Birth of our Savior (Luke 2:1-20)

Introduction

This morning we looked at the angel Gabriel’s message of the Birth of the King.

Sacrificial Living- It’s a Wonderful Life

If you’ve never seen it, the premise of It’s a Wonderful Life is that a young man, George Bailey, stays in the town of Bedford Falls.  Even though he dreams of traveling the world, he does the right thing and helps run his father’s business, which provides loans to low-income individuals.  One Christmas Eve, he runs into some trouble and he’s worried that he’s going to go to jail because someone else made a mistake, and he wishes he had never been born.  In the last part of the movie, he gets to see what life would have been like if he really had never been born.  He sees how his sacrifice has made a difference for so many people.

This is an illustration that you’ve probably heard many times.  Here’s why it’s important to explore this year: If that movie had been made today, it probably wouldn’t have been about George Bailey changing the world by staying home.  He would have gone out and had his adventures and lived his life.  What we don’t see a lot of today, in the stories that we tell, is the beauty of life lived in sacrifice.

What we observe in It’s a Wonderful Life is someone who continually says, “No, I’m going to sacrifice for the greater good, I’m going to sacrifice even if it means not getting to see the world.  Even if it means not getting to follow my dreams or follow my heart.  I want to do it for other people.” That really shows the power of what Jesus reveals to us in incarnational living.  Jesus sacrificed in order to come to earth and to live and to die for us, and we must live that out as well by following His example.

In Luke 2 - The message from the Angels is that the birth of Jesus is the birth of the Savior.

Birth of Jesus (2:1-7)

Travel to Bethlehem (2:1-5)

Roman Policy (1-3)

Luke 2:1–3 (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.

Joseph and Mary’s compliance (4-5)

Luke 2:4–5 (ESV)

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.

Traveled to Bethlehem

This would have been a major event. It would have taken time to plan and pack for the trip.

“The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have taken three days and covered roughly ninety miles.” (Luter, A. Boyd. “Luke.” CSB Study Bible: Notes. Ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017. 1605. Print.)

Fulfills Prophecy

Micah 5:2 (ESV)

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Birth of Jesus (2:6-7)

Luke 2:6–7 (ESV)

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.

Swaddling cloths

“cloths. Parents and midwives wrapped an infant’s limbs in long strips of cloth to help them to grow straight. They could be used until the infant’s limbs became firm or for as long as two months.” (Keener, Craig S., and John H. Walton, eds. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016. Print.)

Manger

“manger. A feeding trough for domestic animals; people sometimes kept animals in caves by the house. Gentiles had a few stories of deities born in caves (though also stories of deities born elsewhere). Luke does not specify a cave as the place of the manger, but the tradition that Jesus was born in a cave is early, information apparently already circulating in Bethlehem by the early second century.” (Keener, Craig S., and John H. Walton, eds. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016. Print.)

Inn

“lodging place n. — a locally recognized place to stay (overnight) while on a journey; could be open air or in a building.” (Sense)

This Greek word is only use 3 times in the NT.

Luke 22:11 “11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’” (cf. Matt 14:14; Luke 2:7)

They could not find a place in an inn, so they must have housed in a stable or outside.

Shepherds see Angels (2:8-14)

Angel’s Message (2:8-12)

Angel’s appear (8-9)

Luke 2:8–9 (ESV)

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.

Angel’s Message (10-12)

Good News for all people (10)

Luke 2:10 (ESV)

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.

Good News - to communicate good news concerning something (in the NT a particular reference to the gospel message about Jesus)—‘to tell the good news, to announce the gospel.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 411. Print.)

All people - This message from the Angels is not just for the Shepherds, but for all people. Later we will see that the shepherds tell others about this.

Savior (11)

Luke 2:11 (ESV)

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The main message of the Angels is that the Baby born that day is the Savior prophesied in the OT.

Savior - (derivative of σῴζωa ‘to rescue, to save,’ 21.18) one who rescues or saves—‘deliverer, rescuer, savior.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 240. Print.)

Christ - fulfiller of Israelite expectation of a deliverer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 1091. Print.)

Lord - (a title for God and for Christ) one who exercises supernatural authority over mankind—‘Lord, Ruler, One who commands’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 138. Print.)

Here is how Jesus became our Savior.

He humbled himself under the will of his Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)

Humbled himself in the incarnation (6-7)

Philippians 2:6–7 (ESV)

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

John 1:1–2 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.”

John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Humbled himself to the cross (8)

Philippians 2:8 (ESV)

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus chose to humble himself to the will of his Father, even to death on a cross.

Matthew 26:38–39 (ESV)

38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus Death on the cross paid the Price for our sins.

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 (ESV)

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Romans 3:22b–26 (ESV)

22b For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Exalted to the Throne (9-11)

God Exalts Him (9)

Philippians 2:9 (ESV)

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

“Therefore” - connective - because Jesus humbled himself and went to the cross, God exalted Him

Highly exalted - to honor exceptionally ⇔ elevate superlatively v. — to bestow honor or status far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree; conceived of in terms of lifting something to an uncommonly high position.(Sense)

Bestowed - to give graciouslyv. — to give something as a sign of one’s beneficent goodwill toward someone. (Sense)

God exalts him to the highest position (10-11)

Philippians 2:10–11 (ESV)

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Knee should Bow - to worship ⇔ bend the knee v. — to worship or show obeisance to a deity; conceived of as bowing one’s knee to a deity. (Sense)

Tongue confess - to profess (acknowledge) v. — to profess openly in honor of another, whether in praise, thankfulness, or acknowledgement. (Sense)

Hebrews 1:3–4 (ESV)

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Sign (12)

Luke 2:12 (ESV)

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Angel’s Praise (2:13-14)

Luke 2:13–14 (ESV)

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!”

Glory of God and peace on earth are fulfilled in Christ.

“peace The Greek word used here, eirēnē, is similar in meaning to the Hebrew word shalom (which means “peace,” “wholeness,” or “completeness”); it carries connotations of well-being, harmony, and security.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)

Shepherds see Jesus (2:15-20)

Shepherds with Jesus (2:15-16)

Luke 2:15–16 (ESV)

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. (Sign)

Shepherds share Jesus (2:17-19)

Luke 2:17–19 (ESV)

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.

Wondered - (derivative of θαῦμαa ‘wonder, amazement,’ 25.212) to wonder or marvel at some event or object—‘to wonder, to be amazed, to marvel’ (whether the reaction is favorable or unfavorable depends on the context). (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 311. Print.)

Pondering - to meditate v. — to reflect deeply on a subject. (Sense)

Shepherds praise God (20)

Luke 2:20 (ESV)

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Lesson from the Savior

The Savior was born in humble settings, lived a humble life submitted to the will of His Father even to death on the cross. His death on the cross was for our sins. Jesus said from the cross, “It Is Finished.” God redeems sinful people through the finished works of Jesus on the cross. We accept this free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. God exalted Jesus to the highest position, that every knee will bow in worship and every tongue confess that he is Lord. The humble life and death of Jesus and God’s resurrection and exaltation of Jesus was ti the glorification of God and the salvation of Man.

It will not save me to know that Christ is a Saviour; but it will save me to trust him to be my Saviour.

Charles Spurgeon