THE MAJESTIC GIFT

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. 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 Beth-lehem, 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. 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.

Introduction: Why do we call it Majestic?

Definition- “Dignity of person or appearance, splendid, grand, elevated, lofty.”

Majestic comes from the word “majesty”

An American Dictionary of the English Language MAJESTY

MAJ´ESTY, n. [L. majestas, from the root of magis, major, more, greater.]

1. Greatness of appearance; dignity; grandeur; dignity of aspect or manner; the quality or state of a person or thing which inspires awe or reverence in the beholder; applied with peculiar propriety to God and his works.

Jehovah reigneth; he is clothed with majesty. Ps. 93.

The voice of Jehovah is full of majesty. Ps. 29.

An American Dictionary of the English Language GIFT

GIFT, n. [from give.] A present; any thing given or bestowed; any thing, the property of which is voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a donation. It is applicable to any thing movable or immovable.

Illustration – I came across a collection of letters that children wrote to Santa Clause. One said, “Dear Santa, you did not bring me anything good last year. You did not bring me anything good the year before that. This is your last chance. Signed, Alfred.”

Expository Outlines from Luke 5. The Christmas Message (Luke 2:1–20)

The Christmas story never grows old. It is fresh every year. It is not a holiday—it’s a holy day. Without Christ, there would be no Christmas. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus. It’s easy to be so busy we crowd Christ out of our Christmas.

The Majestic Gift of Jesus Christ to the world....

I. The Announcement of the Angel-vs. 9-12

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 95 Large Audience of Angels

95 Large Audience Of Angels

An old minister worked into the night on a sermon for his small congregation. His unsympathetic wife chided him for spending so much time on a message that so few will appreciate. To this the minister replied: “You forget, my dear, how large my audience will be!” If angels are looking, nothing on earth done for Christ is trivial.

A. Compelling—vs. 8–9

1. Made to common men

Note: We see God moving and working in hearts throughout world history….

Illustration: In a survey, nearly a third of those questioned stated that, of all the persons mentioned in the Christmas story, they identified the most with the shepherds. They were your average, ordinary, everyday working people and were invited to see the birth of the King of kings!

2. Made in a startling way

“they were sore afraid.”

B. Comforting—v. 10

“Fear Not”

Psalm 23:4 KJV 1900

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 119:50 KJV 1900

This is my comfort in my affliction: For thy word hath quickened me.

Matthew 9:22 KJV 1900

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 KJV 1900

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Note: In verse 10 the angel told the shepherds that he was bringing “good tiding of great joy, which shall be to all people.” This announcement was good news to all people because Jesus came for all people. (He is a light to all people.)

C. Comprehensive—vs. 11–12

Note: Christ is identified

Notice the thee names: Saviour, Christ and Lord

Analytical Bible Expositor: Luke 2. The Statements in the Announcement (Luke 2:10, 11)

Fourth, the relevance of the Savior. “A Savior” (Luke 2:11). Being a “Savior” makes Jesus Christ relevant to all mankind because all mankind needs a Savior more than anything else. Fifth, the reign of the Savior. “Christ” (Luke 2:11). The word “Christ” speaks of His Messianic office in which He will rule and reign over Israel and the whole world during the millennium. Sixth, the rank of the Savior. “Lord” (Luke 2:11). This is the third title given the babe in this statement. The first was “Savior.” The second was “Christ.” Now the third is “Lord.” He is of higher rank than any human. He is called “LORD OF LORDS” in Revelation 19:16.

Note: In verse 11 the angel revealed the provision, a 3-fold sign of Messiah’s coming

· The location fulfilled—“City of David”—Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 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.

· The purpose fulfilled—“A Saviour”–– The promise of a Saviour to Israel as well as the world.

Luke 19:10

10- For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Matthew 1:21

21- And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

· The Person fulfilled—“Christ the Lord”—It is the Messiah that is coming who is the Lord.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Note: The angel told the shepherds they would find the babe “wrapped in swaddling clothes,…”—vs. 12. The swaddling clothes comes from a word which means strips of cloth. Very similar to the type of cloth used in the burial process.

Hebrews 2:14–16 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Revelation 19:16 KJV 1900

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

II. The Adoration of the Heavenly Host—vs. 13–14

A. The description of the host

The world may have not been very concerned about the birth of Jesus, but the angels sure were excited!!!

The Angel of the Lord came upon them-Stood by their side and talked with them.

“Multitude” comes from a root word that means “to fill”. Imagine the scene…the Angel of the Lord just calmly walks up to them and begins to speak and skies light up with the “glory of the Lord”; He gives his message vs.10-12, and then the entire countryside is full of angels!!! Filling every available space and declaring see verse 14.

B. The declaration of the host

Luke 2:14 KJV 1900

14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

Note: Luke’s Gospel is filled with glory and praise to God!

Note: An army of angels sings God’s praise.

Isaiah 6:1–3 KJV 1900

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory.

Hebrews 1:6–8 KJV 1900

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

III. The Action of the Shepherds—vs. 15–17

A. Their pursuit of Christ—vs. 15–16

Conversation- “one to another”

Recognition- “the Lord hath made known to us”

The message is always to a person in a very personal way.

Realization- “found”

the message of the angel was true

the prophecies have been fulfilled

The future has hope

Illustration: One Santa Clause said, “While working as a mall Santa, I had many children ask for electric trains. ‘If you get a train,’ I would tell each one, ‘you know your dad is going to want to play with it too. Is that okay?’ The usual answer was a quick yes, but after I asked one boy this question, he became very quiet. Trying to move the conversation along, I asked what else he would like Santa to bring him. He promptly replied, “Another train.”’

B. Their Praise of Christ—v. 17

1. The shepherds had a testimony of praise—verse 17a–18 “They made known”

Note: They had seen the Lord!

Note: They were told…

· They heard angels speak

· That this child would be found in Bethlehem

· That this child was the promised Saviour and Messiah of Israel

· They listened so well that they were able to tell others with accuracy.

2. The shepherds had a testimony to share—vs. 18–20

Note: These shepherds went back to tend their sheep, they went back to their routines, but changed forever—they glorified God and they could not stop telling others about it.

When you meet the Saviour, it changes you forever…

Conclusion:

Ponder the majesty—vs. 19

The message matters very little if we are unwilling to keep it and ponder it!!!

Note: The word kept is translated from the greek word suntereo which means “to keep within one’s self, keep in mind (a thing, lest it be forgotten).” Mary never forgot those events—neither should we.

Note: The word pondered is translated from the greek word sumballo which means “to bring together; to bring together in one’s mind, confer with one’s self.”

You have heard the Words of the angels, you have thought about these truths, will you put the pieces of the puzzle together?

Mary not only remembered them but it says she thought on them, she put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Addresses on the Gospel of Luke (Address Six: The Birth of the Saviour (Luke 2:1–20))

“Come in, my Lord, come in, And make my heart Thy home, Come in and cleanse my soul from sin, And dwell with me alone.”

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