Title: The Christmas Story: The Story of Jesus
Bible Book: Luke 2 : 1-2
Author: David E. Owen
Subject: Christmas; The Birth of Christ; Jesus
Objective:
Introduction
Frances Jane Crosby, better known as Fanny Crosby, lost her sight as a six-week old baby, but when she was saved at the age of 30, she could say with John Newton, "I once was blind but now I see." Fanny Crosby wrote the words to over 8,000 hymns, but for the past couple of weeks I've thought of only one. The first verse says...
Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard. Tell how the angels in chorus, Sang as they welcomed His birth. "Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth."
We have been thinking recently about the Christmas Story, and I've tried to magnify the fact that the Christmas Story is The Story Of Joy. I've also tried to remind you that the Christmas Story is The Story Of Joseph. This morning, I want to again share The Christmas Story - The Story Of Jesus.
I. There Is A Controlled Environment In This Story (vs. 1-5)
God set the stage for His Christmas production!
A. God Prepared A World Luke 2:1-4
1. We Think About The Message Of The Prophet
Augustus, while sending forth his edicts to the utmost limits of the East, little knew that on his part he was obeying the decrees of the King of kings. (De Boylesve - Biblical Illustrator).
G.D. Boardman writes that "more than seven centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophet Micah gave utterance to (his) remarkable prophecy: (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."
2. We Think About The Movement Of The Population
Caesar had thought to feed his pride and eventually fill his coffers through this census and registration, or taxation process, but God was using this to fulfill His word.
W.H. Van Doren wrote that "to locate an infant's birth, 60 millions of persons are enrolled."
B. God Prepared A Woman
1. She Was Espoused
This required her to go to Bethlehem with her espoused husband "because he was of the house and lineage of David" (Luke 2:4).
2. She Was Expecting
(Luke 2:5) "...Mary...being great with child."
C. God Prepared A Way
1. A Way Of Deliverance
(Luke 2:11) "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
2. A Way Of Delight
(Luke 2:10) "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
"joy" - Greek 5479. chara, means cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight.
II. There Are Some Comparative Elements In This Story (vs. 6-12)
There is a great deal of suggestion found in the elements of his birth scene. For example, the fact that there was no room for them in the inn suggests that "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (John 1:11). The fact that he was placed in a feeding trough suggests that we can partake of Him as "the bread of life" (John 6:35). Perhaps more than anything the aspects of His birth suggests the aspects of His death. We cannot build doctrine upon shadows and types, but we know that Jesus in a unique sense was born to die; and even in His birth we see the shadow of His death. Let's mention some things about His birth and then draw some parallels with His death.
His mother delivered Him in birth ...
(Luke 2:6-7) "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. {7} And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
His Father delivered Him in death ...
(Romans 8:32) "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
A. Let's Consider The Places Involved In His Birth And In His Death
1. In Both Of These Places We See The Overwhelming Crowd
In His Birth - The Bible tells us "there was no room for them in the inn" (vs. 7). Because of the census of Augustus, Bethlehem would have been filled well beyond capacity. And while hospitality was, according to some writers, a key element of Jewish life, the homes and private guest chambers had all been filled long before the arrival of Joseph and Mary.
In His Death - Thirty-three years after his birth, the Bible mentions a multitude in Jerusalem (Luke 23:1), and then we are told that there was a great company of people in the town of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27).
Just as 33 years earlier a census had gathered a crowd - now, 33 years later, a crucifixion had gathered a crowd.
2. In Both Of These Places We See Outside The Camp
In His Birth - (Luke 2:7) "... there was no room for them in the inn." The "inns" of those days would be a 'simple building of varying size, known as a khan, which offered the wayfarer the protection of walls and a roof, and water, but little more. The smaller structures consisted of sometimes only a single empty room, on the floor of which the traveler might spread his carpet for sleep; the larger ones, always built in a hollow square, enclosing a court for the beasts, with water in it for them and their masters." (Cunningham Geikie) They were forced to go outside of the rectangular, enclosed area known as the khan, or kataluma, or inn.
In His Death - Just as there was no place to receive Him in birth, there was no pardon to release him from death. "For they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him." (Luke 23:21)
And the Bible tells us that Jesus..."that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate" (Hebrews 13:12).
Just as they had gone outside of the rectangular, enclosed inn for his birth - they had gone outside the walls of the city for his death.
3. In Both Of These Places We See The Overshadowed Circumstances
In His Birth - Then as darkness crept across the land, Mary began to experience the pain and sorrow of childbirth as "she brought forth her firstborn son" (vs. 7). Jesus would later speak of the pains of childbirth when He said, "A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world" (John 16:21). He tells us that joy follows sorrow.
In His Death - And as "there was darkness over the whole land" (Mark 15:33), "Jesus ... for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). He knew that joy would follow sorrow.
B. Let's Consider The Personalities Involved In His Birth And In His Death
1. The Close Ones
In His Birth - After his birth, two were present - a man named Joseph and a woman named Mary. Perhaps it was Joseph that "wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger" (vs. 7) as Mary looked on.
