SThe Greatest Story Never Gets Old
Luke 2:8-14
(Antioch Baptist Church: Wednesday, December 24th. 2025)
In our home, there are certain Christmas songs that we love to hear. If we are honest, it just isn't Christmas until we hear them. In most cases we will listen to these songs multiple times each season. There are certain decorations that we have been putting out for decades, but they are special to us and we never get tired of seeing them. We have certain Christmas movies that we watch each year. Though we can quote them word for word, they never get old.
In the same way, the Christmas story as recorded in Luke chapter 2 never gets old. This passage describes the events surrounding the birth of our Savior. However, the events that are described in this passage are only the beginning of the greatest story ever told. I would like to examine the life of Jesus and consider the fact that “The Greatest Story Never Gets Old”
- Let’s begin by examining:
JESUS AND HIS ARRIVAL
For hundreds of years it had been prophesied that the Messiah would come. It was foretold that He would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem... though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.)
It was also prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.)
Christ's birth in Bethlehem was prophesied 700 years before it happened, but Jesus existed long before His birth. Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". God knew that we would need a Savior before He ever created this world. At the designated time, there in Bethlehem, a virgin gave birth to the sinless Son of God. (Luke 2:6 so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And 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.)
Before this Child was born, the Angel of the Lord instructed Joseph that He would be called Jesus. (Matthew 1:21 ...thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.) On that first Christmas day, God's Son was born in Bethlehem, just as the prophets and Angels had declared.
- As we consider the greatest story ever told, let us also consider:
JESUS AND HIS NAME
Obviously we know that:
HE IS JESUS
This name speaks of his humanity. Jesus means “Yahweh Is Savior”. This was our Savior’s name while He was here on earth. The angel told Mary in - Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Scripture tells us that the name of Jesus is a saving name. (Acts 4:12 neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.)There is no greater name in history than the name of God's Son; Jesus.
- He is not only Jesus:
HE IS THE CHRIST
The name Christ means “Anointed One". This name identifies Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus is the promised one from God. He is the One spoken of by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea and the other prophets. He is the one who came to save the world from their sins!
- He is Jesus, He is Christ and:
HE IS LORD
This title speaks of His position. Lord means "one who is supreme in authority". Many people like the idea of Jesus as Savior but they do not want Him as Lord. They want to be saved from Hell but want to live their lives their way; that is not how it works. Jesus is Lord and to have a relationship with Him you must surrender to His Lordship.
- He is Jesus, Jesus is Lord and:
HE IS SAVIOR
Jesus is the only One who could deliver us from our sins. It was prophesied that He would "save his people from their sins", and that is exactly what He did. If Jesus is your Savior: you have been forgiven of ALL your sins, you are rescued from Hell, you are a child of God, you have a personal relationship with God, you are a joint heir with Jesus and you have the promise of eternal life and a home in Heaven. This is all possible because Jesus is Savior.
- Scripture also tells us that:
HE IS IMMANUEL
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The name Immanuel means "God with us". We couldn't get to God, so God came down to us. If time would permit there are many more names and titles of Jesus that we could examine. Isaiah 9:6 tells us that He is "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God and the Prince of Peace". There is something special about every single name that is used to describe our Savior. The greatest story that tells of the blessed Savior never gets old.
- Now that we have seen Jesus' Arrival and His Names, let's go a little further and examine:
JESUS AND HIS PERSONALITY
- Jesus is, always has been and always will be God. Let’s consider the fact that:
JESUS IS GOD
Jesus left the glories of Heaven, and took on a robe of human flesh; when He did, He never ceased to be God. He may have not used some of His divine attributes but He was still 100% God.
- However, this does not change the fact that when He came to earth:
JESUS WAS MAN
Though He was fully God, Jesus was also a real man. He was a sinless man who came to show us the Father. Jesus was a man of love. His selfless sacrifice is the greatest picture of love this world has ever seen. He described His love in - John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- Because of His great love for us, Jesus came to secure our salvation. This leads us to:
JESUS AND HIS MISSION
- There were several reasons that Jesus came to earth. One is that:
HE CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST
Jesus said in - Luke 19:10 the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” We were all born into this world as lost sinners. Because of this, Jesus came to this earth for you. He came to deliver you from your sin and the awful penalty that was deserved.
- The Bible also tells us that:
HE CAME TO GLORIFY THE FATHER
In John 17:1 (Jesus said) "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee". Everything Jesus did, brought honor and glory to the Father in Heaven.
- It is also true that:
HE CAME TO BE THE SACRIFICE FOR SIN
(Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.) The only substance powerful enough to wash our sins away was the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28)
- Another amazing fact about Jesus is that:
HE CAME TO CONQUER DEATH
Jesus is risen from the dead. By His resurrection, Christ conquered sin and death and is alive forevermore. Tomorrow we will celebrate Christmas, but ultimately we are able to worship because there is an empty tomb. We possess great hope because Jesus conquered death.
In John 11 He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). This leads us to the fact that:
HE CAME TO SECURE ETERNAL LIFE
Because Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost, and because He became the sacrifice for our sins, and because He was successful in conquering death we have the hope of eternal life. (John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.)
It is God's desire for you to be born again. He wants you to receive forgiveness of your sins, eternal life and a home in Heaven. He wants you to follow Him, serve Him and bring glory to His name. All of these things are possible because Jesus came and he fulfilled His mission.
I don't know what you are going to get this Christmas, but I do know that the greatest gift of all time is available to you. Jesus is offering you salvation from your sins, eternal life and a home in Heaven. Salvation is a gift; Jesus paid the price in full at Calvary, and all you have to do is accept it. I encourage you to repent and believe in Jesus and accept this gift today.The story of Jesus is still the greatest story ever told and it is one that never gets old!
“A woman and an angel, a promise and a song,
A word too grand for any mind to hold;
A tax law and a journey, a stable and some straw;
These tell the greatest story ever told
Oh sing glory in the highest,
He is come, our Great Messiah
Come bow before this awesome mystery;
Mighty God and precious baby, here a lowly manger holds
And it's still the greatest story ever told”
Songwriters: Gloria Gaither / William J. Gaither / J.d. Miller
