The First Christmas

Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population is approximately 8.3 billion people.  That is an 8, a 3, and 8 zeros (8,300,000,000).

 

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 117 billion people have lived.  That is 117 with nine zeros.

 

Of that 117 billion people who have ever lived, some have been male.  Some have been female. 

 

Some have been red.  Some have been yellow.  Some have been black, and some have been white, but they have all been precious in God’s sight!

 

Some have gone on to be doctors.  Some have been lawyers.  Some have been Indian chiefs.

 

However, there is no more significant birth or child in all of human history than the one we celebrate this Christmas season, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ.  Today, let’s remember the first Christmas in the gospel of Luke and chapter 2.

 

 

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

1 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.

 

The word incarnation means became flesh.  The Christmas story is about God becoming a man.

 

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.

 

First, as it relates to the incarnation of God, I want you to see is that it was prophesied in the Old Testament.

 

By leaving Nazareth, but unbeknownst to Joseph, he was following the predetermined plan of God revealed in the Old Testament.  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.”

 

Second, I want to remind you that the incarnation of God was conceived by the Spirit. 

 

Verse 5 tells us that Mary was with child on this trip.  It is very difficult for us to even imagine this young, teenage mother 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.  It was miraculous!

 

Had she been with another man and unfaithful to Joseph?  No. 

 

Had Mary and Joseph consummated their marriage? No.

 

Even though they were legally married, they were still in the betrothal period, and were sexually 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.

 

Third, in the simplicity of two verses (6-7), Jesus was born.  God became flesh. God was incarnated.

 

Verse 7 says Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.  In other words, she would have more. 

 

 

2. The Proclamation by 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 8, we are introduced to a group of shepherds.  They were herding their sheep which is what shepherds did, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and scared them. 

 

In verse 10, the angel began to speak.  He tried to calm the shepherds down and let them know that he had good news or good tidings for them and for us.

 

The first part of the good news is that the Savior was born. 

 

Jesus was 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.

 

The second part of the good news is that God offers salvation 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. 

 

God didn’t just create you for 70 or 80 or 90 years of living on earth.  He created you to live with Him for eternity. 

 

The third part of the good news is that we can be at peace with Him by receiving His Son as our Savior.  Salvation only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

 

Suddenly, in verse 13, 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 human being since Adam has been at odds with God because of sin.  No man has been at peace with God on his own. 

 

However, God has provided a way.  The way is Jesus.

 

The angels exalted God in heaven as they proclaimed Jesus as the only way to be saved.  See Romans 5:1.

 

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

 

Today, on this 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 from 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 15, the shepherds went on their way after the angels left.  They headed to Bethlehem.

 

Verse 16 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 17-18, 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 20, 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 what 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?

 

Will you accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior and the only way to be at peace with God?  Will you share your experience and point others to Jesus who may not know?

 

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