In His Death - Similarly, after his death, three were present - a man named Joseph and two women named Mary. Mark tells us that Joseph of Arimathaea "bought fine linen, and took Him (Jesus) down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid" (Mark 15:46-47).
2. The Concerned Ones
In His Birth - (Luke 2:8-9) "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."
In His Death - (Mark 16:1) "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him."
(Mark 16:5) "And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted."
3. The Comforting Ones
In His Birth - (Luke 2:10-12) "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."
In His Death - We again find an angel making an announcement to some very frightened people. We might even say they were "sore afraid."
(Mark 16:6-8) "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. {7} But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
{8} And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid."
C. Let's Consider The Particulars Involved In His Birth And In His Death
1. Notice The Particular Clothes In These Two Situations
In His Birth - (Luke 2:7) "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
They tightly wrapped His body and limbs in these broad strips of common cloth to protect the baby's weak limbs. Miss Rogers, an English lady (who had traveled extensively in Palestine), describes the appearance of an infant thus bandaged: "The infant I held in my arms was so bound in swaddling- clothes that it was perfectly firm and solid, and looked like a mummy." (James Freeman)
In His Death - (Mark 15:46-47) "And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. {47} And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid."
2. Notice The Particular Cots In These Two Situations
The Crib In His Birth - The Crib - in both senses of the word - both a baby's bed and a feeding trough. We see Him laid "...in a manger" (vs. 7), which was thought by some to be a hewn-out or hollowed- out piece of stone. (Freeman, page 406)
The Crypt In His Death - (Mark 15:46-47) "And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. {47} And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid."
3. Notice The Particular Contrast In These Two Situations
In His Birth - (Luke 2:10-12) "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.
In His Death - (Matthew 28:5-6) And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. {6} He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."
The notable difference is that the angel told the shepherds that they would find Him lying in a hewn out rock. The angel told these women that they would not find Him lying in a hewn out rock. Why? He is risen!
III. There Is A Close Encounter In This Story (vs. 8-20)
Of the Angelic kind!
A. Notice The Recipients Of This Angelic Announcement - These Abiding Shepherds
1. Think About The Special Location Of These Shepherds
(Luke 2:8) "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."
In Acts 17:26-27, on Mars' Hill, Paul said about God that He "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us."
2. Think About The Special Labor Of These Shepherds
(Luke 2:8) "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."
Guy King called the recipients of this message "simple people," but there duty was perhaps more involved than we have always assumed. As Alfred Edersheim wrote, "Jewish tradition may here prove both illustrative and helpful." He goes on to say that the Jews believed Messiah would be revealed outside Bethlehem at Migdal Eder, "the tower of the flock." And he writes, "A passage in the Mishnah leads to the conclusion that the flocks, which pastured there, were destined for Temple- sacrifices, and, accordingly, that the shepherds who watched over them were not ordinary shepherds." These Temple shepherds were thus called upon to go "even unto Bethlehem" and see the Temple sacrifice, "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." There has been some debate about whether the birth of Christ actually took place in the winter because if it were winter, the shepherds would not have had the sheep in the field. However, as Edersheim states, this location outside Bethlehem was "where shepherds watched the Temple-flocks all the year round."
B. Notice The Report In This Angelic Announcement - These Angelic Sayings
There Was The Message Of The Heavenly Herald
"good tidings" - euaggelizo, meaning to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel. It also translated in the New Testament as "declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel)."
"great" - megas.
Notice The Savior Of Humanity
(Luke 2:11) "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
The angel didn't tell the shepherds that a baby was born to Mary, but "unto you." And then as J.G. Bellett observed, the angel didn't say "a judge nor a lawgiver" but "a Saviour."
(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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Notice The Sign Of Humility
(Luke 2:12) "And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
You shall find this glorious person, however strange it may appear, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable! It is by humility that Christ comes to reign; and this is the only way into his kingdom! Pride is the character of all the children of Adam: humility the mark of the Son of God, and of all his followers. Christ came in the way of humility to destroy that pride which is the root of evil in the souls of men. (Adam Clarke)
2. There Was The Message Of The Heavenly Host
This Message Included The Praise Of God
(Luke 2:14) "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
This Message Included The Purpose Of God
(Luke 2:14) "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." "peace" - eirene, from a primary verb eiro (meaning to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication it means prosperity. It also translated in the New Testament as "one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again."
"good will" - eudokia, meaning satisfaction, delight, or kindness, wish, purpose. It also translated in the New Testament as "desire, good pleasure (will), seem good."
C. Notice The Result Of This Angelic Announcement - The Amazing Sequel
1. These Shepherds Made A Decision
(Luke 2:15-16) "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 Bethlehem, 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."
2. These Shepherds Made A Difference
(Luke 2:17-20) "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."
Conclusion
I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
Arabella Katherine Hankey 1834-1911
Published in 1866
