Luke 2:1-21 THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Well that time of year has rolled around once again that the Birth of Jesus is recognized, and so for the next couple of broadcast Lord willing I’m going to bring a few thoughts to do with His birth.
We don’t really know the exact date of His birth, but Dec. 25th is the day that we have come to except and remember His birth.
But I’m afraid that the true meaning of Christmas it seem has become set aside and the celebrating of a happy and glad time of eating and giving gifts and even partying and drinking of alcohol, some people never consider what Christmas is really about.
The gift giving has its roots from the account of the wise men there in Matthew 2:11 as they brought gifts of “Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to honor the Baby Jesus.
Matt. 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child** with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
I’m sure that most of us enjoy this joyous time of year. But let us never forget what this Christmas time is really all about.
Listen as I read today’s text found in Luke 2: 1-21.
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.
Let me say right here that the Title “Augustus” means. [Consecrated, holy, sacred) — it was a title of honor bestowed upon a man named, Oct-avian, the first Roman emperor.
Although that was the meaning I doubt very seriously that it was true in this mans case.
Luke refers to him as “Caesar Augustus” he was a nephew of Julius Caesar, Oct-avian eventually became the sole ruler of Rome and reigned as emperor for more than 44 years, until his death in a.d. 14.
It was during his reign that Jesus was born (Luke 2:1).
After his death, the title “Augustus” was given to all Roman emperors. for instance, the “Augustus Caesar” mentioned in Acts 25: is not Oct-avian but Nero.
And let me say that, [CAESAR] — another title applied to several emperors of the Roman Empire, beginning with Augustus. It was a title much like, ”President, or Ayatollah or Prime minister”
By the way “Julius” is where we get the name of the month, ”July” and also our month ”August” comes from [Augus-tus]. Also our month “October” from “Oct-avian” the 1st Roman Emperor. Lets not forget our Calendar has its Roman origins.
Even the Senate of the U.S. from Rome, thus ‘the Roman Senate”
Lets read our text in LK.2:
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.
This don’t mean that the peoples was going there to pay “taxes” as we pay taxes, it means a [census’], that would eventually lead to paying taxes, it was for the purpose of finding out “whose who and to get a number of the people in the Roman Provinces. The known territories of the Empire.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And 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:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And 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.
[swaddling clothes] means strips of cloth, she encircled Jesus with the swaddling clothes--- and laid him in a manger; it was a stable, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [Exceeding frighten]
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [These good tidings of great joy was not only for them and the Jewish people, but it was for [all people].
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. The sign was to be a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host [a great number of Angels] praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15And 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.
16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
I want us to notice that Joseph and Mary had nothing to do with choosing the Babes name.
The messenger Angel Gabriel told them what His name would be. From God of coarse.
Matthew 1: 18-21 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused [betroth] similar to what we think of as being,” engaged” only a stronger meaning. to Joseph, before they came together, [this is very important, before Joseph was ever with her as a husband and wife] she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Notice, the Holy Ghost was Jesus Father, very important.
-- She was found with child of the Holy Ghost.—
The whole Gospel truth to do with Jesus is that He was Virgin born, man had absolutely nothing to with it, if a person will not except that Bible fact, he can not be saved.
Some might say that that is impossible, it is impossible for any other virgin in the world, but not with Mary, if Jesus had had an earthly father then He too would be a sinner because all the human race comes from Adam and Eve, that is why all man kind are born sinners, we inherited it from our 1st parents, but not Jesus because His Father was the HOLY GHOST.
The very 1st words recorded in the gospel of LUKE that Jesus said was, Luke 2: 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
And the last recorded words of Jesus in Johns gospel is, John 19:30 –it is finished.
Jesus finished His Fathers work, and that work was to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and die in sinful mans stead.
Back to Matt.1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord [GABRIEL is always the messenger Angel.] appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Notice, Gabriel told Joseph what Jesus name was to be, not for Joseph and Mary to pick out a name.
And let me say the same was true with [John the Baptist] Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t, name John.
Luke 1 11-13 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord [GABRIEL] standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Remember that [GABRIEL] is always the messenger that God sends, the Arch Angel Michael is the warrior Angel.
We can find Gabriel bringing Daniel Gods message in Dan. 8: and 9:, over 500 years before Mary’s time. Dan. 8:16---Dan 9:21 --Gabriel is named there.**
Listen dear heart God does every thing at a set time, He does nothing haphazardly.
God didn’t send His Only Begotten Son to earth at just any old time, God didn’t’ send Jesus to earth during the Babylonian Empire, or the Medo-Persion Empire, or the Grecian Empire, He sent us His Son during the Roman Empire, and He will send His Son back the 2nd time during the revived Roman Empire. The Antichrist will be on the scene at that time.
Galatians 4: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,--notice,[ made of a woman] man had nothing to do with Jesus being made, or brought into the world. Jesus had to have a human body in order for Him to die.
Philippians 2: 5 –8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
This Christmas season people will be singing Christmas songs, eating wonderful meals and giving gifts to one another, without really realizing what Christmas is really all about,
Many of the precious little children now days never have been to Church, they have never heard the true story of that 1st Christmas, and you know what? It’s not their fault, it’s their parent’s fault, and in a lot of cases the parents don’t understand either because their parents never carried them to church when they were growing up. It’s really sad.
I remember a man telling one time that he wasn’t going to make his children go to church, that he was going to wait until they had grown up and let them make up their own mind.
They’ll most likely grow up to be as he was, ignorant of the things of God.
The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. .
And I recall another time, both of these occurrences happened along time ago where I worked, this dear Christian lady by the name of Edith Parham said to me, “that if a person didn’t have GOD they didn’t have nothing”, what a blessing she was. And how true that statement is.
A person may have all the material things of the world but if he doesn’t have GOD he’s really a poor person.
There’s nothing wrong with being a person that don’t have very much of this worlds goods, not at all, as a matter of fact that’s my crowd, but it’s such a blessing to go to bed at night with the assurance that what ever may happen during the night or the coming tomorrow, that all is well with my soul.
Jesus said in Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
There’s certainly nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts, be it Christmas or any other time, but let us not forget that the Greatest Gift that was ever given was from God Himself.
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world,* [its inhab.] that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
