Special Things at Jesus' Birth

Luke 2

Introduction:  We know that Jesus was special!  But I want to look at some more evidence from Luke 2 concerning things that happened around his birth. These things need to be reinforced in our minds, over and over, so we never think that Jesus is similar to gods of other religions.  He is special and superior in every way. 

I. Born into poverty    vs. 7

    A. kata/luma - a large place provided for rest or eating - inn, lodging                  place; more specifically guest room, dining room; could be a public inn            or a private home

    B. Could have been born in a barn, a cave, or outside where animals were             kept

         1. When the Child was born in Bethlehem, since Joseph could not find a             lodging in that village, he took up his quarters in a certain cave near                 the village; and while they were there Mary brought forth the Christ                 and placed Him in a manger, and here the Magi who came from                    Arabia found Him.   Justin Martyr, born about 120 AD

         2. Manger - a trough or open box in a stable designed to hold feed or                   fodder for livestock

    C. The offering of the two pigeons instead of the lamb and the pigeon was            technically called The Offering of the Poor.  It was the offering of the           poor which Mary brought.  Again we see that it was into an ordinary               home that Jesus was born, a home where there were no luxuries, a home              where every penny had to be looked at twice, a home where the                          members of the family knew all about the difficulties of making a living         and the haunting insecurity of life.      Barclay

II. Yet angels announced his birth   vs. 8-14

    A. Single angel

         1. No floating or flying indicated

         2. Suddenly appeared or walked up to them

         3. The glory of the Lord shone around them - perila/mpw shine                          around - It was very bright, probably brighter than day

         4. The angel said

             a. Good new

             b. Great joy

             c. All people

             d. Christ the Lord. This combination occurs nowhere else in the NT                   and it is not clear what it really means. Luke is very fond of Lord                    where the other Gospels have Jesus. It may mean "Christ the                             Lord," "Anointed Lord," "Messiah, Lord," "The Messiah, the                               Lord," "An Anointed One, a Lord," or "Lord Messiah."

                     Word Pictures

    B. Hosts of angels

         1. plh=qoj stratia=j ou)rani¿ou - fullness of army of heavenly; row            after row after row of angels

         2. Saying

             a. Glory to God

             b. Peace   It is not simply an inner disposition or the absence of war,                       but evokes a whole social order of well-being and prosperity,                           security and harmony.   WBC

             c. Good will toward men (KJV) is based on a bad manuscript                              d. Better -  “peace to men on whom his favor rests." (NIV)

III. Simeon recognized him    vs. 25-35

    A. Righteous - divkaio", “righteous,” is earlier applied similarly to                           Zechariah and Elizabeth (1:6), and later to Joseph of Arimathea (23:50)          and Cornelius (Acts 10:22).   WBC

    B. Devout - eujlabhv", “devout,” is Lukan (elsewhere in NT only in Acts          2:5; 8:2; 22:12) and belongs to the language of Hellenistic piety. Luke           uses the term positively of religious uprightness in a Jewish framework.        WBC

         eu)labh/j - strictly, taking hold of well; hence, cautious, devout, pious, as a            characteristic of one who carefully observes the law

    C. The Holy Spirit had told him that he would see the Messiah

    D. When he saw Baby Jesus, he knew his prayers had been answered

    E. Another statement of the universality of Jesus’ work

    F. He gives the first hint of the grief that Mary will experience because of             Jesus

IV. Anna recognized him    vs. 36-38

    A. She was very old, 84 or 105

    B. Barclay calls her and Simeon “the Quiet in the Land”, a few righteous           persons who spent their lives in prayer, waiting on God

    C. She knew this child would be the redeemer   vs. 38

Conclusion:  Now the question is:  Do you recognize who Jesus is?  If He is the King who has come to rule over all the earth, will you live as one of His people or will you remain as one of His enemies?  Since He is special, he deserves special consideration from you.

Plaisance Church.  ECD, Guyana.  April 4, 2004.  AM.