Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Text: Luke 2:1-20
It is the third Sunday of Advent, and I do hope that everyone is full of joy this morning. We can have joy because the Lord has come… and He’s coming again.
We’ve been looking at the birth of Jesus for a few Sunday’s now, and we’re going to continue on with that this morning. We’re in Luke 2 and we’ll be looking at verses 1 through 20…
Now if you remember, the first Sunday of Advent, we talked about the genealogy of Jesus and why that is important… and then last Sunday we looked at this from the perspective of Joseph, and how both he and Mary were people of faith, and how that faith not only made them fit to receive the promises of God, but empowered them to endure and persevere, and hold fast to those promises.
So if you’re in Luke chapter 2, follow along with me as I read our text
(READ Luke 2:1-20).
So Ceasar Augustus was the emperor of Rome, Quirinius was the governor of Syria… and this was his first term as governor, he served as governor of that region again about 12 to 15 years later (that’s why Luke makes the distinction in verse 2 that this was the FIRST registration of Quirinius). And so what Luke has done – (VERY accurately I might add)… is given us the time frame of Jesus’ birth. He tells us who the emperor of Rome was at the time, and who the governor of Syria was at the time. And he tells us exactly why Mary and Joseph had made their way to Bethlehem. Because Augustus ordered a census for the purpose of taxation… and everyone had to go to their place of birth in order to take this census.
See, even on the very first Christmas, government was trying to get involved… but the Romans had no concept of the “Separation of Church and State”… that’s an American thing.
So anyway, Joseph and Mary, go to Bethlehem… Mary is due to deliver… and verse 6 tells us that’s exactly what happened. And look at verse 7, “She gave birth to her FIRSTBORN Son…”. Meaning she had others. And yes it says that in the original Greek “prototokon” – FIRSTBORN. I know our Catholic friends like to say Mary stayed a perpetual virgin, but that’s not what God’s Word says.
She then wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn.
Now I want us to stop here for a second, and walk through the first part of this text, and then we’ll go on to the second part of it in a minute.
We’re told that Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem because of the census decreed by Caesar Augustus… The Roman Empire is in control of this region… and the Roman Emperor is without a doubt the most powerful human being on the face of the earth at this particular time. Rome had conquered the western world, with the exception of Northern Britania – Alba – Scotland…
Rome had the most power, the strongest military, the most wealth… and the emperor could pretty much do just about anything he wanted to do… but his heart, his mind, his decision was entirely in the Lord’s hand. And about 500 years before this, God had sent His Word to the prophet Micah… Micah 5:2, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Juda, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel, Whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days.”
GOD IS SOVEREIGN!
“The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water, He turns it whatever way He wills.”
So, near the time that Mary is to give birth, God puts it in the heart and mind of Caesar Augustus to declare this census. Joseph and Mary have to travel to Bethlehem…
And it’s a dangerous journey… there’s bandits and robbers. Mary is pregnant and due any day. But they make it… and they find that there’s no room at the inn.
And I don’t know about all of you, but when I was a kid, and I would hear this Christmas story, I always was given the impression that the inn keeper was just this villain of a man… that he was cruel and evil. But it’s not realy his fault is it? It’s not like he knew that a pregnant woman was going to come to Bethlehem… and I’m sure he booked his rooms on a first come first serve basis.
For all we know, he might have even gone and asked folks if they would be willing to give up their room for Mary. So the inn keeper isn’t entirely to blame here.
Of course, he probably could’ve let them stay in his room right?
But then he’d have to deal with all the ritual impurity laws and all that other stuff afterwords. To his credit, it’s probably the inn keeper who puts them up in the stable.
And Mary gives birth to her FIRSTBORN Son – to JESUS! And wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in the manger.
The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords’… the Son of God… not wrapped up in silk, not Giza cotton… swaddling clothes… not lying in a gold and silver crib… but laying in a feeding trough.
Now let’s stop and think about this for a second… many of you are farmers and ranchers… we’re blue-collar folks for the most part. How many of you would be willing to go out… not now because it’s cold at night… but on a pleasant Spring or Fall evening, and spend the night sleeping in a feeding trough in the barn?
I mean… We’ve got horses, and cows, and chickens and dogs, and a spoiled rotten donkey… and I don’t particularly want to sleep where any of those critters are. Or in the things that they eat out of. And I can tell you that I’ve slept in some pretty terrible sleeping conditions and some pretty terrible locations before… but you’re not going to see me go rushing out to sleep in a feeding trough…
But that’s what Jesus does.
I don’t know how else to term this other than “Shocking humility!” Humility and humbleness. The King of All Creation – lying in a manger.
