4: The Greatest Gift (Luke 2:1-21)

VIDEO: Retooning the Nativity

HOW it happened is still somewhat of a mystery.

But THAT it happened is just plain history.

WHY it happened is what we will explore today as we talk about The Greatest Gift.

What is your greatest Christmas gift ever? Mine was my little pony.

No - not that one -

THIS ONE - Prissy. (around 12 years old) - but years later I was more interested in the girls of Perry than my pony in Perry.

So, when my grandparents sold the cows...they sold Prissy too.

I don’t know how long it took until your greatest gift started collecting dust, but I am certain that your greatest gift doesn’t compare to the Greatest Gift given on that 1st Christmas in Bethlehem.

PRAY Father, please help us to see this ancient story with fresh eyes. May You move among us today.

Luke 2:1–2 (NIV) 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.)

When a leader took a census it was either to enroll young men for military service or to aid in taxation of people in the empire. Since Jews were exempt from military service to the Roman empire, this was about taxation.

This census was taken of the entire Roman world. The Greek word used here (oikoumenē) is simply translated earth/world. This is how the KJV translates it: “that all the world should be taxed.“

Remember that the context always determines the meaning of the word. The context of this census pertains to those whom the Romans ruled over - not the barbarians and nations the Romans were at war with. So the translators of the NIV rightly interpret this as ‘the entire Roman world’ rather than ‘world’ (as the KJV does). *NET & CSB translate this as “empire”. This clarity of how words are used will be important as later in our Matthew study we will see this word for ‘world’ used in this same way.

Caesar Augustus was the 2nd emperor of the Roman Empire (if Julius was considered 1st). His real name was Gaius Octavius, the adopted son of Julius Caesar. The Roman senate gave Octavius the title ‘Augustus’ in 27 BC and He ruled until AD 14. He was succeeded by Tiberius (Lk 3:1). These are the 2 emperors during the life of Jesus.

Caesar means “emperor,” while Augustus means, “revered,” “honored,” or “esteemed,” - hence Octavius was the Esteemed Emperor of the Roman Empire. He ushered in a period of peace & prosperity in the Greco-Roman world known as the Pax Romana (Latin meaning ‘Roman peace’). For this he is considered the most significant person in Roman history.

He developed a network of roads that ended up helping in spreading of the gospel by Christian missionaries. Augustus declared that he had he found Rome brick and left it marble.

Augustus also declared his deceased adoptive father - Julius Caesar - to be divine, referred to himself as ‘son of god’. And when Augustus died, the Senate declared him a god.

But as powerful & significant as this man was - this story is NOT about the wealth & power of the throne of Octavius Caesar Augustus, but about another king, born into a humble Jewish family.

Luke 2:3–4 (NIV) And everyone went to their own town to register. 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.

Went up. Luke the historian had the topography correct. Due to the height of Bethlehem (2,564 feet above sea level), travelers would go up from Nazareth (1,830 feet above sea level) to Bethlehem even though proceeding south.

We have seen the significance of this family tree of David several times in previous teachings.

Luke 2:5–6 (NIV) He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

Now WHY would they not wait until after Mary has given birth?

There was likely a deadline for the Jews to register.

And whether they knew it or not, shows God’s hand at work through history.

700 years before the time of Jesus, Micah prophesied that an important ruler would be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 (NIV) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Certainly this refers to someone who comes through the ancient family line of King David, but as we will see in a moment, there’s something more significant to that.

Luke 2:6–7 (NIV) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.

As the opening video noted, notice what ISN’T mentioned at this point. No animals, no barn, no inn-keeper.

The focus is on the baby - a son. There is reference to cloths and a manger - a feed trough.

Why was this baby placed there? Beyond the traditions you have heard, and even moving from the video’s mention of a cave - Jesus was likely born in a lower level of his relative’s home. Remember that Joseph has returned to the town of his ancestors.

Bethlehem was a small town, not on a trade route, & unlikely to have any hotel 6 near. Joseph was likely expecting to find refuge at a relative’s home, but the guest rooms were already filled.

Instead, Mary & Joseph would have to rest in the lower part of the house, the place where animals were kept at night.

If this were a movie, the camera would now fade to black as another camera zooms in on some shepherds watching over their sheep at night.

Luke 2:8–9 (NIV) 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.

These shepherds were terrified - frightened & frozen - serious scared. The angel speaks...

Luke 2:10–12 (NIV) 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.”

The angel has come to bring good news which will bring joy for all the people who are humble enough to receive it.

Jesus was no mere infant. And he’s not just one among many in the family line of King David.

