The Nativity Story: Love Was Born On Christmas

LOVE WAS

BORN ON CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:1-20

THE IDEA

God is love and so, when Jesus was born love entered into human history in a new and unique way. When a person believes in Jesus, love is birthed in him or her by God the Spirit as a by-product of the eternal life of Christ.

That’s the message of Christmas!

OUTLINE

LOVE WAS BORN AS A HUMAN BABY

LOVE WAS BORN FOR EVERY ONE OF US!

COME AND SEE, THEN GO AND TELL THAT LOVE HAS COME!

INTRODUCTION

If you are a parent you will probably agree with this statement: the day your child was born, a new love was born in you. I remember my firstborn, Mandy, asking me after her brother was born: “Dad, who do you love most, Ryan or me?”

I could answer her without hesitation that love is not like that. My love for Ryan in no way diminished my love for Mandy. Not one itty, bitty little bit. I love, without the slightest dilution, and with all my heart, each of my children. As each one was born, a new love was born in me. And I suspect that if we had more children the same thing would happen. A new love would be born. Love is like that.

So then, consider the logic of this syllogism:

· God is love

· God became a man, born to Mary as an infant

· Therefore love was born at Christmas

Love was born at Christmas. Well, in a sense that is true.

Love is eternal because God is eternal and so love was not really born. But love entered into human history in a unique way on Jesus’ birthday. The Apostle John declares:

1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Now, love always has an object. If I say to you “I am in love,” you will naturally ask me, “With whom?” I cannot love without there being a recipient, someone to receive my love.

Well, if God is love

and love was born at Christmas,

for whom was love born?

You!

Love was born at Christmas for you!

You! With all of your issues and all of your problems. And all of your strengths.

That’s what the angels declared when they announced the birth of Jesus to a band of shepherds. They said Jesus was born for you! Turn to Luke chapter 2 and listen carefully to the angels!

LOVE WAS BORN

AS A HUMAN BABY

Lk 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

Lk 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Angel Gabriel Had Told Mary That She Was Going To Miraculously Bear A Son (Luke 1:26-38)

In one way, this was devastating news to Mary. She was a virgin engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. Becoming pregnant would shame her before her parents, her husband-to-be and her entire village. Perhaps that explains why Mary hurried off to live with her cousin Elizabeth for the first months of her pregnancy.

The Angel Explained Mary’s Pregnancy To Joseph And Told Him It Was Safe To Marry Her (Matthew 1:18-25)

Because he was a righteous man, Joseph had decided to divorce Mary privately rather than expose her to public disgrace. (Breaking an engagement in those days required a divorce.) But the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and explained that the child Mary was carrying was the creation of the Holy Spirit. He told Joseph not to be afraid to marry Mary and to name the child Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins.

Joseph decided to go through with the marriage but, before the wedding ceremony, he was sent out of town to register in his ancestral hometown of Bethlehem, many day’s journey to the south. Even though she was in the advanced stages of her pregnancy, Mary traveled with Joseph.

After They Reached Bethlehem, Mary Gave Birth To Her Son And Laid Him In A Manger Because There Was No Room In The Inn