Introduction
When a baby is born, everyone is excited. No matter how great a person is, he or she starts off as a newborn. However, despite these expectations, almost everyone lives an ordinary life and then dies. Throughout human history, countless young lives have been born. History can be said to be a record of the birth of new life. And some of the young children born that way grew up to live normal lives, and some even left their names in history.
Of all births, there is none greater than the birth of Jesus Christ. This is because the birth of Christ was not the birth of an ordinary human being, but the Son of God becoming a human being and coming to this world. However, people are reluctant to believe that the Son of God was born into the world as a human being. However, the Bible clearly states that the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and the power of the Most High God overshadowed her, and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born (1:35).
I. Jesus Christ born in history (vv. 1~7)
If there is something special happening in the society when a person is born, it will be much easier for him to remember that event. If a person was born in the year of liberation, he or she is called a Liberation Child, and from then on until 1964, they are called Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennial Generation, Generation Z, etc. When Jesus was born, something happened that was very easy for people to remember. This is an incident in which the Roman Emperor Augustus ordered all people in the Roman Empire to go to their hometowns and register their families (v. 1). Caesar Augustus' real name was Gaius Octavius (63 B.C.~14 A.D.), and he ruled Rome for 45 years from 31 B.C. to 14 A.D. He established the mighty Roman Empire and established the Pax Romana (Peace of Rome). So in 27 B.C., the Roman Senate gave him the title “Caesar” to recognize his merits. “Caesar (highly honored)” was a title given to the gods. In fact, he was worshiped as a god, and temples for him were built in many places.
According to the emperor's order, Jesus' legal father Joseph went to his hometown to register his family, and Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. If there had been no command to register, Joseph would have had no reason to go to Bethlehem. If so, Jesus Christ would have been born in Nazareth of Galilee, not Bethlehem. If that were to happen, then the prophet Micah prophesied, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2) could not have come true.
God moved the heart of Roman Emperor Augustus to register the family so that the prophecy of the prophet Micah would come true. However, it is said that this census was first done when Quirinius became the governor of Syria (v. 2). Looking at history, Caesar Augustus issued a decree regarding a census in 8 B.C. However, since this was the first census to be implemented, there must have been many difficulties in implementing it. So, in the Syrian region, nothing was done properly until Quirinius became governor. When Quirinius became governor of Syria in 6 B.C., the family register of the Syrian region began in earnest. However, it may have taken about 1 to 2 years for this to be conveyed to King Herod, who was ruling Judea, and implemented. Accordingly, we can estimate the date of Jesus' birth. Jesus was probably born sometime after 6 B.C. when Quirinius became governor of Syria. And if we consider that the census was completed within 1 to 2 years, we can assume that Jesus was born around 4 B.C.
In any case, God provided all circumstances so that his son Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the town of David, rather than in Nazareth of Galilee. Dear saints, everything that happens in this world seems to be done according to people's greed, regardless of God, and according to the will of those in power. In fact, the Roman emperor's intention to have a family register was to conduct a census and collect more taxes. However, what was fulfilled through his command was the words of the Bible. Proverbs 16:4 says, “The Lord works out everything for his own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster.” Therefore, people do everything as they please, but in fact, God is in control of each person.
If we look at the world these days, wars are happening everywhere, and the Earth is suffering from natural disasters and abnormal weather. People's moral sense is collapsing and it is difficult to find people with a proper conscience. Was all of this accomplished because of people’s greed? No. God's word is being fulfilled. 2 Timothy 3:1~5 says, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” Jesus also said, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:7~8). This world is moving toward the end of the world as spoken of in the Bible. Too negative? But don't worry. The Lord said, “But he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13). When the Lord himself returns from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, if we are still alive then, we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be in heaven with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 5:16~17). It is said that this earth are preserved until the day of destruction so that it would ultimately be judged by fire (2 Peter 3:7). I hope you live with the hope of heaven.
Anyway, by God’s providence, everyone returned to their hometown to register (v. 3). And Joseph, a descendant of David, also took Mary, who was almost fully pregnant, from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, his hometown, in order to be registered by the decree of the emperor (vv. 4~5). And then the time came for Mary to give birth (v. 6). However, Bethlehem was a small town, and there were many people who came to register, so it would have been difficult to find an inn or a place to stay. So they temporarily unpacked their belongings in a stable, where they gave birth to baby Jesus, wrapped him in cloths they had prepared, and placed him in a manger (v. 7).
II. News of the birth of Jesus the Savior delivered to the shepherds (vv. 8~12)
The shepherds were living out in the fields near Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks at night (v. 8). Suddenly an angel appeared to the shepherds. And the glory of the Lord shone around them (v. 9a). The glory of the Lord means the glory of God's presence. Then the shepherds became terrified (v. 9b). Both Zachariah and Mary were afraid when they saw the angel (1:12, 30). In this way, sinners have no choice but to tremble in fear before the presence of the most holy God.
Then the angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid.” Because the angel did not come to give them bad news. The angel said he had come “to bring them good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (v. 10). What was the good news of great joy? Look at verse 11. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” The angel informed the shepherds that baby Jesus was born that very day in Bethlehem, Judea. At this time, the angel used three names for Jesus.
