“AND IT CAME TO PASS” Luke 2:1-20
INTRO – Biggest hit this year in decorating homes is the inflatable figures for the yard. Santa, reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees. See them everywhere. Tim Morrison has them in his yard in the subdivision. Reason they are so popular is that after Christmas is over they can be deflated and stored and don’t take up much room.
Many people view Christmas this way. Once the parties are over; once the Christmas cantatas and programs have been presented; once the gifts have been opened; then the Christ of Christmas can be “deflated”, removed out of the forefront of our lives, and stored away back in the dark storage rooms of our lives. We can stop talking about Him so much. We can stop giving Him so much attention in our lives. The nativity scene is no longer on the mantle, so Jesus can be relegated back to His box in our lives.
Is that really what Christmas is all about? When the Scripture says, “And it came to pass…” is it just referring to this crazy time of year? For many of us, we could conclude this verse by saying:
- “And it came to pass” that they ate too much.
- “And it came to pass” that they spent too much money.
- “And it came to pass” that they didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas.
- “And it came to pass” that they lost their temper in the return line at the dept. store.
In his book, God with Us: the Miracle of Christmas, John MacArthur writes, “I read a haunting newspaper story several years ago about a wealthy Boston family who had a christening party for their new baby. They invited all their friends and relatives to their magnificent home to celebrate the birth of their precious infant. A half-hour into the party, when it was time to bring the baby out for everyone to see, the mother made a tragic discovery. The large bed where she had left the baby asleep was piled high w/ the coats of the guests. The baby was lying dead underneath the mound, suffocated by the carelessly discarded wraps.”
MacArthur goes on to draw a parallel between the horrible scene in Boston and the manner in which our consumer culture “celebrates” the birth of the X child. He writes, “Lost is the realization that Christmas is first of all the birth of the Savior. He is all but forgotten…”
How sad, but true! Too often, He is forgotten in our lives the majority of the other 11 months out of the year. He didn’t come into the world simply to give us a theme for our worship services during the month of December. He didn’t come into the world just to give us a reason to decorate our homes and churches. He came into the world as the Savior of all mankind, the long-awaited Messiah, our Redeemer, our Lord, our King.
We must not forget what came to pass that night in Bethlehem. We cannot allow the almighty dollar to surpass the Almighty God in importance this time of year. We will regret so many things if we lose the wonder of Christmas and if we try to remove Christ from our lives the remainder of the year.
Let’s look at the events that came to pass that first Christmas:
I. AN AMAZING BIRTH – v. 1-7
A. All of the Christmas pageants and plays through the years have tended to soften the reality of the conditions surrounding Jesus’ birth:
a. The decree from Caesar Augustus – Nephew of Julius Caesar. Incredible world leader who transformed the world of that day w/ his armies and his roads. Everyone believed he was a god and was immortal. He was the mightiest man of his time. Issued the decree that moved Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
i. This mighty man who thought he was a god was used by the Almighty God to fulfill the prophecy about the location of the Messiah’s birth.
1. Micah 5:2 – “As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah…from you One will go forth from me to be ruler in Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, from days of eternity.”
b. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem – As a result of Caesar Augustus’ decree, Joseph and Mary had to make the trip from Naz to Beth. This was a trip of about 70 miles that would have probably taken 4 days to a week to make walking or riding on a donkey. And ladies, imagine doing that while 9 months pregnant. Men, imagine having to travel like that w/ a woman who is 9 months pregnant!
c. The place of the birth – When they arrived in Beth, certainly exhausted from their journey, all they found were “No Vacancy” signs everywhere. The innkeeper had no idea what was about to take place there on his property. He, like many of us, was caught up in the busyness of the moment.
i. Bethlehem – Heb. for “house of bread.” The Bread of Life was born in the house of bread.
ii. Stable and manger – Jesus born in the most lowly and humble circumstances to show to us His identity with us.
1. Paul said in Phil. 2:7 that Jesus “made Himself nothing.” Surely He proved this to us by the place of His birth. “Made Himself nothing” literally means that He poured Himself out. He poured out His divinity and took on humanity the moment He entered the world.
B. Surely this was an amazing birth! From the decree of a pagan ruler to the busyness of the innkeeper to the moment that Mary laid that newborn baby boy in the manger, wrapped in cloths that were used both for wrapping newborns and wrapping the bodies of the dead, this was an amazing birth that came to pass that night!
II. AN ASTOUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT – v. 8-14
A. Shepherds – common men; outcasts; not socially or religiously acceptable. Not allowed to be witnesses in a court of law.
a. But this is who God had chosen to come to 1st w/ the greatest news the world had ever heard – an astounding announcement that Jesus was here – v. 11!
i. Your Savior is here – Rescuer
ii. The Christ is here – the anointed One; the Chosen One
iii. The Lord is here – word used by Gk. speaking Hebrews to refer to God Himself – God was here! Immanuel!
