Lesson 5 Looking Unto Jesus, Luke 2:1-20

The Birth of Jesus Christ 2:1-7

English Standard Version (Chapter 2)

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. 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.

The Roman government and their way of doing things was in control here in the land of Israel and beyond. At this point in time, the Roman expansion had reached from the area today known as Iran, all the way to Britain. It was a one world empire and it was ruled with an iron fist. The world depended on the Romans. But, the language was Greek. When the decree went out for registration, or a census, because registration/census means taxes. Anytime the government wants a count, they are counting heads for future and/or present tax. Quirinius is the name most remembered as “Cyrenius” It is possible that he had more than one tax push, as it says, this was the first registration. No matter what, the whole world jumped in this area of the world, and everybody went to the city of their birth for the registration-census.

Joseph Takes His Family to the city of David vs. 4

I like that the verse says he “was of the house and lineage of David.” Let there be no doubt about it! There is the two fold witness of his link to David: The house(1) and lineage(2). Joseph could have been a king, if his family had stayed on the throne. At this juncture Joseph and Mary are in Galilee, a lower rent part of the country but a good place for a carpenter in the town of Nazareth. They make their trek to Bethlehem, also known as the city of David. Joseph, Mary and the baby in her womb are making the trip. She was really far along in the pregnancy. Their marriage status is that they were in the first stage of the marriage process, betrothal- vs.5. They had not yet come together. And while they were in Bethlehem, the baby arrives. Mary gives birth to her first born, Jesus. It says he was wrapped in swaddling cloths. That would have been strips of cloths, wrapped around the child and his limbs to keep their limbs straight. That would have been normal in those days. But a bit much for today, but people still do the wrapping thing with blankets and clothes. But the manger of verse 7, is a feeding trough for the animals. They were bunked up in the barn because there was no room in the inn or travelers lodge. It’s not a pretty scene. It could have been that the wrappings of the baby were not all that grand, because of the location outside in the elements. The King of Kings arrives in a stall, and is wrapped up in the arms of love rather than the plush surroundings of the palace. May we never come to the place where there is no room for Jesus. He must have first place in out hearts, homes, churches and even outbuildings. At least there was a place. Some people think that they know where that place was and there is a church over the location even today.

The Shepherds and the Angels 2:8-13

English Standard Version (Chapter 2)

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, Good will toward men.

Let’s be perfectly clear! Shepherds were not washing their socks by night, they were watching their flocks! This was the lambing season so they had their full attention on the flocks until the angels showed up. The glory of the Lord lit the place up and great godly fear came upon these simple farmhands. KJV says they were “sore afraid” and another version says they were “terribly frightened.” I think that means they were so scared they hurt. Angels wrapped in heavens glory must be very astonishing.

But the message was to “Fear not.”

In fact this was a joyful event not just for the lamb keepers, but for the whole world. “Today in the morning darkness, in Bethlehem, a Savior has been born- the Messiah. His name is Christ the Lord. Amazing! God even gives them a sign, and an invitation to see the baby that has been born! The sign was the clothes- swaddling. A second part of that sign is that He is lying in a manger. Don’t be confused when you get there. He will not be standing, or riding a donkey, or sitting up talking. He will be lying like a baby should! Suddenly a whole multitude of angels filled the skies praising God and saying,

English Standard Version (Chapter 2)

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

If only we could have been there. But we have the next best thing!. We have God’s infallible, inerrant word.

(Chapter 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.” 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.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The angels leave, go back to heaven, and apparently as quickly as they came into the picture for this celebration in the pasture. Immediately the shepherds were ready to go see the child and they quickly found Mary, Joseph, and the child. The next thing was that they made it known what had happened. It filled the countryside with wonder and amazement. Even Mary finally got some moments to think about what had happened, and she sit down to some serious thinking or pondering. The shepherds became an overnight praise team and worship team. And, they did some serious witnessing where ever they went. It’s amazing what the child Jesus can do to people back then and even yet today. The world still stops to take notice of his birth. Wars cease for the day, (except for Washington crossing the Delaware) stores close, work places take the day off, church services abound, and families unite. Its a glorious thing even over 2 thousand years later.

The circumcision and the naming of Jesus took place right on schedule, and according to the angels instructions. It was not very swank, but everything went without a hitch.

There were attempts to mess up the child’s birth but God was in control. We know that from Revelation 12:13

King James Version (Chapter 12)

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

In this 12th chapter, the woman represents Israel, but it’s a perfect representation of the struggle that has been prevalent in the warfare against the child Jesus!