Luke 2:1-20 The original Christmas, A different time and yet not so different
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(ESV) Luke 2 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.
I. Christmas Not so different: A time of uncertainty
I. Christmas Not so different: A time of uncertainty
Is your Christmas chaotic? Well the first one was too. But for different reasons.
A. Nationally v 1-3
A. Nationally v 1-3
(ESV) Luke 2 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.
1. All about Rome
1. All about Rome
2. Conqueror / ruler --- especially for the Jews --- never really settled in as a happy subject
2. Conqueror / ruler --- especially for the Jews --- never really settled in as a happy subject
3. Resulted in Rome being an oppressor
3. Resulted in Rome being an oppressor
4. A demand to be registered for upcoming taxes / And had to travel to do it
4. A demand to be registered for upcoming taxes / And had to travel to do it
5. First disruption would be to travel for registration --- the second would be the upcoming taxes.
5. First disruption would be to travel for registration --- the second would be the upcoming taxes.
B. Individually v 2-5
B. Individually v 2-5
(ESV) Luke 2 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.
1. Individuals were disrupted
1. Individuals were disrupted
2. Financial disruption - Expense of travel / tax you too
2. Financial disruption - Expense of travel / tax you too
3. Inconvenience of disrupting life to travel – not something you did. Return to original home / place of your land status / regardless of where you are now / or what you are doing
3. Inconvenience of disrupting life to travel – not something you did. Return to original home / place of your land status / regardless of where you are now / or what you are doing
4. To specific individuals disrupted – a betrothed couple (plenty of personal chaos even before this) with child and all that meant
4. To specific individuals disrupted – a betrothed couple (plenty of personal chaos even before this) with child and all that meant
II. Christmas Not so different: in an obscure situation
II. Christmas Not so different: in an obscure situation
And this Christmas was not about the seemly important. The prosperous. The people and places that had it all together. Kind of like you in me in the middle of Western Kansas – not much thought given about.
The first Christmas was about the forgotten / the fringe / the people and places in obscure places
A. An obscure event v 1-2
A. An obscure event v 1-2
(ESV) Luke 2 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustusthat all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria
1. Attention in the passage to the international scene
1. Attention in the passage to the international scene
2. Everyone knows Caesar Augustus
2. Everyone knows Caesar Augustus
3. Quirinius regionally known
3. Quirinius regionally known
4. Into this famous setting / an obscure event would occur
4. Into this famous setting / an obscure event would occur
5. The obscure birth of an unknown person that no one was looking for – but that would ultimately rock the universe
5. The obscure birth of an unknown person that no one was looking for – but that would ultimately rock the universe
B. An obscure place v 4-5
B. An obscure place v 4-5
And it happened in an obscure place
(ESV) Luke 2 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.
1. A sleepy little hamlet a few miles south of Jerusalem the capital city
1. A sleepy little hamlet a few miles south of Jerusalem the capital city
2. Might have a famous past – David’s home – but more like Bealer, the once homestead of George Washington Carver – nice to know I guess but who cares.
2. Might have a famous past – David’s home – but more like Bealer, the once homestead of George Washington Carver – nice to know I guess but who cares.
