The Birth of the Savior

Luke 2:1-20

The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Dutch painter Gerard van Honthorst, 1622.

Introduction

Here we have the story of how the Son of God came to earth. He was born of a woman. God became a man. He laid aside His glory for a time, never His deity. 

I. A Humble Beginning
His earthly parents traveled to Bethlehem of Judea, their ancestral home, from where they were living in Galilee. They made the trip in response to a decree of the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus.  The decree was that everyone must be enrolled, in a census taken for the purpose of taxation.

Joseph and his wife were not able to find accommodations in an inn, so they had to take shelter in a stable, possibly in a courtyard of a humble inn. The word translated manger means a place where animals are fed, so could mean a feeding trough or a stable.

Mary gave birth there in that humble stable, and wrapped her Baby in cloths and laid Him in a manger. That she wrapped Him herself indicates it was a lonely birth, for there were no female relatives or friends there to help her.

She knew, though, that this Child was born in fulfillment of what the angel told her, and that she gave birth as a virgin.

II. A Glorious Announcement
As it happened, there were some shepherds in that region, watching over their flocks by night. Since the sheep they were caring for were in the vicinity of Bethlehem, it is likely they were sheep destined for sacrifice in the Temple.

Shepherds were not highly regarded in the society of that day, and in fact were despised, that is, lightly and contemptuously regarded. They were considered untrustworthy and weren’t even allowed to give testimony in court.

The shepherds mentioned here however, were probably devout men, even if ceremonially unclean, and God chose them to be the Lord’s first visitors. For them, it was a great honor.

The angels gave such a spectacular display it was very frightening to the shepherds, and the angel had to reassure them. Then they announced to these humble shepherds that the Savior of the world had been born in Bethlehem, and that it was an occasion of good news that would bring great joy. The shepherds didn’t waste time puzzling over why God would choose to tell them about it. Rather, they took the opportunity, and rejoiced at their good fortune.

III. A Joyful Visit
Following the angel’s instruction, they soon found the Baby, and joyfully worshipped Him. It was a moment that must have been vividly remembered for the rest of their lives.

They had nothing to bring, except their worship and good wishes.

They were overjoyed at their privilege.

The could not keep from telling others, everyone they met, about what they had seen. The Bible says that those they told wondered at what the shepherds had said. Although the people didn’t quite know what to make of it, they knew something very unusual had happened.  The shepherds returned to their sheep glorifying God.

Mary “treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart” (v. 19).

IV. An Example for Today

The shepherds gave a great example of how the Savior should be greeted.  Even Caesar, who gave the order for the census,  should have been there worshipping Christ.  People today should follow the example of the shepherds:

     A. They learned who Jesus was and how He could be found.

              God reveals to people today who is blessed Son is, as Savior and Lord, and through the
proclamation of the Gospel, we learn how we can find Him.

     B. They sought Him in faith.

              Once a person hears about who Jesus is, the wisest thing to do is seek Him in faith. The shepherds weren’t necessarily men of great faith, but they exercised the faith they had and trusted in the angel’s message. They followed the instructions and soon found the Lord.

      C. They rejoiced when they found Him.

               When a lost sinner finds Jesus, it is an occasion for great rejoicing. There is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner being saved.  The shepherds knew this was a wonderful thing. Can you imagine how they tried to share this news with others?  When Christ comes into our lives, we will naturally want to tell others. And not just at that moment, but from then on. 

              The shepherds were probably telling people about their experience from then on! When the wise men sought Jesus, we are told that “when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
              

When we receive Christ we’ll rejoice. We must rejoice when we know it’s really true! At this Christmas season, are you rejoicing over the salvation of the Lord? That’s why Jesus came - to offer salvation and eternal life to all who receive Him by faith. He made the full payment for the sins of all believers by His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection. Let’s pray that people will come to understand who He is and will seek Him in faith.
               
Merry Christmas!

(Note: written for publication in December, but not published due to my error. Apologies.)

The Visit of the Wise Men

Matthew 2:1-12

Introduction: Who Were The Wise Men and Where Did They Come From? 

  Magi – philosophers, astronomers, dream interpreters, counselors – probably not kings, but having a similar degree of respect.

