WHEN A SOMEBODY BECOMES A NOBODY--Luke 2:1-20
Proposition: “Jesus was a Somebody who became like us as a Nobody so that He might save anybody that trusts Christ as Savior and make us somebody for God.”
Objective: My purpose is to show that God’s Son became a nobody so that He can save anybody who trusts Him and become a somebody in the kingdom of God.
INTRODUCTION:
Illus: There was a man who worked for the Post Office, whose job it was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses. One day, a letter came to his desk addressed in shaky handwriting to God. He thought he should open it to see what it was about. He opened it and read: Dear God, I am an 93-year-old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check. Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. Can you please help me? Sincerely, Edna
The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to his fellow workers. Each of them dug into their wallets and came up with a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman. The rest of the day, all of the workers felt a warm glow for the kind thing they had done. Christmas came and went. A few days later another letter came from the old lady to God. All of the workers gathered around while the letter was opened. It read: Dear God, How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift. By the way, there was $4 missing. I think it must have been those thieves at the Post Office. Sincerely, Edna
In the Roman empire censuses were taken every fourteen years for assessing taxation and ascertaining who were eligible for compulsory military service. Joseph and Mary traveled eighty miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This was a most inconvenient time and a physical ordeal for Mary since her baby was due any day now! Also, Bethlehem was overcrowded. They had to settle for the most primitive of accommoda-tions -- an open stall for animals. The Lord descended not in pomp and majesty befitting a King, but in meekness and lowliness like a “nobody” to show us the way of perfect love. The only room for Jesus was the cross He came to bear for our sins. In Jesus lowly birth we see the foreshadowing of the greatest sacrifice God would make for our sake when His only begotten Son willingly embraced death on the cross for our salvation.
I. THE DECREE FOR EVERYBODY (vvs. 1-5) “A decree went out from Caesar Augustus”—He was the great nephew, adopted son & primary heir of Julius Caesar who ruled as the 1st of the Roman emperors from 20 BC to 34 AD. Augustus (“exalted one”) Caesar was ruling, but God was in charge, for He used Caesar’s edict to move Mary & Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill His Word.
1. A command (vvs. 1) “A decree” (word for dogma)—means a “law or ordinance”—an opinion expressed with authority. It was an official order with all the power of Rome, mightiest nation in the world. It was more a census, than a taxing, though taxing generally followed and was based on the census. This word is very old and common. It means to write or copy off for the public records, to register. Rome took a census every fourteen years for both military and tax purposes, and each Jewish male had to return to the city of his fathers to record his name, occupation, property, and family. “This census first took place”—Quirinius served as a high Roman official in the Near East from at least 12 BC to 9 AD.
2. A condition (v. 3) “Everyone to his own city”—Bethlehem originally belonged to the Canaanites & was dedicated to the god of war. The city’s name meant “the house or sanctuary city of Lahum.” “Lahum” was the god of war. Later, the Jews revocalized this name to make it read “lehem” which means “bread” “house of bread.” They went to their native city (place of tribal origin) as this is where the family records were kept. It was the Jewish custom to enroll by tribes and families. Joseph was of the family of David, and would have to be enrolled where that family had its landed inheritance.
3. A couple (vvs. 4-5) “Joseph…with Mary”—Galilee was the region around the Lake of Galilee. The Jews held the espousal or engagement as binding as marriage. It was completed after negotiations had been carried on by the groom’s representative and the dowry money had been paid to the girl’s father. Mary accompanied Joseph for several reasons. The couple knew she would have the Baby during the time Joseph was gone, and they most likely did not want to be separated at that event. Also both of them knew that the Child was the Messiah. They also would have known that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Illus: A gospel group called The Williams Brothers had a hit with their song, "I’m Just a Nobody." It was about a down-and-out man who lived on the streets and spent his days telling people about Jesus. He was laughed at and harassed by passersby, but that didn’t stop him. The chorus of the song was his life message: "I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody about Somebody who can save anybody."
II. THE DELIVERY OF A SOMEBODY (vvs. 6-7) “She brought forth her firstborn Son”—“Firstborn Son” means none had proceeded. He was a nobody in the eyes of the world. Note He was born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem.
1. The consummation (v. 6) “The days were completed”—People like Caesar Augustus may have thought they were in control of human destiny but God was in control—using events to work out His own eternal purposes. “In fullness of time” The Child was born during their time in Bethlehem. The fact that Jesus was called Mary’s firstborn implies that later she had other children.
