The lowly King (Luke 2:1-20)

Introduction

All over the world, Christmas is a time of giving gifts to one another, and an exciting time for many to recieve gifts as well.

Many people recieve gifts and some find what they recieve really valuable whereas others may not necessarily enjoy or appreciate the gift recieved. You may remember some examples of this in your own life.

Illustration

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/20/krytzer-sold-navajo-blanket-thought-to-be-worthless-for-1-point-5-million.html

Well, this reminds me of a story of someone recieving something thought to be of little or no value, but ended up saving his life. I read this story which took place in 2017. A man named Loren Krytzer, an American who was broke, unemployed, and was surviving on disability cheques. He was scraping by and was living in a shack and what got him here was that he lost a leg after a near-fatal-accident and he could no longer work as a freelance carpenter.

Loren’s grandmother passed down two blankets , one was taken by his sister, and he took the other. Loren just left this in the cupboard for many years until one night he was watching a show called “Antiques Roadshow” where in one episode an elderly man was shocked to find his Navajo blanket was worth $500,000. Loren paused at this point as it looked a lot like his blanket, which by the way his mother said is probably not worth more than $10, and at one point thier cat gave birth on it :).

Looking very similar Loren decided to take this to an open appraisal day that was taking place in another town. When it was appraised it seemed like this could be of value. Eventually he decided to put it on auction and lo and behold he got $1.5m with the sale for the family heirloom, a Navajo blanket from the 1800s.

This really teaches us that sometimes we have something with us that is very valuable but we fail to realise its value. The Christmas story is somewhat like this, where we got the greatest treasure of all coming into this world, but many, infact most failed to realised what the world had just recieved. It was a gift of immense and immeasurable value.

Just like the dirty old blanket Loren had, in fact it was so valuable it changed the entire course of his life.

Likewise in this story of the coming of Christ, a baby born, in the lowliest of places, was in fact the greatest treasure and gift in all of creation, who can change the course of your life completely. Amen!

Let us look at what it means to understand the immeasurable value of this gift that either many take for granted and rejected OR on the other hand have fully understood the value and know this is the greateast and most valuable gift.

The Saviour comes lowly (Luke 2:1-7)

Luke 1:31–33 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.””

The coming of Christ unfolds the "Power of God" and the "Character of God" in a surprisingly ironic way, filled with both immense power and love.

The power of God

When the angel came to Mary and gave her this message of bearing a son who is to be called Jesus and that He would be great, I am sure she would have thought that things are going to change for the better. After all she is going to give birth to a king and now everything is going to be ok, after all i am going to be the mother of this great king whose kingdom will never end.

But as we read in Luke 2:1-7 we see the story is beginning to unravel very differently. This great message given to her would have seemed way off the reality she was facing. Mary was pregnant, traveling when she is about to give birth, there is no room in the inn, meaning she had to give birth in a manger.

The apparent contradiction between God's promise and the obstacles in Mary and Joseph's journey resonates with the experiences of believers throughout history and in our lives today too.

As Luke lays this out in the first few verses, what we notice is a downward spiral of power and influence that we often associate from a worldly perspective. For example:

Augustus (v 1), the picture of ruthless power and privilege

Quirinius (v 2), a regional governor

Joseph (v 4), a poor (but atleast he is free) man

Mary (v 5), an unmarried, pregnant woman (looked down on in society)

The baby (v 6–7): it would be hard to imagine a less powerful, less privileged person on the planet at that moment than this infant sleeping in a feeding trough for livestock.

So, in these first verses, it's all about how down-to-earth and lowly this baby and King is.

It's kind of funny when you know where Luke's story is going—here's Augustus, the big-shot ruler and king, he is living it up in a palace and has all the comforts of the world, and then, surprise, the real King (the baby) is born in a extremely humble setup. Irony at its finest!

Jesus’ birth happens in pretty humble circumstances. Why? Well, it's a sneak peek into how God's kingdom works. It's all about surprising us and flipping our ideas about true greatness and power upside down (check out Luke 22:25–27…“The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” ).

Sometimes we cannot make sense of the situation we are in, but we must realise that God is orchestrating His plans all along.

Now, think about your own life. Ever wondered why you're where you are and the situations surrounding you? The story here is a clear sign that God can navigate us to the right place, whether it's where we are now or somewhere else.

Just like He masterminded Jesus' journey, even using a Roman emperor, God's totally in control of our situations, the timing, and where we end up. Trusting in that, we can confidently say, "God all of my life is in Your hands."

The character of God

The manner of Jesus’ birth is a real eye-opener into the incredible love and grace of God in the gospel. Luke 2:6–7 “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 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.” .

Despite humanity going off the rails, God decides on a humble and lowly entrance for the Savior.

Christ was born in a simple place, wrapped in basic cloths, and resting in a manger. It's like God saying, "I'm all in with you guys," as Jesus goes through the same struggles His people face because of sin. This humble move is God taking on the consequences of our mess.