Image via Wikipedia

Probably, they were all from Persia, where the Magi had prominence, but possibly from more than one country. The Bible does not say there were three wise men (but three gifts are mentioned), and we do not know how many there were.

The Magi historically held positions of authority and honor in the Gentile kingdoms of the Medes, Persians, Babylonians and Parthians. They were men who sought after truth, whether spiritual or scientific. They were the learned men of their time.

The wise men of this account traveled a long way. No doubt they traveled with a large company, and the journey itself was costly.

Tradition has them as kings, representing different nations, ethnic groups, age levels, etc. According to tradition they visited the Christ child on the 12^th day after His birth. In Spanish-speaking countries, Three Kings Day is observed on January 6, and that is the day when Christmas presents are left by the Three Kings (not Santa). That would be the 12^th day of Christmas.

But in the Bible, we are not told precisely where the men were from or that they were kings.

Their visit evidently was not at the stable where Jesus was born, but at a house. Perhaps Joseph and Mary decided to stay in Bethlehem for a while before going back to Galilee, or perhaps they intended to stay there permanently. The actual visit may have taken place a year or so after the birth of Jesus.

I. God Let the Wise Men Know About the Birth of Jesus

He revealed it to them through the sign of a star. There are several theories on what they saw in the heavens. They would certainly know it if anything unusual could be seen in the sky. It is said that there was a triple conjunction of Mars and Saturn in the year 6 BC. In 7 BC, Jupiter was eclipsed by the moon. We do know that Jesus was born some time before 1 BC, probably between 4 and 8 BC, although it was probably not in December.

Whatever they saw, they recognized it, correctly, as a sign of the Messiah’s birth.

There has been documented a mysterious worldwide awareness and expectation that a great prince would be born in Judea in those days. Even the Romans had such an expectation. More importantly, from the prophecy of Daniel 9:24, the approximate time of Jesus’ birth can be calculated. “Weeks” in that text is literally “sevens,” which can be understood as “weeks of years” or seven-year periods.

What we know of God is what God chooses to reveal to us. It seems ironic that the wise men, though not Jews, were better characterized by reverent spirits and pure hearts than were the Jewish religious experts. They informed Herod that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, and they could calculate the time. They were indifferent to the event they were talking about, while to the wise men, it was a matter of great importance. They believed the Scriptures.

As for King Herod, he just wanted to secure his own position at all costs, although he pretended to have a religious interest.

God has given us special revealed knowledge through the Scriptures about Jesus Christ.

II. The Wise Men Acted Upon the Knowledge God Gave Them

They determined that it was worth while to set out on a long, expensive, time-consuming, and dangerous journey to find and worship the Messiah.

It took a considerable effort and a certain amount of courage to do this.

We should act upon the guidance God gives us in His Word, prayer, our spiritual gifts, and the church.

III. They Were Not Disappointed

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”

They knew that God was giving them a great privilege.

They were pleased to visit Jesus in His humble surroundings. He was not in a palace, as one might expect the Messiah, the King, to be, but in a very ordinary house.

We should be grateful to be able to meet God, regardless of circumstances. He will not disappoint us. (see Romans 5:5)

IV. They Gave Jesus Their Best (Matthew 2:11)

They gave Him their worship.   “When they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him…”

They worshipped Him as King of the Jews.

They worshipped Him as the Messiah.

They were Jesus’ first Gentile worshippers. 

They gave Him the best gifts they could bring.

    Gold - a gift for a king - notable for its purity and non-tarnishing beauty and durability. 

    Frankincense - used in many religious rituals. In Judaism, the incense was perhaps the holiest part of the ceremony, and had to be burned in precisely the manner prescribed. Frankincense was, ounce for ounce, as valuable as gold. It was a gift appropriate to acknowledge the priesthood and deity of  Jesus.

    Myrrh - A very expensive perfume used as an ointment for embalming the dead. This is appropriate for recognizing that Jesus was born to die.

     We should give Jesus our best - ourselves as a living sacrifice, and the best of our gifts. He has given us His own very best.

Conclusion

God honored their faithfulness by giving them the privilege of finding and worshipping the Messiah. He also protected them from the ruthless King Herod, by giving them a warning in a dream (Matthew 2:12). They were not disappointed. With God’s help, they accomplished what they had set out to do. When they returned home, they undoubtedly told others. What God has done on our behalf, and in our lives, we should be telling others.

