Luke 2:1-20 (2025)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We’re in Luke 2; let’s rewind and from the beginning remind ourselves what all we learned happened in Chapter 1 to this point:
The angel Gabriel appears to Zachariah in the temple, announcing that his barren wife Elizabeth will bear a son named John, who will prepare the way for Jesus
Gabriel strikes Zachariah mute as a sign until the prophecy filled because he doubted Gabriel
Elizabeth conceives and hides herself for five months, praising God for removing her reproach
Six months later, Gabriel appears to the virgin Mary in Nazareth, announcing she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear a Son named Jesus, who will be called the Son of the Most High and will reign on David's throne forever
Mary visits Elizabeth; at Mary's greeting, John leaps in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounces Mary blessed and calls her "the mother of my Lord"
Mary responds with the Magnificat, praising God for His mercy, His mighty works, and His faithfulness to the promises made to Abraham
After John's birth, Zechariah's speech is restored when he confirms the child's name; filled with the Holy Spirit, he prophesies in the Benedictus about God's redemption of Israel and John's role as prophet
John grows and remains in the wilderness until his public ministry begins and some months to a year he baptises Jesus
Luke 2
Luke 2
Why Bethlehem?
Why Bethlehem?
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.) 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 Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
The bible is real history:
Caesar Augustus. Caius Octavius, grand-nephew, adopted son, and primary heir to Julius Caesar.
Before and after Julius’s death in 44 B.C., the Roman government was constantly torn by power struggles. Octavius ascended to undisputed supremacy in 31 B.C. by defeating his last remaining rival, Antony, in a military battle at Actium.
In 29 B.C., the Roman senate declared Octavius Rome’s first emperor. Two years later they honored him with the title “Augustus” (“exalted one”—a term signifying religious veneration). Rome’s republican government was effectively abolished, and Augustus was given supreme military power.
He reigned until his death at age seventy-six (A.D. 14).
The decree was for registration of all the population of Rome; not just once but every fourteen years after this. Would have been for income from the poll taxes later but initially likely for military service
All this is historical data recorded in multiple sources but what we see is God almighty working his will throughout the course of human history to bring to pass all that was prophesied about the messiah
up from Galilee: on a map it’s south but in elevation its “up”
A hard journey of 70+ miles up elevation for a couple of, at best, late teenagers. Mary, on the verge of delivery. 4-7 days with risks from terrain, bandits, and weather and God got them to their tribal home, where David was born
God sovereignly working to bring to pass Micah 5:2 “2 But thou, Bethlehem 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.”
Courses of the priests, Jesus born in December
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.
Jesus is Mary’s FIRSTBORN. He’s the ONLY virgin born. The baby born and wrapped in swaddling cloths and lain in a feeding trough, was completely different than any other baby. How he was born, all the trials of a newborn and all the work required were exactly like every other baby. No perpetual virginity of Mary, and I imagine (because the Bible doesn’t specifically say it) since he was like unto us in every way, unless you believe babies cry because of their sin, he cried every time he was hungry or dirty, just like every other baby.
I struggled this week because all the studying I’ve done kept pointing to all the modern myths about Christmas, that even in the church we hold as truth and probably are just tradition.
The one I want to talk about a bit is the inn in verse 7. Not a hotel or lodging house like in the story of the good Samaritan. The word translated “inn”, κατάλυμα (ka-TA-loo-ma) has a range of meaning "inn" or "lodging/guest room". Easy to think they didn’t leave Galilee after checking “rooms dot com” and making a reservation but went, with the rest of the family of David thinking they would be able to stay with relatives
I’m not so presumptuous to think I know the answer and great men like Justin Martyr, and Origen, and the church fathers, and Ralph Sexton Jr. are wrong when they say a cave
As a matter of fact I wonder if as Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem expecting to stay with his family in a house outside of Bethlehem. Only to find all the other more successful family members had filled the house. The one’s that hadn’t lived in Nazareth (after all in John 1:46, when Philip tells Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael responds, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?").
If that were the case, it wasn’t just some old “inn keeper” but would have been family that told them the house was too full and no room left but they could give birth in the cave where the animals were kept
I don’t know if any of that’s the case because all we know, even about it being a cave, comes from writings of church fathers and not the bible. If that did happen, and easy to think id could have, it gives even more meaning to John 1:11 “11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” That he was rejected from His birth until his death.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 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, good will toward men.
If the Lord of glory set aside His crown to come as a baby, born in total humility, why wouldn't His birth be witnessed and attested by the lowest of society?
I’ve heard Ralph Sexton preach "Migdal Eder" or the "Tower of the Flock") as a place where sheep for Temple offerings were kept.
Regardless of that, shepherds were regarded with suspicion by religious authorities.
The Mishnah and later rabbinic literature frequently list shepherds among disreputable occupations. They were often assumed to be dishonest—grazing flocks on others' land, suspected of theft, and considered unreliable as witnesses in court.
Continually “ceremonially unclean” practically just plain unclean
And this is who God chose to hear the first announcement the Messiah had come. Not to priests, scribes, or rulers, but to social outcast.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
After the terror, excitement. They agree, if the Messiah has come, let’s go see!
When they got there and found out the things they heard were true, they wasted no time telling everyone around them that would listen or not. And when they got back to the field, back to the sheep, back to the every day routine, back to the labor...they didn’t stop praising and glorifying God!
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
It’s happened! Luke 1:30–33 “30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 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: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
The King of the Jews:
Zechariah 9:9 “9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
The King of the world:
John 18:36–37 “36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
The King of kings:
1 Timothy 6:15 “15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;”
The Messiah in the “city of David” deserved a royal birth in a palace surrounded by warmth and love but instead chose to come:
Philippians 2:6–8 “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.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 “9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
