Ordinary Men, Extraordinary God

Open your Bibles with me to Luke chapter 2, if you will

This is our last chance to be together before Christmas!

Over the last several weeks we have been studying OId Testament Prophecies about Jesus

This morning, as we reflect on the birth of Christ, we will see some of these prophecies converge and still others that we haven’t studied be fulfilled

And I hope that this morning you are able to get lost in the wonder of how truly amazing Christmas really is

At Christmas, we see this spectacular display of our extraordinary God bringing about His perfect will using imperfect people like you and me and we are reminded that this is what we should expect from the God that we serve.

Let’s turn to our text in Luke chapter 2. It’s a long passage this morning, so I won’t ask you to stand, but look at it together:

Luke 2:1–38 CSB

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told. When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before he was conceived. And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons). There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples— a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel. His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Would you pray with me?

The Christmas story fulfilled prophecies through ordinary people and events, revealing the Messiah

And

This morning, through Christmas, we can be receive the salvation Christ brings.

In the time that remains, let’s look at 5 ways the Hope of Christ is shown through the people and events in this passage. The first is found in verses 1-7. Let’s look at them

Luke 2:1–7 CSB

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

As we studied a few weeks ago, Micah 5:2 promised that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 CSB

Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.

This is the first way we see hope in this passage, that

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem shows us His deity, His royalty and His humility.

The promise of Micah 5:2 points us to both of these things that were fulfilled at Christ’s birth

Jesus’ birth in the city of David confirms His Kingship over Israel. He is of the royal line.

The word here for “ancient times” is the word of eternity.

This King born in Bethlehem would be eternal-There is only one Eternal King, and that is God

God with us, Immanuel, was going to be born in Bethlehem

But Bethlehem also points us to Christ’s humility

Bethlehem was the lesser of the 2 cities of David

It was a tiny town no one went to on purpose

And to magnify his humility, verse 7 tells us that his cradle was a feeding trough.

And what makes these things all the more amazing is that God used ordinary men to make it happen just how He said.

He led Caesar Augustus to hold a census

He gave Jesus Joseph as an earthly father, which made them have to travel to Bethlehem for the census

This morning, find hope in the humble God of the universe born in Bethlehem

Allow His humility to push you past your expectations into the heart of the Father

Let the God born King in humility reshape how you define greatness.

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem shows us His deity, royalty, and humility, and, secondly

Mary and Joseph show us God’s glory in the faith of everyday people

There is nothing so special about Mary or Joseph outside of Jesus.

They were normal, every day people that God chose to use

What stands out in them is their faith when God speaks

It takes a lot of courage to stand against cultural norms

Consider the courage of Mary to accept the weight of bearing this child

A pregnancy outside of marriage surely many thought was a scandal

A pregnancy that would have cost her marriage had it not been for God’s intervention

A pregnancy fulfilling prophecy that you don’t fully understand.

Still, Mary was faithful in obedience to God and Isaiah 7:14 was fulfilled

Isaiah 7:14 CSB

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

God’s Son. What a weight to carry

A weight of joy, uncertainty, fear, and wonder

Consider the courage of Joseph to accept both Mary and Jesus as His own

An acceptance that surely brought questions from those around them

At best, many thought that the baby was his

At worst, some would think of him as a fool for believing a crazy story of a pregnant virgin and a dream of angels talking to a carpenter

Yet, Joseph was faithful to God and to Mary so that God’s promise was fulfilled

You see, both Joseph and Mary had a part in bringing this about

Mary bore an impossible child and believed in Him who promised Him to her so that prophecy was fulfilled

Joseph married a pregnant girl and traveled home to Bethlehem. Because He did, prophecy was fulfilled

This Christmas, find hope in our God that does not need us but chooses to use us

Let Mary and Joseph encourage you in your own obedience to the Father

Spend time seeking how God might use you for His Kingdom

Remember that Jesus will be all the remarkable you need in serving our King

This brings me to the third way that hope is shown through the Christmas story, that

