THANKFUL FOR JESUS
‘Born in a Barn’
Luke 2:8-21
#Christmas2022 #Heresy
READING OF SCRIPTURE
We are going to begin this morning by reading Scripture, but I would like your help and participation as we do so. The passage will be on the screen, as we read, please read out the words in yellow and underlined as we go through. Would you stand as we read God’s Word this morning?
READ LUKE 2:8-21 (ESV)
“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 great 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. 21 And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the Name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”
[You may be seated.]
INTRODUCTION
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year: With kids jingle belling and holiday greetings and parties for hosting and caroling out in the snow; There are tales of Christmases long long ago and hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near; there are marshmallows for toasting and much mistletoing because it is the most wonderful time of the year.
Christmas is also the most wonderful time of the year: With churches singing Christmas hymns and parties for hosting and caroling out in the cold; There is focus on the first Christmas long long ago and hearts glowing as we focus on the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior; there are cookies for baking and gifts that need giving because it is the most wonderful time of the year.
Christmas is a most wonderful time of the year. Christmas also one of those emphases we make in the Church that sometimes comes with traditions or understandings that really aren’t true.
For example, the term X-mas is not a conspiracy by atheists to remove Jesus from Christmas. I thought that for many years after I drew the card ‘Receive an X-mas bonus $25’ in the game of Monopoly. Actually, X is the first letter of Christ in Greek and so X-mas is just proper shorthand for Christmas. And just so you know… the word Christmas is already abbreviated for Christ-mass… a Catholic term in which most people just chop off one ‘s.’
Another great example is something Kristian mentioned last week as he preached on Luke 2:1-7. Most of the time we think in our minds about the mean old innkeeper who said to Mary and Joseph, “There is no room for you here, but I’ve got a barn out back you can stay in.” That is absolutely nowhere in the Bible. Not even hinted at and yet we think it happened that way because of Christmas plays we’ve seen and details we added to the Bible.
There is one more mind-blowing tradition about Christmas that I don’t know if you are ready to face yet. It is something I say. It is something all of us say. Are you ready? Are you ready for it? Look over Luke 2 briefly and tell me where Jesus was born? It says He was laid in a manger, right? It says they laid Jesus in a manger because there was no room in an inn? Right? It literally says Jesus was laid in a manger… but… are you ready… the Bible never says where the manger was located. We assume and add the detail that the manger, which is a feeding trough for animals, was where the animals were, but the Bible doesn’t say that. The Bible says that the inn was filled and things were cramped and busy because of the census and it never says Jesus was born in a barn or a cave or any weird place like that.
Heresy! Heresy is being preached! I accept that Jesus was born in humble beginnings, but if we get super technical about what the Bible says, the Bible never says Jesus was born with cows and sheep and donkeys standing nearby. We assume that fact based on the manger. Someone could have brought the manger inside some house for Joseph and Mary because everything was cramped and they were sleeping on the floor. Even when the shepherds find Jesus, it simply says they found Jesus in a manger, not where the manger was located. I understand if you say to me… heresy! I do. I am probably going to continue to say and think that Jesus was ‘born in a barn,’ but the Bible doesn’t actually say that. [mind blown gesture]
Do you need a few minutes to recover?
I think I do.
TRANSITION
Let’s transition away from possible heretical thinking and focus on the Bible. What does God have for us in Luke 2:8-21? The first truth I notice in this passage is always connected with the shepherds. The second truth I notice in this passage is connected to Jesus.
FIRST TRUTH: THE SHEPHERDS
We find shepherds all over the Bible. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, King David, and the Prophet Amos were all shepherds in the Bible. When Joseph speaks to the Pharaoh of Egypt and describes his family, he describes them in shepherd terms. Shepherds are hard working folks of the land. It is not necessarily a ‘baaahd’ job, but I am sure there are better ways to make a living.
In Luke 2, the first people to find out about the amazing birth of Jesus were shepherds watching their flocks at night. The shepherds are minding their own business and making sure predators don’t snatch their lambs, when angels appear to announce that the Lamb of God was born.
In our passage, we have angels appearing and announcing the birth of the Messiah. The passage tells us something we could have guessed… the shepherds were afraid. I think you and I have a tame vision of what an angel looks like. I read about the four living creatures in Ezekiel and Revelation and I don’t think all angels look the way we think. These spiritual beings are tremendous and fear inducing which is why the angels tell them not to be afraid, but they are still afraid.
Almost every time God shows up it is accompanied with the phrase: “Do not be afraid.”
* Genesis 15:1 God appears to Abraham to enact the covenant and He says, “Do not be afraid.”
* Genesis 21:17 an angel appears to Hagar and says, “Do not be afraid.”
* Genesis 26:24 God appears to Isaac at night and says, “Do not be afraid.”
