BIG IDEA:
THE HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH MAKE HIS MISSION OF BRINGING GLORY TO GOD AND PEACE TO MAN EVEN MORE ASTOUNDING
INTRODUCTION:
You would think that a birth that had been heralded by the OT prophets for so many centuries would be more glorious and spectacular. But what we see emphasized in Luke’s account are the humble circumstances surrounding the incarnation. This birth does not rise even to the level of a normal common-place experience. Instead, Mary finds herself in the most demeaning of situations – relegated to some type of outbuilding in a city where she has no connections where there is not even a proper crib for the baby Jesus. Yet God announces this birth in spectacular angelic fashion to highlight the cosmic mission of this infant to bring “glory to God and peace to man” – a mission that would resonate down through the ages in terms of its significance and impact. The chorus of the angelic choir should be mirrored by the praise and worship of our own hearts as we with Mary contemplate the meaning of this good news.
THE HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH MAKE HIS MISSION OF BRINGING GLORY TO GOD AND PEACE TO MAN EVEN MORE ASTOUNDING
I. (:1-7) BIRTH OF JESUS ARRANGED TO TAKE PLACE IN BETHLEHEM
A. (:1-3) Providential Circumstances = Mandatory Census
“Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city.”
The great Caesar August envisioned himself as a strong autocratic ruler when in actuality he was a mere puppet with God pulling his strings to accomplish the divine will that had been prophesied centuries earlier in the OT. God is always sovereign and in control.
B. (:4-5) Prophetic City for the Birth = Bethlehem
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from 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, 5 in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.”
MacArthur: Critical that Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem, which was their own city, so that they would be there when the Messiah was born so the prophecy of Micah would come to pass. Little did Caesar Augustus know that he was being moved by the Spirit of God to do exactly what he did on time, on schedule to effect exactly the result God wanted. There was a few days in which Joseph and Mary had to be in Bethlehem, right at the very time of the birth of the child. God knew exactly when that moment was, exactly when that day was. He knew when they had to be there and He had planned for that to happen under the authority and power of a Caesar who was far removed from the little village of Bethlehem and utterly removed from the purposes of God and utterly ignorant of the Word of God. But nonetheless he was a main player in bringing the prophecy to pass, which shows the mighty, incomprehensible, providential work of Almighty God.
Deffinbaugh: the decree of Caesar was divinely intended to cause one couple to make a long difficult journey from their home town of Nazareth in Galilee to the place of their birth, Bethlehem in Judea. The ancient prophet had prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, a fact that was well known to the Jews:
C. (:6-7) Pomp and Ceremony Absent at Birth of the Messiah
1. Humble Circumstances of the City of Bethlehem
“And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.”
2. Humble Circumstances of the Simple Attire
“And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths,”
No attendants present to help Mary at the time of delivery.
Leon Morris: That Mary wrapped the child herself points to a lonely birth. . . everything points to obscurity, poverty and even rejection.
3. Humble Circumstances of the Stable Location
“and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Geldenhuys: He had left the glory of the Father and humbled Himself to be born as a human child in the most lowly circumstances. And . . . He was laid in a manger.
II. (:8-14) BIRTH OF JESUS ANNOUNCED TO THE SHEPHERDS
A. (:8) Ordinary Activities of the Shepherds
“And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.”
God chose a surprising class of people to give testimony to the world of the arrival of the King of Glory. Perhaps they were in charge of flocks that were intended for temple sacrifices.
Life is made up of ordinary days … but God can intervene at any time.
Thabiti Anyabwile: This is not glorious work.. This is not the best shift. Shepherds had bad reputations. The nature of their work meant they could not observe Israel’s ceremonial laws. They were considered unreliable and could not give testimony in the law courts. They were a despised class of people.
Deffinbaugh: In spite of their poor reputation as a class of people, these shepherds seem to have been godly men, men who were looking for the coming of Israel’s Messiah. All the others of those who were directly informed of the birth of Messiah in Matthew and Luke were described as godly people, and so it would seem to be true of the shepherds as well. After all, news of His coming would not be “good news of a great joy” (v. 10) unless they were seeking Him. The haste of these shepherds to the place of Christ’s birth (vv. 15-16) also testifies to their spiritual preparedness and eagerness for the coming of Messiah. This is in contrast to the response of the Jerusalemites to the news of Messiah’s birth, as prophesied in their Scriptures and announced by the magi.
B. (:9) Extra-Ordinary Divine Visitation
“And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.”
C. (:10-12) Announcement of the Birth of Jesus
1. (:10) Significance of the Announcement – 2 Great Purposes for Such Great News
“And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;’”
Geldenhuys: The extreme simplicity of the narrative forms the strongest contrast to the stupendous significance of the occurrence that is recounted.
2. (:11) Substance of the Announcement
“for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Donald Miller: Jesus’ birth is set over against Caesar, too, because Jesus is a “Savior” (vs. 11). Augustus was called “savior.” His word was called “gospel”. But Augustus’ “good news” would ultimately turn to bad news. His “salvation could not meet the deepest needs of men. His kingdom could not last. Here was the true “Savior,” sent from God, who should meet men at the deep level of “the forgiveness of their sins” (1:77), “Of His kingdom there will be no end” (1:33).
3. (:12) Sign Confirming the Announcement
“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.”
This sign also provides the identification for the correct baby
D. (:13-14) Accompanying Angelic Choir Singing Hallelujah Chorus
“And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased.’”
III. (:15-20) BIRTH OF JESUS AUTHENTICATED AND CELEBRATED
A. (:15-16) Authentication
1. (:15) Seeking to Check Things Out
“And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that 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.’”
They immediately determined to go and investigate what they had been told and found things exactly as had been described.
2. (:16) Finding What Had Been Announced
“And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.”
B. (:17-19) Revelation
1. (:17) Communicating the Divine Revelation
“And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.”
Revelation always demands a response:
2. (:18) Response by All
“And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.”
3. (:19) Response by Mary
“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
C. (:20) Celebration
“And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”