Christmas 2022

We have a tradition in our family.

Every Christmas morning, we read the story of Christ’s birth in Luke chapter 2.

I thought that today, I would both share that tradition with you and expand on what we read.

The Census

Luke 2:1–3 NKJV

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

I frequently stand in awe as I look back and see how God’s working through my life has brought me to where I currently stand.

A layoff that turned out to be the best career move in my life.

A childhood focused on photography and books that blossomed, after 30 years, into a career as a writer, video producer, and yes, a preacher.

Even a job at a truck stop that not only introduced my to Christ, but to the woman who would become my wife.

So when I see Caesar Augustus ordering a census, I do not see luck or coincidence.

I see the providence of God.

The fulfilling of prophesy.

Luke 2:4–5 NKJV

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child.

Bethlehem has a lot history to the Jews,

Nazareth, not so much.

Bethlehem is where Rachel was buried.

Boaz, who was from Bethlehem, was King David’s great-grandfather.

Making David a Bethlehemite as well.

But probably the best known old testament reference to Bethlehem is

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Jerusalem may have been the capital of Israel,

But Bethlehem was the home of its great kings.

So here is where a new king, the greatest king, the King of kings, would be born.

Luke 2:6–7 NKJV

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

We’ve all heard the story about there being no room at the inn.

There is plenty of embellishment about this part of the story.

There’s even a one-man show called “The Inn Keeper’s Dream” about it.

But I want us to think about this.

Jesus was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,

Yet he was born in a stable.

As John put it:

John 1:3 NKJV

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Yet here He is, helpless, dependent on those in His creation,

The most important and powerful man ever to live,

Yet born in the most humble of places to the simplest of parents.

This too, is a story we are all familiar with.

But leads me to something else we should consider.

Shepherd

Hebrews 13:20 NKJV

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

It may seem obvious, but you cannot have a shepherd without sheep.

And let’s face it, sheep don’t exactly have a stellar reputation for great strength, wisdom, or anything else we think of when we think of great people.

You don’t see a lot of football teams with sheep as their mascot.

In the Old Testament, sheep are most often seen as the offering, or something to be taken care of.

As in the 23rd Psalm:

Psalm 23:1–2 NKJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

Sheep are not exactly what you would expect to “Make friends and influence people”, right?

But without sheep, there is no need for a shepherd.

Yet the great shepherd is seen here as weaker than His sheep.

Helpless & dependent.

In need of someone to prepare a place for Him to lie down,

To provide a calm place to be refreshed.

Perhaps this imagery is why the first people to be told about the Savior’s birth were men familiar with taking care of these weak and needy animals.

Shepherds.

Luke 2:8–9 NKJV

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Being a shepherd was not exactly a stellar career.

You see many jewish mothers bragging about their son the doctor or the lawyer,

Not so many bragging about their son the shepherd.

And it wasn’t just in Israel:

Genesis 46:33–34 NKJV

So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Shepherds were the outcasts of society.

They spent most of their time out in the fields,

With nothing to keep them company but a bunch of fuzzy dimwitted animals.

I’m sure many were driven a bit mad from this lifestyle.

Maybe a few shekels short of a talent?

But these, the outcasts of society, were the ones to get the good news first.

Luke 2:10–12 NKJV

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

The birth of a child is something to celebrate.

We go to see the newborn,

Congratulate the parents.

Maybe even hold the child.

You may not be able to tell it by looking at Him, but this is not just any child.

Imagine you are one of those shepherds.

First, you see an angel, which scares you to death.

Have you ever noticed how often, when an angel arrives, their first words are “don’t be afraid”?

Then the angel tells you the savior is born,

And you can find him by looking for the most weak and dependent person,

Living in the most humble of places.

What would you do?

Would you leave your sheep to see this great sign?

A babe, lying in a manger?

These shepherds did.

I suppose an angelic chorus is a bit of a motivator.

And most of the people probably thinks they were a bit crazy anyway.

And it was these, poor, humble outcasts that were the first to spread the good news.

Luke 2:17–18 NKJV

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

It was a marvelous thing:

The creator of the universe entered His creation as its weakest creature.

The creator was subject to His creation, both Mary and Joseph.

And one day, as Isiah had prophesied, this shepherd would become the sheep.

Isaiah 53:7 NKJV

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

But today, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the creator of the universe...

Is a helpless child, wrapped in cloth, and lying in a feeding trough.

Conclusion

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve read this passage of Scripture.

And while the words are familiar, there always seems to be something new.

When we sing Silent Night, we sing the verse “Christ the Savior is born.”

But today, I think of “Christ the Shepherd is born”.

John 10:11 NKJV

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

This is the purpose of this babe in the manger,

The shepherd giving His life for the sheep.

Not just in death.

Jesus came from glory, from the presence of God the Father,

To become this helpless babe,

Giving up His life in heaven for the sheep.

Look at John chapter 10...

John 10:14 NKJV

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

Jesus spent 30 years living as a sheep,

So that His sheep could know Him.

John 10:15 NKJV

As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Jesus wasn’t killed.

He laid down His life for the sheep.

He was in control...

John 10:17–18 NKJV

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

He laid down His life for the sheep.

So that they could join Him and His Father in heaven.

So the next time you look around and see,

Those goofy, fuzzy, foolish fellow sheep.

The next time you see someone that needs to lie down in green pastures,

Or the water stilled for them.

Take a look in the mirror.

Remember, you look just the same to them.

This babe in the manger is more than the cute, cuddly child we see in pictures and movies.

This is our shepherd coming to show us the way home.

And if it wasn’t for the great shepherd who came down from heaven to be born in a manger,

To live His life dependent on His creation,

So that He could lay down His life for you and the other sheep.

Then we would have lost much more than a holiday,

With great songs, traditions, meals, and presents.

We would be lost sheep, wandering through life without a shepherd.

And no way to return to our Father in heaven.