A Weary World Rejoices: Praise and Peace

Notes:

From Augustus to Christos

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.

Shift from Temple to Kingdom

Shift from Earthly Power to Heavenly Kingdom

Government:

Caesar Augustus: August was named after him.

First Emperor of Rome:

Attacked Rome.

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (Latin: Octavianus), was the founder of the Roman Empire. He reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.

First Emperor

Named August after himself.

Upon his death:

Julius Caesar, his adopted father, was a god, shouldn’t Augustus be considered a “son of god?”

A month after he died, given the title "Divus Augustus"

Built temples in his honor.

Temple in Pula, Croatia

Temple in Barcelona

Temple in Rome

“Augustus Divina Temple”

Temples were dedicated to him all over the Roman World.

Joseph:

Don’t know much about Joseph…

“Joseph went to the City of David, which is called Bethlehem.

Because he was in the “economy” and “patronage” of David

Royal Place

Royal House

Royal Lineage.

He’s the Royalty that matters

But with this shift, there’s nothing extraordinary about the birth narrative…

In this moment with Mary and Joseph, we don’t read about angels there…

We don’t read about halos, fog machines, lasers, or miracles.

No fireworks…

Barn, or a cave, or something like that…

Baby, wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a feeding trough.

7 short versus, we get this contrast between the Emperor giving decrees from his throne in Rome, to a baby legally connected to Kingdom David placed in a trough.

Points to a Different Kind of King

Who invites us to consider a different object of WORSHIP!

Theophilus=High Ranking Roman Official

Theory: Luke’s Lawyer?

Very familiar

From Armed Robbers to a Heavenly Army

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.”

Birth announcement, more than a grace given to Mary…

Imagine the glory of the Lord shining around, and Mary shushing them, “Keep it down!”

Shepherds:

First century shepherds sit and watch their herd at night. Made up of thieves and bandits, it’s no wonder that basic civic rights were taken away from these social outcasts. Shepherds weren’t permitted to testify in a court of law. It was common knowledge not to buy anything from a shepherd because it was probably stolen in the first place.

Two Parter:

An Angel with Light Show

Angel=Angelos=Messenger

Arora Boerialis on Steriods

Angel brought a GOOD Message

“Don’t fear”

“I bring GOOD NEWS”

“Good New of MEGA joy”

Good news and JOYFUL News!

News for all the PEOPLE.

Coming King: “Good news and great joy for the nations.”

The World is very much the scope of this.

An Army with a Song

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!”

I describe this group specifically as an Army of Heavenly Forces because the word translated as host is, in fact, the word Army. An army breaks through the seams between heaven and earth to do one thing: sing! As they stand there with their battle gear, the weapon they use is their voices! And it’s a word of worship to God. After communicating to the shepherds the news of the arrival of their General, an Army Choir gathers to point the attention to the Father in heaven. As Jesus comes as ‘the SON of GOD’ down in the depths of a manger, the Angel Army gives God glory in the highest places.

Peace:

The type of peace described here is a peace that describes a condition rather than a relationship. In fitting fashion, this army is proclaiming the coming of peace announced after war. This army is proclaiming that peace has come, the battle is finished.

The type of peace proclaimed by this heavenly army is one that cuts through the physical and is a declaration of peace onto the hearts of God’s children. It’s a peace that doesn’t separate us from the physical world but pierces through it. It’s a peace that transcends all understanding and goes deeper than the temporary declaration of war . It’s a stated peace because the Prince of Peace has come! The primary root of the word for peace in the New Testament is ‘to join’. The chasm of separation between God and humanity- this basic, fundamental problem of humanity, is now forever fixed when Jesus was born. There is now no separation. The barrier has been destroyed and the bridge is found in this babies body.

Christianity is an earthy religion. Not earthly, but earthy. It’s peace on earth. It’s not a peace that carries us off with the angels, no, it’s a peace that pushes us out into the messiness of this world. It’s a peace that resonated and empathizes with the world’s tragedies and declares that true peace can only be found through the Christ Child.

It’s a sticky peace because it’s a condition experienced whether we feel good or not. It’s a condition that sticks with saints who still sin. It’s a condition that sticks to those who are currently suffering. It’s a peace that has an eternal perspective. It’s a peace that transcends understanding! It’s a condition that pushes Christians out into the mess so that we can be like Christ. We, too, can enter into the messiness of this world like the baby lying in the trough in order to share this peace.

Worshipping the King

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.

Worship away from Caesar towards a Baby

Worship Announced by Angels to armed robbers.

Worship Expressed after Experiencing the King

Theme of Worshipping this New King

Shepherds: Glorifying and praising God

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Mary:

Luke 1:46-48:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

Zechariah worship

Luke 1:68-69: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.”

John the Baptist worship Luke 1:44: “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”