Sermons

The Christmas Story
Luke 2:1-20

 2,000 years ago, a young engaged couple named Mary and Joseph arrived at Bethlehem -- a little village 5 miles south of Jerusalem.  Mary was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem she gave birth to a son. 

This was no ordinary son.  His birth brings good news of a great joy that can be for all people – including you.  So this morning I want to tell you what happened – and help you understand how this birth can bring you great joy.

Let’s turn to Luke 2.  If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hand and we will bring one to you.  Luke 2 is on page 857 in the Bibles we are passing out.

One reason we know what happened 2,000 years ago is because of what Luke wrote down for us.  Luke was a medical doctor.  And he tells us in chapter one that for years he had interviewed eyewitnesses to verify exactly what had happened.

And you are holding in your hands the results of his investigation.  So let’s take a look at what he said.

First of all, Luke says this actually happened – in history.

If someone starts a story with “once upon a time” – we know it’s just a fairy tale.  It didn’t really happen.  But look at Luke starts off this story – in vv.1-2 --

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.

Luke is talking about real people – Caesar Augustus – who was Roman Emperor from the year 27 BC to the year 14 AD – and Quirinius – who was governor of Syria at this time.  And he’s talking about real events – like the first registration under Quirinius.

So Luke is not talking about a fairy tale or a fable.  He’s talking about something that actually happened in history.

Then Luke introduces Joseph and Mary – in vv.3-5 --

3              And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

So everyone had to return to the city where his family first came from, to register for taxes.  V.4 --

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.

So Joseph and Mary were betrothed, which means engaged to be married.  They were living in Nazareth, which is up here in northern Israel.  But because of the census they had to travel down to Bethlehem, which is where Joseph’s family first came from.

And Mary was pregnant.  She was going to have a baby.  Now this was unusual, because they weren’t married yet.  But Luke has already told us back in chapter one how she got pregnant.  Look at what he says in v.26 of chapter 1 –

26            In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

27            to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.

28            And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"

29            But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

30            And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31            And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

32            He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

33            and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

34            And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

35            And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.

36            And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

37            For nothing will be impossible with God."

38            And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

So the Holy Spirit miraculously caused Mary to conceive.  Which shows that this baby was no ordinary baby.  He is “the Son of God.”  Fully man, yes.  But at the same time fully God.

Now with that in mind let’s turn back to Luke 2.  In vv.6-7 Luke tells us that Mary gave birth --

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.

A manger is a feeding trough for animals.  It’s where you would put hay so the cows could eat.  And the reason her baby was laid in a manger was because there was no room for them in the inn – the hotel was full. 

But the hotel manager said they could stay in the barn with the animals.  So they went to the barn, and when Mary gave birth, she laid her baby on the hay in the manger.

Now at this point Luke takes us away from the manger, and out into the fields outside Bethlehem – and tell us what happened to some shepherds – look at vv.8-14 --

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 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!"

Angels are massive, powerful, shining spiritual beings who passionately worship God and are sent by God into the world to do His bidding.  And while Mary and Joseph and their baby are in a barn in Bethlehem – God wants to send angels who will announce what this is all about.

So who does God send this announcement to?  To shepherds – who were at the lowest rung of social status.  They are poor, ostracized, not politically connected, not famous or well-known.

But by sending these angels to the shepherds God makes a crucial point – to receive the good news of this great joy you don’t need money or power or popularity.  This is good news of great joy for all the people – anyone can receive it.

And notice again what the angel says in vv.10-11 --

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.

Why is this good news of great joy?  He explains in v.11 --

11            For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

It’s because the baby born to Mary and Joseph is Savior, and He is Christ the Lord. 

He is Savior – we have all sinned and turned our backs on God.  And because of this we all deserve punishment from God.  But this baby would die on the Cross and be punished in our place for our sins. 

So if we will turn and surrender our lives to Him in faith – we will be saved from our sins.  We will be forgiven for all our sins.  We will no longer face any punishment for our sins.  We will be adopted into God’s family.  And we will be loved and helped and satisfied in God forever.

And he is Christ.  “Christ” means “Messiah.”  All these shepherds were Jewish.  They knew their Old Testaments.  They knew that one day God would send the Messiah who would be fully God, who would pay for their sins, and whose kingdom would end up spreading throughout the earth, removing the curse of sin, judging the wicked, and remove the curse from earth and bring everlasting peace and joy

And he is Lord.  “Lord” in this context means God.  This baby is fully man – but also fully God.  God has come to earth – to save us, and to transform this world.

That’s why this is good news for all the people.

Then -- to help the shepherds believe it – the angels give them a sign.  “You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a feed trough.”  It’s not everyday that you find a baby in a feeding trough.

Then suddenly this one angel is joined by a multitude of angels all praising God and worshiping – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”

Then Luke tells us what the shepherds did.  Start with v.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.

Picture it.  Shepherds knock on the barn door.  Knock, knock, knock.  Come in!  Hello – we were watching our flocks – and an angel appeared to us.  He told us that this baby is good news of great joy for all the people.  Because unto us there is born today in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Then look at v.18 --

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.

So there’s the story.  And what does this mean for us?  The birth of Jesus that took place in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago still is good news of great joy for all the people.  For three reasons –

This baby is Savior.  All your sins can be forgiven, and you can be adopted into God’s family, if you will come and kneel at the manger and trust your life entirely to Jesus Christ. 

This baby is Christ.  He is the Messiah whose rule will never end, and will end up removing all wickedness and creating the new heavens and new earth in which those who trust Him will enjoy His love and goodness forever.

This baby is Lord.  God in the flesh.  You don’t need to wonder if there is a God.  God Himself has come to earth in the person of Jesus.

So this Christmas season, enjoy family and friends and gifts and food.  But that’s not where great joy is found.  Your great joy is found in the Savior who is Christ the Lord.