1.5.5 12.25.2022 Luke 2.1-20 Linus Van Pelt and the True Meaning of Christmas

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.

Start:

Entice: Charlie may have gotten top billing,

but

Linus Van Pelt was the star.

He knew the score. He understood what made Christmas a Holy Day rather than just a holiday.

Engage: We are here, this morning, because we agree with Linus.

The true meaning of Christmas is Jesus.

Expand:

I have tried to tie my preaching throughout the Christmas season with a parallel story that we have known and loved for multiple generations.

And the central affirmation of that story is not that Linus was precocious but that

God is good

and that

Jesus is Lord.

Excite: It is Christmas morning!

A day to rejoice!

To remember!

To relish God’s love.

Explore:

Christmas is act of worship built upon remembering.

Expand: Luke’s telling of the Christmas story reminds us to....

1 Remember the Plan

1.1 In Caesar’s world…

1.2 God was at work.

Next Luke reminds us to

2 Remember the Participants

2.1 His parents

2.1.1 They remind us of the whole history of redemption.

2.1.2 They remind us of the messy reality of incarnation.

2.2 The Shepherds

Good News!

Great Joy!

2.3 The Savior

Finally, Luke insists that we

3 Remember the Promise.

3.1 A Savior is Born!

Christ!

The Lord

3.2 God has provided a way to know

His peace-His pleasure!

Shut Down

That is God’s message for us December 25, 2022.

He had a plan.

He used people.

He kept His promise.

We will go our separate ways now. We will share time with family, open some gifts and perhaps share a good meal. All these opportunities will give us pleasure.

We will feel the warm glow of the “holiday season.” The true joy of Christ is the joy of salvation. Without Jesus, true joy will always be elusive. This is the joy of being in a relationship with God. Jesus came to live, love, and serve among us. The story happened a long time ago in a faraway place. Yet it is still real today because Jesus reigns and the Linus Van Pelts of the world have reminded us of what Christmas is all about.