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The Savior is Born, and His Name is Jesus!
Luke looks at two kings in this passage. One, an emperor
of the most powerful nation on earth. The other king…a child, born in a filthy
stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in an animal’s feeding trough.
One who lived in extravagance and ruled the known world. One who was born in
the lowest of circumstances and was the ruler of the cosmos.
The Roman king issued a decree in order that he might tax
everyone under the Roman Empire. The people must all go to their hometowns and
register to be taxed appropriately. Interestingly, one of the reasons for this
decree was to raise money for a temple to worship the deity of Caesar's late
uncle, Julius Caesar. Little did this king know that a more powerful and
everlasting deity was to arrive during this very time. One king was to take from
his people. The other is to give everything to his people.
All these events came about by the hand of God the
Father. His sovereignty is on display for all of us to see…and understand. Long
ago the prophet Micah had written about the birth of Christ and its location in
Bethlehem.
“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
Matthew was to later quote Micah in his gospel:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Bethlehem means "house of bread," and the King Jesus
came from heaven to give life, eternal and free from the death of sin to his
people. Mary was in Bethlehem at the
time of his birth not just because of the decree of this powerful worldly king,
but because of an earlier decree by the most powerful King of all!
"The only deity within the confounds of the Roman Empire was to be found
in Bethlehem, this impoverished child in a manger; decreed by God to come
before the foundation of the world." R.C. Sproul
Scripture:
Luke 2:1-20
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out
from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This
was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And
all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because
he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while
they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And
she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths
and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the
inn.[c]
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were
shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And
an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And
the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great
joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will
be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and
lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he
is pleased!”[d]
15 When the angels went away from
them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to
Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known
to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary
and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And
when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning
this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at
what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary
treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And
the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard
and seen, as it had been told them.
Carols:
Angels We Have Heard on High
1. Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o'er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heav'nly song?
3. Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn
King.
Angels From the Realms of Glory
1 Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the
earth;
ye who sang creation's story
now proclaim Messiah's birth
Chorus
Come and worship, come and
worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.
2 Shepherds, in the field abiding,
watching o'er your flocks by
night,
God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant light
3 Sages, leave your
contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star
The First Noel
1 The first Nowell the angel did
say
was to certain poor shepherds in
fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping
their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was
so deep.
Chorus
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
2 They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them
far;
and to the earth it gave great
light,
and so it continued both day and
night.
3 And by the light of that same
star
three wise men came from country
far;
to seek for a king was their
intent,
and to follow the star wherever it
went.
4 This star drew nigh to the
northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and
stay,
right over the place where Jesus
lay.
5 Then entered in those wise men
three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and
frankincense.
6 Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of
nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought.
Prayer:
Ask God to fill our hearts with joy and knowledge of the
Savior.