B. What an announcement! Jesus was here! And He’s here today! – Col. 1:12-20:
a. Christ the Redeemer is here – Col. 1:14
b. Christ the Revealer of G is here – 1:15a
c. Christ the Creator is here – 1:16
d. Christ the Sustainer is here – 1:17
e. Christ the Leader is here – 1:18
f. Christ the Fullness of G is here – 1:19
g. Christ the Reconciler is here – 1:20
C. Then the night sky exploded in praise & worship as a great company of angels joined this solo performer by giving praise & glory to God, & promising peace to men.
a. Peace that is available to all people, but not possessed & known by all people.
b. The Prince of Peace has come, but not all men have come to the Prince of Peace.
c. Good translation of v. 14 – “Peace among men (women, of course) who are the recipients of God’s good pleasure & God’s great riches.”
D. The angels, God’s heavenly messengers, came announcing PEACE, but not national peace, or world peace. If that were so, there wouldn’t be any families having Christmas w/out their loved ones who are in Iraq or Afghanistan fighting terrorism right now.
a. No, the peace the angels announced that night was the peace that we can know when we know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.
b. “Know Jesus; Know Peace. No Jesus; No Peace.”
E. The angels’ announcement of peace is an announcement we all need to hear. The shepherds heard it first that night & we can hear it today. Peace is here! It’s available. We need to make peace:
a. W/ God – Hear people say this when they are close to death – “I made my peace w/ God.” What does this mean? How do you make peace w/ God?
i. Not by doing good things.
ii. Not by being a good person.
iii. Not by bargaining w/ God.
iv. Only by surrendering your life completely, totally, unreservedly to the Prince of Peace.
v. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was born that night in Bethlehem, but He went on to live, die, & rise again so could have true peace.
1. “Peace I leave w/ you; MY peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” – Jn. 14:27
vi. Need to make our peace w/ God long before our death bed comes! It will be too late then!
1. “But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire & mud. ‘There is no peace for the wicked,’ says my God.” (Isa. 57:20-21)
b. W/ others – So many Christmas celebrations are marred by broken relationships w/in families, w/in churches, and among friends.
i. Greatest gift you could give to someone this Christmas may be your forgiveness.
ii. Jesus said that the world would know us by our love for one another (Jn. 13:35), so broken relationships are poor testimonies for Christ.
iii. Reconciliation is a beautiful, God-honoring thing – “God has restored our relationship w/Him through Christ, & has given us this ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:18)
iv. Truth is that if we are out of f’ship w/ a bro or sis in Christ, we are out of f’ship w/ God. Bible says that sin, which includes unresolved conflict, bitterness, & unforgiveness, blocks our f’ship w/ God and hinders our prayers – “Your iniquities have separated you from God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isa. 59:2)
c. W/ yourself – Not suggesting some kind of Oprah pop psychology thing here. Emphasizing these facts:
i. God is a God of grace.
ii. He has forgiven you.
iii. He accepts you.
iv. He loves you.
v. He wants to use you.
III. AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE – v. 15-20
A. What’s an appropriate response to a sky full of angels? CPR might be the first thing needed! But after that, what did the shepherds do?
a. They immediately decided to go – v. 15 – No hesitation. Knew this “thing” was some-THING special. Had to be b/c the Lord had told them about it.
i. When you hear the Lord speak, that is the time to respond.
b. They hurried to the manger – v. 16 – There was a sense of urgency, a sense of excitement, a sense of purpose. Did not want to miss this opportunity.
i. Do you and I have a sense of urgency about God’s work? Do we have a sense of excitement about our worship? Do we have a sense of purpose about our lives?
c. They told others – v. 17-18 – They stirred folks up. The message stirred them up, and so did the messengers. “Aren’t those guys just shepherds?”
i. So many people shy away from witnessing b/c they think that no one would want to listen to THEM of all people.
ii. God used those shepherds to stir folks up, and He will use you!
d. They continued to worship – v. 20 – Their encounter w/ Jesus that night moved them to continue to worship, even after they got back to their old job in the field. That field would never be the same to them. They would never be the same. They didn’t just experience Christmas, then go back to their lives as if nothing had happened.
i. What about you? Will you go back to your old life after this Christmas time of year? Or will your life be characterized by worship, obedience, and service to Him?
ii. “The Word did not become a philosophy, a theory, or a concept to be discussed, debated, or pondered. But the Word became a Person to be followed, enjoyed, and loved!”
