How personal is Christmas to you?
Luke 2:1-20
Introduction
Re: During our service, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper
I encourage you to listen for the voice of the Lord and respond as He leads
Open your bibles with me to Luke, Chapter 2
Today, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
As a Christian, today is a wonderful day for us to celebrate and remember
It is the day we see for ourselves how much God truly loves us
A love so deep that He would send His son to be born; to die for us
We celebrate Christmas not around a man named Santa Claus
But around a man named Jesus Christ who is the very son of God
He left the splendor of Heaven to come to Earth to dwell among us
And finally, He offered his life as a sacrifice for our sins (payment we owed)
Christmas is a joyous occasion – we should get excited about its meaning
Because of Christmas, the forgiveness of God is possible
Because of Christmas, Jesus could die on the cross & we have salvation
Because of Christmas, His resurrection finishes our faith; eternity with Him
The excitement of Christmas must be more than just gifts and stuff!
Read Luke 2:1-20 / Pray
Point 1 – Journey to Bethlehem (v1-7)
Mary and Joseph were traveling together because they were being obedient They submitted to the authority of Caesar who required a census for all
Joseph, being from Bethlehem, to them both to register in that city
IMP: What is about to be fulfilled was prophesized by Micah
Micah would’ve preached this message around the same time as Isaiah
They are considered contemporaries; were given similar visions by God
Go back a few books in your bible to Micah, Chapter 5:2-5 (READ)
I always find it interesting how God got Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem
We know they lived in Nazareth, which puts them 69 miles away
For the average person, this would mean several days of traveling
To travel for a census would’ve been a long journey for anyone to make
Perhaps as much as a week would be needed to make the journey
Often, we picture Mary at 9 months pregnant on the back of a donkey
However, the Bible does not confirm that as a fact for us here
She was indeed pregnant, and Joseph had not married her (still a virgin)
They could’ve been there for several weeks; we just don’t have a timeline
And all we know is while they were there, the time came for labor to begin
On this special night, God adorned Himself as His creation, and was born
When God announces something – we can count on it not being small
Point 2 – A Triumphant Entrance (v8-14)
Re: The lowest job in society during this period would’ve been a shepherd
They lived in the fields, more than likely had no other place to live
They were charged with keeping animals (someone else’s) safe from harm
I believe they were chosen because God also comes for the outcasts
God comes for the broken, who need hope, who feel life’s forgotten them
Tending their sheep, the sky would’ve exploded as bright as noonday
Re: Whenever God’s angels appear to man, he leads with, “Fear not.”
APP: God’s plan is not to scare you, but to offer you to receive Him
The angel announces the birth of the Messiah (Christ means Messiah)
He says to look in the town of David, for a baby has been born there
He implies they should go (“you will find”) and describes him perfectly
Laying in a manger, wrapped in cloths, is where he will be found
This … is humbleness exemplified. God’s son, in an animal’s feeding bin
How do we know that Christ came to serve? His entrance is exhibit #1.
(v13) Suddenly, Heaven explodes into song to rejoice at this news … Why?
The realization that God’s plan of redemption had been put into motion!
Heaven (the angels) knew God’s love for His creation (they witnessed it)
Their joy would be overflowing to see God make a way for His people
Certainly, seeing this first-hand would’ve caused a massive celebration
All of heaven, in one voice proclaimed: (v14) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Glory to God? YES! Re: We haven’t done a single thing here to be praised
Heaven proclaims the majesty and the splendor of what God has done
For you and I, this gives us a challenge to not take credit for His work
It also gives us a charge that we can apply today …
The shepherds had one thought in mind: “Let’s Go!”
Point 3 – Go, Spread the Word! (v15-19)
They make their way to see Him, from that visit, proceeded to tell anyone
I find it amazing that these lowly men would suddenly be heralds!
No one wanted to be in their company in the first place …
And now, they are God’s first eye-witness reporters (there’s hope for us …)
Everyone they spoke too probably had different reactions to this story
Some probably were in disbelief, some were curious, and some rejoiced
But for them, they had to go and tell what they had seen (were excited to go)
Let me ask you: Who have you told? Look at me: It’s Christmas day!
Something else happens here for us to take a lesson from
We must look deeper than just the words on the page (re-read verse 19)
Mary saw all these things happening (the birth, the angels, the star, and the shepherds coming) and she pondered on them in her heart. She pondered what the Lord had given her, she pondered what she saw others do to honor her Son, and I’m sure she pondered her own responsibility of raising Him.
I wonder, if she fully understood what He would do?
I wonder if she knew that he would be called, “The Great I Am”?
Did she ponder the thoughts that her Son would perform great miracles?
Who would one day have millions of followers; freely giving His life for all
Could she comprehend that 2000 years later he’d be pushed aside?
That the very Messiah of God would be traded for a holiday about money?
I believe that Mary knew; God revealed it to her so she could understand
And with that knowledge, she raised Him with God’s favor and guidance
She did what God asked … will WE respond to God the same way?
What will we see if we are asked by Him, “What did you do with my Son?”
Invitation
Today, only you can make the decision to celebrate the birth of Jesus
Only you can choose to obey and tell others what He has done for you
I want to invite you to consider (to ponder) what Jesus did for you
What does His life mean to you? What does His death mean to you?
What could we possibly give Him back in return for all that He has done?
CALL: You could give yourself … your life … your devotion … to Him
(Invite Mike to come) Let me ask you to close your eyes and ponder …
During our invitation, we will take communion together (examine yourself)
We have heard the Christmas story more than once in our life
We know the players, the reason, the outcome, and the celebration before us
We know Jesus was born so that His death would forgive our sin
But, if we never repent and ask for forgiveness, we are not forgiven
We have a responsibility to come to Him, to bow down, to worship …
APP: God desires that we would come to Him, know Him, lean on Him
He demonstrated this by giving us His most precious gift: His Son Jesus
There is no sin that God cannot forgive … nothing is beyond His reach
But if you do not ask to be forgiven, it is still unresolved and unforgiven
Do you need to receive God’s incredible gift? Do you need forgiveness?
Do you need to be honest before the Lord and humble yourself at His feet?
I challenge you to ask for that forgiveness on this wonderful Christmas day
Lord’s Supper
