10/13/2024 - The Birth of Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Luke 2:1-7
Well we come to the birth of Jesus in our verse by verse look at the Gospel of Luke.
We arrive about 8-10 weeks early for the perfect paring of the Christmas season.
But we should remember this wonderful story all year, not just in December.
For four centuries, the Jewish people had awaited a word from God, but heard nothing.
However, the silence was shattered when the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias in the Temple, announcing the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist.
Gabriel revealed that Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth, would have a son who would pave the way for the Messiah.
Shortly after, Gabriel also visited Mary, informing her that she would give birth to Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah.
God had not abandoned Israel, and His plans for them continued to unfold.
The prophet Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and would be called "Immanuel," meaning "God with us."
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.
The prophet Micah foretold the precise location of the Messiah's birth: Bethlehem.
2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Luke recounts the details of Jesus' birth, likely based on interviews with eyewitnesses.
The birth of Jesus is more than a heartwarming story—it is a documented historical event.
It stands as one of the most significant moments in human history, demonstrating God’s love reaching down to offer salvation.
Although the people of Israel may have felt abandoned during the four centuries of silence, God was actually preparing to give His greatest gift: Jesus Christ.
Even when we cannot see it, God is always at work.
I. A Predestined Plan
I. A Predestined Plan
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.)
Every fourteen years, Rome conducted a census to organize military duties and collect taxes.
This particular decree came from Caesar Augustus, a brilliant ruler who governed from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14.
Augustus is credited with founding the first firefighting and police services in Rome.
He commanded an army of 170,000 soldiers and ensured the maintenance of Roman roads throughout the empire.
As the adoptive son of Julius Caesar, he was revered as a god by loyal Romans.
Although the taxation was burdensome, it was all part of God's plan, aligning with the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
God often works through human events to bring about His divine purposes.
A. An Order They Could Not Overrule
A. An Order They Could Not Overrule
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.
Life is filled with unavoidable situations, yet often, it is God who arranges these events to accomplish His will.
The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals whom God led through challenging circumstances to fulfill His purpose in their lives.
When Joseph was sold into slavery and separated from his family, he later rose to power and was able to save them during a famine.
David, visiting the battlefield to check on his brothers, ended up defeating Goliath.
Esther, made queen of Persia, exposed Haman's plot and saved her people from destruction.
Each of these individuals faced difficult situations that God used for His glory, reminding us of His faithfulness.
Have you experienced unforeseen circumstances that altered your plans but ultimately worked for your good?
Quote: “Anything that is outside of our control, we can leave to the providence of God.”
13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or being his counseller hath taught him?
14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, And taught him in the path of judgment, And taught him knowledge, And shewed to him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, And are counted as the small dust of the balance: Behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
B. A Ruler They Could Not Refuse
B. A Ruler They Could Not Refuse
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Cyrenius, mentioned in verse 2, served as governor of Judea on two separate occasions.
However, his actions eventually led to a Jewish revolt.
Joseph was obligated to travel to his ancestral city, Bethlehem.
It is remarkable to consider how God, in His divine plan, influenced the most powerful ruler of the era to initiate a taxation that would fulfill prophecy and lead to the birth of the Christ-child in Bethlehem.
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
II. A Prepared Place
II. A Prepared Place
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 Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Due to the decree, Mary and Joseph were forced to undertake a nearly one-hundred-mile journey while Mary was nine months pregnant.
To pay their taxes, they traveled to Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem, the city of David.
Without realizing it, they were fulfilling an ancient prophecy that foretold the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Quote: “History is His story.”—A.T. Pierson
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
A. A Prophesied City
A. A Prophesied 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 Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
The Scriptures repeatedly prophesy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Beth-lehem, where David was?
B. A Provisional City
B. A Provisional City
Bethlehem was a city known for providing food to the surrounding region.
Crops were cultivated, and sheep were tended in the fields surrounding the city.
1. Physical Bread
1. Physical Bread
It was foretold that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, a small town in a region rich in agriculture.
Definition: Nazareth – "the guarded one."
Definition: Bethlehem – "the house of bread."
2. Spiritual Bread
2. Spiritual Bread
Bethlehem, once known for providing physical bread to the surrounding region, now offered the spiritual Bread of Life: Jesus Christ.
Since the early centuries, Christians have regarded Bethlehem as a sacred place, as it is where the Bread of Life came into the world.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
III. A Precious Savior
III. A Precious Savior
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.
Herod's decree led Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, aligning with God's plan for His Son to be born there.
However, upon their arrival, they found no place to stay.
But they were able to secure shelter in a stable, likely a cave, where Mary gave birth to the Savior.
