Anticipate The Fulfillment Series

As we have been singing various carols tonight, many ring with the theme of anticipation. The season of Advent, beginning four Sundays before Christmas is the season of the church year that emphasizes the anticipation of the first coming of Christ to this earth. His coming as the Messiah was first prophesied in the sixth century b.c. when the Jews were captive in Babylon. For centuries thereafter faithful Hebrews looked for their Messiah with great longing and expectation. (Osbeck, K. W. (1982). 101 hymn stories (p. 178). Kregel Publications.)

In the Gospel of Luke, he recounts the events of Jesus’ birth, and demonstrates how God sovereignly orchestrated events to bring about a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Divine intervention was required, because in the normal course of events, Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem as the Old Testament predicted (Mic. 5:2), since Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth. Luke presents three settings for this birth: the world, national, and personal. Those settings are fitting for the One who would be the Savior of peoples across the world, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and the redeemer of individuals who humbly put their trust in Him.

In Luke 2:8-20 we hear:

Luke 2:8-20. [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 fear. [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." [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!" [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. [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. (ESV)

• This passage recounts the appearance of angels to shepherds, announcing the birth of Jesus, and emphasizes the joy and wonder surrounding His arrival, inviting anticipation of God's promises being fulfilled.

Luke, in his simple, straightforward, unembellished language describes the most profound birth, with the most far-reaching implications, in the history of the world. On a night like any other night, in an obscure village in Israel, unnoticed by the world, a child was born. But while His birth was like that of every other child, the child was unlike any other child ever born, either before or since. For this child was the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, deity in human flesh, the long-awaited Messiah, who would save repentant people of their sins. In His birth, God entered human society as an infant; the creator of the universe became a man; the eternal “Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In examining the light that came into the world, God shines his light into our hearts and lives. Your reaction to this story is a good indication if it is good news for you or not.

In Luke 2:8-20, believers in Christ can find hope in times of uncertainty, encouraging us to anticipate God's fulfillment of His promises in our lives, just as the shepherds did when they received the good news of Christ's birth. Here we see God's fulfillment of His promises leading to a response of worship and joy, where God urges us to actively look for and recognize His work in our own lives. We can Anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises in three ways as we see how the 1) Shepherds hear the News (Luke 2:8-12), 2) Heavenly Hosts Rejoice (Luke 2:13-14) and finally how the 3) Shepherds See and Share (Luke 2:15-20)

We can Anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises in seeing first how the:

1) Shepherds hear the News (Luke 2:8-12)

Luke 2:8-12. [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 fear. [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." (ESV)