The Christmas Story

Christmas Choir

Sing We the Song of Emmanuel

Welcome

Well, good evening and thank you so much for being with us tonight as we look at the greatest story that’s ever been told. It’s a story about God and His creation and how from the very foundations God had every intention to redeem the world from their own wickedness. In fact, after God created man, and man fell in their own sin, we find in Genesis 3:15 – all the way at the beginning of Scripture – God’s promise to send His Son. To send us Someone to save us from ourselves. To send a Savior, to send our Messiah.

And from that point on, for generations to come, the Jewish people, they would anticipate this Messiah. The Jewish ladies thought, maybe, just maybe, they’ll be the one to carry this Savior; this child that would liberate them from the grips of this world. And so, years would go by, women would get pregnant and they’d wonder. Is this child the Messiah?

The Story of Gabriel & Mary

But then there was one woman, and she wouldn’t have to wonder. And her name was Mary. Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel. And Gabriel would go on to give her the greatest news ever received. “Not only will you be the one chosen to carry the Messiah but it’s finally time. God’s sending His Son into this world to redeem it, and Mary, you have been chosen to carry Him.”

I mean, could you imagine that? The news that you’d be the very one to carry the Savior of the world? Some scholars even believe that Mary would’ve been 13, 14 years old and here’s God saying, “You’ll be the one to carry my Son. And one day, you’ll give birth to Jesus.”

At this time, I want us to listen to God’s Word and what God’s Word tells us about Mary getting this news for the very first time.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26–38 CSB

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Gabriel and Mary Candles Lighting

Congregational Song

What Child is This

The Story of Joseph

Now you heard the Word of God, it said Mary was betrothed. Betrothed, it simply means to be engaged. And Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph. And guys, being engaged, during this time period, it was a very very big deal. In fact, the only way to break off an engagement during this time period was basically to file for divorce. And the grounds to that divorce it had to consist of adultery. That’s how serious this partnership was.

But think about it. Here’s Mary, who’s told by an angel that you’re gonna give birth to the Messiah but yet you’re a virgin. And so, you’re engaged, you’re ready to get married. And now you have to tell the love of your life, the man you’re about to marry, that you’re pregnant. And by the way, I’m pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Could you imagine being Joseph? Could you imagine the position he was placed in? And what we see through these accounts is that Joseph was such a godly man. In fact, when we come to Scripture, what it says, is that Joseph decides he’s just gonna put Mary away quietly. He didn’t wanna bring any unnecessary attention on her. And honestly, if you place yourself in his position, he had every right too. And the reason why he didn’t was because they would’ve had Mary stoned to death. And so, we really see the heart of Joseph here. Instead of having Mary done away, his love and his compassion for her shrines through and he decides to do away with her quietly.

He thinks these things in his heart, until he too’s visited by an angel. And the angel says, “Joseph….what Mary told you’s the truth. And you need to continue your route.” Or in other words, “you need to continue your engagement because God’s chosen you to come alongside Mary and He’s chosen you raise this Messiah.”

Can you imagine that men. Imagine being in Joseph’s situation. Let’s listen to the story in God’s Word as it tells us about Joseph.

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23

Matthew 1:18–23 CSB

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

Joseph Candle Lighting

Congregational Song

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

The Story of Jesus, the Baby

Genesis 3:15…God says, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, (this is God speaking to the serpent) and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

This is the first verse we have on evangelism and the idea of Christmas. The idea of a Messiah and the need for a Savior. It’s a verse that shows us that we’d be unable to overcome Satan and the wickedness of this world. Its the first verse we have that reminds us that one day, God would come. God would come to us and dwell with us and become our Emmanuel, and He would overcome everything we couldn’t. He would set right everything we messed up. He would save us.

Could you imagine? Anywhere from 4 to 6,000 years later, Jesus would be born. Think about that. Think about how great this story is because we know from Genesis to Abraham. God told Abraham that “through your seed the world would be saved.” And that seed He was talking about was Jesus. And then we go to Moses, and Moses was a great prophet, and the Bibles says that “no other prophet will be greater than you except, what? The Prophet! The Prophet that will come one day.” It was Jesus. Isaiah and all these other prophets, they’d prophesize about Jesus.

