The Wonderful Gift

Introduction

Can you believe that it is Christmas Eve? I hope that you have been able to stay out of all the hustle and bustle of the season, and celebrate the wonderful Christmas Story. That is actually what we want to do this morning.

So we will be in Luke chapter 2, but I want to set the stage for you.

Background

The Angel and Mary

You will remember that Luke 1 tells us that God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth where Mary lived.

Now, Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph at the time.

The angel comes and tells her that she is going to give birth to a son—and she was to give this baby the name Jesus.

She is also told a little bit about this child:

— He will be great.

— He will be called the Son of the Most High.

— The Lord will give Him the throne of David.

— He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever.

— And His kingdom will have never end!

After a bit of confusion, Mary says those famous words in Luke 1:38.

Luke 1:38 NIV

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

But what about Joseph? How would he respond to this news. Well for that story we have to go to Matthew chapter 1.

Joseph and the Angel

So Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant.

Mary’s story is that she is pregnant from the Holy Spirit, but this story is more than Joseph can handle.

So he decided to divorce her “quietly” because he really did not want to expose her to public disgrace.

So he had his plan, but before he could put it into action, and angel appeared to him in a dream.

The angel’s message:

— Was that the baby growing inside of Mary was from the Holy Spirit.

— Joseph was to give the baby the name Jesus—Because Jesus will save His people from their sins.

Finally, the angel also told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary home to live with him.

In Matthew 1:24 we read how Joseph responded to the angel’s message.

Matthew 1:24 NIV

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Now, let’s pick up the story several months later. So if you have your Bibles, turn with me to Luke chapter 2 and we’ll begin with verse 1.

The Christmas Story

Luke 2:1–3 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.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

Caesar’s Decree

A census would be taken of the ENTIRE Roman world.

Everyone had to return to their “home town”—the home of their ancestors—to register.

We are also given a time marker in verse 2.

—The first census

—It took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria

Joseph’s Response

Luke 2:4 NIV

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.

Joseph left Nazareth in Galilee

And he made the 85 mile trek to Bethlehem.

He went to Bethlehem, because he was from the line of David.

Luke 2:5 NIV

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

But he didn’t go alone! He took Mary—his “wife”—with him. Apparently EVERY adult had to make the trip to be counted.

We learn that they were still technically in the betrothal period.

And we learn that Mary was expecting a child.

Luke 2:6 NIV

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

Not only is she expecting—but the baby is COMING!

Luke 2:7 NIV

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.

Next we’re told that she gave birth.

To her firstborn, a son.

She wrapped him in strips of cloth.

And placed him in a manger (most likely a feed trough chiseled out of rock).

And we learn that the reason they are in the stable and putting the child in a stone feed trough is because there is no guest rooms available anywhere in the town.

Message to the Shepherds

Now the scene changes. We are taken to the fields around Bethlehem, and we’re introduced to some shepherds.

Luke 2:8 NIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

So far it has been just another night watching over their flocks of sheep.

Luke 2:9 NIV

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Picture this: the shepherds are out in the field, like they are every night, and out of no where an angel of the Lord appears.

Not only that but this angel is “glowing” with the glory of the Lord.

You guessed it! The scene scares them to death!

I think they had a pretty normal response for someone who just saw one of the mighty angels of the Lord!

Luke 2:10 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.

The angel tells them not to be afraid. I’m pretty sure that is NOT happening!

They don’t need to be afraid, because the angel is bring good new.

The news will bring great joy for all the people!

So what’s the message? It’s in the next verse.

Luke 2:11 NIV

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Today—right now—in the town of David—Bethlehem—a Savior has been born.

This new born is the anticipated Messiah—also called the Lord

Now the angel is going to give them a sign—or proof—of his message.

Luke 2:12 NIV

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

You will find a baby:

—Wrapped in strips of cloth

—And lying in a major

Luke 2:13–14 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.”

All of the sudden the angel is joined by a great company of heavenly hosts.

And all of them were praising God!

Their message: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.”

When the angels disappear, the shepherds respond.

Luke 2:15–16 NIV

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

When the angels left them, they begin to have a discussion among themselves.

They finally conclude that they need to go to Bethlehem to see this thing that the Lord told them about.

So they hurried off to Bethlehem.

There they found: Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger—Just like the angels said.

But their response did not stop there. Look at verse 17.

Luke 2:17–18 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.

After they saw the baby, Jesus

They went and told EVERYONE what had been told to them about this child.

And everyone that heard them were amazed at what the shepherds told them. They were amazed because the story was amazing, but they were also amazed because it was the shepherds that the angels appeared to—shepherds were not a very good part of society.

Finally we’re told in verse 20 that the shepherds returned back to their fields:

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.

Glorifying God

Praising God

Because of all the things that they had heard and seen

And because everything was exactly like the angel told them it would be.

Mary’s Response

Luke 2:19 NIV

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

SO WHAT?

Here we are, more than 2,000 years later, on Christmas Eve. We’ve heard the Christmas story again. If you are like me, this makes the umpteenth time I’ve heard it (or in my case preached it). So what do we gain this morning from this story?

Jesus is the Messiah. That’s a term that means “Anointed One.” The New Testament calls Him the “Christ” which is the Greek word for “Anointed One.”

We learn from our passages today that this story is not just about a baby born in a “stable”—No it’s about the King’s unlikely birth in a stable.

From our passage today we learn that the message the angels gave the shepherds was for everyone—so it is a joyous message for us this morning!

And finally, we learn that this King that was born, is the King above all kings, and Lord over all lords, and today,

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tong acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

[PRAYER]