Luke 2:1 - 20 GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
I. THE PROMISE OF THE SAVIOUR.
{A Saviour} "The word properly denotes such a Saviour as perfectly frees us from all evil and danger, and is the author of perpetual salvation." (Adam Clarke Commentary)
(a). The Old Testament Recounts The Promise.
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isa 9:6 For unto us a CHILD IS BORN, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
(b). The New Testament Records The Promise.
1. The Angels Announced His Birth.
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Luke 2: 9-11 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
2. The Shepherds Acknowledged His Birth.
Luke 2:16-17, And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
3. Herod Abhorred His Birth.
Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
II. THE PROVIDENCE OF THE SAVIOUR.
Note :- (a). His Personality.
Luke 1:32 HE SHALL BE GREAT, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
(b). His Piety.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
(c). His Power
Rom 1:4 And DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
John 2:19 JESUS answered and said unto them, DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, and in three days I will raise it up.
Acts 13:33 “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; ....”
Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. III. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE SAVIOUR. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. A. The Solace Of The Message "good tidings" The gospel of the grace of God is not good advice. It is good news, The good tidings of grace declare that all the law and prophets are fulfilled in Christ. B. The Supremecy Of The Message “good tidings of great joy.” · Not carnal joy, but spiritual joy · Not pretend joy, but real joy · Not temporary joy, but lasting joy · Not small joy, but great joy, even joy unspeakable, and full of glory C. The Sufficiency Of The Message “to all people.” it does bring this great joy to… · All Nations. · All Classes. · All Sinners. D. The Sovereignty Of The Message 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 1. The “you” unto whom Christ was born, whom he came to save, is God’s elect, his people, the seed of Abraham. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Hebrews 2:14-16 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 2. This One of whom we speak is “a Saviour.” – A Saviour is one who saves! 3. Our Saviour is the Christ. – God’s anointed! 4. This man who is our Saviour, anointed of God, is the Lord. · The Lord our God. · The Lord our Righteousness. · The Lord of All. Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” E. The Significance Of The Message, It is the revelation and declaration of the glory of God in Christ. We see the wisdom and power of God in creation. We see the justice and truth of God in the law. We see the holiness and righteousness of God by nature. But the glory of God is nowhere seen, as it is revealed in the coming, obedience, and death of Christ as the sinner’s Substitute. Isa. 45:20; Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. Rom. 3:24-26. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Only at Calvary do we see all the infinite perfections of God’s glorious, holy Being in complete and perfect harmony.
· His wisdom and prudence in the scheme of redemption. · His mercy, and love, and grace in giving his Son to be our sin-atoning sacrifice. · His justice and truth in the execution of the Redeemer. · His immutability and faithfulness in forgiving sin for Christ’s sake. Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. F. The Serenity Of The Message. – “on earth peace.” The gospel nowhere promises political peace, civil peace, domestic peace, or carnal peace of any kind. Our Lord said, “I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Eph. 2:14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 1. Jesus Christ our Lord, our Daysman, our Mediator, our Substitute has made peace between the holy God and fallen sinners, by the blood of his cross. · Legal Peace · Lasting Peace 2. Christ, who is our peace, gives us peace, peace that passeth understanding. · The Peace of His Pardon · The Peace of His Providence · The Peace of His Presence 3. The Lord Jesus Christ establishes peace between men Col. 3:10-11. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. G. The Simplicity Of The Message 4 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men John 6:37-40 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. IV. THE PURPOSES OF THE SAVIOUR.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is BORN THIS DAY in the city of David A SAVIOUR, which is CHRIST THE LORD.
Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.
(a). His Purpose Was To Reveal God.
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
(b). His Purpose Was To Redeem Us.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, THOU ART WORTHY to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for THOU WAST SLAIN, and HAST REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
(c). His Purpose Was To Represent Us.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an HIGH PRIEST which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