Who’s Jesus? He’s the Son of God. He’s the promise and the Word of God. He’s the Creator of the Universe. He’s the Sustainer of everything. He’s our Redeemer. Jesus is God Himself. He’s our Emmanuel. God would come to this world and show you and He’d show me how we could get to Him. He’d reveal God’s full glory to us.

Isn’t that amazing? At just how much God loves us? We’re talking Jesus, He’s the King of kings and the Lord of lords, but yet He was born in a barn. The Bible says, there was no room for them in the inn and so they had to settle for a stable. And when He was born, they didn’t have much except for a few rags. And so, they swaddled Him up and laid Him in a manager full of hay. And there in that manager, there laid Jesus Christ; the Savior of the world. The Creator and the Redeemer.

Let’s hear from God’s Word about Christ, the Messiah.

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1–7 CSB

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Jesus Candle Lighting

Special Music

O Come All Ye Faithful

Story of Herod and Star

And at the birth of Jesus, we’ll see in a few minutes that the heavens celebrate, and the angels praise God, but also that night God places a star in the sky that would be a sign to those anxiously waiting for this Messiah to enter into the world. And this Star would shine so brightly all around and it would lead men to the feet of this child. And specifically, the Bible tells the story of the wise men, these magi from the east, we’ll talk about them next, but they would come to the king, King Herod. And they would tell him the wonderful news of this child being born into the world; this King of kings.

And immediately, wickedness brews inside the heart of Herod and he commands his men to kill all new born males two years and younger. He would not be overthrown and his kingdom would not be threatened by a child.

And so, realizing the wickedness of this king, the wise men deceive Herod and they continue to follow the star to the child Jesus. Herod’s plan, just like Satan’s, would be trumped by God’s. And Jesus would survive the massacre and He’d go on to become everything He was meant to be.

Let’s read the first parts of this story together.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-10

Matthew 2:1–10 CSB

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.” After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.

Star Candle Lighting

Congregational Song

O Holy Night

The Story of the Wise Men

The prophet Isaiah would say, “6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

We’ve been looking at the Christmas story, the story of Christ. And in a moment, we’ll finish talking about that holy night; and we’ll talk about the shepherds and the angels. But 800 miles off to the east (at least many scholars believe that’s the region these men would’ve come from), 800 miles to the east would be these group of men. And on that night, a star was placed in the sky and this star was almost as if God was sending an invitation of Jesus’s birth to the waiting world. And we know that these men, these magi or rulers or wise men, they had been waiting for this prophecy to take place. Now, we don’t know much about their homeland or where they came from. We don’t know how they learned about this prophecy of Jesus. But we can speculate that maybe this was a result of Daniel and his prophecies he told during the reign of Babylon and Persia. And so, when this sign presented itself, these men and their caravan’s, they set out to find and meet this King of the Jews.

Now, the wise men’s story is one we typically really get wrong the most. In our nativity scenes, we have all the characters we read about in the accounts given in Luke. We have the angels and the shepherds. We have Mary and Joseph and of course the baby Jesus. But we always throw in these wise men as well. Almost as if these guys had been there at the birth of Jesus. Almost as if they were there with them in the stable that night. The reality is, is that would’ve been impossible and not what the Scriptures tell us.

In fact, the star that began to shine in the sky, it came the night of Jesus’s birth. They began to travel towards Jesus the night of his coming into this world. And when they finally make it to Israel, we just read about how they immediately go to the palace of the king in Jerusalem. They go to Herod. Why? Well, because where else would you expect the King of the Jews to be? Remember the age limit of those that Herod wanted to kill, right? Two and under. Which meant that most likely when the Magi do arrive in Jerusalem, some time had passed since the accounts in the stable.

And so, the wise men choose to leave King Herod, the Bible tells us that they continue to follow the star until it leads them to the home of Jesus. At which point he was most likely a toddler. The Bible even calls Jesus a child at this point, not a baby. They give him gifts and they honor him as the King of kings. And when we think about this story, we think about three men. But again (another area of the story we typically get wrong), if they were important in any way, they would’ve had caravans with them and groups of people to take care of their needs. This would’ve been a big deal. It would’ve been a pretty awesome worship service the day they finally made it and began to praise this king.

And so, let’s finish the story of the magi from Matthew’s account.

