Luke 2:1-20 - Advent

Introduction

Thus far, in our previous weeks of Advent, we have talked about the prophecy of the coming Christ and the prophesied titles of Christ found in our two different scripture passages we studied:

Isaiah 9:6-7

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

Matthew 1:21-23

Jesus - “He will save his people from their sins”

Immanuel - “God with Us”

This week…

We are going to talk about the birth narrative of Christ - let us never forget the true meaning of the season here.

It can be easy to get caught up with gifts, gatherings and glee - it can drown out the reason why we celebrate.

The Text - Luke 2:1-20

Census called and the Journey to Bethlehem (v.1-5)

Luke 2:1–5 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. 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.

Verse 1-4: Caesar Augustus calls for a census

Caesar Augustus (Octavian) (lived 63 BC-14 AD; Ruled 27 BC - 14 AD)

Julias Caesar’s great nephew

After Julias was murdered he ruled in a triumvirate with Mark Antony and Lepidus. Lepidus fell from power in 36 BC and Antonys involvement with Cleopatra of Egypt put him in conflict with Octavian.

Octavian would win a decisive victory over Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC and conquer Egypt which would then lead to him being given the title Augustus (“venerable”) in 27BC.

Octavian (Augustus) would be the first official Roman Emperor

Leader of the most powerful nation that the world had ever seen up to that point.

Nazareth —> Bethlehem

68 mile journey!

Joseph on foot and Mary on the Donkey - while pregnant!

This is not a luxury ride either!

This is sitting on an uncomfortable donkey!

Census

Expository Thoughts on Luke, Vol. 1 Luke 2:1–7: The Birth of Christ at Bethlehem

Little did the haughty Roman emperor, and his officer Cyrenius, think that they were only instruments in the hand of the God of Israel, and were only carrying out the eternal purposes of the King of kings. Little did they think that they were helping to lay the foundation of a kingdom, before which the empires of this world would all go down one day, and Roman idolatry pass away.

This king was caring out the very providence of God! For it had been prophesied that the

“the Davidic city”

Reference to the Davidic kingship that the Christ will have

Christ being born in Bethlehem fulfills the prophecy found in Micah 5:1-2

Micah 5:1–2 ESV

1 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. 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.

Gave birth…laid him in a manger (v.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.

No room at the inn

No “innkeeper” as one is never mentioned.

Also the greek word used here for “inn” is referring to a public group shelter that would have been available for people travelling through (not some hotel like place).

What probable happened was is that they were travelling and there was no room in the group shelter so they ended up in this stable

Now there is a very high chance, and it is held within church tradition, that the stable they were in (which we know because of the use of the word manger; with the greek word literally meaning “feeding trough”) that is was a cave!

The king - God - in the manger

This baby laying here in this feeding trough or manger is a greater king than Caesar or any earthly ruler will ever be.

We sing “away in a manger” but it is more like “the king in the manger”

This “manger” (as mentioned before) was most likely a feeding trough!

The Savior of Humanity laying humbly in a lowly manger - God himself - Immanuel laying in the trough in a dirty barn.

The greatest miracle

CS Lewis once said that the incarnation of Christ is the greatest Miracle to ever occur!

God joined with human flesh

The great benefit we receive that God would look upon us and send his son to earth with this humble beginning.

The same God who created the heavens and the earth and brought everything into being has put on human flesh.

The Shepherds and Angels (v.8-15)

Luke 2:8–15 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. 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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!” 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.”

First to receive the good news: lowly shepherds

God did not choose kings or rulers of men to hear the good news first. He did not choose a pharisee, a priest, or a levite - rather he chose lowly shepherds.

The one who is born is the one they have been waiting on!

This one who is born is the one who the scriptures foretold!

Verse 11: Christ the Lord - Messiah

The title for the messiah - Christos (christ) is translated from the Hebrew word for Messiah

The shepherds went and spread the word

This was the first thing that the men did when they heard the good news!

They had to go and see.

They acted on it

When we hear the good news we too should have this same reaction

Treasured it all in her heart (v.16-20)

Luke 2:16–20 ESV

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 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. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Shepherds speak

These men acted on their faith and ran to go see Christ!

They found just what the angel said they would find - and then they talked about!

They witnessed to what they had heard and saw - and that which was proven to them.

Mary Treasured it

How confirming this must have been for her

Imagine her thinking back to what the angel had told her!

Now these men are here reporting what they had heard as well!

They left praising

These men had an encounter with the living God - they got to see “the Word made flesh” that would dwell among us.

They got to meet the long awaited messiah

They got to see him in the manger

They encountered Christ the Son, and what did they do - Praise!

We when meet Christ we should be brought to praise!

The story does not end in the manger

This little baby, this little king, would go on to grow up.

He would grow up and do many great things - remaining as perfectly innocent as the day he entered the world

He would be the perfect Son of God

And Instead…

Instead of being carried to a cave to be delivered, he would be brought to Gulgatha.

Instead of people coming to worship and honor him, they would reject him and spit on him to shame him.

Instead of being laid in a manger to rest, he would be laid upon a roman cross.

Instead of being bundled up for safety, he would be stretched out and exposed to be nailed to that cross where they laid him.

Instead of feeling the protection of the swaddling cloth, he would bear our iniquities.

Instead of angels singing and celebrating and the heavens being lit up for all to see, the sky would be turned to darkness and the earth would quake.

Instead of the father looking down with joy, he would look down and see our sin and turn his face away.

Instead of crying for his mother, he would be crying “My God my God why have you forsaken me?”

Instead of his mother looking down to see her little baby, she would look up to see her bruised and battered Son.

Instead of looking up to see the beautiful woman that carried him for 9 months, he would look up to heaven and cry “It is Finished”

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