Luke 2:1-20 A Trinitarian Christmas: God the Son (audio quality warning)

Note: Apologies for the audio recording quality. The lapel mic failed to pair to the phone and so this is a recording from the phone across the whole sanctuary.Manuscript: J.C. Ryle says, “every birth of a living child is a marvelous event. It brings into being a soul that will never die. But never since the world began was a birth so marvelous as the birth of Christ…it opened to man the door of everlasting life.” – Ryle, Expository thoughts on Luke, 38.· Introduction: Gabriel has come to Mary and said You will bear a son sent by the Father, The Holy Spirit will create life. By the Power of the life-giving Spirit, Jesus will be miraculously conceived according to the scriptures.· We now enter into something very earthy in Luke Chapter 2. Very grounded feeling as Heaven meets earthly realities in a fallen world, receiving her newborn King.· The Birth of Jesus happened in time, with specific people, in specific places, and the message and events of Jesus begin to unfold in very humble, tangible ways. Yes, still with angels, and worship, but also mangers, and family travel plans, government census’, and lodging problems.· Is this not your spiritual life – There is the lightning bolt of seeing your sin and a need for a savior, the desperation of the darkness of your heart, your failures, your sins, and the cry for God to come and forgive, to cleanse, to heal, because you need Jesus. You know that you put him on the cross! “It was my sins that held him there”….And then you enter into a very ordinary life: School. Work. Family. Travel. Kids. Government officials. Some things are good, some things are bad, but your life is different once you are in Christ. The ordinary must be seen in light of the spiritually extraordinary realities of being saved, born again, and living for your Savior and King Jesus, in fellowship and worship with God’s people. Good news! Spiritual Glory meets Earthly Lives in Luke Chapter 2 verses 1-20.Read: Luke 2:1–20Prayer of Illumination#1 The Birth of A Humble King vv. 1-6#2 If Jesus is for the Shepherds, then what? Vv. 8-12#3 Angels Worship, Shepherds Wonder, Mary Ponders (vv.13-20)#1 The Birth of Jesus: A Humble King vv. 1-6[1] In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3] And all went to be registered, each to his own town.* Caeser Augustus formerly “Octavian” considered a good administrator and allowed his provinces a great deal of self-governance in law and religion. And the Lord used him to fulfill Micah 5:2 - unwittingly summoning Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, to begin and 70 mile journey while pregnant.This was “in those days”, that is the days when Herod the great was King of Judah.[Tell 2 Samuel 24 and the fear of a Census ever since David’s….]This actually delayed the enactment of Augustus’ census until Quirinius got their act together to force the census…* earthy, people, time bound, he took on our nature, he entered our fallen world, he submitted to the law of God and the earthly human situation. Census. Taxes. Go to this town for legal reasons. Roman political situations.[ look in verse 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, who was with child. [Pause]. …The household of David returns to Bethlehem to be numbered…and in God’s providence he is born in Bethlehem.A) But he grew up in Nazereth it is only in the Lord’s providence through layers of Roman bureacracy that the census brings him to Bethlehem at the appointed time…a. Matthew later emphasizes the tension people felt: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46) …Jesus is known not as a humble, despised, almost backwater person - as a Galilean [local equivalent? GA > AL > MS > LS??], yet born in David’s city in Bethlehem therefore he is of the line of David and rightfully king, fully meeting messianic expectations the Lord had foretold in the written Word.b. Every step of the way fulfills something. Micah 5:2 says he is born in Bethlehem, he fled to Egypt so the Lord could say, “out of Egypt I called my son.” Then on to obscurity until the time of his ministry.i. It is not so much that Mary and Joseph have a checklist of places to visit Oh we must go to Bethlehem, back to Egypt, and then to Nazareth of Galilee, so much the same way as you may have experienced the Lord’s providence…They received the Notice – A Census is occurring you must go to Bethlehem…ii. And then they understood oh yes Micah 5:2, then breaking news Herod has decreed the death of the boys of Bethlehem you must flee to Egypt to be safe….And then Herod dies it is safe to return…But it need not be Bethlehem you can come home to Nazareth to raise the young boy…iii. Every step of the way providentially orchestrated by the Lord by events well outside Mary’s and joseph’s control. But the tapestry of their history being woven while fuzzy while looking forward at it…yet from behind, became clear as they look back over the shoulders at where the Lord has led them.c. Jesus’ life every step of it is grounded in both earthy history and anticipated predicted prophetic meaning. A King, but a Humble King, the son of God out of Egypt, yet this time the perfect chosen Son.i. Jesus is very aware that His coming is God saying, of all our fears, failures, to all the darkness, to the sin and misery, “fine” I’ll do it myself the eternal son of God will step in and this time he will retrace the physical and spiritual journeys of humanity, of Israel, of the prophets, the kings, and priests but this time It is God saying “I’ll do it myself” in order to save us… Look in verse 6…B) [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.i. Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem, while in Bethlehem she came to the full term of her pregnancy and Jesus was born. Real pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. To not her Only son but her “firstborn” son…Mary has other children of which the gospels name as his brothers….despite objection that those are just cousins. Jesus is Firstborn not only born. Uniquely born yes, but he has true siblings and there is nothing wrong with that and through that we are blessed with James the brother of Jesus writing the book of James.ii. There was no room in the usual second-story guest room, the same kind of “upper room” like where the First Lord’s Supper took place.iii. Jesus is born, swaddled like countless babies through history, and in humble conditions laid in a feeding trough manger….whether in the lower courtyard or in a cave, it does not matter, the detail is given either way to show Humility that is jarring—Christ is born in meekness, humility, and lowliness, and it has been a check on the pride of godly men and godly women for centuries. Your savior was humble. Your king was humble, do not raise your proud eyes and sneer at any condition the Lord places you in when you yourself—a ruined sinner—in a despairing and dark world, were lifted, cleansed, and made a son and daughter of God.1. If the unique only begotten son of God is born in a manger, then we too can be the blessed poor in spirit who are made Sons and Daughters of the Eternal Heavenly Father, united to the Eternal Son, indwelt by the Holy Spirit of Truth and the Lord and giver of life.2. Christ made his home in the manger:a. 2 Cor. 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sake he became poor that you through his poverty might become rich.3. So therefore, meditate deeply in your heart on this fact the King was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. And let that thought fill our adoration and worship4. Do not skip over the actual significance of newborn babies being swaddled. Not just the swaddling clothes but Mary is swaddling Jesus. William Hendrickson notes this simply…He is loved. Jesus is eternally loved by the Father. And in time Mary loves her son and swaddles him to keep him warm and comforted. God is Love and the love Mary felt for the Son of God flows from God to her. The mystery is profound if you wish to meditate on it further.5. Let us follow Christ in humility, and know you are warmly beloved of Christ. The Jesus who loves you was loved by his mother of whom he was also her creator and savior. He knows what it is to receive human love and divine love in the Father…He knows how to love you and sympathize with your frailty and weakness…6. And, he loved you enough to defeat sin and death and swaddle you in righteous robes as sons and daughters of the king. Humilty precedes Glory. Glory flows from the Humilty.iv. God the Son, the eternal word steps into the ring to defeat death, satan, and save his people from their sins….to clothe them in humble, loving, righteousness.v. And then the camera pivots to Shepherds…#2 If Jesus is for the Shepherds, then he is for each of you this morning: a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Vv. 8-12[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.”A) V..8-9 misc…[tell the story of Christmas walk-thru…this is my scene!]a. Who: Shepherds by night…..FLASH. Glory. A Spiritual and powerful being! Glory. Fear.b. Fear Not!c. Good News. Joy!B) V. 8 & 11 If Jesus is “unto you” is for the Shepherds then he is for each of you this morninga. You may know that we think of Shepherds highly, and from paintings fondly now…but that is because of these very events, because of Psalm 23, because Christ is out great Shepherd…But for these Angels this is going to the humble men that much of society would be worried about as dirty and dishonest. Now I don’t want to overplay that hand, though it makes for strong preaching… We don’t have to pretend shepherds were the worst of the worst. They are poor but easily can be honest and good Israelites but of a humble to negative reputation.b. But what the shepherds are not is powerful, wicked King Herod and his court. The angels are not appearing in the middle of the Sanhedrin or among the rulers, or among any of the movers and shakers of the day.c. Unto you, humble, questionable people, a Savior is born. Christ came to save the least to the greatest, and He has done so throughout history. And this morning Christ is born for you, whether you feel the least…or if you feel the greatest, or somewhere in between he is born for you if you would humble yourself.d. It is for All people, it is joyful news, and it is for you if you believe if you trust and rely on the next part.C) a Savior, who is Christ the Lorda. Jesus was born To savei. He is not help….he is not merely a teacher….that is a person who is a great help, a mentor, to you.ii. But what does it mean that he is a Savior. A rescuer.iii. “O Holy Night” – “Long lay the world in sin and error pining” – trapped! Wrong!iv. Saviors rescue those who cannot save themselves. Like from a trap or prison, from war, distress, from defeat. From being conquered to be liberated.v. Sin has conquered and enslaved humanity in darkness.vi. Jesus is Savior, Jesus is also the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed with the oil of God upon his brow to be the King of King who as Lord mounts the great rescue mission of Light breaking in to liberates captives in dark chains to sin.vii. And third…our rescuer is as Thomas says, “Lord”, my Lord and my God.b. My anointed Lord and my God my savior, my King is a baby laying In a manger – He, the eternal Word of God in the manger, the Lord of universe come into the universe.Just as the shepherds eyes adjust to the glory of the one Angel of the Lord…And they receive the standar “fear not.” As they are trying to process the message…Suddenly A Multitude an Army of angels appear on the scene… Look in verse 13.