Bible Study - CHristmas (4) - The Angel's Announcement - Luke 2:1-21 - December 23, 2018

Bible Study – Christmas (4) – The Angel’s Announcement – December 23, 2018

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “The Full Picture of Christmas.”

The focus scripture is Luke 2:1-14.

JESUS came for our salvation.

JESUS left HIS home in Glory to come to earth. How do we know that?                                                                                            

Let’s read what JESUS said to GOD, HIS Father, as HE prayed to HIM as recorded in John 17:4-5:

4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Yes, JESUS chose to leave HIS home in Glory to come to earth to live as 100% human. Why? HE did it just for you. Why? It is because HE loves you and sin alienated you from GOD. The only way you can be redeemed and restored from the consequence of sin is through faith in JESUS. JESUS gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, the penalty for sin, which is eternal death. Did that free you from the penalty of sin? Yes and no! Yes, it opened the path between you and GOD. What does that mean? It means that when you place your faith in JESUS, believing that HE gave HIS sinless life just for you, you are Spiritually born in GOD’S Family and completely redeemed and restored to GOD’S original intent for you.

The miracle of Spiritual rebirth is the eternal conversion of the human spirit by the Holy Spirit when a person places his or her faith in JESUS. The unconverted human spirit is eternal but it has not been converted by the Divine Sperm to become GOD’S Son or Daughter through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. As GOD’S Son or Daughter, the eternal born-again Spirit will live eternally with GOD when you exit your earth suit. Does this sound strange? It is no stranger than the immaculate conception of JESUS by the Holy Spirit coming upon the virgin Mary.

Let’s continue to explore!

Let’s read Luke 2:1-7:

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

The birth place of the promised Messiah had already been prophesied recorded about 700 years earlier. Let’s read Micah 5:2:

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Mary was in Nazareth and pregnant with JESUS, the promised Messiah. How would GOD get her to the birthplace of the promised Messiah? The government played an important role. GOD uses many things to accomplish HIS will and purpose. Maybe you have experienced GOD relocating you from point A to point B to accomplish HIS will and purpose in your life.

Mary and Joseph had to register in the home town of their ancestor David.

It is thought that both Mary and Joseph, as mentioned earlier, were both of the house of David. Plus, I understand in some ancient cultures that women 12 years old and older needed to register and pay taxes the same as men. Bottom line, Mary accompanied Joseph to Bethlehem.

Mary went into labor in Bethlehem and they needed a place to stay. We know that the local inn was full but the stable for the animals was available. It was kept clean and the feeding trough provided a good cradle. GOD’S Son came to earth not to be treated as the Son of GOD and the King of Kings but in humility. This reveals the heart and love of GOD to every person.

Mary gave birth to her first born. This implies there are additional children she birthed, which is true. We read in Matthew 13:53-58:

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there.

54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.

55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Now for the most important announcement for which the world had been waiting. Who would make it known that GOD’S Promised Messiah, GOD’S Only Son, had been born? Surely an earthy king would announce HIS birth. No! It was the most unlikely group. It was shepherds who had the night watch to keep predators from stealing the sheep and killing them. The shepherds were the least likely group because they were thought of as thieves and having low character. Yet, GOD chose them to announce the birth of HIS only Son, JESUS as we read on ------

Let’s read Luke 2:8-14:

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

An angel made the announcement. The angel told the shepherds “Do not be afraid.” “I bring you good news that will bring great joy for all people.” The promised Messiah has been born and the angel was accompanied by a heavenly host that appeared with the angel. The angel identified how they could identify and locate the Promised Messiah as we read verses 11 and 12.

Then to further confirm this event “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” GOD found favor with Mary and those who accept JESUS as their Savior also find favor with GOD. GOD’S favor is HIS Grace. Grace is something no person earns or deserves but a gift.

Where is the “highest heaven?” Do you recall Paul’s testimony of a man he knew as recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:2:

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.

The first heaven is where the clouds and birds are and the second heaven is where the sun, moon, stars, plants and galaxies are. The third heaven in where GOD is.

WOW! This must have been spectacular! It was so profound that it motivated the shepherds to check it out.

Often, spectacular events motivate us to check and verify such events more closely. Often, it leads us to discover the wonders of GOD. GOD’S desire is for all of us to discover HIM and through faith in JESUS to build the right relationship with HIM. Oh, it is not an easy journey but it is the most rewarding journey a person will ever take. In fact, it is an awesome journey.

Salvation is just the beginning of discovering the reality of GOD through faith in JESUS.

[Likely, most of you know this, but the wise men did not arrive to give their gifts to JESUS until JESUS was about 2 years old. We will discuss this in our last lesson in this series.]

Let’s read on in Luke 2:15-21: (So, how did the shepherd respond?)

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

The shepherds took the information the angel gave them and acted on it. That is exactly GOD’S desire for each of us. GOD allows prompts to come into our lives to motivate us and reveal to us HIS plans. How we respond to the prompts in our lives are vital but are also up to us to accept or reject. Responding is an act of faith. What the shepherds had witnessed in the field was so overwhelming that they had all the information they needed to go and witness this event. They had a choice. What would they do?

They responded and went to Bethlehem and found the baby as the angel had described. Notice, they did not “dilly dally,” or question what they heard and saw. They put feet to what they had witnessed and heard. They did not waste time, they “hurried.”

The shepherds reported what they had witnessed to Mary, Joseph and others who may have been around as to why they had come to Bethlehem and that specific stable seeking this special baby. They were overjoyed and it was a confirmation to Mary and Joseph that this baby was truly GOD’S Son. Mary treasured this confirmation.

Recently my wife and I were traveling from one city to another. Roughly a distance of about 200 miles. The weather report was for heavy rains and flooding along the route I wanted to take. I prayed. I asked the LORD to guide our path. I told the LORD that I would put our destination into our GPS and follow it. I did and it took me on a much different route than what I had planned. I am stubborn but I said LORD, “I told you what I would do” and I did it. I followed the route the GPS had given me trusting that it was the route the LORD would have us to take.

When we got to our destination, I turned on the TV and got the news to learn that if we had gone the route I wanted to go, we would have been in heavy rains and flooding. I thanked the LORD for HIS guidance and the fact that I did not lean on my own understanding and go the route I wanted to go. These milestones in our journey of faith confirm our relationship with our LORD and builds our trust in HIM and HIS guidance.

You see, I am stubborn, and stubbornness gets in the way of GOD’S leadership in our lives.

The shepherd’s response and witness were encouragement and confirmation to both Mary and Joseph; truly, JESUS was GOD’S Son.

Did they need this confirmation?  We do not know but scripture reveals that “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” When we journey by faith, confirming milestones along our path are always an encouragement for us.

The shepherds journeyed by faith and discovered truth. When they discovered truth, they shared the good news to all they encountered as they returned to their regular jobs. We are to do the same. Do you know truth? If not seek it. Ask GOD to reveal truth to you and follow HIS lead. Just know that JESUS is truth. Satan would have you to believe otherwise. Do not be misled. Most of us desire confirmation of truth. Once we ask JESUS to forgive us for our sins and for HIM to come into our hearts, GOD gives us the Holy Spirit to indwell us. The indwelling Holy Spirit confirms and guarantees our salvation and that we are GOD’S Sons or Daughters.

Respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit to either accept JESUS as your Savior or to make JESUS the LORD of your life. That is the best way to welcome the King of Kings and LORD OF LORD’S. It is by faith! Then obediently serve HIM and tell others about HIM by the way you live.

Blessings!!!

December 23