2. The condition (v. 7) “No room for them in the inn”—Many have taken shelter in a manger which included a feeding trough for cattle. Tradition--cave in the side of the hill behind the inn. The Child was placed… in a manger, from which livestock fed. Being wrapped in strips of cloth was important, for this was the way the shepherds would recognize the infant (v. 12).
Illus: “The birth of Jesus was a natural physical birth with the customary labor and birth pains. The conception was supernatural, not the birth.” Summers
Illus: Adrian Rogers tells this experience, “Upon one occasion I had an opportunity to witness to Muhammad Ali. I prayed much about it and God arranged it where we could be together in a small room late at night before one of his fights, and we were talking about Jesus Christ. I had had a prayer in my heart that this man might receive Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He was studying the Islamic faith, and so we were talking back and forth and he challenged me with this question. He said, “You say that Jesus Christ is the Son of God because He was born of a virgin. He didn’t have an earthly father.” And then he said to me, “Adam didn’t have a father or a mother. Wouldn’t that make Adam more a Son of God than Jesus?” I said, “Champ, I want you to understand this: Jesus was not the Son of God because He was born of a virgin; He was born of a virgin because He was the Son of God.’”
III. THE DECLARATION TO NOBODIES (vvs. 8-14) “Then the angel said”—Angels were heralds of the new-born Savior, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, industrious shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock.
1. The shepherds (v. 8) “There were…shepherds living out in the fields”—The birth of the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd of our souls was first announced to those men whose very work spoke of the person and work of Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God. The night watch was kept to protect sheep from robbers and wild animals. There is some evidence these men may have been watching over the Temple sheep, sheep designated for sacrifice, which spoke of Jesus Christ and His coming into the world. Why shepherds? Why not to priests or scribes? By visiting the shepherds, the angel revealed the grace of God toward mankind. Shepherds were really outcasts in Israel. Their work not only made them ceremonially unclean, but it kept them away from the Temple for weeks at a time so that they could not be made clean. God does not call the rich and mighty; He calls the poor and the lowly (Luke 1:51-53; 1 Cor. 1:26-29).
2. The sight (v. 9)—“The angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them”—A divine messenger appeared to the group & the divine & radiant glory became visible to them. There was a heavenly brightness, rightly regarded as the manifestation of God’s presence & power flashed all around them. This was a reverential awe, not cowering fear. An angel announces the conception of Jesus; a host of angels publish His birth; in His temptation an angel strengthens him; in His agony an angel comforts Him; at His resurrection an angel rolls away the stone from the door of the sepulcher; at His ascension the angels attend him up to heaven; and at His second coming to judge the world He shall be "revealed from heaven with His mighty angels."
3. The Savior (vvs. 10-11) “Do not be afraid…a Savior”--“Afraid” means “fear” “to feel threatened.” Third time spoken (1:13, 30). Fear goes with the presence of joy. The message was not declaring the judgment of God but His merciful loving-kindness, the subject being a matter of great joy. The way to pardon & peace with God was about to be thrown open to all mankind. “A Savior” means “one who provides salvation,” the word Savior often includes the related meanings of “Deliverer,” ‘Protector,” or “Preserver.” Here, the angel announces to the shepherds the birth of One who would offer Himself as a sacrifice to provide redemption for all. Luke’s emphasis on Jesus as Savior can be seen in the summary of Jesus’ mission in 19:10: “to seek and to save that which was lost.”
4. The sign (v. 12) “This will be the sign”— You shall find this glorious person, however strange it may appear, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable! It is by humility that Christ comes to reign; and this is the only way into His kingdom! Pride is the character of all the children of Adam: humility the mark of the Son of God, and of all His followers. Christ came in the way of humility to destroy that pride which is the root of evil in the souls of men. You will easily find Him. God became a man, not an angel. God redeemed us, not angels.
5. The scene (v. 13) “And suddenly”—This tells us how the next scene in the acclaim of the Christ’s birth occurred. There was an army of angels praising God. This descent from on high was “unexpected” by the shepherds. This was to honor the new-born Prince of peace, to give His parents the fullest conviction of His glory and excellence, and to teach the shepherds, who were about to be the first proclaimers of the Gospel, what to think and what to speak of Him, who, while He appeared as a helpless infant, was the object of worship to the angels of God.