* Genesis 46:3 God speaks to Jacob and says, “Do not be afraid.”
* Numbers 21:34 God speaks to Moses about a battle and says, “Do not be afraid.”
* Joshua 8:1 God encourages Joshua about His presence and says, “Do not be afraid.”
* Judges 6:23 God appears to Gideon who is sure he is going to die, “Do not be afraid.”
* Daniel 10:12 an angel appears to Daniel and touches him on the shoulder, “Do not be afraid.”
* Luke 1:13 an angel appears to Zechariah as he is serving in the temple, “Do not be afraid.”
* Luke 1:30 an angel appears to Mary to announce about Jesus and says, “Do not be afraid.”
* Matthew 1:20 God appears to Joseph in a dream to tell him about Jesus, “Do not be afraid.”
* Matthew 28:10 a resurrected Jesus tells the women who see Him, “Do not be afraid.”
* Acts 18:9 God appears to Paul in a vision to encourage him to not be silent, “Do not be afraid.”
* Acts 27:24 an angel appears to Paul to tell him about his trial before Caesar, “Do not be afraid.”
* Revelation 1:17 Jesus shares end times revelations with John and says, “Do not be afraid.”
On purpose I mention all these Scriptures and people in the Old and New Testament because fear is important for us as believers in Jesus Christ. I know I have said it before, but I believe we have lost a healthy sense of the fear of God Who created all the heavens and shakes all the heavens. Many times, we think that fearing God is for Old Testament folks and loving God is for New Testament folks. That simply is not true. God is awesome in power and when we encounter Him, a good healthy fear is needed and God says to us over and over that even though we do fear, we need not be consumed by it so that it stops us from listening or speaking or obeying Him.
* Fear helps us respect and honor God.
* Fear helps us keep God in awe.
* Fear keeps us in our place as #2 and God as #1 in our lives.
* Fear means we take God at His Word.
Angels from heaven appeared to the shepherds in the middle of the night and the shepherds were rightly afraid. The sky blew up with angelic activity and I am sure none of them had ever seen anything like it before.
* They were afraid that they would be wiped away and killed by these heavenly host.
* They were afraid about what the message might be and how it would change their lives.
* They were in complete awe at actually and visually seeing heavenly spiritual beings.
* They were in awe that the spiritual realm was ripping into our physical life.
* They had complete respect for the message that was being given which was directly from God.
It is at this time that we find why the shepherds are mentioned in this passage. The shepherds are the witnesses that God chose to bear testimony about the birth of His Son. The desire of the shepherds after they saw Jesus and witnessed Him was to tell others.
I can imagine hearing what the shepherds were saying as they left Bethlehem:
We saw God in the flesh.
We saw the Savior of Humanity.
We saw the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and He was a little baby ‘in a barn.’
[mind blown gesture]
I would like you to note the phrase “they made known.” That is a phrase that comes from a Greek word that means “to publish abroad” and “to make sure other people have thorough knowledge.” That is an action. They used words to share what they had seen. Many times we say that we share the Gospel by how we live, which is true, but witnessing for Christ often means using words to explain what we know to be true. Witnessing is sharing words why Jesus is important to us and the difference He has made in our lives. The shepherds spread the word about Jesus and were faithful witnesses about His birth. We can be the same.
CHALLENGE/APPLICATION: BE A WITNESS DURING CHRISTMAS
#1 Don’t say “Happy Holidays” but train yourself to say “Merry Christmas” or “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” I was thinking this might come off as obnoxious or hokey, but there must be some way where we can verbally state that Christmas is about the birth of Christ. Be creative and purposeful and make sure our words reflect that we have made room for Jesus in our lives and we are thankful for Him.
#2 Do not send secular Christmas cards, but rather send overtly religious Christmas cards and include Scripture in them to everyone no matter if they go to church or not. Maybe even include a sheet with your favorite Bible verses with your Christmas card instead of a Christmas letter or in addition to it. By doing this, you are publishing far and wide what you believe about Jesus and you are showing your thankfulness for what the birth of Jesus means.
#3 Buy a gift for someone you are praying for that will plant seeds of the Gospel. Maybe buying them “More than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell or “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel will lead them to read something that might move their heart towards God. They won’t read it if you don’t send it. Better yet, buy those books and then read them first, highlight the parts you find interesting, so that when they read it they see what you found truthful. This can also create a conversation later as you share about the book because they already see what you thought was important and it guides them.
#4 Invite someone to the Christmas Eve service (12/24, 7pm). People are more likely to go to church on Christmas and Easter than other times of the year because as a collective society we know those are religious holidays even if we don’t celebrate them. People are also more likely to go to church when they have an invitation from someone they know and love and who has been praying for them.
