Luke 2:8-20 | The Night That Changed Everything

Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad!

What is the meaning behind the words Christmas or Navidad?

The angels announced, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Christmas

The word “Christmas” first appeared in 1038 in Old English, Cristes Maesse, meaning “Christ’s Festival Day.” (Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

You cannot have Christmas without Christ.

Navidad

No, it has nothing to do with red and green tortilla chips called Nachos Navidad.

By the fifth century AD, the holiday of Christmas was known by the Latin phrase dies natalis christi, the “day of the birth of Christ.”

This name for the holiday we call Christmas was eventually shortened to just the word natalis, in Spanish, navidad. (Museum of the Bible, https://www.museumofthebible.org/magazine/featured/many-names-one-meaning)

Merry Christmas it’s about celebrating the birth of Christ, the Savior

Feliz Navidad is about celebrating the birth of Christ, the Savior.

Why the celebration? This is the night that changed everything.

Jesus is the light that the world desperately needs!

(1) Jesus Shines in the Darkness

Luke tells us that while Joseph and Mary are in Bethlehem, the time came for baby Jesus to be born:

Mary 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.” (Luke 2:7)

Luke now turns from the birth of Christ to the birth announcement to shepherds who are out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. It is supposed to be another ordinary night for the shepherds. However, This is the night that changed everything. It is the night when the light shines through the darkness.

The angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.

What was the shepherds reaction? They were filled with fear.

KJV, “they were sore afraid” (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

"Sore afraid" is an archaic phrase that means extremely afraid. The word "sore" is used to describe the physical and spiritual effects of fear, such as muscle aches, stress, and tightening up.

The KJV is trying to describe what the Greek text is trying to convey.

Ancient languages would double a word to make a point. The Greek word for fear is “phobos.” The text literally says that they shepherds were phobeo phobos. They didn’t just experienced phobos, they were phobeo phobos. Literally, the shepherds “feared (with) a mega fear” when the glory of the Lord shone around them.

Shepherds are picture of humanity: Life is “normal and comfortable” when we are in the dark, but when the light of God shines we fear with a mega fear. We are terrified.

The reason why humans experience terror is because we come into contact with the glory of God.

This is an OT reference to the glory (kabod).

It’s painfully terrifying: i.e. Isaiah

Darkness is a picture of sin. See John’s gospel

The message of Christmas overcomes our darkness, sin, and fear with good news!

This is the night that changed everything.

Jesus is the light that the world desperately needs!

(2) Jesus Brings Joy to the World

The angels told the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Good News!

Not good tips

Not good advice

Not good opinions

Not good self-improvements

Gospel = Lit. Good news

What is the content of Good News? For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (v.11)

A savior is born on Christmas day.

To save, to rescue from danger, with the implication that the danger in question is severe and acute—‘to rescue, to deliver. (Louw-Nida)

Savior, one who rescues or saves - deliverer, rescuer, savior.

A savior is someone who rescues another from destruction.

What do all people need to be saved from that only Jesus could be the savior?

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, “[Mary] will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

The Apostle Paul also writes about this,

Ephesians 1:7 “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

Jesus, through his blood paid the ransom for our lives. Through his death, he paid for our freedom.

Jesus had to take on flesh in order to die for us. He had to be born in order to die.

“The incarnation is the preparation of nerve endings for the nails. That is what the incarnation is. The incarnation is the preparation of a brow for thorns to press through. He needed to have a broad back so that there was a place for the whip. He needed to have feet so that there was a place for spikes. He needed to have a side so that there was a place for the sword to go in. He needed cheeks, fleshy cheeks, so that Judas would have a place to kiss and there would be a place for the spit to run down that the soldiers put on him. He needed a brain and a spinal column with no vinegar and no gall so that the [intensity] of the pain could be fully felt.” (John Piper)

On Christmas day we remember and celebrate that a Savior is born. He is the reason for the season. He is the source of joy to the world.

This is the night that changed everything.

Jesus is the light that the world desperately needs!

Jesus Transforms Lives

After the encounter with the angels, the shepherds went over to Bethlehem to see with their own eyes the newborn Savior. What an amazing experience.

Luke 2:20 “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

Nothing had changed, yet everything was changed.

The shepherds went back to normal life to shepherd their sheep. In a way, their lives remained the same.

Yet, their lives were also transformed. Something had taken place deep in their heart.

They had experienced the presence of the Savior.

Their hearts were filled with joy and praise because they witnessed the fulfillment of God’s promises: the Savior of the world is finally here.

This is the night that changed everything.

Jesus is the light that the world desperately needs!

Do you want to experience the same joy the shepherds experienced on Christmas day?

Do what the shepherds did. The shepherds stopped what they were doing and hurried to Bethlehem to see the Savior. The shepherds are eager to see the newborn king and experience his birth.

We would do well this Christmas to do likewise.

Christmas is an invitation—not to go to Bethlehem to see the newborn King, but for Jesus the King to be born in your heart.

John 1:10–13 “10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Receive Jesus into your life, not as a helpless, defenseless baby, but as your King and Savior