6. The song (v. 14) “Glory to God in the highest”— The life of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth was the working out and development of the song of the angels. It was "Glory to God" illustrated in His consecration and death. It was "peace" in all the utterances of His lips; peace in His Gospel. It was "good will toward man;" for every thought, word and act of that blessed life was the translation of God’s infinite love into forms visible to the mortal eyes that saw Him. This shows the response of heaven of those who, as servants of God are totally dedicated to the glory & plan of God.
Illus: "A woman was Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable; and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids. She was feeling what so many feel during the holiday season time of the year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don’t forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card. Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn’t take it anymore & stated, ‘Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot.’ From the back of the car, everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, ’Don’t worry, we already crucified Him.’ For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.”
IV. THE DISCOVERY OF THE SOMEBODY RATHER THAN A NOBODY (vvs. 15-20) “They came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe”—The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place.
1. The decision (vvs. 15-16) “Let us go into Bethlehem”-- The city of David, where the angel had told them they would find the Savior. These shepherds appear to have been pious people. They were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. On the first intimation that He had actually appeared they went with haste to find Him. When told of Him by the servants of God, they should, like these shepherds, forsake all, and give no rest to their eyes until they have found Him. They did not doubt the reality of the angel’s proclamation. “They came with haste”—Haste means “to accelerate, to hasten or to cut across.” They cut across fields to reach Jerusalem more quickly. We may “always” find him. We need not travel to Bethlehem. We have only to cast our eyes to heaven; to look to Him and to believe on Him, and we shall find Him ever near to us, and forever our Savior and friend.
2. The discernment (vvs. 17-18) “They made widely known”— When they had satisfied themselves of the truth of the coming of the Messiah, and had ascertained that they could not have been mistaken in the appearance of the angels. There was evidence enough to satisfy “them” that what the angels said was true, or they would not have gone to Bethlehem. Having seen the child themselves, they had now evidence that would satisfy others; and accordingly they became the first preachers of the “gospel,” and went and proclaimed to others that the Messiah had come. One of the first duties of those who are newly converted to God is to proclaim to others what they have seen and felt. It should be done in a proper way and at the proper time; but nothing can or should prevent a Christian recently converted from telling his feelings and views to others - to his friends, to his parents, to his brothers, and to his old companions. As they were first to receive communication concerning Christ’s birth, they were the first to proclaim the event to others. “Those who heard it marveled”—People were amazed and with wonder received the news of why they had come.
3. The deliberation (v. 19) “Mary pondered”— Mary reflected on this momentous event in history. Of all the women of Israel she was the mother of the Messiah! She was left to her thoughts, keeping her secrets, anticipating the day when the Savior would be revealed as God’s Son. A mother does not soon forget those things which occur respecting her children.
4. The delight (v. 20) “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God”—they returned to their responsibilities knowing they would never be quite the same; they were glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen. The shepherds went back to their sheep, but they went back changed men. There would be a new song in their hearts and praise on their lips. There would also be a burden on their hearts and a message on their lips for they wanted others to know this Savior of theirs. How about us?
Illus: A preacher of the 1950s, Fulton Sheen, said: "God doesn’t love us because we are valuable; we are valuable because God loves us."
CONCLUSION: Some good news that will give you great joy:
1. You don’t have to be afraid if you feel like a nobody.
2. Jesus as a Somebody became like us as a nobody so we can become part of the Kingdom of God. “Though He was rich, He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9
3. He invites us to come & receive His gift of eternal life. Only He can make the nobodies of life into somebodies but He does it to accomplish His plans not to elevate us to stardom.
4. Once you truly meet Him, you can’t keep it a secret! You want to share this with others. It is by faith that you become somebody, a child of God and a citizen of Heaven!
Illus: A little boy named Nicholas was a part of the kindergarten Christmas program. For weeks, he memorized songs for his part in the program. The night of the program, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher. Each group rose to perform their song. Nicholas’ class rose to sing their song, "Christmas Love." Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row -- center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love." The performance was going smoothly, except for a small girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down --totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W." The audience of kids snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised. A hush came over the audience. In an instant, everyone understood. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: CHRIST WAS LOVE. He still is. He loves you, he was born for you, he died for you, and he was raised for you. Would you turn him away today?
Prepared by: Gerald R. Steffy
6206 N. Hamilton Road, Peoria, IL 61614
Phone: 309/691-3680 or 309/645-3677
E-Mail: grsteffy@yahoo.com to receive MY SERMON NUGGETS
