Celebrating the Savior's Bith - Luke 2:1-20 - December 23, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Celebrating the Savior’s Birth – December 23, 2007

Our scripture is Luke 2:1-20.

Our lesson brings us to one of the most magnificent events in all of human history, the birth of the Messiah.

We are not certain of the year, month or the day JESUS was born. Christians chose December 25 in the fourth (4th) century likely to coincide with the winter solstice. The pagans also celebrated a pagan holiday during that same time period therefore Christians decided they would celebrate the birth of CHRIST. Scholars believe that JESUS was born either in the spring or fall of the year because shepherds were in the fields at night. It was a practice for the shepherds to keep their sheep in folds during the winter months from November until March. However there is an exception. Sheep that were used for sacrifices were kept year round in fields in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was about six (6) miles from the temple in Jerusalem. So we do not know the time of the year that JESUS was born. The most important thing is that HE WAS BORN of a VIRGIN in Bethlehem as foretold in the scriptures.

Doctor Luke gives us the historical time period for the birth of JESUS. Luke tells us that JESUS was born while Caesar Augustus was the emperor of the Roman Empire which was from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. Also the scriptures tell us that JESUS was born while Herod was king of the Jews and Quirinius was governing Syria.

Speculation is that JESUS was born about 4 B.C. because Dionysius Exiguus in the sixth (6th) century made a miscalculation.

In the sixth (6th) century Dionysius Exiguus, a monk, lived at the Vatican around 500 A.D. and Pope John I asked him to calculate the dates for Easter for about a 100 year time span. However, while doing his calculations his focus shifted from Easter to December 25, which was the date in 336 A.D. Christians choose to celebrate the birth of JESUS.

In 274 A.D. the Roman Emperor Aurelian established a civic holiday on December 25 to honor the birth of the sun god Mithras. So on December 25, 336 A.D. the Christians in that area began celebrating the birth of the SON of GOD, JESUS.

Any way Dionysius Exiguus created a new calendar using the birth of CHRIST as the dividing date to record history. Thus we have B.C. or “before CHRIST” and A.D. (Anno Domini) Latin for “the year of our LORD” also often referred to as “After the Death of CHRIST.” However, Dionysius Exiguus made a miscalculation in his new calendar, which places the approximate birth of CHRIST about 4 B.C. Never-the-less the birth of JESUS continues to divide and record human history.

Let’s read Luke 2:1-20:
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus[1] Emperor who ruled the Roman Empire 27 b.c.–a.d. 14; also known as Octavian, he established the peaceful era known as the Pax Romana; Caesar was a title of Roman emperors. that the whole empire[2] Or the whole inhabited world should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while[3] Or This registration was the first while, or This registration was before Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was • engaged to him[4] Other mss read was his engaged wife and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn.

GOD uses various means to accomplish HIS plans. HE used Caesar to send out a decree that all must go to the place of their ancestral roots to register. This registration was a census for tax purposes. This meant that Joseph and Mary had to return to Bethlehem because they were of the house of David.

The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 70 miles. Bethlehem is south of Nazareth but it was a climb from 1,830 feet above sea level to 2,564 feet above sea level. (For those in Spartanburg it is about the distance from Spartanburg to Asheville, NC. The elevation from Spartanburg airport to the Asheville airport is 963 Mean Sea Level VS 2,165 Mean Sea Level.)

This was a tough trip for a young pregnant woman. So why did Mary make the trip? There are several possibilities:

(1) The scripture uses the word “everyone” in verse 3. So she may not have had a choice. Mary and Joseph were both of the house of David. This was good because they could both go to the same place to register. There is another reason.

(2) It is likely Caesar required all the descendants of any royal linage to register - men, women, children and expectant mothers bearing a child of royal heritage. Joseph and Mary were of royal lineage coming from the ancestral line of King David.

(3) The registration was also important because the registration would create a record of the royal lineage of Mary, Joseph and the child Mary would soon birth. This would be a record to show that JESUS also came from the lineage of King David for historical purposes. A record of Jewish family heritage was very important to the Jews.

(4) Likely Mary had no choice but to go and register. It was likely mandated by the government. This ensured she would make the trip. Historical records also show that girls 12 years old and older had to pay a tax.

The bottom line, GOD was in control and HE wanted Mary in Bethlehem as foretold in the scriptures. It is likely Mary, who knew the scriptures, had already figured out that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Even though it was a tough trip she wanted to be obedient to GOD. She knew why she had to go to Bethlehem.

When we serve our LORD, we also will face difficult times.