The Christmas Spirit

The Child Jesus with the Virgin Mary, with the Holy Spirit (represented as a dove) and God the Father, with child John the Baptist and Saint Elizabeth on the right.Painting by Bartolomeo Esteban Murillo, c.1670. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Luke 2: 1-20
Matthew 2: 1-12

Introduction

Are you ready for Christmas? Do you have the “Christmas spirit”?

Sometimes I’ve felt that by the time I really get in the mood for Christmas, it’s over. Some people are bubbling over with holiday enthusiasm, but there’s always a little of the old Scrooge around.

After the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, we see in the Scriptures a variety of responses from those who were there: the innkeeper, Mary and Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, the townspeople and visitors in town for the census, and later, the Wise Men, King Herod, the Jewish scholars …  Our own response may well be like some of the aforementioned.  It might be a good exercise to evaluate our own attitudes.

I.  The meaning of Christmas, briefly stated, is that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was born, God in human flesh, for the purpose of dying in order to offer us salvation through His sacrificial death, by which He paid for all the sins of all who would believe the Gospel and receive Him by faith, and His resurrection. He was raised from the dead to live and to rule for eternity, and all who receive Him will be with Him.

II. The events are familiar: The angel’s appearances to Mary and Joseph, the Emperor’s decree of a worldwide census for the purpose of taxation, Mary and Joseph making their way to Bethlehem, the City of David, to register. Mary giving birth, as a virgin, to Jesus, in a stable. There was no room in the inn. Although the city was very crowded, and many people could not find proper lodging, yet we have here a symbol of the world’s response to Jesus: No room.

The fact that they had no room at the inn does not indicate dire poverty for the Holy Family, but it does show that even though Jesus is the Son of God, His birth was in very humble circumstances. No palace or mansion.

III. The attitudes and responses
   
      A. Mary and Joseph - chosen by God because of the moral and spiritual fitness for the task (if indeed anyone could be so), they dealt with the harsh realities on the one hand, the divine and glorious meaning on the other. They would not have traded places with anyone.

      B. The innkeeper - probably not knowing about the Messiah being born; preoccupied with business at a busy time. Simply seemed unable to give attention.

      C.  The angels - They express the joy of heaven at the birth of Christ on earth. The One they have adored from their creation is bringing the love of God in a very profound way to people on earth. Truly this was an event to celebrate.

      D. The shepherds - if our attitudes could be like theirs! Full of awe and wonder that God would let them in on His great doings, and give, to them first, the privilege of finding and worshipping the Savior of the world. Everything the angels told them proved true.They found the Baby, they experienced the great joy of it, and they had to tell people what had happened.

        E. The townspeople and visitors - they were very impressed with what the shepherds told them. Evidently they believed it was all true. But, of course, they had important business to take care of, so they couldn’t take time to make a big issue of spreading the word further. Yet they would remember this night in later years.

         F. The Wise Men - They came some time later, maybe after a year or two - when they figured out what the Star they saw might mean. They came probably from Persia, or Babylon (where Daniel the prophet had lived and taught centuries earlier). Possibly they had learned Daniel’s Jewish religion. They knew something of the Scriptures.

             Traditionally we think of three men, possibly kings. We know that the Bible mentioned three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Valuable gifts suitable for a king, symbolizing the fact that Jesus is (as the song says), “King and God and Sacrifice.”
         
             They saw the birth of the Messiah as an event worthy not only of their expensive gifts, but also their long journey, and even their worship.  “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy!” (Matthew 2:10, NKJV)

              They understood both the seriousness and the joy. They knew that God had done something very significant for the benefit of man.

         G. King Herod - Some react to Christ with violent opposition. Herod was enraged to think that some other king might overshadow him in his little empire, especially a baby. He was enraged that the wise men didn’t come back to report to him. In his great anger, he caused great destruction to the innocent, and accomplished nothing to help himself. In a few years he was dead, bearing the weight of even more sin, leaving a legacy of horror.

