God in the Details

Luke 2:1–20 ESV

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 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. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:1-20

God works in the small details…He wastes nothing and does nothing by accident! Isn’t this reassuring for us, too? God is concerned with every small and what we would call “insignificant” detail of our lives!

Jesus came to give life.

That is his ultimate purpose in coming!

…

“Rehash” - we are dead…we need to be reconciled to God!

The Big Picture in the Small Details

NAZARETH

Where Joseph had, at some point, relocated and met Mary - where Jesus’s hometown would be.

Does anyone have a guess as to why this is important?

In Hebrew, the word “natzer” is an agricultural term that means “shoot” or “sprout.”

SHOW PICTURE OF OLIVE TREE

Do you know how the olive tree survives for so long? SHOOTS!

Isaiah 11:1 ESV

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

Jesus would be the “shoot” or “sprout” coming out of the “cut down” tree of Israel that would bring new life and revive the people God.

BETHLEHEM

Why Bethlehem? HOMETOWN OF DAVID

Micah 5:2–6 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.

John 7:42 ESV

Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

Psalm 89:3 ESV

You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:

ALSO — “Bethlehem” = “house of bread”

John 6:35 ESV

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

A manger - feeding trough

SHOW PICTURE OF MANGER

JESUS CAME TO BE THE BREAD OF LIFE TO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE!

SHEPHERDS

I’ve talked before about the irony of God announcing the birth of Jesus to shepherds (flesh out). I also think there’s imagery, here, that Jesus is the good shepherd (Micah) and Chief Shepherd.

Something more — SHOW PICTURE OF BETHLEHEM

Priests would get the sheep for sacrifices from Bethlehem. So, it is very likely that these shepherds were tending the sheep that would be used as sacrifices in temple worship.

JESUS WOULD GIVE HIS LIFE AS THE FINAL SACRIFICE!