First, Jesus is the Savior. Jesus is the Savior who saves people from all the problems they face. But problems vary from person to person. The birth of Jesus was said to be good news of great joy that would bring great joy to all people. In order to do that, Jesus must save everyone from the common problems they have. What are the common problems? That is the sin problem. Matthew 1:21 says, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Because Jesus died on the cross for the sins of his people, he became the ‘Savior’ who saves people from their sins.
Second, Jesus is the Christ. Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word ‘Messiah’, meaning “anointed one.” In the Old Testament, God prophesied that the Messiah, the anointed one, would come and save his people. Then, the baby Jesus born to Mary is Christ.
Third, Jesus is the Lord. “Lord” is a title referring to God. Jesus is the Lord, that is, God. This is Isaiah 9:6. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” As the prophet Isaiah prophesied, the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem is clearly Almighty God. Therefore, Jesus is Lord.
The angel told the shepherds that Christ the Lord, the Savior, had been born, and even gave them a sign that the baby was wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (v. 12). It was not common for a newborn baby to be wrapped in clothes and placed in a manger. The shepherds would have been able to easily find the Savior, Jesus Christ, through this sign (v. 16).
III. Praise of the heavenly hosts and the angel (vv. 13~14)
As soon as the angel finished speaking to the shepherds, suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts joined the angel in praising God (v. 13). Look at verse 14. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” The angels gave glory to God in the highest heaven. And they sang that there is peace among those who live on earth. Peace to men does not refer to peace of mind or tranquility of spirit. Peace here refers to peace between God and men. Sin created enmity between God and men. However, as a result of the Savior Jesus Christ offering himself to God as a peace offering, Jesus saved men and established peace between God and men.
However, this peace of salvation is not given to everyone in this world. It was given only to “men on whom God's favor rests.” As Ephesians 1:5 states, this peace is given only to those who have been predestined and chosen according to God's pleasure and will. The doctrines of predestination and election are clearly demonstrated here. We are saved not because we have merited anything. It is not because we deserve to have peace with God. We have no merit or qualifications. Nevertheless, God saved us and gave us peace. The reason is because we are men on whom God's favor rests.
IV. Shepherds’ response (:15~20)
The angel who informed the shepherds of the birth of baby Jesus and the heavenly hosts that praised God had left the shepherds and gone into heaven (v. 15a). After that, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (v. 15b). Then they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger (v. 16). It would have been easy to find because all they had to do was find the stable instead of searching all the houses in Bethlehem.
After the shepherds found and saw the baby, they spread the word what the angel had told them about this baby, that Christ the Lord the Savior had been born for them, and that the child was wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger (v. 17). The original text says they told publicly to everyone. The shepherds spread the news of the birth of Christ the Savior not only to Joseph and Mary, but also to the people they met around them. Because the birth of the Savior Christ the Lord was good news of great joy, the gospel, that would bring great joy to all people.
All who heard the shepherds were amazed (v. 18). The Greek tense of the verb ‘were amazed’ is the aorist tense. The aorist tense is a tense used to express something that happens only once. When the people heard what the shepherds said, they were just amazed. Like the shepherds, they did not hurry off to the place where the Savior Jesus Christ was born, and at most they only showed an amazed reaction. They were indifferent to the birth of Christ the Lord, the Savior who would save them from their sins.
But Mary’s reaction was different. Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (v. 19). The Greek tense of ‘treasured’ is imperfect. The imperfect is a tense used when an action is not complete. So that Mary would not forget all the words she had heard, she treasured them up her heart over and over again. Not only that, but Mary pondered every word she heard. The tense of the verb ‘pondered’ is the present participle. This is a tense that indicates progress. Mary pondered over and over again everything she heard.
Look at verse 20. “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” When the shepherds heard the news of the birth of Christ the Savior from an angel, they followed the sign given by the angel and found baby Jesus wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And just as the heavenly hosts and the angel glorified and praised God, the shepherds also glorified and praised God. Afterwards, not like Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration, the shepherds did not stay where they were, saying, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” They went back. They would have returned to their field of work, the flock. They were not excited about seeing the Savior. They returned to their original way of life and became more faithful to their daily lives.
Likewise, we must do our best in our respective families and careers. In the meantime, we must give glory and praise to God. This is the life we deserve, to change the world as the salt and light of the world.
Conclusion
The Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in a stable in Bethlehem, the town of David, and was laid in a manger, as prophesied in the Bible. The Son of the Most High God emptied himself and took the very nature of a servant to a lowly place and was made in human likeness. Why did Jesus Christ, the God and Savior, come to this earth? As his name implies, he came to this earth to save sinners.
The shepherds who first heard this amazing news from the angel visited the Savior Jesus Christ and gave glory and praise to God. And they began to spread publicly everything they had heard and seen about baby Jesus. We must also spread the word about our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether the season is right or not, we must do our best to preach the Savior Jesus Christ. Looking at the numerous Christmas celebrations, gifts, cards, colorful Christmas trees, and decorations inside and outside the home, how many people spend this year knowing the true meaning of Christmas?
To those who say ‘Happy Holidays’, we should say ‘Merry Christmas’ and teach them that Happy Holidays came about because of the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. This is because the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ is the good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Let us all celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and give glory to God.