Mary’s time for the birth of JESUS arrived while they were in Bethlehem. They tried to find a room in the local inn but there was no room. Some Bible scholars say the fact that Mary and Joseph were denied a room shows that they were poor. If they had been well off or rich they would have gotten a room. But the innkeeper offered them the place where the animals were sheltered, which was likely a cave carved back into an overhanging rock. The feeding trough was likely part of the cave wall that had been carved or chiseled to make a cut out suitable to hold food for animals.

Mary gave birth to baby JESUS. She wrapped HIM in strips of cloth or swaddled HIM. It is likely that Mary brought the cloth with her since she was getting close to her delivery time. These would have been clean strips of cloth to wrap around the baby to keep HIM warm. These same strips could also have been used to wrap the body of a dead person to prepare him or her for burial. The strips of cloth had a dual purpose to wrap the body of a baby as life begins to keep it warm or to wrap the body of a dead person at the end of life to prepare the body for burial. This is symbolic of JESUS. HE was born for the purpose of giving eternal life to all who believe in HIM by dying for the sins of all mankind. HE is the alpha and the omega or the beginning and the end.

After JESUS was born and was swaddled, Mary laid HIM in a manager or feeding trough. The feeding trough is generally depicted as made from wood but as mentioned earlier it was likely chiseled out as part of the shelter rock wall. I am sure Mary and Joseph made real sure it was very clean and likely lined it with clean hay or straw. It was unusual for a baby to be found in a feeding trough. But it certainly identified the location of baby JESUS for the shepherds.

The birth of JESUS shows the very humble and poor conditions that GOD brought the King of Kings and the LORD of LORD’S into the world so no person could ever feel that JESUS was superior to them. HE came to live and to give HIS life for every human who will ever be conceived upon earth.

Such a humble beginning but GOD can take any life yielded to HIM and make it a life of purpose and meaning. If you have not yielded your life to HIM, do it now.
Baby JESUS was born in Bethlehem. GOD told the prophet Micah that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: (Remember Mary knew the scripture.)

Micah 5:2:
2 [2] Mc 5:1 in Hb Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me.[3] 2 Ch 7:18; Isa 11:1; Mt 2:6 His origin[4] Lit His going out is from antiquity, from eternity.[5] Or from ancient times

Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” Isn’t it fitting that the Bread of Life is born in the “House of Bread?” Bread sustains physical life and all who accept JESUS as their SAVIOR are sustained eternally by the Bread of Life.

1 Samuel 16:1:
1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel?[1] 1 Sm 13:13–14; 15:23 Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons.”

Bethlehem is the birth place of King David. King David was a man after GOD’S own heart but he sinned. He repented of his sin and asked GOD for forgiveness. GOD forgave him but he had to suffer the consequences of his sin. Even though David sinned and suffered the consequences for his sin, GOD made a promise to King David as we see in 2 Samuel 7:16-17.

2 Samuel 7:16-17:

16 Your house and kingdom will endure before Me[12] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read you forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”[13] Ps 89:29,36 17 Nathan (The Prophet) spoke all these words and this entire vision to David.[14] 1 Ch 17:3–15

The prophet Nathan revealed the promise of GOD to King David. This was prophesying that the Messiah would come through the ancestry of King David. We see this prophesy fulfilled and confirmed in the message the angel Gabriel delivered to Mary in Luke 1:32.

Luke 1:32:
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.[13] 2 Sm 7:12–13
GOD is in all things bringing about HIS work and will. HIS ways are different from our ways and HIS thoughts different from our thoughts. When we anticipate how HE is going to accomplish something for us or in our lives, we are most often wrong. HE knows what we need and how we can fit into HIS work. GOD has HIS work going on all around us. We often try to get GOD to do our work and what we think HE should be doing. We need to shift our focus from what we want to what GOD wants for us to do. We need to ask GOD to prepare us, equip us and open our spiritual eyes to see the work HE is doing. Seek the relationship with HIM and then allow HIM to direct your lives as HE chooses. Then at the proper moment HE will open your eyes to HIS work and that will be your opportunity to join HIM in HIS work.

JESUS is born so now it is time, as any proud DADDY would do, tell the world. So does GOD go to the most prominent people in Bethlehem? Let’s see?