3. Nothing happens here --- at least till now
3. Nothing happens here --- at least till now
A small group of teenagers in Burleson, Texas, came together for a DiscipleNow weekend in early 1990. Little did they know that God was about to move in power. On that Saturday night, the students were broken and burdened for their friends. Compelled to pray, yet not knowing exactly what to do, they went to the school flagpoles and prayed for their friends, schools, and leaders. Those students had no idea how God was using them to birth a movement
C. An obscure couple v 4-5
C. An obscure couple v 4-5
(ESV) Luke 2 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 Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
1. We return to the couple
1. We return to the couple
2. In another time this man would have been king. A famous king at that
2. In another time this man would have been king. A famous king at that
3. But now a nobody / a disgraced man who everyone assumed had knocked up his future wife (did not divorce her when he came up pregnant)
3. But now a nobody / a disgraced man who everyone assumed had knocked up his future wife (did not divorce her when he came up pregnant)
4. A meager carpenter in land without much lumber
4. A meager carpenter in land without much lumber
5. And a teenage girl who was the talk of the town – pregnant outside of marriage
5. And a teenage girl who was the talk of the town – pregnant outside of marriage
6. And the two in the midst of their trouble now having to travel when she is at the point of delivery
6. And the two in the midst of their trouble now having to travel when she is at the point of delivery
7. Little did this rejected and forgotten couple know just how important they would be
7. Little did this rejected and forgotten couple know just how important they would be
D. An obscure birth v 6-7
D. An obscure birth v 6-7
(ESV) Luke 2 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn sonand wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
1. No proper place for them – any good accommodation were full and these were not the people that would be invited in --- But perhaps someone did have mercy --- let them stay in the quiet and seclusion of a stable
1. No proper place for them – any good accommodation were full and these were not the people that would be invited in --- But perhaps someone did have mercy --- let them stay in the quiet and seclusion of a stable
2. And the baby was born in an obscure birth
2. And the baby was born in an obscure birth
3. To a mother who cared for her baby – strips of cloth – protect, keep warm, make the bones straight, typical traditional care – did it all
3. To a mother who cared for her baby – strips of cloth – protect, keep warm, make the bones straight, typical traditional care – did it all
4. The whole world might not care – but this mother did. Placed him in a natural cradle, likely with new hay.
4. The whole world might not care – but this mother did. Placed him in a natural cradle, likely with new hay.
5. What an unlikely way for God to enter the world
5. What an unlikely way for God to enter the world
E. An obscure set of observers v 8
E. An obscure set of observers v 8
(ESV) Luke 2 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
1. Unclean from their occupation
1. Unclean from their occupation
2. Excluded from mainstream Jewish society
2. Excluded from mainstream Jewish society
3. Viewed as worthless, dishonest scoundrels
3. Viewed as worthless, dishonest scoundrels
4. Lived in the shadows of the night – forgotten and ignored
4. Lived in the shadows of the night – forgotten and ignored
5. How amazing that the most obscure people are the very ones that Jesus came to save ---- and they were the first to welcome Him
5. How amazing that the most obscure people are the very ones that Jesus came to save ---- and they were the first to welcome Him
III. Christmas Not so different: A radical impact
III. Christmas Not so different: A radical impact
And from the first Christmas to the present day, this event had a radical impact.
A. Among angels v 9, 13-14, 10
A. Among angels v 9, 13-14, 10
1. Revealed themselves on earth
1. Revealed themselves on earth
(ESV) Luke 2 9 And an angel of the Lord appearedto them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
2. Glorified God
2. Glorified God
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!”
3. Proclaimed the good news of what has happened
3. Proclaimed the good news of what has happened
(ESV) Luke 2 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy …
B. Among people present v 12, 15, 17, 18-20
B. Among people present v 12, 15, 17, 18-20
1. Received a sign to confirm the message
1. Received a sign to confirm the message
(ESV) Luke 2 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” …
2. Responded to the message
2. Responded to the message
(ESV) 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.
3. Shared the message
3. Shared the message
(ESV) Luke 2 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
4. Impacted lives with the message
4. Impacted lives with the message
(ESV) Luke 2 18 And all who heard it wonderedat 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.
5. The townspeople / Mary / themselves
5. The townspeople / Mary / themselves
C. Among people of all ages v 10, 11, 13-14
C. Among people of all ages v 10, 11, 13-14
1. Good news for all people – results in joy
1. Good news for all people – results in joy
(ESV) 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. …
2. A Savior
2. A Savior
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. …
a. The redeemer / messiah
a. The redeemer / messiah
b. The Lord (God, one to be followed)
b. The Lord (God, one to be followed)
3. Find peace in response to God
3. Find peace in response to God
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!”