20241222 Luke 2 - Veiled in Flesh the Godhead See

Welcome to Vertical Church

Acts 2:42 (LSB)

And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.

Our church is built on the 4 devotions of the first Church.

We teach the Bible - Scripture alone is the word of God

We are Evangelical - Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone

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Call to Worship - Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 9:6–7 LSB

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this.

Scripture reading - Luke 2:1-35

Luke 2:1–35 LSB

1 Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. 6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. 11 For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased.” 15 And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them. 21 And when eight days were fulfilled so that they could circumcise Him, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days for their cleansing according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now Master, You are releasing Your slave in peace, According to Your word. 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light for revelation to the Gentiles, And for the glory of Your people Israel.” 33 And His father and mother were marveling at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce through your own soul as well—that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Introduction:

If we could summarize Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King: peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th'angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"

2 Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin's womb: veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th'incarnate Deity, pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel. [Refrain]

What does Luke 2 say about Christmas?

(1) Christmas is a historical event

Luke 2:1–2 LSB

1 Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

The modern day myth of Christmas - Santa, reindeers, elves, the north pole

But the first Christmas happen in history. Real people.

A Walk with God: Luke 6. The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1–7)

The Greek deities, for example, were never born and raised in real history.

But what was that historical context? Luke tells us that it was during the time that a decree had gone out to all the world from Caesar Augustus. He was one of the most important emperors in the history of the Roman empire, perhaps the most powerful human being before the day Jesus was born. Originally called Octavian, he had emerged as the chief ruler of Rome, and became the first man to be declared emperor of all of the Roman empire. He reigned from 30 BC to 14 AD, under the title Caesar Augustus—the august one. He began all kinds of building programmes and set up a massive system of centralized government, regulating commerce and trade. He strengthened the military and for his entire reign Rome was at peace. With his leadership was born that famous period known as the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome. He did much to advance the culture of the Roman empire. Towards the end of his life he said, ‘I found Rome bricks and I made it marble.’ He distinguished himself as probably the greatest statesman of his time.

(2) Christmas is a historic event

Galatians 4:4 LSB

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

The language of Rome, the roads of Rome, the peace of Rome, the prophecies of scripture

The fullness of time - pleroma

The New Testament uses the word, pleroma, to refer to the coming of Jesus. It is a single Greek word, but it is usually translated by the phrase ‘fullness of time’. That fullness may be illustrated by a glass of water. If you fill a glass of water to the brim it is full, but that is not pleroma. When the fullness of pleroma takes place, the water flows over the edges. The world was absolutely ripe for the coming of Christ.

Psalm 23:5 LSB

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

During the time of peace the Prince of Peace was born

During the reign of the greatest ruler and Caesar the greatest birth took place, the King of kings and Lord of lords

During the time when caesar the emperor worship took hold and he took the title, Dominus et Deus: Lord and God, the one alone was worthy of worship was born.

So much so that all of history is divided by his birth BC - before Christ and AD Anno Domini in the year of our Lord

This was a moment of special significance. This moment was nt just historical, it was historic

(3) Christmas is a humble event

Luke 2:6–7 LSB

6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room.

The humiliation of Christ refers to deity, the second member of the trinity, adding flesh to his deity and laying aside the voluntary use of his attributes. In other words, God humbles himself and became a helpless baby. And his humiliation is seen in the place of his birth.

(4) Christmas is an identifying event

Luke 2:8–10 LSB

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.

Shepherds

A Walk with God: Luke 7. The Shepherds (Luke 2:8–20)

The shepherds of Palestine were considered to be the lowest class of people. The nature of their calling prohibited them from frequent participation in the religious rituals of their day, and there were discriminating practices against them with respect to the law courts, for a shepherd was not permitted to give testimony. They were considered to be so unscrupulous and untrustworthy that their testimony was of little value. But although their contemporary society hated them, it seems that they held a special place in the heart of God.

v 10 - I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people

Jesus identifies with the rejected and the sinful, the low and the lost

(5) Christmas is an every day event

Luke 2:25–26 LSB

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

This man was waiting

A longing for Christ is part of the Spirit’s transforming work.

In the first advent Christ is born. The second advent is the return of Christ

There are many hymns we no longer sing - maybe we should revisit them

And yet, it’s understanding their hardship that creates the expulsive power of a new affection because the gospel tells us this was all for us. And this is what the best Christmas hymns are all about, how Christ’s suffering and impoverishment was all for us:

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour, All for love’s sake becamest poor.

Or perhaps you know, the hymn by the seventeenth-century metaphysical poet, Richard Crashaw:

Gloomy night embraced the place Where the noble Infant lay: The Babe looked up and showed His face; In spite of darkness, it was day! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Great little One! Whose all-embracing birth Lifts earth to Heav’n, stoops Heav’n to earth.

Or perhaps you know the lovely Gaelic carol:

Child in the manger, infant of Mary; outcast and stranger, Lord of all; Child who inherits all our transgressions, all our demerits on Him fall.

Or:

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall: with the poor, and mean, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

Or perhaps you know that other seventeenth-century carol by Thomas Pestel:

Behold the great Creator makes Himself a house of clay, a robe of human flesh He takes which he will wear for aye.

I wonder if these words about the amazing humiliation, the suffering of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus, don’t they create a new affection in your heart for Him? I hope so, and may it be so.

Benediction:

Depart in peace, according to God’s Word, for your eyes have seen the salvation that he has prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to his people Israel.