The Christmas Story

Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population exceeds seven billion people.  That is a seven with nine zeros. 

 

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 105-110 billion people have ever lived.  That is one hundred and five with nine zeros.

 

Of that one hundred and five billion, some have been male and some have been female.  Some have been red and yellow and black and white.  Some have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs.

 

However, there is no more significant birth than that we celebrate this time of year, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ.  This morning, we consider the Christmas story.

 

 

1. The Incarnation of God, Luke 2:1-7

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

In the first three verses of this chapter, we see the context for Joseph and Mary getting to Bethlehem.  A census was being taken, and we can conclude that Joseph owned property in Bethlehem.  Therefore, he had to go there to register his family.  Rather than leave Mary behind and be absent at the birth of his son, Mary went with him to Bethlehem.

 

The first detail about the incarnation of God that I want you to see is that it was prophesied in Scripture.  By leaving Nazareth but unbeknownst to Joseph, he was following the predetermined plan of God that we saw from last week’s presentation.  See Micah 5:2.

 

Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

 

The second detail that I want to remind you of is that the incarnation of God was conceived by the Spirit.  Verse five tells us that Mary was with child on this trip. 

It is very difficult for us to even imagine this thirteen or fourteen year-old mother to be walking and or riding on a donkey for any prolonged period of time at nine months pregnant.  However, that is what we have here, but don’t forget how this happened. 

 

Had she been with another man and unfaithful to Joseph?  No.  Had she and Joseph consummated their marriage?  No, they were still in the betrothal period and sexual pure.  See Luke 1:35.

 

Luke 1:35, And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

 

Jesus can be conceived by the Spirit of God. 

 

Finally, in the simplicity of two verses, Jesus is born.  God becomes flesh incarnate. Verse seven says Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.  In other words, she would have more. 

 

However, this one verse is all there is specifically addressing the birth of Jesus.  Matthew’s gospel only has three verses.  Keep in mind, the birth of Jesus was not supernatural.  It was His conception that was supernatural. 

 

A third detail that I want you to be aware of regarding the incarnation of God is that Jesus was adopted by Joseph.  I want you to know going into 2016 that adoption is near to the heart of God.

 

Jesus was adopted, and Paul uses the imagery of adoption when he refers to what God our Father has done in our life through salvation.

 

 

2. The Proclamation of the Angels, Luke 2:8-14

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!” 

 

Beginning in verse eight, we are introduced to a group of shepherds.  They were herding their sheep which is what shepherds do, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and scared them. 

 

By the way, you will never find an instance in the Bible when people encounter angels and are not scared out of their mind.  If someone today tells you that they saw an angel, ask them if they were scared out of their mind.  If they say no, it probably wasn’t real. 

 

In verse ten, the angel began to speak.  He tried to calm the shepherds down and let them know that he had good news.  He literally uses that phrase, “good news” or “good tidings” in verse ten.

 

Here is the first part of the good news.  God incarnate or Jesus has been born, and He is the Savior for all people.  He isn’t just the Savior for a few or for a certain denomination or a certain race or a certain social-economic class.  Regardless of who you are and where you’re from and what you’ve done, Jesus came to be your Savior.

 

However, the salvation that Jesus offers is applied to those who believe.  He is a Savior sent for you, but you have to make the personal decision to receive Him into your life or trust in Him as Lord and Savior or call on Him to be saved from your sins.  I can’t do it for you.  It isn’t applied to you just because of what your parents have done or who your grandfather was. 

 

Third, the salvation that comes through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus is the only way to be at peace with God. 

 

Suddenly, in verse thirteen, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the original angel.  Was this fifty more?  Was this one hundred more?  Was this one thousand more?  Probably, it was the latter.  Thousands and thousands of angels began to exalt the Lord in song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 

 

Every man since Adam has been at odds with God because of sin.  No man has been at peace with God on his own.  God has now provided a way.  The way is Jesus.  He is the one and only way to be at peace with God the Father. 

 

Morality won’t do it.  Ingenuity won’t do it.  Ancestry won’t do it.  The angels exalted God in heaven because only Jesus would do it.  He is the only way.  See John 14:6.

 

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Today, on the Sunday before Christmas, I extend an invitation to you to be saved.  Jesus came to save you, but you have to receive Him.  You have to accept His invitation.  The salvation that Jesus offers is only applied to your life when you personally believe in Him.  Will you do that today?

 

 

3. The Exaltation of the Shepherds, Luke 2:15-20

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

 

In verse fifteen, the shepherds go on their way after the angels left.  Verse sixteen says they came to Joseph and Mary and the baby, and they told them all that the angels had said.  Therefore, the shepherds experienced Jesus personally.  

 

In verses seventeen and eighteen, they told others about this Savior.  In other words, they shared their experience.  Isn’t that all that evangelism or witnessing is…sharing your experience with Jesus? 

 

In verse twenty, the shepherds then left, and they went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.  Ultimately, they exalted God for He had done in providing for them a Savior. 

 

Conclusion

So my question for you this morning is simple.  How will you respond to the story of the most significant birth in all of human history?

 

For some of you that means accepting the invitation that God offers to you of eternal life through a personal relationship with Jesus.  He came to be the Savior of the world.  However, He can only be your Savior if you agree to it. 

 

For others, during this Christmas season, will you share your Jesus experience with others?  That is what the shepherds did.  That is what God calls us to do. 

 

Jesus’ birth is the most significant of one hundred and five billion.  What will it mean for you?