On His Birthday Jesus Gave The Gifts

Birthdays. Everybody has them.

Some miscount them – me for example. Last year I was telling people I was 77, but Marlene and Keri convinced me that, until December 24, I was only 76.

Some make sure others remember their birthday.

Some people have two birthdays: one at the time they leave the womb and one at baptism. Hey! Even Pinocchio had a birthday. The wizard of Id and his wife are talking to him and she asked, "How old are you?" Pinocchio said, "I don't know." Wiz said, "He's twelve." Wife asked, "How do you know that?" Wiz replied, "I counted the rings."

Age may be counted in years, quantitatively or in terms of accomplishment, qualitatively. But usually birthdays are counted in terms of years lived.

There is a significant Birthday which all the world should recognize and celebrate, that of Jesus Christ, Son of Mary, Son of God. TODAY WE ARE CONSIDERING THE BIRTHDAY OF THE KING; LET’S HEAR LUKE’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THAT BIRTH.

“Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’ When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” Luke 2:1-20 (NASB).

Normally, the one whose birthday it is, gets the gifts. Just the opposite with Jesus on the day of His birth He gave the gifts! And some of those gifts we remember as we celebrate The Birthday Of The King. Norm sang,

Humble birthplace

But O How much God gave to us that day!

From the manger bed what a path has led

What a perfect holy way.

Alleluia, O how the angels sang!

Alleluia, How it rang!

And the sky was bright

With a Holy light

'Twas the birthday of a King

Look back the text to see what He gave and still gives:

I. HE GIVES THE GIFT OF COMFORT:

A. “Do not be afraid,” said the angel.

1. The word afraid is the one from which we get phobic.

2. A phobia is an unreasoning, paralyzing panic fear.

B. The angelic assurance did not contradict the command to “fear God,” it was consolation from needless fear.

1. The fear the angels mentioned was a mind numbing, heart pounding, breath taking fear.

2. Fear of God is wholesome reverence, respect, honor, and awe.

C. Don’t cringe in cowardly timidity, but do stand in awe and Godly fear of Him to whom fear is due. In all reality, if we saw what the shepherds saw, we’d have the bejeebers scared out of us.