#3 Angels Worship, Shepherds Wonder, Mary Ponders, and We?[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!”[Youtube suddenly decided I wanted to watch Malcolm in the Middle Clips: Dude Ranch, fireworks at night, Komodo 3000, How will we know which one is the Komodo 3000? And all of a sudden night turns to blinding daylights….As the TV crew simply films them in broad daylight before switching back to night time…]I do not know what a multitude of angels glorifying and praising God looks like. But the pillar of fire and cloud, the fiery cloud on mt. Sinai the glory of the Lord descending on the tabernacle, the brightness of Moses’ face as he came down tells us something of the brightness of the weight of glory the shepherds experienced. Being themselves glorious like flame, shining precious like jewels, but more these glorious creatures, angels, if they are the seraphim literally “fiery ones” they themselves shield their faces with their wings in the throne room of God. Because of the intensity of the Holiness and Glory of God.Glory be to God! Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth embrace her King. Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing. Let all creation sing “Glory” …rocks, hills, and trees echoing back this joyous strain to the ears of the shepherds as the voices of the angel echo from creation itself.Glory to God in the Highest….Because the Son of God has become a baby boy….in order to give us who were enemies with God peace with God because he was pleased “as man with men to dwell”There are grammatical questions and even some early manuscript disagreement About the end of verse 14. And simply because of tradition it can sound right or wrong to our ear. Because it is familiar in the KJV. The peace on earth comes from God free and gracious good pleasure towards man. Not because we were particularly pleasing to God. It is all of Grace.You can paraphrase its meaning along the lines of “peace towards those whom God freely loves and delights in in Christ Jesus.”How should we then respond to the announcement of the Gospel. TO the worship of the Angels…Look in verse 15.[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.· We sometimes can have a brief moment of religious wonder, a song moves us to tears, a sunset or sunrise says, God is beautiful and wondrous. Christmas songs stir our hearts to worship Christ. Because he came to rescue us from Darkness…· But as the glory fades….what if the shepherds had just gone right back to their flocks? What if we after Christmas just go right back to ours – as if God and Christ do not exist lives? –· May it never be. May all of Life be lived before the Face of God, to the Glory of God, out of Gratitude for such a great salvation.· So the shepherds say, Let us go to Bethlehem to see! To experientially act on what we have seen!o God has made Known his salvation.o Let us respond to the offer of salvation and go and see!· [ILL: Growing up….Christmas walk-thru…at first we’d just leave quietly….But I think our leader had read the passage… Let us go to Bethelehem! “What about the sheep, Father?” Leave the Sheep! The Messiah only comes once, let us go and see what the Lord has done!]· Haste! Quickly! Today! This hour this moment! Believe the Word of the Lord.· They went and found it exactly as God had said. A Baby boy, swaddled in a manger, in Bethlehem, the Son of Mary of the house of David, the house of the King, Humble….· And they went home and visited the synagogue about once a quarter…complained about Taxes and Herod…· No! They told others. The messiah is born. The savior. The King is born, humble! Salvation has come!· And all who heard Wondered! Marveled! Because they like us wonder at the grace of God, wonder if the darkness in our hearts can be lifted, has the 400yrs of silence ended…Will we really and truly return from Exile. Will the King come to his Holy Temple! Yes and Yes.[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.A) This year I encourage you to treasure these things up in your heart.B) To treasure the word of God, the promises of God, the life of Christ.C) We will be in Mark’s gospel over this next year…But ponder, gather up God’s word throughout the week that you may daily in your hearts ponder, and grown in glorifying and praised God!D) Let the word take root in your heart lest hearing you do not hear and seeing you do not see. And you remain lifeless in darkness and lost in your sins.E) Instead, with Mary Ponder and Treasure the Word this coming year.F) With the shepherds, glorify and praise God for your Savior Christ Jesus.G) The story of Christ as Savior, Messiah, and Lord is only just begun. He will from a humble condition fulfill the Law, fulfill, all righteousness, and like a multi-faceted diamond there is infinite beauty of grace in Christ to turn and examine each day from the Word of God in the events of the life and Christ and all of scripture which points us to him.H) May God add his blessing to the reading and preaching of his word. Will you pray with me?I) PrayerJ) Benediction This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesensley.substack.com