         H. The Jewish scholars - They who gave Herod and the wise men the information concerning the birth of the Messiah, themselves expressed no interest whatsoever beyond relating the Scriptural prophecies. They showed themselves to be spiritually dead, even though they were learned in the Scriptures. What a contradiction! Yet there have always been religious leaders who had religious knowledge, but no real concern about the substance of it in their own lives.  We find, as we study the life of Jesus, that the religious authorities were usually more concerned about protecting their supposedly secure position, than in any real relationship with God or actual ministry to people. And ultimately, even though they were willing to defend it at all costs, they lost it.

              Their attitude is perhaps the hardest to understand, yet at the same time not uncommon.

 IV. Do any of these attitudes describe us?  Which ones are pleasing to God?

   
           A. God the Father wants us to accept His Son as we accept the Father Himself.
           
            B. God sent His Son specifically for our benefit.
                  1. He brings us eternal salvation if we trust in Him
                  2. He brings us the only real peace we can find in this world (Prince of Peace)
           
            C. How could we not receive Him with joy as the wise men did; rejoice at His birth and what God has told us, as the shepherds did; endure the momentary adversities knowing God is preparing us for eternity, as Mary and Joseph did?

                 Like the innkeeper, we have important business to take care of. But not more important than recognizing the Son of God. Not more joy-filled than truly finding and worshipping the Savior.

Conclusion

May God make this Christmas one of your best, and may it be filled with the joy and love of Christ for you and your loved ones.

The real Christmas Spirit is the Holy Spirit, Christ in you.

Keep Christ in Christmas

Detail of stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I. We Are Celebrating the Birth of the Savior

   A. His Earthly Parents
         Found favor with God -- Luke 1: 28, 30
         Took on a great responsibility 
         Chosen for faith and character, as well as family line 
         Readily accepted God’s will (v.38)

   B. His Identity
         “..you shall name Him Jesus.” (v.31)
        He will be great (v. 32)
        (He) will be called the Son of the Most High (v. 32)
       God will give Him the throne of His father David (v. 32)
       He will reign forever (v. 33)

   C. His Virgin Birth
         Verse 35
          “ … the eternal son of God took to Himself a genuine, though sinless, human nature and was born as a man, without surrendering in any aspect His deity.” -- Charles C. Ryrie
                 
   D. His Presentation
         1. To the Shepherds -- Luke 2:8-20
             a. Outsiders of society
             b. Responded in faith to the angel’s message
             c. Found and humbly worshiped Christ
             d. Were filled with joy and returned praising God and telling everyone they met

         2. At the Temple -- Luke 2:21-39
              a. Formal Presentation -- According to Law
              b. Prophecy of  Simeon
              c. Anna’s Devotion

   E. The Timing of His Coming
         But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born  under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  (Galatians 4:4-5, NKJV)

         Fullness of time: Fulfillment or prophecy, Roman peace, Messianic expectations, worthy family members in the line of David living in Israel, readiness of people to respond. Above all, a time of God’s choosing.

   F. His Purpose in Coming
         To save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)
         There is no other who can save us (Acts 4:12)
         Immanuel -- “God with us” (Matthew 1:23/Isaiah 7:14) (Virgin birth)
         He sends the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18).
         Jesus will come again in power and glory (Matthew 24:29-31).

        God shows undeserved favor toward mankind in offering salvation through the sacrifice of the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).  At Christmas, we celebrate the gift and blessing, that grants believers favor with God and eternal life with Him through His Son, in which He is glorified.

        This great purpose overshadows all other considerations, great as they may be.

II. The Celebrations We See Around Us
 
     A. Less Emphasis on Christ
     B. Determined Effort To Exclude Christ
           “Holidays,” not “Christmas”       

     C. Open Hostility Against Christianity
           More rejection of the Bible
           How dare Christians try to keep Christmas for themselves?
           Political opposition to Christianity

III. The Celebration We Should Experience

     A.  Focus on Christ
 
     B. Additional Meanings
           1. Gifts, especially for children
           2. Expressions of compassion
           3. Expression of desire for peace
           4. Family traditions
           5. Food

IV. Don’t Forget What The Essence of the Celebration Is
   
      A. The Birth of the Savior
          Without Christ, the Celebration Is of a Different Character -- More like Halloween or Valentine’s Day
     
      B. Tolerance of Others Who Don’t Share Our Beliefs
            -- Respect the freedom of others
            -- This does not mean regarding all beliefs as equally correct

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• The Virgin Birth of Christ