Let’s go on (AGAIN READ VERSES 8-11)
So most likely, Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th… That’s winter, even in Israel, and even though they don’t usually get snow… except for the Golan Heights, and winter there is in the mid 40’s temperature wise, it’s the rainy season, and the shepherds didn’t usually have the sheep out in the pastures during the rainy season.
The best scholarly research tells us that Jesus was probably born around mid September, in 2 or 3 B.C.
So why do we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th? Well that was decided by the Church of Rome because they were trying to “Christianize” a pagan holiday… But don’t let that bother you… The Bible doesn’t give us an exact date for a reason. If it was vital for us to know, it would. It would tell us the exact time and date, but it doesn’t.
Our faith doesn’t depend on the date of His birth, but upon the FACT of His birth, death, burial and resurrection.
So… there were shepherds out in the field. Keeping watch over their flocks by night. Good shepherds are never off duty. “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.”
That’s understandable right? I mean, just imagine, you’re a shepherd out in the fields, keeping watch over the sacrificial lambs that are used in Jerusalem during Passover… it’s night. You and the boys are probably just chillin’ out, setting by a campfire, maybe telling stories or just watching the stars… making sure no wolves or robber take any of the sheep. When all of a sudden the night sky is lit up like day and an angel of the Lord appears out of no-where.
Just last week there were reports of drones off the coast of New Jersey… The people who saw them were unnerved to say the least. And probably with good reason – because these weren’t like the drones used by hobbyists – these were the surveillance type drones used by government agencies… And some smart guys have put two and two together and are pretty sure those drones are Chinese made… I guess they didn’t get enough information with their “weather balloon” last year… but… like I was saying, the folks who saw those things buzzing around were a little afraid. But can you imagine, 2000 years ago, when the only thing in the sky were birds, no planes, no drones, no satellites… but suddenly the sky is lit up, and a heavenly being has appeared before you!
I mean… even if that happened now, with all the stuff we have flying around… it would still scare you!
And so the angel tells them, “Fear not!” “Don’t be afraid… I’m bringing you GOOD NEWS”.
The Greek word there is – “euangelizo”. The angel literally says, “I evangelize you.”
And it’s not just GOOD NEWS… but it also brings GREAT JOY!!!
And what is that news that brings great joy? Verse 11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR!” That’s exactly what mankind needs. A Savior.
Someone to save us from the wrath that our sin has incurred.
Our greatest need is to be saved! In order to be saved, we need a Savior!
And all the things that mankind, and the world push and advocate for… all their ideas and plans to bring about some desired utopia have either failed, are failing, or will fail.
There was a song from 1979 that said, “We don’t need no education.” It was a protest song that was done to protest some of the things that were being pushed into the education system… even back then. Education in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, but it’s not the solution to man’s greatest need. It can help in a lot of ways, but at the same time, if the heart isn’t changed… if the nature isn’t changed, all education does is make a more clever sinner.
Ending poverty isn’t going to fix the problem either. All that does is make a wealthy sinner. Wealth just allows the sinner to engage in a wider range of sin, and possibly hide it longer. But it’s not our greatest need, or greatest problem.
Our problem is sin. It permeates everything. It corrupts everything. It infiltrates everything. It invades everything. It’s everywhere and impacts and influences everything. All of creation has been corrupted by it, and groans under the weight of it. We need a Savior – one who will save us from our sin!
And the only Savior who can do that is CHRIST THE LORD!
Verses 13 & 14, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom He is pleased.’”
So, a Savior has been given. What does He save us from? Our sin and the wrath it brings. How does He do that? By making peace between God and man… by being our sin bearer… by bearing the punishment of our sin while on the cross – by taking the wrath for our sin, in our place.
You notice that in verse 14 right…? “Peace among those with whom He is pleased.”
It is impossible to please God without faith. That’s Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
Faith and peace go hand in hand… Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by FAITH, we have PEACE with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
So, the angel tells the shepherds, “You’ll find the baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
There may have been several babies in Bethlehem wrapped in swaddling clothes, but there was only one lying in a manger that night. And they go. And they see. And then they become evangelists themselves. Verse 17, “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.” No one had to tell them to share the GOOD NEWS. Their hearts are full or joy… they can’t keep it to themselves. And they returned, glorifying God and praising God.
What a joy it is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. What a joy knowing that we have a God and Savior, who humbled Himself and came as a man, in order to die in our place, so that we could have peace with God. What a joy it is to know that our sins are forgiven, and we are no longer enemies of God. What a joy it is to go share that good news with all who will hear. It really is the most wonderful time of the year!
Glory to God in the highest!
CLOSING
