Christmas - Good News for All People

Lonnie Brooks

Christmas 2018 • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Luke 2:1–7

Birth of Jesus

Nativity of Christ

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Introduction

Christmas is a wonderful time of year...

And it is during this celebration of God sending a great gift to all mankind that we give gifts to those we love…

But let me ask you a question?

Is your Christmas shopping done?

How many wait till the last minute?

Did you overspend?

But here is the bigger question? Did you overspend? Is your Christmas budget shot???

We usually do overspend… why? We love those and we want to treat them, we want to do something good for them…

Christmas holds many of our best memories… and yes some, not so good either.

But we love Christmas....

We love it for so many reasons, but the most important is Jesus. His entrance into the world, was more than just a historical fact… His entrance into this world changed this world forever.... past, present and yes, oh yes, future.

So this morning I want us to take a few minutes and consider the birth of Jesus and the good news it brought to all people.

This morning take your Bibles and lets find the Gospel of Luke and lets examine chapter 2, if you will.

verses 1-7

Luke 2:1–8 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:1–7 ESV

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What a wonderful story, but sad at the same time… for Jesus made his entrance into the world so humbly, not in a kings palace, not into some royal chamber. But instead a grotto, or stable area… laid in a manger.... there in the hay for comfort, wrapped in clothes we find the King of kings and the Lord of Lords...

So from this passage I want to share just a few thoughts with you...

The first is this… God’s Will....

1. God’s Will.....

Now you might think curiously, why that phrase of point…

Well in my mind, it makes total sense. God’s will is being fulfilled. His plans and purposes are being set in place and soon Jesus will be born.

One of my favorite passages this time of year… or any time of the year for that matter is

Galatians 4:4 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

At just the right time, when all the events, points and partitions were made, this is when Jesus would come and not a minute before.

God has promised the people help, a deliverer, a Savior since the fall of man… He has allowed Israel to do this or that… God has allowed Kingdoms to arise and fall again according to His timing and will.

Zechariah and Elizabeth have already seen the birth of the son God promised them… He is 6 months old by the time Jesus enters the world. The forerunner to the Christ himself, the last prophet of Israel declaring the way of the Lord and calling people to repent and be baptized for the kingdom of God is at hand… He will grow up… God’s will was being made complete and now, the prophecies from years gone by, this child would be born in the city of David…

Listen to Micah 5:2

Micah 5:2 ESV

2 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.

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And so what happens, God raises up a ruler in Rome who calls for a census.. an accounting of people…

Luke 2:1–3 ESV

For this to be done easily, effectively and according to God’s will… all would return to their ancestral homes…for Mary and Joseph, that would mean Bethlehem. The city of David, meaning house of bread.

The house of bread would see a child born in it that would one day tell all. I am the bread of life.......

And so they travel there… but they will soon encounter a couple of problems...

One is housing and the send… it is time for the Christ child to enter the world...

Look again at verses 4-7

Luke 2:4–7 ESV

4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.

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So they travel there, but a problem arises, her days are completed.... the but they cannot find a room. The inns that are referred to can be two things we know from that period of time…

Some think this might be a family home that had extra rooms to accommodate travelers. Others say it is a large open building where people are put up… it could hold many… but there came a time when there was room for no one.

So the only place to have a respite from the elements was the stable area… and here Jesus entered the world just has God had planned, His will being fulfilled...

God’s will in life is something we wonder about, we are puzzled at times why this happens or that happens…The world we live in is a broken, sin touched world, bad things happen to people all the time… it doesn’t make it easier for us to understand but this we know..

God sent his one and only son into this world, that was His will… to redeem us from sin.

In that day in time is was

And this brings me to my second thought for today..

2. Jesus Birth

I am sure traveling with a young lady, who is in reality full term is difficult… especially upon some little donkey or colt..

Ladies can some of you just think about how uncomfortable it would be to ride a animal for lets say 50 miles or more.. while being full term…

I think it would be a slow, difficult journey… But it was a necessary one and required that all appear to be counted for this census, and so the journey is made...

Arriving late that cannot find a room to rest in, and so they are forced out of the weather, into a stable area which may have been a cave ....

rriving late that cannot find a room to rest in, and so they are forced out of the weather, into a stable area which may have been a cave ....

They are safe, they are warm I am sure and the time comes.... Just as the prophet Isaiah had said...

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 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.

Isa 96

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And it is here that the most marvelous event since God said let there by light.... Mary gives birth to this baby, and His name is Jesus....

Look with me at verses 6-7...

Luke 2:6–7 ESV

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.

