The real story of Christmas

Scripture Reading

Luke 2:1–20 NKJV

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 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, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Now the Christmas story has been told and retold so many times, if someone knows anything about Jesus, they know this story. However, due to all the traditions that have crept around the story, it’s more likely than you think that the real story differed slightly from the one you imagine. Oh, the main outline you already know - the manger in Bethlehem, the Angels announcing to the shepherds, etc. But I think probably I’ll surprise at least a few of you.

I. A Humble Birth

The census. Now there’s been considerable discussion since the only information we have about the regional governor Quirinius has him taking a census in AD 6, much too late. There’s a few things going on here

first of all, Quirinius was a very obscure governor, so there’s not much info on him in classical literature. There are huge gaps in our knowledge of when he ruled. So it’s possible he was also active a decade earlier than we are aware.

Second, we know that censuses were regularly taken in Rome, but there’s none recorded for this time. The Romans did this about every 14 years or so, but they did not require people to return to their ancestral lands. However, Luke doesn’t say that this census was specifically ordered by Augustus. He says that “a decree went out in those days,” which could be a standing order, one which Quirinius chose to fill out in his region at the time of Jesus’ birth, roughly 4-5BC.

It’s also possible that v. 2 could be translated “this census took place before Quirinius was governing Syria. The language is odd here.

Now Joseph took his wife along, which also was not something required. Only the men needed to register, and they only needed to show up, get registered, and go home. However, Joseph seems to have intended to use the opportunity to move. The reason was Jesus himself - it would be quite painful to keep living in Nazareth with all the rumors about how Mary got pregnant.

Another thing - “while they were there.” Joseph didn’t show up in Bethlehem the day Mary was scheduled to give birth. Give the man a little more credit for planning things than this. Rather, some weeks or months before he had gone down with her.

Also, there’s no mention of a donkey. Donkeys were expensive, and at this stage, the young couple had nothing. So in all probability, Mary walked down there, 6-7 months pregnant. Oof.

Finally, the “inn.” well, there wasn’t one. That word “Inn” (κατάλυμα) is translated “guest room” when it is used of the room Jesus and his disciples ate the Last Supper (Luke 22:11). Inns in a modern sense did not exist. There were some overnight inns for merchants, but those stops were outside of towns and cities. In the first century, and indeed in much of Middle eastern culture even today, there was a custom of hospitality to any traveler, let alone a distant relative with a pregnant wife. First century Israelite houses, if they were just a bit more than average, have a guest room off to the side of the main living quarters. So the “inn” wasn’t a Days Inn, it was the guest room. Joseph and Mary couldn’t stay in the guest room because there was already a guest staying there, and it would be rude to kick them out.

Luke 22:11 NKJV

Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’

The “manger,” does not imply there was a stable. There is some ancient testimony that it was in a nearby cave, and indeed that’s where the Church of the Nativity is at present. But it’s also possible that there was no stable at all. The animals in First Century Israel were kept in the ground floor of the homes, and the manger was a trough at the back of the house. That also means there’s nothing left to see, since the humble home were Jesus was born was demolished long before the church bothered to seek out special holy sites.

The importance of the guest room and the manger is to emphasize that Jesus had a humble birth - not a palace, but a humble manger.

But the most important thing of all - why Bethlehem? Luke doesn’t say, but, as most of you know, it’s pretty important Micah 5:2. And yes, “little town of Bethlehem” was an accurate description at the time. Today it’s not very little, but it was little in Jesus day. The modern town of Bethlehem is a city of about 22,000.

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

II. Angels We Have Heard on High.

Now the famous account of the Angels appearing to the shepherds is certainly nice, but again I have questions. First, why deliver the message to Shepherds? Clearly the angels completely bypass the entire leadership structure only a few miles away in Jerusalem. But if you know the Matthew account, you know why the angels didn’t go there - Herod the King tried to kill Jesus; and the religious leaders who aided him didn’t bother to take the 6 mile walk to Bethlehem to see if the account of the Wise Men was true. In other words Israel’s existing leadership was entirely corrupt and unworthy of God’s attention. I think if they had been worthy God would have told them, instead. Because the leadership was not worthy, God told some people who were - some ordinary people with no power or influence. They were not worthy because they had no power; they were worthy because they believed God.

Second, why announce his birth at all? While God had announced the birth of some judges and prophets to their parents, this is the first and last time God announced the birth of a leader of Israel to someone who was not related. Isaac, Samson, and John the Baptist were all announced to their parents before they were born, but not to anyone else. And in those cases, the parents needed to know so they could raise their son properly. These shepherds have no role in raising Jesus, and there’s a good chance many of them won’t live to see Jesus’ ministry.

To answer that, let’s look at what the angel says -

it’s good news of great joy for all people. That is, this is hope for the world. But how? It means God is at work, he is going to do something to solve the problems of this broken world. Of course, Jesus is just a baby, so this good news isn’t about immediately making everything better. Rather, it’s an announcement that God is at work to right the wrongs of this crazy twisted place we call earth.

The Child is

A Savior - that is, he will deliver us from our sins.

Christ - that is, he is God’s anointed

He is a King to rule over this world

He is a prophet to tell us God’s Word

He is a Priest to atone for our sins.

The Lord - that is, this child is not merely an anointed human. He is God in the Flesh.

And to confirm it, let’s look at what the angels say (note that it doesn’t say the angels sing. That doesn’t mean they can’t sing, only that it’s not what the text says they did).

Glory to God in the Highest - the birth of Jesus furthers God’s intent to bring glory to himself. When all the implications of the birth of that child are completed, every knee will bow and every tongue confess.

Peace to men of goodwill. the best texts have the Genitive. But there are quite a few ways to interpret that - it could be God’s good pleasure rests on these people (Phil 2:13). That is, those who experience peace are those who please God. It is quite certain that those who do not please God will not experience peace as a result of Jesus’ birth, but judgment. It’s encouragement for all who love and believe God, that because He Lives, we are destined to eternal and perfect peace and happiness.

And telling us this in the present age of spiritual warfare gives us strength to keep fighting. That’s why the angel was sent to the shepherds, to encourage them, and anyone else who pleases God, to keep fighting because Jesus Lives.

III. The Shepherds and Mary

We are told the reaction of the shepherds because they tell us what we are supposed to do with this information. The shepherds immediately search the little town to find the baby - it didn’t take long. They first investigated to check to see if the word of God from the angel was true. it was. They then told everyone about it. Finally, they praised God.

the other point is my biggest clue that Luke got this entire account from Mary. Mary kept all these things in her heart. Now who else would know what Mary was thinking except Mary, or those she talked to about it? Luke could have interviewed Mary’s other sons as well, but the point is that Mary thought about these things. She didn’t just marvel and then go on with life as normal. She thought about them and tried to understand them.