Children's Christmas Program 2022

Luke 2:1–7 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Introduction

The taxing of Judea. vss 1-4

Augustus, the nephew of Julius Caesar issues a decree.

Augustus is an interesting character to be ruling Rome at the birth of Jesus.

History tells us that he was one of, if not the most, organized emperor that Rome ever had.

One historian stated that he came to a Rome made of brick and left it an empire made of marble.

He instituted many of the improvements that would later make it possible for the gospel to spread so quickly and efficiently through the known world.

Before any of that, though, we see God using this man for something else.

Though it may have been Augustus’ love of organization that prompted this decree, we understand that the heart of the king is in the hand of God.

God is the Emperor of history.

The actions of an emperor in far-away Rome serve only to set forward the divine plan.

Augustus tells everyone to return to the city of their birth.

This affects the newly married couple in Nazareth.

Mary and Joseph are married by this point.

Gabriel had appeared to them both announcing his plans for Mary to give birth to the Messiah.

She had gone away to be with her cousin for 3 months.

Doubtless, when she had returned, she and Joseph had gotten married as soon as possible.

Now, less than 6 months into their marriage, they have to travel a fairly long distance to get to Bethlehem.

Joseph has to go to Bethlehem because he is a descendent of David’s family.

The Jews, the earliest times, kept their genealogical tables in order with amazing fidelity.

Mary, too, was required to pay taxes, but she did not have to do so in person.

Mary, will, therefore, travel with Joseph to Bethlehem.

Though it was not a good time in her pregnancy for her to be traveling so far, Joseph couldn’t imagine leaving her behind.

If she were to have the baby in Nazareth, people could have done some easy math to conclude that something didn’t add up.

By taking her, with the way things work out, no one may have ever known that she gave birth so soon after the wedding.

They stayed in Bethlehem for a while, and then went straight to Egypt to escape Herod.

People in Nazareth would not have necessarily met Jesus until he was a young boy.

I don’t think it was just expediency that led to Mary accompanying Joseph.

If you are an industrious person and something on your car breaks, you decide to fix it yourself.

Before you start, you do your research.

You read some articles, and you watch some videos.

You want to know everything you can about what you are about to do.

Do you think it’s possible that Joseph and Mary did the same thing after learning that Jesus was coming?

Could she have spent the 3 months were cousin Elisabeth grilling Zacharias the priest about what the scriptures said about the coming Messiah.

As we saw this morning, the Bible is pretty clear that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

What if Mary was always planning on going to Bethlehem with Joseph to have this baby.

Augustus just happened to make a decree that gave them cover for the trip.

The birth of Jesus. vss 5-7

When the couple arrived in Bethlehem, though, the crowds were intense.

Some commentators think that Joseph had made arrangements for a place for them to stay.

But, due to the census, their accommodations had been given away.

Their was no room for them to stay.

History tells us that they sought shelter in a stable.

Tradition states that it was a cave.

This can be traced back to about 150 AD.

A century and a half after these events took place.

All the Bible tells us is that Jesus was laid in a manger.

The presence of a manger suggests a stable.

It may have been.

It is also possible that the birth of Jesus took place in a very poor home where the animals shared the same room as the family.

It may have also taken place in the open air.

No room IN the inn may have meant giving birth in the courtyard of the inn.

This is where the manger would have been.

Are we even able to conceptualize this.

The stable, the cave still gives us the feeling of a place.

Most art make the cave look more inviting than some hotels I’ve stayed in.

Remember, even as an adult, Jesus had no place to lay his head.

Why should His birth be any different?

Wherever it took place, everything points to it being a place of obscurity, poverty, and even rejection.

One last word about the night of Jesus’ birth.

Who wrapped Him in swaddling clothes?

The pronoun “she” carries through from the bringing forth to the wrapping to the laying in a manger.

The fact that Mary had to wrap her own newborn points to a lonely birth experience.

Thank God for a Pam Wise.

Can you imagine this 16 year old girl taking those long, soft strips of cloth and carefully wrapping up her new baby?

God had promised to be with her.

Though the process had been far from conventional or easy, she was holding in her arms the Messiah.

In a little town of little importance, without anyone really taking any notice, Jesus, the Son of God, was born.

Application

How do I want you respond to this message tonight?

If you aren’t a Christian, I hope that you will consider the real-life account of how Jesus came to this earth.

He did this for you, in particular.

This was only the beginning of what He did for you.

He wasn’t just born for us, He eventually died for us to pay the price for our sins.

If you’ve never been forgiven of your sins, Jesus is inviting you to receive that gift today.

If you are a Christian tonight...

Then my desire is that you would just stop and thank Jesus for what He did.