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Listen to , verse 23

Psalm 118:23 ESV

23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

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Yes it was God’s doing, and it is marvelous.... a Savior has been born who is Christ the Lord...

The word Christ is important there, it is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word Messiah… The promised one of Israel has come… He is the one all have waited for...

Salvation .....

Let me ask you a question… can you imagine Mary? As what God promised is fulfilled in her… to see the baby Jesus, Immanuel = God with us!

WOW!

There is nothing more beautiful than this day....

Can you imagine as Jospeh and Mary hold God’s promise in their hands!

Jesus is born, God has come down to man, his first advent has happened....

matt 1

Matthew 1 ESV

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Praise the Lord...

Matthew 2 ESV

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” 19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 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.

Now just one more thought today… and this is one of my favorites...

3. A Declaration for Everyone....

You know, in the past few weeks I know some friends who have had babies and let me tell you.... it doesn’t take long for people to find out… did you hear, did you get the call… so and so had their baby…

Why does news travel so fast? We love them, they are our friends and family and we love having another child in our lives. We get excited about babies coming into the world. Amen!

God’s son had entered the world and He wants to tell others as well.

Let’s look at verses 8-10 in Chapter 2

Luke 2:8–10 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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.

The angel of the Lord came to them and we are not told his name, it might be Gabriel again, but that doesn’t matter it is the message he gave to the group...

The group is important, a group of shepherds.

But do we remember that we should worship?

Shepherds are the lowest of the working class of people in that day nomadic, traveling from place to place caring for the sheep, often these faithful people were not accepted or welcomed in the temple worship or even around many groups of people.

But this day, God includes them… and this to the message… I shared a little about this Wednesday night...

Look at verse 10 again...

Luke 2:10 ESV

10 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.

Good news, of great joy that will be for all people..

Listen to the meaning here...

Listen to verse 10 again 10 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

Good news, of great joy that will be for all people..

The phrase there…

A. “Good News” literally means the gospel. It was a wonderful message, good news for all.

And then we have the phrase…..

B. “Great Joy” There was joy with the birth of a child, joy that a son had come into the world. Tthe Joy would be defined in all that the Son came to do and say about the Kingdom of Heaven, the joy would be made manifest to all in a shameful cross that forever reminds me that I am forgiven.

And then this is said…

C. “Will be Given for All People.” There as joy my friends in this truth, the message as meant not just for Jerusalem, not just for Bethlehem, instead it was a message meant for all. The whole world….

The phrase here “All People” reminds us that Jesus came for all. Tao Ethonos…all people, every language…

says “— a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

The message was meant to be told, never kept a secret a message for all.

And listen to the rest of their message…. Verses 11-12

Luke 2:11–12 ESV

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

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The angels make sure the shepherds are not confused or left wondering about what has been told to them, in fact they are told where they can find this miracle...

In the city of David ( Bethlehem) make no mistake a Savior has come… a Savior is one who saves, who rescues and delivers people from tragedy, from adversity…. We understand that He would deliver them from Sin.

In the city of David ( Bethlehem) make no mistake a Savior has come… a savior is one who saves, who rescues and delivers people from tragedy, from adversity…. We understand that He would deliver them from Sin.

Listen to the prophesy that Zechariah gives when His mouth is opened after the birth of john.

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

D. And then we have the word Christ….

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

The word Christ is the Greek version of the Hebrew word Messiah, the baby that was born this day is the long awaited Messiah, they never thought He might even dare come into this world as as the Messiah, the long awaited one who was also as the last title tells us is the Lord himself.

It was a gift that would bless all…

But now listen to what happens next……

Luke 2:15–20 ESV

15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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I love this the Shepherds were so excited, so blessed by the visit, by the message and by what lay ahead of them… and verse 15…. The shepherds say lets go and see this thing that has been told to us….

And they went and found the child just as they had been told and verse 20 is key… they went away glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Can you imagine the joy in their hearts, they have seen the angels, they saw that there message was true and they knew that God was with them… they worshiped him… glorifying and praising God…

You know when God shows up and shows off, doing something wonderful in us or someone we know. Don’t you tend to worship him and give him praise… Of course you do..

They have the opportunity to see and to worship.... And we can still worship Him today…

But it must begin in your heart…..

The messsage with given to you, aren’t you glad that you know Jesus, that you are forgvien?

I am … what joy a Savior brings to our lives...

This is why we celebrate, why we worship and why we rejoice my friends!!!!

Rejoice that you have been changed becasue of his first advent...

But keep looking up, Jesus is coming again!!!

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