Significant Births Royal Births Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)
Those gathered to see the Royal Birth princes and princesses, dukes and countesses. The court physician hovers, and the king’s advisors cluster like ravens at the foot of the bed. It is so crowded in the room. Skeptical eyes watched to make sure no babies are switched.
1. Hats in the air” was a signal that the baby was a boy; arms crossed indicated a girl.
• King Louis XIV (16) Sun King learns that, at 21, he is now the father of a male heir, later called Louis de France or the Grand Dauphin. Queen Marie-Therese’s baby, born on November 1, 1661, survived and lived into the 18th century.
2. Birth were significant but they were also deadly
• Childbirth in those days was no picnic.
• True, it never is. But for women 400 years ago, it was a terrifying and often deadly ordeal.
• It was not uncommon for women to die in childbirth or for their children to die in infancy.
• Mary gave birth to a baby boy in appalling conditions that did not remotely resemble the chambers of kings Louis
• For Mary there was no assurance that the child would make it through the night.
3. Significant Births bring about significant watchfulness
• The birth of Jesus brought about lots of attention
• There were the cunning and merciless eyes of Herod the Great
• Herod was the law. And he did not like what he was hearing about an royal birth that was to happen, or was happening, or had already happened in Bethlehem.
4. This significant Birth brought about horrible events
• This event brought about the slaughter of the innocence. Matthew, quoting the prophet Jeremiah, writes: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more” (Matthew 2:18).
• There was weeping and wailing in Ramah.
• And Jesus only escaped because his parents fled to Egypt and raised him there. The Holy Family stayed in Egypt until Herod died. And so again, Scripture was fulfilled: “This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son’” (Matthew 2:15).
5. This significant birth brought forth Great Fear and joy
• The shepherds were taking care of their sheep when suddenly, “An angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’” (vv. 9-14).
• The shepherds went into town: “So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger
• Old Testament prophecies. The magi. The king Herod The shepherds. The angels. The parents — especially Mary, who “treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (v. 19). All were witnesses to a royal birth in a humble stable one night long ago.
6. The significance of this royal birth was different, his place was different, his onlookers were stock
• He wasn’t born in a castle but in a stable
• This king didn’t stay in a castle he lived among the people
• People liked the kid. He worked with his dad in the carpenter shop, “Joseph & Sons,”
7. The significant of this birth meant we could encounter a new birth
• This King would die with a crown of thorns on his head,
• Nails in his precious hands, spear thrushed into his side,
• and nails driven into his feet. There was an inscription KING of the Jews
• And then, he was dead —On the third day, the power of God rolled the stone from the tomb and Jesus the Christ was liberated from the bonds of sin and death, and later ascended into glory to be seated at the right hand of God the Father as the King of Kings and
• Because of His birth, death, and resurrection “He is able to save to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25, KJV).
• This could be a significant night for us to give our hearts to Him
