2021-12-12 AM, Luke 2:1-20

Luke 2:1–2 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.

…decree went out from Caesar Augustus…the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria...

Luke 2:3–5 ESV

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.

…all went to be registered, each to his own town…Joseph also went up from Galilee…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...

betrothed and with child would never be put together in upstanding society.

Normal betrothal

Marriage covenant, gift, and the wine

Then the betrothal which was a time of testing and purity as the man went away for a about a year to construct the bridal chamber (chadar). This was a time to test the bride’s faithfulness.

Then he would return with his best men to “snatch away” his bride and return to his father’s house. The bride and groom’s families and friends would gather for a wedding banquet and feast and during this time the bride and groom would go away to consummate their marriage and make everything official.

So, take that tradition, and look at the current situation. There are a lot of things wrong with this picture. Joseph and Mary, or Mary alone appear to have been immoral.

In Joseph’s ancestral home, they were a pariah. Mary and Joseph had completely had to surrender their reputations to the Lord. They had to trust that some day, He would justify them in the eyes of others.

God asks us to do things which make us unpopular with friends and family. We need to trust God with our reputations.

Speak the biblical truth about sin and get called a bigot

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.

…she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manager...

…because there

Luke 2:8–9 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.

Luke 2:10–12 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. 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.”

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

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!”

Luke 2:15–17 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.

Luke 2:18–20 ESV

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.