THE BLESSING OF A SAVIOR
Luke 2:1-18
GOD SET THE STAGE FOR JESUS
BIRTH
V:1. And it came to
pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all
the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor
of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with
child.
All things work together for those who love the Lord and are
called according to His
purposes.
God loves Israel. God loves us. He shows His love through
what He does.
God set Cyrenius in place then Caesar Augustus to tax the
Israelite's so
Jesus could be born in a place according to His plan. God was
fulfilling
His prophecies.
First, you have
the miracle birth of a virgin. Isaiah
7:14
Second, He would
be born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2
Third, Jesus
would be a Nazarene Matthew 2:22-23
This is from
Isaiah 11:1 The Word for the branch is
netzer
in the word the
letters NZR, NaZaReth
The taxing by Caesar brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
It was the taxing requirement that caused Mary and Joseph to
make
the 90-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
There are over 350 prophesies in the Old Testament concerning
the birth of Christ
Where we are today is because God ordered the circumstances
so it would be.
Our lives may look as if things happen randomly. God controls
the circumstances
good and bad so we are placed according to the timing of His
will.
The trouble we face today makes the blessing of our success
tomorrow.
THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR
V:6 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.
The world has no room in their hearts for Jesus who makes
room for them.
Verse 7 indicates the depraved state of mankind. All of us
sometimes in our lives
has closed the door to Jesus who is the source of all our
needs.
The King of kings was born in humble circumstances. Not in a
hotel or house but
in a stable inside a cave and laid in an animal water or
feeding tough made out of stone,
according to early church fathers, Justian Martyr (150 AD)
and Jerome (325 AD)
The birth of Jesus was probably by Joseph because there is no
mention of a midwife.
I can imagine Mary directed Joseph in the delivery using her
experience gained
in helping her cousin in the birth of John the Baptist
The baby Jesus was not dressed in a tailor-made garment, but
wrapped with strips of
cloth.
The travel that Mary and Joseph had to make indicates to me
the journey you and I
have to make in life to be with Jesus. Like Mary, we carry
Jesus inside of us. In our
minds, hearts and souls are the spirits of Jesus. The days may be long, and the struggles
many, and our hearts may grow weary at times, but the Jesus
in us gives courage.
THE SHEPHERD'S JOY
V:8 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.
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.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The notification of the birth of Jesus was given first to
shepherds in the field
Jesus, Himself is the chief Shepherd of all Christians.
Bethlehem means "house
of bread" in Hebrew. The town was known for its grain fields running down
its slopes. After the harvest, shepherds were welcome to bring their animals
into the fields to eat the remaining grain and stubble. In return, the sheep
and goats fertilized the fields for the next planting season. In the first
century Judea, being a shepherd was considered a lowly profession. These were
the social outcasts. That's what makes this next account in the Gospel of Luke
so special.
(DriveThrough History)
We can learn from the characteristics of a shepherd
They have a low
position
They work in the
field
They are guardians
of the flock
They work in harsh
conditions
They are leaders
of the flock
They are defenders
of the flock
They tend the
flock 24/7.
These are all the characteristics of our Lord and Savior.
Why did God choose the nighttime to reveal the birth of His
Son?
Why did God choose shepherds?
Consider being alone at night with a friend and your favorite
pet and a
and an Angel appears perhaps in a bright light and began
speaking.
You have never seen an angel. How would you respond?
Since shepherds were in the field, would they have any
knowledge of the
coming Messiah?
According to the text they responded by faith.
God sends angels as messengers to the low and the Humble.
He did not send the angels to the proud.
He did not send the angels to the educated.
He did not send His angels to the Synagogues.
He sent His angels to the fields where the Good News of Jesus
began.
God sent the message to the ones who would listen.
He sent the message to the ones who would rejoice.
God sent His message to the ones who would appreciate
it.
God’s Angels appeared to several shepherds at once. The rule
was a thing would be
accepted as truth if there were two or more witnesses.
The knowledge of Jesus should give us great joy.
THE SHEPHERDS PRAISE OF GOD
V:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, goodwill
toward men.
God speaks to us in languages we can understand.
The shepherds understood the directions of the Angel.
They knew where the managers in Bethlehem were located.
They knew to look in the caves in the mountainside.
They knew to look for a newborn baby in a feeding trough.
The Lord gives us the attitude of praise. We ought to praise
God in private and in
public. We ought to encourage others to sing praises to God.
Out of our hearts, we ought to glorify God.
We must believe in our hearts that He is the most high God.
Our hope is peace and joy. As a result of His mercy toward
us. We ought to pray
for the goodwill of everyone.
THE SHEPHERD’S EDUCATION
V:15 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.
Once we come to knowledge about Jesus., we ought to make
haste to know Him for ourselves.
It is the personal knowledge of Jesus that gives peace, joy,
and hope,
It is the personal knowledge of Jesus that gives us
confidence in Him.
Jesus has to be birthed in our hearts for us to find our true
purpose in life
THE SHEPHERD’S MISSION
V:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the
saying which was told them concerning this child.
The shepherd gives us our mission in life as children of God.
Go broadcast the good news
about Jesus. Broadcast it with faith, confidence, and hope
rejoicing all the time.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age."
This mission was not given to one person. It was given to all
believers to proclaim the
Good News about Jesus to all the world.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY.
PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO YOU
THANK GOD FOR JESUS
Rev. M. Mitchell
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