Let’s read Luke 2:8-15:
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before[5] Or Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.[6] Lit they feared a great fear 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 today a Savior, who is • Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors![7] Other mss read earth good will to people [8] Or earth to men of good will [9] Lk 12:51 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

No, GOD did not announce the birth of HIS only son to the mighty, prominent, wealthy or royalty but to lowly shepherds. Shepherds were on the low rung of the social latter. They were considered outcasts but important to the Jews because they raised the sheep that were offered as sacrifices in the temple and sheep were a food source. The shepherds were smelly but important. So again GOD chose the lowly and the most unlikely to reveal the fact that HIS SON the Messiah had been born and how they could identify HIM – A baby lying in a feeding trough – This is unusual.

When the birth of JESUS was announced an angel stood before the shepherds. There was a special light that illumined the area. Just as JESUS is the light of the world, HIS birth announcement began with a special light that shone all around. The light illumined the physical area to confirm what the shepherds heard was a special message from GOD. CHRIST illumines the hearts of mankind to confirm the forgiveness of sin when we invite HIM into our hearts.

There was no mistake this message was from GOD. The shepherds were frightened but quickly the angel put their minds at ease. “Don’t be afraid!” The same calming message the angel Gabriel had to give to Zechariah and Mary when he gave them their news. The angel needed to calm them down so they could focus on the message.

The angel told them that the Messiah had been born in the City of David and how to identify HIM. HE is wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough. If JESUS had been born in the inn, the shepherds would most likely have been reluctant to go there because of their social standing. They likely thought, “But go see this baby in a feeding trough? Why not check it out because we are around feeding troughs all day long, this we have to see. Plus this announcement with lights and heavenly beings is so overwhelming we need to check it out to make sure we haven’t been dreaming. Could this be for real?” So they waste no time and immediately leave to find this special baby lying is a feeding trough.

Let’s read Luke 2:16-20:

16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 After seeing [them]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things[10] Lit these words in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

The shepherds confirmed their encounter with the heavenly hosts. They found baby Messiah, just as they had been told. Seeing, they believed.

They saw with their physical eyes and it was confirmed in their hearts because they immediately began telling others about the birth of the Messiah. The shepherds were the first evangelists to spread the good news of the birth of the Messiah. All who heard what the shepherds had to say were amazed.

The shepherds saw and believed. We see with our spiritual eyes and have to make a choice. Do we believe or are we amazed with the story? Many people can accept JESUS intellectually and are amazed with the story. It takes a step of faith to move from knowing about JESUS or having head knowledge about JESUS to having heart knowledge of JESUS. When JESUS is confirmed in your heart it is a knowing that HE is in you and you are in HIM. Through the miracle of rebirth you are born into GOD’S family. You become HIS child the moment you ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into your live.

Romans 8:15-17 tells us:

15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “• Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—seeing that[13] Or provided that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The Apostle Paul captures the purpose of JESUS in Galatians:
Galatians 4:1-7:
1 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. 4 But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman,[1] Gn 3:15; Lk 2:7 born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our[2] Other mss read your hearts, crying, “• Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Ephesians 1:18-19 the Apostle Paul tells us about the eyes of our heart:

18 [I pray]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

It is in the eyes of our heart that our spirit comes into contact with the Spirit of GOD or the HOLY SPIRIT to confirm or deny our relationship with HIM. It is also the place where GOD reveals truth to HIS children and confirms or denies whether or not we belong to HIM.

The shepherds left telling what had happened to them. Mary hid these things in her heart and she treasured all of these moments which confirmed in her heart that she had given birth to the Messiah.

This is true of us today. Even though we are doing the will of the LORD, we often need reminders during some difficult times in our lives. This is why we need to treasure HIS Word in our hearts and the confirmations of the ministry HE has chosen for us.

The shepherds continued to tell the good news to all who would listen. Once we have encountered JESUS we also need to tell the Good News to those we encounter each day as we are led by the HOLY SPIRIT. It may be a word of encouragement. Do not worry if you have not led someone to CHRIST. Just be obedient to what our LORD lays upon your heart to do or say. We may offer a cup of cold water, a gentle smile or a kind word of encouragement. All fits into the plan and work of GOD.

There is no better time than CHRISTMAS to ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life. HE gave HIS life just for you so you can have freedom from the wages of sin, which is death. HIS gift to you is eternal life. But just as with any gift you have to accept it. Unwrap it and get to know HIM as your very best friend by spending time with HIM daily. Tell HIM your most intimate secrets and any hang-ups you have with HIM. HE will help you untangle the complications of life. Study HIS Word and HE will open up to you unspeakable treasures.

Do you have room in your heart for JESUS? Does HE have all the rooms in your heart or do you relegate HIM to the stable? Open up al of your heart to HIM today.

Merry CHRISTMAS to all!!!!!