God was seeing this through by His gently sovereign hand.

This truth reveals to us that no earthly power would keep God from bringing Grace/love down.

2) The Family’s Surrender To God’s Plan

A. Joseph and Mary embrace their new life

At this point, they were already husband and wife, but had yet to consummate the marriage; “espoused wife.”

Question — have you ever made plans for your life and God exploded them? (consider these newly weds)

There was no itinerary given an announcement day.

They were not privy to hindsight.

They were undoubtedly uncomfortable, yet they were at peace with the plan.

B. They were content with their lodging

Sometimes the Inn Keeper gets an unfair representation.

This guy was simply stating the reality that comes from so many people coming to Jerusalem for the same reason as Joseph and Mary.

This guy was simply managing the details God had worked out with His sovereign hand.

I would probably say, if there was a way to make it happen for this sweet family, he would have done that.

Thank God he could not!

We would call this dilemma a MAJOR INCONVENIENCE.

These kinds of details props some of us to conclude that the whole trip was a mistake.

I believe this was something Mary and Joseph DID NOT consider to be true.

God guides all the details, even the inconveniences.

Significance and purpose both rests upon God’s existence.

This inconvenience for this family made access to Christ most convenient for those who would seek Him.

A stone feed trough WOULD NOT have been Mary’s choice of crib.

Mary had no idea that Christ would declare himself as the “living bread.”

The feeding trough in Bethlehem would be perfect place for the “living bread” and “lamb of God” to be placed.

Think of Bethlehem’s RICH HISTORY:

Death of Rachel, birth of Benjamin (means “son of my right hand”), marriage or Ruth, exploits of David means “beloved”).

3) The Shepherd’s Joy In God’s Hand

A. Their current identity (v8)

“living out in the fields”

From inside to out, they were shepherds.

Hardworking low class people. (v9-12)

The outcasts in Israel.

Their work made them ceremonially unclean.

Kept away from the temple for weeks before made clean.

Please don’t miss what is revealed about God’s grace here!

God’s grace is to be reveal to ALL mankind!

God calls the poor and lowly.

B. Their coordinates to Christ (v12)

They may have been poor, but they were some of the most fearless and practical.

By their trembling, you know they knew this was legit.

“Fear not” is one of the key themes of the Christmas story.

Bethlehem, feed trough, swaddling clothes.

Joseph and Mary were not privy to how their inconveniences would be used in the Christmas story.

We are also never privy to hindsight......Faith would be useless.

C. They set their course to Jesus (vv.15-16)

The angles did all they could do; announce who had come what He came to do, and where He could be found.

The shepherds are a great example of applying wisdom.

Christ took the initiative and the shepherds responded by faith.

THEY FOUND JESUS!!!

What they found was not a soldier, judge or reformer. They found a SAVIOR!

Jesus is not a hidden Savior, He is near ALL OF US!

“when they had seen Him” — What a privilege!

Whom they saw was the promise of a peace the Romans could never bring them.

We encounter Jesus through the pages of scripture and His Spirit.

D. Their NEW Identity (vv.17-19)

They made their way back to their sheep

Their shepherding changes forever!

Imagine their conversations from this point forever.....

They are good examples for us to imitate TODAY.

They heard the message, received it by faith, responded immediately with obedience, glorified God, praised God, and shared the new with everyone.

They were NEW men going back to their old jobs.

Conclusion

To say that God’s hand was in bringing about the birth of Christ is also to say that God’s hand was in providing the grace necessary to save your soul TODAY!