Now, here's the thing—it's not just a sweet story. This whole thing of God-humbling-Himself is a game-changer for us believers. When God says, "Hey, be humble," He's not just tossing it out there. He's already shown us how it's done through Jesus.

So, when life throws curveballs, us believers can tap into God's example, knowing He got the struggle firsthand. It's like a power boost for navigating challenges and dealing with life's unfair realities.

When tough times hit, believers often start questioning if God's promises still hold up. But here's the thing: this passage is all about saying, "Hey, tough situations don't cancel out God's power or promises." Instead of getting stuck on why things go wrong, believers are told to switch gears and say, "I am going to trust God in all He is doing and where He is taking me. I will do all things to glorify Him"

Whether it's dealing with unfairness or owning up to mistakes, the plan is to admit the mess-up, realize how much we need God, and go after His mercy and grace. The key is to continue trusting God's word, even when things look like a puzzle with missing pieces. It's in those moments that God's power really shines through our weaknesses.

So, this is a challenge for believers—to keep the faith when life's a rollercoaster. It's like the journey of Mary and Joseph in Luke 2, trusting what God said. Because, you know what? In the birth of Jesus, it's crystal clear that God's got this whole world in His hands, ruling it all. Amen!

He's got this incredible power to even move entire populations if that's what it takes to make His master plan unfold. So, when things are happening, it's not some cosmic accident—it's God pulling the strings.

Now, here's the thing—even if things get tough, like they did for Mary, Joseph, and others, it's all gonna turn out okay for those who love God. God is the one in total control. Life's not some mishap; it's part of this ongoing, divine program.

So, take a deep breath. The Son of God, the King of Kings, enters the world in the most humble way ever, living his life on the simple side .

Consider the words of the apostle Paul, written to the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 8:9 saying, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” . Jesus became poor so that his people might become spiritually rich through his poverty and suffering.

Before his incarnation, the Son of God was rich beyond anything that Augustus could ever have imagined. But for our sake he stooped to be born not merely as a human (that alone would have been an incredible shame!), but as a powerless infant in a barn outside an inn in an insignificant town.

Because he did, all those who trust in Christ have the sure hope that they will be brought to heaven with Jesus when they die (Luke 23:42–43). Jesus became low in order that we might inherit this great spiritual treasure.

That is the ultimate point of Luke’s paradoxical contrast between Caesar Augustus and the baby King Jesus. The immeasurable value and gift was revealed through the lowly coming of the king of kings.

He reveals Himself to the lowly (Luke 2:8-20)

Luke 2:8–10 “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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.” ) , We first saw Christ the king come in a lowly manner, no we learn from Luke 2:8-10 that he is going to reveal this great truth to those who are also lowly.

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Imagine this: if we were following modern PR advice, we'd probably go for a fancy press conference or a full-page ad in the Canberra Times. If you want to go bigger, maybe the Sydney Morning Herald, or BBC, or CNN. But you know what the Lord does? He opts for a different strategy—sending a messenger to a bunch of shepherds out in the fields.

Now, here's where the plot twist hits. See, we might miss the surprise becuase we are so used to shepherds playing a part in the birth story, but in that society, these guys were at the bottom of the social ladder. Despised, distrusted, and stripped of their rights—they were the last folks you'd expect to get such a monumental announcement.

It's like God's putting it in neon lights to show who this good news is really for. It's not for the high and mighty, the ones who think they've got it all figured out. Nope, God's playbook is different. He doesn't reveal this glorious good news to the world's Caesars; He sends a messenger to the shepherds.

So, let's take note of who gets the first heads up about Christ's birth—it's these shepherds hanging out in the field, keeping an eye on their flocks. Not the priests and rulers, not the Scribes and Pharisees—nope, an angel shows up to the shepherds, declaring, "Hey, today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, is born just for you."

The secrets of God's kingdom often fly under the radar of the big shots and elites, while making a grand entrance for the poor, and poor in spirit. You see when we think we know everything, that we are full of wisdom and do not rely on God, then truth is not revealed to those who are proud who trust in thier abilities.

God comes to those who whom He chooses. Its not your job, abilities, your wealth or anything else you can do. God comes to the lowly.

The ones who seem last in line end up being first, and the so-called first sometimes find themselves at the back.

The angels declare Christ through song:

Luke 2:13–14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!””

Glory to God in the highest!” the song begins. Now is come the highest degree of glory to God, Another reminder of the irony/upside-down power/glory of God? by the appearing of His Son Jesus Christ in the world. He by His life and death on the cross will glorify God’s attributes,—justice, holiness, mercy, and wisdom,—as they never were glorified before. Creation glorified God, but not so much as redemption.