A. The Presentation
A. The Presentation
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.
Jesus was laid in a manger, or feeding trough, an unlikely place for the birth of a King.
Born among animals, He entered a setting that was likely dirty due to the nearby livestock.
The humble way in which Jesus came into the world serves as a reminder that salvation is available to everyone.
It is not reserved for the wealthy or powerful, but is freely given to all who believe in Him.
A certain father declared that Christmas was going to be different this year. The father called a family conference and challenged his family to be more disciplined in the management of their time during the busy Christmas season. They had to curtail excessive spending on gifts. He talked about better relations between visiting relatives and a more congenial atmosphere around their home. He brought his speech to a crescendo with his final rally cry, “Let’s make this the BEST Christmas EVER!” His little second grade son countered the big motivational speech by noting, “But Dad, I don’t see how we could ever improve on the first Christmas.”
1. The Son of Mary
1. The Son of Mary
While Jesus was fully God, He was also fully man, a truth made possible by His virgin birth.
A ten-year old, who was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible because of her grandmother’s teaching, asked her grandmother: “Which virgin was the mother of Jesus? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?”
2. The Son of God
2. The Son of God
The deity of Jesus Christ is demonstrated through the following two titles ascribed to Him:
SON OF THE HIGHEST
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
GOD IN THE FLESH
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Definition: Incarnation, derived from Latin, means "in flesh."
Jesus is unique among all who have ever lived; He is God incarnate.
Unlike other beliefs, Jesus did not become God.
Mormons teach that individuals can become gods, while Hindus believe that through karma, one can attain divinity.
The New Age movement suggests that there is a spark of the "divine" within each of us.
Many religions propose that humanity is inherently good and can become a "god," but the Scriptures affirm that all people are lost in sin and in need of a Savior.
Christianity centers on the truth that God came down to us, rooted in humility rather than pride.
Jesus did not begin to exist in Bethlehem; He simply entered history as a man.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The first mention of the Messiah is found in Genesis 3:15, where God promises the birth of a Saviour from the seed of a woman.
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
B. The Picture
B. The Picture
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.
The swaddling clothes in which Jesus was wrapped resemble the linen that Jews used to shroud a body before burial, often with spices placed between each layer.
Even at His birth, there is a foreshadowing of His coming death.
Jesus was born with a singular purpose—to die for our sins.
The swaddling clothes signify not only His humble beginnings but also point forward to the linens that would envelop Him after His crucifixion for the sins of all humanity.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
The angels told the shepherds that they would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger (Luke 2:12).
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
This detail would resonate with the shepherds, who were familiar with the practices of caring for lambs, particularly those destined for sacrifice, thus linking Jesus to sacrificial lambs.
In Jewish tradition, lambs that were to be sacrificed were often wrapped in cloth to protect them.
C. The Problem
C. The Problem
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.
The problem that arose was the lack of room in the inn for Jesus.
How many individuals today also find no room in their hearts for Him?
The prevailing attitude among many in our modern age is that there is simply no space for Jesus in their lives.
THE MATERIAL MAN HAS NO ROOM
The materialistic individual is often too preoccupied with pursuing the worldly possessions around them.
They become so consumed with making money that they fail to make room for Jesus in their lives.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
THE INTELLECTUAL MAN HAS NO ROOM
This individual is often filled with pride from the worldly knowledge he has acquired.
As a result of his reliance on human reasoning, he views God as unnecessary.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
THE RELIGIOUS MAN HAS NO ROOM
This man has religion, but not faith in Jesus Christ.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Jesus was the ultimate expression of God’s love for humanity.
How will we respond to this incredible gift that God has given us in His Son?
I challenge you today to...
Receive the gift
Jesus came to save everyone from their sins.
Salvation is not something we must earn; it is the free gift of God.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Secondly, I want to encourage you tonight to...
Enjoy the gift
Jesus came down to us and understands the struggles we face.
In a world filled with suffering and pain, He knows our experiences.
He desires for us to have a personal relationship with Him.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Third, I want to encourage you to...
Worship the gift
We shouldn't focus on the package or the church's programs; instead, we must worship Jesus, for He alone is worthy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
As we go our separate ways tonight, let’s reflect on the profound truth that Jesus, the ultimate expression of God’s love, came into the world to save us from our sins.
As we receive this incredible gift, may we not only enjoy the personal relationship He offers but also dedicate ourselves to worshiping Him above all else.
Let us make room in our hearts for Jesus, acknowledging His worthiness and allowing His love to transform our lives not just at the Christmas season but at all times.