Christmas: A Birth with Purpose

This morning we’re stepping out 1 Peter...

I want us to focus in on the reason we celebrate in December...

I want us to investigate the birth of Christ...

And look at some truths shown us in the birth narrative...

And, hopefully see some new truths or be reminded and focus in on some truths we’ve known...

But, haven’t held dearly enough.

So, let’s turn to the gospel of Luke…Chapter 2...

Luke 2:1-20 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. 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. 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.” 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

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.

I want us to see, first...

#1 — The Poverty of Christ’s Birth

Was Christ born in a castle? No.

Were there doctors, nurses, handmaids, clean environment? No.

Were Joseph and Mary even alloted the ability to have baby Jesus in the comfort of their own home? No.

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.

The decree to be registered caused them to travel in the most dangerous time of the pregnancy.

A trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem:

Average travel in NT times was 20 miles per day. (90 mile trip)(normal 5 day)

Because of Mary’s pregnancy and impending delivery...

Scholars estimate that Joseph and Mary would have most likely traveled 10 miles a day. (9 days)

Unpaved, hilly trails and harsh weather would have been endured throughout the trip.

The heavily forested valley of the Jordan River had lions and bears and wild boars.

Unearthed documents, by archaeologists, have been found that warned travelers of the dangers of these woods...

And, the necessity of fending off these wild beasts.

On top of all this, bandits and robbers of the desert were also common hazards of traveling the major trade routes that would have been part of the trip.

All of these dangers were why most of the time caravans of travelers were created...

In order to create safety in a multitude of people who could help fend off wild beasts and robbers.

Their diet would have been most likely bread and water, maybe some fruit.

No delicacies, no lavish meals...

No royal caravan with soldiers guarding Joseph and Mary from the dangers of the trip.

No attending medical care in case the trip induced the birth of the child King.

And, when they arrive...

Is there a red carpet awaiting the future King of the world?

Is there an entourage waiting to take the Christ to the most lavish home?

Not only did those not take place...

But, there was no room for Jesus in homes or the Inns.

Joseph and Mary were forced to an animal shelter...

Jesus, the King of Kings and lord of Lords was born in an animal shelter...

And, he slept in a manger, which was a trough used to feed the animals in the stable.

Now, let’s think of the contrasts that we witness:

Luke 1:28 Greetings, you highly favored one, the Lord is with you.

Luke 2:7 There was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord will give to Him the throne of His father David.

Luke 2:7 She laid him down in a manger.

Why these contrasts?

We’re told in 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

All these deprivations of Christ’s coming into the world...

All the lavishness that He deserved.

He received none.

He was born in a poverty-stricken situation...

And was in poverty His whole life...

Yet, listen to the repeated verdict that He heard from the mouth of the One who is the only judge that matters...

This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

This is what I want our hearts to dwell on...

This is what we need to take away from this truth...

The truth of the poverty of His birth...

What pleases the Lord is not the wealth of your circumstances...

Nor the lavishness of your lifestyle.

What pleases the Lord is not the pomp & circumstances of the events of your life...

Nor the number of attendees to the events.

What pleased the Father towards His Son was His obedience and loyalty that never waned.

Oh, that we could recognize the difference between what pleases man...

And, what pleases God.

May our focus be on and faith be in JC…

Because that is how we please God.

To bring focus, recognition, and glory to His Son.

#2 — The Audience of Christ’s Birth

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

Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for the registration.

Because of the registration, homes were filled with relatives...

Inns were filled with travelers, including all of the Roman soldiers and people who would have come to help with the registration.

Because of the condition of Mary, being close to delivery...

It took them longer to get there than most.

So, Joseph and Mary were forced to an animal shelter to give birth to Jesus.

Now, here’s what’s interesting…we have a prophecy of the birth of the Messiah in...

Micah 4:8 And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.

This prophecy precedes the prophecy of Micah 5:2 which states…

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.

So, the prophecies state that the birth will take place in Bethlehem...

And, that the tower of the flock will take part in this prophecy being fulfilled.

Now, Tower of the Flock in Micah 4:8 in Hebrew is Migdal Eder.

During the Second Temple period, which would include the time of Christ’s birth...

It was prohibited to keep flocks in the land of Israel because of the negative effects on agriculture.

The region around Jerusalem, as far out as Migdal-eder, was an exception in order to accommodate the need for sacrificial animals at the Temple.

Sheep or goats within this area (of one year or more) were assumed to be for Temple service.

Migdal-eder, tower of the flock, was just outside of Bethlehem, in between Jerusalem and Bethlehem...

And Bethlehem was not quite five miles south of Jerusalem.

On the night of our Savior’s (Baby Jesus) birth, there were shepherds watching their flock. And Angels appeared to them announcing that a child was born.

They revealed, “this shall be a sign to you.

You will see a baby lying in a manger wrapped in “swaddling clothes.”

According to the Mishnah (Jewish History & Tradition), these shepherds were extraordinary shepherds.

They were called “Levitical Shepherds”.

They had been chosen and trained to attend the flock of sheep that were to be used as sacrificial lambs in the Temple.

Sacrificial lambs had to be “spotless and without blemish.”

They required special treatment and observing.

According to the laws of the time, the sheep that were used for the offerings had to be a one-year-old male sheep that had been outside for 365 days (one year).

When they were ready, they were taken to Jerusalem to be sacrificed on the Sabbath in the Temple.

When the ewes of the flocks started into labor they were taken inside the ground level of the Tower of the Flock to birth their baby lambs.

The newborn lambs were then wrapped tightly in clean swaddling cloths and laid in a manger to keep them safe from blemish and danger until they could be carefully inspected by the priestly shepherds whose lot had fallen to do that service.

Imagine the these shepherds, who were responsible to keep the sacrificial lambs of the Temple heard this news...

Luke 2:10 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. 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.”

They would have immediately understood the significance of a Jewish baby being born in the region of Bethlehem...

They would have immediately understood the significance of the baby being wrapped in swaddling clothes...

They would have wanted to see the Messiah who would take a way the sins of His people for good.

Look at their response...

Luke 2:15 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.

They couldn’t wait to see this fulfillment of God’s promise.

They rushed, with urgency, to go find this special birth...

The birth of the true Lamb of God...

As, John the Baptist would late announce with zeal.

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.

I love how it says the shepherds shared what was revealed to them and how it was revealed to them...

And, then it says Mary treasured up all these things in her heart.

Maybe because of the contrasts we mentioned earlier...

Maybe, she was doubting a little bit...

And, then God sent the Shepherds to remind her that God’s ways are not man’s ways.

She had given birth to the Savior of the world.

Immanuel, God with us.

Oh, that we can recognize the deep significance of our Savior...

Who was born to the keep the covenant that we broke.

Who was born to take away our sins.

Who was born to reconcile us to God.

And, may our hearts be overflowing with joy like the Shepherds who heard this great news...

And acted upon it with faith.

May this Christmas be a season of faith, hope and joy.

For we have been immersed into the Lamb that takes away the sins of HIs people!

Closing Prayer