The angels made sure the shepherds knew this. The manger was a signpost to the Savior - the Messiah, the Lord. For centuries those who believe the NT Scriptures have recognized that answering ‘Who is Jesus?’ is the most important question one could answer.

We have historical proof of this.

Codex Beratinas

Dan Wallace, professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary - an expert in New Testament Greek manuscripts, tells us of a 6th century hand-written Greek copy of the Gospel of Matthew.

It is found on parchment dyed purple reserved for the Gospels. Every word on this parchment [hard to see here] has been carefully written in silver...except for -

God, Jesus, Christ [Messiah], & Lord - all in GOLD.

Dr. Dan Wallace asks "What does this tell you about what the Christians thought about Jesus Christ? He is God. He is Lord. It's remarkable how just the form of the text itself is telling us something of their theology."

These 6th century Christians believed what the 1st century shepherds believed, what Elizabeth believed, what Mary & Joseph believed...what WE should believe...

BIG TRUTH: The Greatest Gift is God’s Presence

Jesus is not just another prophet who speaks for God.

Jesus is the Savior, Messiah, & Lord - God who speaks.

BIG TRUTH: The Greatest Gift is God’s Presence

And that’s the message that these shepherds are hearing...LOUD & CLEAR!

These average Joes weren’t anything special, but they were about to see the Savior that their people had been awaiting for 400 years!

Luke 2:13–15 (NIV)

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.”

[15] 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.”

I wonder how awkward that was? It’s night time. They approach a home or a cave...“uhmmm, I know you don’t know us but...we’ve got to see Him.”

How could they have known?

Luke doesn’t tell us if they bowed, or talked, laughed, cried, asked questions, or remained silent.

But he DOES tell us what they did afterward.

Luke 2:16 (NIV)

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2:17–19 (NIV)

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. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherd’s visit had encouraged Mary & Joseph. They treasured all the things that happened and thought about them again, and again, and again.

The shepherds were pumped up! Their uneventful night of counting sheep at night (I wonder if that put THEM to sleep...) This night became the night these men would likely recall thousands of times in the future. They couldn’t keep silent, because God had come to Earth and…

BIG TRUTH: The Greatest Gift is God’s Presence

Luke 2:20 (NIV)

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:21 (NIV)

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.

He was named Jesus - YeshUa meaning ‘Yahweh is salvation’ - was on the earth. The greatest gift, the fulfillment of Scripture, the infinite Creator - was now an infant. The One who would change the course of history weighed less than 10 pounds.

Matthew gives us a quick look into what the angel Gabriel told Joseph...

Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

Yeshua = “Yahweh saves” will save His people from sins. What is it that eats you up when you’re alone? That memory, that relationship, that lie? THAT’S why Jesus came - to die for you...to save YOU from your sin! When you TRUST HIM...He will forgive you and live inside of you! And that’s the greatest gift!

BIG TRUTH: The Greatest Gift is God’s Presence

What is the focus of this holiday for you?

Is that what YOU talk about during Christmas? What about the days afterward?

What is the focus of YOUR LIFE?

Just days after Christmas people all over the world will experience the frustration we all experience every year.

The presents soon loose their luster.

The time off to relax will soon be replaced with the hustle & bustle of life.

The promise of finding fulfillment through acquiring stuff & hoping in human relationships will soon go down the drain. You will be empty & frustrated until you understand that...

BIG TRUTH: The Greatest Gift is God’s Presence

Listen to the words of one of my favorite writers - Max Lucado:

Stepping from the throne, he removed his robe of light and wrapped himself in skin: pigmented, human skin. The light of the universe entered [a dark world - my change]. He whom angels worship nestled himself in the placenta of a peasant, was birthed into the cold night, and then slept on cow’s hay.

Mary didn’t know whether to give him milk or give him praise, but she gave him both since he was, as near as she could figure, hungry and holy.

Joseph…in the end called him Jesus, since that’s what the angel had said and since he didn’t have the faintest idea what to name a God he could cradle in his arms.

Don’t you think...their heads tilted and their minds wondered, “What in the world are you doing, God?”

Or better phrased, “God, what are you doing in the world?”

“Can anything make me stop loving you?” God asks. “Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts.

The Greatest Gift is God’s Presence

And THAT, according to the great theologian - Linus - “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

What a great time to meet the King! If you’re ready to trust Him, turn from your sin & call out to Him!

If you already know Him...take your opportunities this Christmas to share Jesus with others.

Parents & Grandparents, aunts & uncles - help your young ones be more thankful for Jesus than for Santa & gifts. Use the discussion questions & purposely discuss a Christ-centered Christmas.

PRAY