Savior, Christ The Lord

Peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. It's wonderful to be worshiping with you this morning. As we sang the beautiful words that we just heard from one another, fall on your knees. Hear the angels proclaim. And this should prepare us for the text at hand.

We have been traversing through the gospel of Luke, and we are in Luke chapter two. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve service. I know those of you that were here, and so we were in Luke two, one to seven, and so if you're wondering what happened to that, that's where we were, and now we are starting in verse eight. It was great to be with all of you. In fact, I wanted to extend my sincere thankfulness as well for the letters that were sent, that were given to us for our pastoral appreciation. It was very heartfelt and received with much praise to God as I read those. Thank you.

I guess I shouldn't have started there. Let's read the text this morning. And I'll start in verse 1 of chapter 2, and we will concentrate on verse 8 to 20. You might be able to hear the contrast in verse one as it starts, and in verse eight as it starts. Be thinking about that.

Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census was to be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee to the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. And she wrapped him in clothes, cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn.

In the same region, there were some shepherds, staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, there has been born to you a savior who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying,

glory to God in the highest

and on earth, peace among men

with whom he is well pleased.

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, let us go straight to Bethlehem then and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph and the baby as he lay in the manger. When they had seen this, They made known the statement which had been told them about this child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all of these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them. Amen. This is the word of God. Pray that you will receive it as such. Let's pray.

Father, we thank you for this narrated, historical event that your evangelist Luke has recorded for us. Lord, we are ever so thankful that you have given us your inerrant Holy Word, sufficient for all we need. And Lord, may it be that today. May it be felt in our hearts today. May the Holy Spirit work in each of us as you speak to us through your Word of your great Son. In Christ's name we pray, amen.

Savior, Christ the Lord. This is who was born, this is who came, this is who was announced. The birth we saw last Christmas Eve, or a few days ago, Christmas Eve. And now we see this glorious announcement, this glorious announcement from on high.

I want you to take note of who the announcement was to. We might pass over this and not think much of it. It's such a familiar text to us, but recall in verse one, a prominent name, Caesar Augustus, ruler of all, one who all knew who he was and were made to bow before Caesar. In fact, people would say, Caesar is Lord. And Christians would be crucified because they said Christ is Lord. But this emperor, this king is listed by name, and then notice it says, and in the same region there were some shepherds.