#5 Post Christmas Bible verses from Matthew and Luke on your Facebook and other social media pages all throughout December. This allows you to reflect on them and is a witness as people read them. When the church posts verses or Christmas thoughts on Facebook, share those posts to people on your timeline. This is a small thing and yet it is “making known” Jesus.
#6 Read the Christmas Story from Luke on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (or both!) for whomever is in your home. They are in your home! You get to decide what kind of Christmas you have regardless who is under your roof and their standing before God. Read from Matthew 1. Read Luke 1-2 proudly. Men, take the spiritual leadership of your home and plan to read Scriptures. Ladies, help your husband and support his effort to read.
SUMMARY
One truth we get from Luke 2:8-21 is that the shepherds were witnesses of Jesus being born (maybe in a barn) and that this Jesus was the Son of God and is the Hope of the World. They were witnesses. We can and should also be witnesses that X-mas is about the birth of Jesus Christ Who was born into the world to seek and save the lost.
SECOND TRUTH: JESUS
The center of this passage is the shepherds who are witnesses of Christ’s birth, but of course the core of the passage is the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. He is the Promised One Who finally came. The real meaning is the birth about which the shepherds are the witness!
The Old Testament is full of promises that a Savior and Deliverer would arrive:
READ 2 SAMUEL 7:16 (ESV)
“And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before Me. Your throne shall be established forever.”
This promise was given to David that his line would continue on eternally. This is fulfilled through Mary and Joseph and Christ’s throne will be established forever because He will live on eternally through His resurrection and established His kingdom forever.
READ ISAIAH 9:6-7 (ESV)
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will do this.”
The promises about the Christ is that He would be born, Her would be a Son, He would be God, He would bring an everlasting kingdom, He would bring peace, He would be just and righteous and that God was the One Who would accomplish all of it.
Now, when I look at this particular passage in Luke 2 and what it communicates about Jesus, I notice:
Verse 11 which says He is the Savior
Verse 11 which says He is Christ the Lord
Verses 12 and 16 which say He was laid in a manger
Verse 21 names Him Jesus
The majority of the verses about Jesus tell us about His purpose.
Jesus is the Savior. He is our Savior from sin and guilt. Jesus was born as the son of God (divine) and the son of Adam (human) and holds both of those complete natures in Himself. Even Jesus’ name means “the Lord is Salvation.” Everything about Jesus points to salvation. Paul says about Jesus in 1 Timothy…
READ 1 TIMOTHY 1:8-10 (ESV)
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”
Jesus is Christ the Lord meaning that Jesus was and is the plan for redeeming Creation back to God. Jesus has a grand divine purpose. Jesus was not born on accident or as a back-up plan or was not a mistake, but is God’s primary means of salvation for all of us. Christ means Jesus is He Who was promised. Lord means He is equal with God. All people have the opportunity of salvation through Jesus and can accept the promises God made about salvation. Without Jesus, we are separated from the freedom from sin God promises us.
READ EPHESIANS 2:12 (ESV)
“Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
READ EPHESIANS 3:6 (ESV)
“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
TRANSITION
Luke 2:8-21 is a passage about the birth of Jesus. It shows us that shepherds were witnesses about what they saw and made it known to everyone they met. They challenge us to be solid witnesses about our faith. Luke 2:8-21 is a passage about the birth of Jesus. It shows us that Jesus was and is the promised Savior that saves us from our sins and that all of God’s plan and promises are fulfilled in Him.
So, what do we do with this?
I say let’s be thankful!
THANKFUL FOR JESUS
Be thankful that the shepherds witnessed Jesus and challenge us to be witnesses.
Be thankful that all of Heaven rejoiced when Jesus was born.
Be thankful that God sending His Son was good news and not some other kind of news.
Be thankful that God wants us filled with great joy when we encounter Him.
Be thankful for the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph.
Be thankful for Jesus the Savior.
Be thankful that Jesus’ Name is Jesus and not Czelaw or Ermenegildo which are hard to spell.
Be thankful that Jesus’ purpose was salvation and not something else.
Be thankful that Jesus was both human and divine.
I would like to challenge you this Christmas season to up your thankfulness!
Abound “in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7)
Obey Colossians 3:15 to be “be thankful.”
Allow the songs of the season into your heart and grow “thankfulness” (Colossians 3:16)
Follow God’s will and “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Give thanks and in so doing “build others up” (1 Corinthians 14:17)
Understand God’s grace and give thanks more and more (2 Corinthians 4:15)
Do not cease giving thanks inside and outside of yourself (Ephesians 1:16)
I would like to challenge you this Christmas season to up your thankfulness!
PRAYER
INVITATION
Ephesians 2:12 shares with us that we can be alienated and separated from God and have no hope. Hope and connection is found in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. If you need to accept Him today, I invite you to come forward and confess Him and be renewed by Jesus and to be baptized into Him for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