Angels and shepherds show us that Jesus came from the highest to reach the lowest

For the sake of time this morning, I’m not going to read all of verses 8-20 again, but I do want to point you to verses 10-11

Luke 2:8–11 CSB

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Angels, God’s heavenly messengers, filled the skies to talk to a bunch of lowly shepherds

Not to a king in a palace

Not to the priests in Jerusalem’s temple

But to poor, humble shepherds out on the midnight watch

You know, if you sleep with sheep, you get covered in sheep stuff

You get dirty like sheep

You smell like a sheep

And these guys got a visit from angels

This isn’t where most people would send the messengers with the most important news the world has ever received

Important news goes to important people

People with power and prestige

People who can make important decisions

People who matter in the world that we live in

Important news doesn’t go to unimportant people

But that is exactly what God promised

Isaiah 61:1 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;

Jesus brought the Gospel for everyone everywhere.

The Gospel isn’t just for the rich or the religious. It is for anyone and everyone. The Gospel is for

The broken, the sinful, the hurting, and poor

The outcast, the forgotten, for the lonely, and the oppressed

There is no one so dirty that Jesus can’t save them, no one so far that His love cannot reach them

The announcement of Christ to some meek and lowly shepherds does more than fulfill a prophecy

It reveals the love of God is here for anyone searching for His hope

This morning, find hope in the King who came for the meek and the lowly

Allow Him to humble your heart, even as He humbled Himself so that you might know Him.

Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherd have already shown us so much, but there is still more to see. Our last two points this morning are wrapped up together. Look at verse 25 with me

Luke 2:25–38 CSB

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples— a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel. His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Here are a man and a woman that had both been faithful to the Lord

Each of them was living righteously before the Lord

Each of them that was devoted to God, but the were just people

Still, as they sought God’s face, the Holy Spirit is at work and they give us our last two points. Point four is this

Simeon and Anna show us God Keeps His Promises

Simeon had been waiting for a long time for the Messiah to show up

While everyone was supposed to be looking for the Messiah, God had promised Simeon that he would live to see the Messiah come.

And the minute that he sees Jesus, he quotes prophecy in praise to God

Isaiah 42:6 CSB

“I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,

This man who is waiting for Israel to be made right with God is now prophesying as he holds up baby Jesus and calls Him a light to the Gentiles and an answer to His prayers and God’s promise.

Then Anna sees the child and begins to proclaim that the redemption of God’s people. This actually fulfills a prophecy from Isaiah, chapter 49.

Isaiah 49:6 (NASB95)

He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;

I will also make You a light of the nations

So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

God promised that a remnant of Israel would remain faithful, and that they would recognize the Messiah

Isn’t that exactly what we see happen when Anna and Simeon see Jesus

We can trust God to keep His promises, and if that isn’t enough to fill you with hope this Christmas, our last point surely will be because

Through Simeon and Anna God also shows us that Jesus is Hope of salvation for all who believe.

The two prophecies that I showed you from Isaiah regarding Simeon and Anna say three things that are the same

First, God was going to send the Messiah to restore Israel to Himself.

Secondly, God was going to use Israel as a light to the nations

The Messiah would come from God’s people, but He would be for everyone

What this means for you and me is that we can have the salvation that Jesus came to bring.

The hope of Christmas is Jesus.

He is the Fulfillment of every promise

He is the Messiah log awaited

He is the God-King that left His throne in the highest heaven to reach down and offer salvation to the lowest of sinners

He is The only hope of salvation for anyone who will make Him their King

He is the God that makes the extraordinary out of ordinary people like you and me

All you have to do to receive His forgiveness is to choose to believe.

Just as the shepherds, Simeon, and Anna recognized the significance of Jesus’ birth, you too are invited to recognize Him as the fulfillment of God’s promises today by choosing to respond with faith, with worship, and with obedience.

I’m going to pray for us, and as I do, I invite you to make the first step in a new journey of faith. Let the Christ of Christmas become your Savior and King by choosing to put your faith in Him.

PRAY