Scripture: Matthew 2:11-12

Matthew 2:11–12 CSB

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

Wise Man Candle Lighting

Congregational Song

Angels We Have Heard on High

The Story of the Angels

And so, going back to that holy night…we think about the shepherds in the fields, tending to their flocks. And out of no where, this angel comes forth and presents this message that the Savior of the world had been born and that hope was dawning into their darkness. The angel brings it to these shepherds and immediately, the Bible says a multitude of the heavenly host burst out of no where and begin to praise God in the highest.

These angels had known for ages that God would redeem His people but they had no idea that He would do it in this way. They had no idea He’d choose to step into the world, the very thing He created, to become like man, in order to save them. The apostle Peter says, this idea of redemption and what God did on that night, it fascinated them and it blew their minds. And so, they do the only thing they know how to do; they praise God in the highest. And notice, it wasn’t God’s speaking creation into existence. It wasn’t God parting the Red Sea. It wasn’t delivering His people time and time again. It wasn’t any other miraculous thing He had done. It was His coming into the world that caused the angels to praise Him in the highest.

When I think about this story and these accounts, for me, the angels fascinate me the most. No one, no other piece of God’s creation knows Him better than the angels do. And at the sight of His Son entering this world, they thought that was the mightiest and most incredible thing He had ever done.

Let’s listen closely as we read the accounts from the Gospel of Luke.

Scripture Luke 2:8-14

Luke 2:8–14 CSB

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

Angel Candle Lighting

Congregational Song

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

The Story of the Shepherds

And so when we come to verse 8 of Luke chapter 2, we see this Christmas story shift from the nativity scene to a field of shepherds. And I think this aspect of the story is probably the most amazing detail we receive minus Jesus coming. The fact that angels would come to the shepherds out of all the other people, was incredible. It was the social standing of the shepherds during that day that makes it so fascinating. Their position within society was as low as it could’ve possibly been. Shepherds were seen as outsiders, they were looked down upon, they were resented, made fun of, and literally despised by the rest of the community. And listen, their reputation was so bad that they weren’t even permitted to give testimony in a court of law because they were thought to be untrustworthy. And because of their responsibilities in the field, guys, they were oftentimes considered ceremonially unclean.

Listen, nobody ever brought good news to these guys. But in this story, God chose the shepherds, a bunch of nobodies, to announce the birth of Jesus. And immediately, the Bible tells us that they leave the fields and their flocks and they head to this baby in Bethlehem. It says that they do it in haste. They rush to Him. And it says they’re amazed at the things they had just been told. They make it to that stable. They witness this message first hand and they’re able to confirm everything that had been told to them. And it says, they leave praising and glorifying God.

I mean just imagine being in these guys position. Constantly being put down, constantly being rejected, and out of no where, a new hope arises. They get the opportunity to be the first people to witness the Savior of the world.

Let’s continue reading out of Luke chapter two.

Scripture Luke 2:15-20

Luke 2:15–20 CSB

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

Shepherds Candle Lighting

Special Music

The First Noel (Born is the King)

Closing

And so, we have this beautiful Christmas scene. The candles are lit and it depicts one of the greatest nights known to man. But as this night comes to a close, we read about the angels going back to heaven, certainty continuing to praise God in the highest. We see the shepherds leave the manager and the stable and they too return back to their positions in the field, praising and glorifying God, waiting for this baby to grow up and perform the work that He was sent to do. We read about the wise men, and them returning back from where they came. The star that would lead those to the feet of Jesus, it no longer served a purpose. Joseph and Mary they leave the stable and they return home after traveling to Egypt for some time and they would continue to raise this baby, this Savior.

And then this baby, this baby would grow and He’d become the man we all know and read about. He would begin His ministry and live a perfect life. And His entire life would be led to a cross where He’d hang there, nailed to it, and experience God’s wrath and judgement that was meant for you. He would die, completely satisfying our punishment, and three days later He’d rise again. And before ascending to the right hand of the Father in heaven, He’d give His followers a mission. He says, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will have power to advance my message.” And then Jesus shared His light with us. He said, “Let my light shine in you.” And He says, “That anyone that believes in Me will have everlasting life and shall not perish. You’ll be my lights on a hill” [Pass lights - Light Advent Candles]

And Jesus says, “You are to take this story, the story of hope and restoration, the story of Christmas, to a lost world.” He says, “You are to tell them about me.” And then He ascended to right hand of the Father, but not before sharing His light with us. We were left to be His light in this world, waiting for our day to join Him in the place He prepares for us even now.

Join us in singing silent night.

[Prayer]