Christmas Eve Morning

Luke 2:1–7 KJV (WS)

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Introduction

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Christmas)

The people of that time were being heavily taxed, and faced every prospect of a sharp increase to cover expanding military expenses. The threat of world domination by a cruel, ungodly, power-intoxicated band of men was ever just below the threshold of consciousness. Moral deterioration had corrupted the upper levels of society and was moving rapidly into the broad base of the populace. Intense nationalistic feeling was clashing openly with new and sinister forms of imperialism. Conformity was the spirit of the age. Government handouts were being used with increasing lavishness to keep the population from rising up and throwing out the leaders. Interest rates were spiraling upward in the midst of an inflated economy. External religious observances were considered a political asset, and abnormal emphasis was being placed upon sports and athletic competition. Racial tensions were at the breaking point. In such a time, and amid such a people, a child was born to a migrant couple who had just signed up for a fresh round of taxation, and who were soon to become political exiles. And the child who was born was called, among other things, Immanuel, God with us

An edict is given

Caesar Augustus is only mentioned once in the Bible.

History knows him more commonly as Octavius.

His father died when Octavius was very young.

He was raised by his mother’s uncle, Julius Caesar.

When Julius Caesar died, Octavius became the Emperor of Rome.

He ruled until 14 A.D.

Octavius is known as a great administrative emperor.

His systematizing of the Roman government would provide strength and stability for generations to come.

His desire to organize the great empire he had inherited and united had a profound impact on the Christian story.

Not only did it provide the impetus for Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem, it also set the world up to make it much easier for Christianity to spread after the resurrection of Jesus.

In order to participate in the census Joseph had to travel to the city of his familial heritage.

This would be a hard journey, but it was preferable to traveling to the capital of his province which was Antioch.

This same system was used in Egypt with great success.

You notice that Luke notes that this taking was first made.

This is because there was another census and tax that was made in 6 AD.

One possibility was that not enough people responded to the first tax, so they tried again.

This second tax and census so soon after the first was perhaps an attempt to catch people who slipped through on the first one.

It caused a big uproar.

Joseph and Mary would have been exempt from this one since they responded to the 1st one.

Of course, this trip to Bethlehem was a difficult one to make given the late stage of Mary’s pregnancy.

Traveling was not an easy proposition in those days.

It was a lot of walking over uneasy terrain.

Sleeping at night was primarily on the ground,

There was always a chance of thieves.

The couple arrives safely in Bethlehem.

As you well know, there is no room for them in the inn.

When we think of an inn, we naturally think of an hotel.

An inn in those days was not necessarily a building fitted with rooms for hosting.

It may have been a home with a single spare room.

One theory that I like, is that Joseph had made plans for where they would stay.

He doesn’t seem to be an irresponsible person.

However, they had made such slow progress because of Mary that by the time they got there, the room had been given away to someone else.

They end up finding a place where Mary can give birth to the baby.

Notice the Bible mentions a stable.

A stable is implied because of the presence of the manger, but it is not certain.

Some mangers would be placed out by the road.

Tradition says that it was a cave.

300 Illustrations for Preachers A Room for Mary and Joseph at Christmas

A London hotel chain said in December 2004 there would be plenty of room at the inn for Mary and Joseph. The Travelodge in Covent Garden offered couples named Mary and Joseph a free night’s stay over Christmas. Hotel Manager Sandy Leckie said, “We are trying to make up for the hotel industry not having any rooms left on Christmas Eve 2,004 years ago.” He said his motel was more comfortable than a stable, and added, “I just hope they don’t bring their donkey.” Leckie said the offer had only one proviso; the Mary and Josephs had to prove their identities first. Leckie did not say whether the hotel could provide the services of a midwife.

The humility of Jesus birth is a total paradox.

How could he trade the luxury of heaven for the squalor of earth?

How could the one that is praised and celebrated enter the world without hardly any one noticing?

The more important question to ask is not how, but why.

Why would Jesus do this?

The answer is simple.

He loved us so much that He wanted to be with us.

Immanuel, God with us.

Conclusion

Some of you are jumping ahead of me now.

You’re thinking about a legitimate and correct fact that Jesus came to die.

He came to die as payment for our sins, so that we could be forgiven and we could go to heaven.

This is 100% accurate.

Immanuel, however was not a title based in a future reality.

Immanuel became a present reality when Jesus was born.