Believing In And Trusting Christ
Christmas Luke • Sermon • Submitted
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Believing In And Trusting In Christ
Believing In And Trusting In Christ
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
“What is the true meaning of Christmas?”
Christmas is an integral part of our Western Culture.
3 weeks of songs
A shopping season that kicks off like avalanche
An average of over 27% of retail sales happen at Christmas - some businesses over 30% - jewelers higher still
Advertising & decorations
Parades
Travel, family gatherings, food and gifts
In the midst of all that Western Christmas has become, there is comparably little room left for Christ in Christmas.
Seasons/Holiday Greetings vs Merry Christmas
In the name of being politically correct most public property is devoid of any reference to Christ.
Some rightfully ask, “Who stole Christmas?”
Was it commercialism?
Was it theology that denies the virgin birth?
Was it a world view with no God?
Or was it the Grinch?
The answer is probably more that the room allotted to Christ in Christmas is directly proportionate to the room allotted to Christ in the lives of most.
Perhaps Dr Seuss’s Grinch can help us.
In the midst of his frustration with why the inhabitants of Whoville gathering to sing and celebrate Christmas, the Grinch began to plan how to thwart the who’s celebration. He would steel Christmas.
As the Grinch thought and thought, Dr Seuss said this of Grinch,
“And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas means a little bit more!”
Dr Seuss’s Grinch was closer to the truth than some might think. Picking up on and adding to that limerick, I would suggest:
Maybe Christmas means a little bit more!
Dr Seuss’s Grinch was closer to the truth than some might think. Picking up on that limerick:
“Christmas does not come from a store.
Christmas does not come from a store. Christmas means much more
Christmas means much much more.
Christmas should again mean Christ we adore.
Christmas then would mean much much more.”
With the
With the help of the Gospel of Luke, we will focus our attention and our hearts on:
The birth
The birth announcement
The birth announcement confirmed and made known
The Birth -
- When in those days -
- When
- Caesar Augustus - originally known as Caius Octavius ( Also called Octavian, part of the Octavian clan although Octavian originally means the 8th child born in a family), the grand nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar.
Recurring power struggles within the Roman government.
After Julius Caesar was assassinated - 44 BC - Caius Octavius defeated his closest rival Anthony - Battle at Actum - 29 BC. After that victory the Roman Senate declared Caius Octavius, Rome’s first Emperor. With that Rome transition from a representative form of government - Republican - to a dictatorship.
2 years later the Roman Senate declared Caius Octavius, Rome’s first Emperor
2 years later, Caius Octavius - now Caesar the Dictator was given the term Caesar Augustus - exalted one - signified religious veneration.
Ruled until 14 AD
Decree - dogma - command, decree, ordinance - every 14 years
Administrative direction
All the world - as they knew it
Pax (peace Romana - Mediterannean Region - all of Western Europe, Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Northern Egypt, north shore of Africa
Registered - names recorded - apographo
number each nation by family and city/town of family origin
Military service and taxation
Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
Quirinius Governor of Syria
Josephus wrote of census 6 - 9 AD.
First census - 8 to 5 BC
Christ born in the days of Herod the King who died in 4 BC -
Herod had all male babies - 2 years of age and under killed.
Each to his own town - Joseph of Nazareth to city of David - Bethlehem
Joseph and Mary both descended from David and living in Nazareth
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
Both lived in Nazareth
Nazareth - where they lived after fleeing to Egypt
And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).
Matt 2:
Bethlehem - 110 km journey through mountainous terrain
With Mary his betrothed - who was with child - pregnant
Joseph had taken Mary to live with him after the angel’s visit - no sexual relations until after Christ born
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
Matt 1:24
Eventually 4 brothers
Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
,
Matt 13:
No reference to great with child - pregnant pregnant = very obvious
First 3 months of pregnancy with Elizabeth
And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
No reference to riding on a donkey
Not clear as to how long after arrived Jesus was born
While they were there
No mention of a stable - no room in the inn - possibly a cave
laid in a manger
Mary gave birth - brought forth KJV - while Joseph could have helped - not mentioned
Mary wrapped her first born in swaddling cloths - long strips of cloth wrapped round and round
first born - suggesting other pregnancies
lonely - no mention of any help.
Mary laid him in a manger - feeding trough
2. The Birth Announcement -
To Whom:
Shepherds in a field near Bethlehem
ordinary working men, considered unclean
keeping watch over flocks by night
365/24/7 work
By Whom:
An angel
The Announcement:
Angel appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them
The glory of the Lord shone around them
Glory - doxa - exceptional brightness connected with God’s presence and affirmation of what was in process.
Compare transfiguration
And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
,
Shepherds filled with fear (sore afraid KJV) - very afraid
Fear in the presence of God, His messenger and His works.
Fear is the repeated reaction of those who sense God’s presence and glory.
And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,
and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
Stop being afraid.
I bring you good news of great joy that will for all of the people.
Good news - evangel - gospel
Great joy - mega rejoicing
For all of the people
Others - not only you, not only Jews
Gentiles - All non Jews
Lk
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Announcement:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.
For unto you - the shepherds would have heard
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Lottery ticket check - gagneau/winner
Heavenly announcement unto us
Is born this in the city of David
Today/now in Bethlehem
A Saviour - good news and deliverance connected - deliverer
Is
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Christ - the Greek equivalent of Messiah - anointed one
Lord - master or covenant name for God = deity
Elizabeth had referred to the unborn Jesus with that word.
And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Lk
Sign:
miracle - you will find
baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger
might have been other babies born & swaddled but only one in a manger
With the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
multitude - term used to describe military encampment
Christ used a Roman military term to refer to the 12 legions of angels His Father could send to rescue Him -
Praising God
Saying:
Glory to God in the highest
On earth peace among those with whom He is pleased (peace on earth, good will toward men
Who are the recipients of this peace/good will - those who come to the Father through Christ
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. The Birth Announcement Confirmed & Made Known -