“Peace on earth!” the song goes on. Now is come to earth the peace of God which passes all understanding,—the perfect peace between a holy God and sinful man, which Christ was to purchase with His own blood,—the peace which is offered freely to all mankind,—the peace which, once admitted into the heart, makes men live at peace one with another, and God, and will one day overspread the whole world.

“Good will towards men!” the song concludes. Now is come the time when God’s kindness and good will towards guilty man is to be fully made known. His power was seen in creation.

Imagine this: the shepherds get this wild message, and despite how strange and unlikely it sounded, they didn't waste a second. Off they went to Bethlehem in a hurry.

Luke 2:15 “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.””

As soon as the angels made their exit, the shepherds turn to each other and say, "We gotta check this out, like, now!" Off they went to Bethlehem, and lo and behold, everything's spot on—Mary, Joseph, and the baby in the manger. Can you picture it?

When they got back, they were so excited, singing praises to God for what they had witnessed.

May our faith be as rock-solid, our actions as snappy, and our waiting for nothing, when duty calls. Starting a journey in faith usually ends with a chorus of praise. Amen!!

The shepherds didn't keep this cosmic event to themselves. Nope, they spread the word about those angels and the whole Bethlehem scene. Now, here's where things get interesting. How people responded to this jaw-dropping news varied. Everybody was blown away, no doubt.

Luke expands, saying, "Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds said." .(Luke 2:17–18 “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.”)

But—and here's the twist—being amazed doesn't automatically mean they all bought into it. People talked, wondered, and probably chatted about it for months, but not everyone hopped on the faith train

Fast forward to today, and you'll find people doing the same. Christmas, they say, makes for a great story, but there's always that lingering question—Is it really true?

Let's face it—some people are on the fence about the whole story of this baby-born-in-Bethlehem, Savior-and-Lord. They're pondering, wondering, but here's the thing: you can't stay in that wondering state forever. It's either the real deal or it's all just a myth with no one to save us from our mess.

Now, Mary, she took this news to heart. According to Luke, Mary held on to all these happenings, mulling them over in her heart (Luke 2:19 “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” ).

The shepherds' awe must've been like a shot of encouragement for Mary. Remeber in the beginning where Mary had the promise of God about the King she was going to give birth to, and then everything started to go sideways. Their words about David's city and her child being the Lord and Christ? That sealed the deal on God's promises made to her nine months earlier.

Mary believed, but she wasn't claiming to have it all figured out. That word "treasure" suggests she was clutching onto the gospel by faith. On the flip side, "ponder" reveals she still had some mental gymnastics to do. It's like she was puzzling over what she'd heard, seeking God’s help to unlock its meaning. Mary had a faith thirsty for understanding.

Understanding the gospel took Mary a while. She wasn't always on the same page as Jesus; there were moments she opposed His calling. But she kept at it, believing Jesus was the Son of God and striving to make sense of it all. Eventually, she landed on a solid faith, worshipping with the early believers after Jesus ascended (Acts 1:14 “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” ).

We're all on different timetables when it comes to grasping who Jesus is and what trusting in Him means. The game plan? Believe as much as we can and keep pondering the gospel, asking God to help us through His word and the work of His Spirit.

Now, the shepherds. These guys didn't beat around the bush. They heard the gospel, believed it, checked it out, and when satisfied, they spread the news.

First up, the shepherds needed to hear the gospel. Without God revealing it to them they'd be in the dark. Faith kicks off with hearing the Word.

But hearing wasn't enough. The shepherds had to respond in faith, and they did! They left their flocks to find Jesus, searching with a guarantee of finding—just like the quest for Christ. Those who seek Jesus in faith will find Him, just like the shepherds did.

Spotting Jesus in the manger, the shepherds were sold on the angel's story. They began sharing the good news straight away. That's the salvation drill—come to Christ in faith, grow in the faith as Mary did, start spreading the good news through our lives and words, and watch others latch onto the same gospel that saved us.

This all boils down to glorifying God. The shepherds wrapped up their story with glorious joy, glorifying and praising God just as the angels promised (Luke 2:20). Catch this—the shepherds were mirroring the angels by glorifying God in the highest and praising Him for peace on earth. The gospel's magic? It brings us to faith in Jesus, igniting witness and worship. First, we come and see; when we're certain, we go and tell, glorifying and praising God every step of the way. Amen!!

Conclusion.

As we conclude, the true king of all creation came humbly and lowly into this world, to be with His people, to rescue His people from sin, restore relationship with God, gifted us salvation by His grace and mercy. He experienced what we went through by coming so lowly to His creation. Amen!

if you're still mulling over Jesus, contemplating His gospel in your heart, then here's the deal—God is calling you to trust the message given first by the angels and tag along with the shepherds to Jesus; let Him be born in your heart through faith.

1. May we too join the shepherds in "glorifying and praising God for all the things they've heard and seen, ” and spread the good news! Amen!

2. Secondly, may we too be humble just like our Savior, so that we may walk in His strength, and do all things out of love.