Sermon Tone Analysis

Luke 2:1-20 - The Truly Majestic One

Jonathan White

Luke / Luke 2:1–20

Today’s message is about how we should worship and glorify Christ, our majestic Savior, as we reflect on His humble incarnation.

Introduction:

Today’s account is going to include two kings.

One king rules one of the largest and most powerful empires in the history of the world.

He sits on the throne of the Roman Empire.

Caesar Augustus is his name now.

He was named Octavian - the great nephew of the famed Julius Caesar.

But after Julius Caesar was assassinated and after a series of battles and events, Octavian became king of the empire.

After taking over, he was renamed Caesar Augustus which means ‘majestic one.’

It was a title of even more religious authority than political authority.

He actually handed over the official ruling powers to the Roman senate, but this move only seemed to solidify his power and influence even further throughout his reign.

The other King has a much different story.

Although He is truly the majestic one - meaning He is the one who is eminent and having imposing magnificence - He at this time is born in a humble circumstance.

He is born and laid in a manger - or a glorified feeding trough.

It appears that these two persons are worlds apart.

One seems to have everything while the other doesn’t even have an appropriate sleeping arrangement.

Yet, as we are going to see today, things are not always as they seem.

This little child lying in a manger is more majestic than meets the eye.

Join me as we read the Scripture for today:

Luke 2:1–3 ESV

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

Luke 2:4–6 ESV

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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

Luke 2:7–8 ESV

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.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:9–10 ESV

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.

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.

Luke 2:11–12 ESV

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:15–16 ESV

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.”

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Luke 2:17–19 ESV

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:20 ESV

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Prayer

Today we are going to address three points regarding Christ’s coming that should lead us to worship Him.

The first is:

I.

We Should Worship the Truly Majestic One Who Is in a Manger (1-7)

Luke 2:1–3 ESV

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

At the beginning of our reading we see that a census was decreed by Caesar Augustus.

This was important for the Roman Empire as it aided in their taxation and was a mandate and not optional.

Here is the ruler of the Roman Empire decreeing something that is the will of the Ruler of Everything.

This king thinks that his decree is from the majestic one.

He thinks that he is in charge.

Yet, as we will see in this account.

He is being used by the true King of Kings to fulfill the prophecies regarding the birth of the Messiah.

You see, the Jews had a unique way of registering compared to the Roman Empire.

The rest of the Roman Empire would register where they were.

It was a much more straight forward process.

But the Jews were organized by families.

And these families had been dispersed because of the amount of times they were taken over by outside invaders.

And that brings us to verses 4-5

Luke 2:4 ESV

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,

Joseph has to travel all the way from Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem of Judea because of his lineage.

Luke stresses this lineage very strongly here and says that he is of the house and lineage of David.

This understanding is incredibly important regarding the Messiah.

This 85 mile journey is more than just a formality mandated by an early king who is called the majestic one.

This journey is ordered for the truly Majestic One to fulfill prophecies of old.

See one such prophecy regarding Jesus to be born in Bethlehem written over 700 years before His birth:

Micah 5:2 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

The ancient of days would be brought forth in Bethlehem.

This name describing Christ points to His deity my friends.

Christ wasn’t created on Christmas.

He was begotten and not born.

Meaning that He came into this earth as one fully man and fully God.

100% of both.

But Jesus Christ is the Ancient of Days - meaning that He has existed for all eternity.

He is fully God and has been for all eternity.

So don’t miss the beauty of what is happening.

God - the same God who has been forever praised in heaven by the angels - is humbling Himself in the form of a baby in order to save the world.

Praise be to God for this beautiful truth my friends!

Luke 2:5 ESV

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

Moving forward we see that Mary goes with him in verse 5. Why Mary went with Joseph has been debated by many theologians over the years.

One could speculate that Joseph didn’t want to miss the birth of God-made-flesh.

Or Mary wanted to avoid any further ridicule by her town that likely didn’t believe her statement of purity.

But we know the main reason is that God was fulfilling the prophesy we just spoke about regarding the Christ-child being born in Bethlehem.

So this couple sets out toward Bethlehem.

Note that this young married couple is called betrothed here because Luke stresses the fact that Joseph had not yet known his wife as shown in Matthew 1:25: