God's Plan Initiated
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Over the past three weeks we have looked at God’s plan for redeeming mankind to Himself.
The first week we saw that sending a baby to Bethlehem and having him be born in a stable was always God’s plan “A.” We looked at some selected scriptures in the Old Testament to see show this point.
Then the second week we saw how God announced the plan to Mary. We thought through some of the emotions that she must have felt.
Then last week we turned our attention to Joseph, and explored the emotions that he must of felt.
This morning it is Christmas Morning! We want to look the events that happened that First Christmas.
If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn to Luke 2, and we’ll begin reading this familiar passage.
An Untimely Trip
An Untimely Trip
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
This story begins while Caesar Augustus was over the Roman world. We know he was the head of Rome from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14
The bigger problem is the reference to Quirinius being governor. History suggests that he was governor of Syria (the area in which Israel was a part) two different times. First from 3-2 B.C. and again from A.D. 6-7. The reason this is a problem is because Matthew’s account has Herod the Great still alive. Look at Matthew 2:1.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
We know Herod died in 4 B.C. So the question remains: “How did Quirinius being governor fit in?” The best answer is that the passage might be translated, “that took place before Quirinius was governor of Syria.”
Notice that EVERYONE went to their own town to be registered. There was not a choice or exemption for a pregnant lady.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
So Joseph and Mary make the 85 mile trip south to Bethlehem—because both he and Mary are from the line of David.
Next we are told that they went together, so Mary went with him.—She was pledged to be married to him, meaning they were actually married and living together but had not yet consummated the marriage vows.
And finally, we’re told she is expecting a child—she’s pregnant!
Once in Bethlehem
Once in Bethlehem
So they arrive in Bethlehem, and we come to verse 6.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
Now stop for a minute. In all the stories it is usually told that Mary and Joseph reached the stable just in the nick of time! But the passage does not require that idea. They could have been there a couple of days or it could have happened right after they arrived—in the nick of time, so to speak. I’ll let you choose. Personally, I like the dramatics of them arriving in Bethlehem just in the nick of time! But the text does not require that idea.
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
So Mary did what any new mother would do—she took care of her new born baby. She wrapped him in strips of cloth, and placed him in a makeshift baby bed—a feed trough.
And then Luke includes a vital piece of information—all of this happened because there was no room for them in the inn—no inn! All of them were full, full, FULL!
Now when we come to verse 8, we are introduced to some new characters.
Here Come the Shepherds
Here Come the Shepherds
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
First there are the shepherds, and they are doing what shepherds do—they are watching their flocks—making sure nothing gets their sheep!
All of the sudden, an angel appears, and the glory of Yahweh shown all around them.
And the shepherds, well they are terrified! That’s right scared spit less!
But the angel has a message for them:
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
First, we have the old, “Do not be afraid!” gig.
Next, the angel says he has good news of great joy.
And this news is not just for the shepherds, or just for the people that first Christmas. No, it is good news of great joy for all the people!
Here it is: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born.
This baby is the Messiah! That’s right the long awaited Messiah has arrived!
To prove this point, the angel said they would find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger—now that’s no way to treat a baby, and certainly no way to treat God’s Messiah!
Now look at verse 13.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
A great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel. Now that had to be a sight!
And this company of heavenly host were praising God saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The Second Unexpected Journey
The Second Unexpected Journey
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
The angels leave!
The shepherds look at each other and begin to discuss what they just saw.
And they say to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
They found the baby just like the angels said!
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
They take off and tell everyone they see everything that had happened.
And all the people who hear their story are amazed!
Mary’s Response!
Mary’s Response!
I want you to see Mary’s response.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Mary treasured the events of Jesus’ birth.
The phrase, “and pondered them in her hearts” could be translated, “she thought about them often.”
Shepherd’s Response!
Shepherd’s Response!
We already looked at one response—the went out and told everyone who would listen about all they had witnessed!
But look at verse 20,
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
They returned to their hillside to take care of the sheep.
The were glorifying and praising God!
They did this because of all they had heard and seen and because it was just like the angel told them!
So What?
So What?
This morning, we have gathered together to celebrate Christmas—Jesus, God’s Messiah, coming into the world to pay the penalty for our sins—to redeem us!
The night Jesus was betrayed, He instituted what we call “The Lord’s Supper.”
I can see no better way to conclude our Christmas Morning Worship Service than by remember not only Jesus’ birth, but also His death, burial, and His wonderful resurrection from the dead!
I’m going to ask some of the men of our church to come and prepare the table as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Paul wrote:
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Paul continues:
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
He closes by reminding us:
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Matthew tell us:
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
We are going to sing a hymn and leave Mt Olive to share with everyone all that the Lord has made known to us.
Would you stand and join us in singing, “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”
