The Story of Christmas

Statisticians tell us that the world’s population will exceed eight billion people in 2023.  That is an eight 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 people, some have been male, and some have been female.  Some have been red, and some have been yellow, and some have been black, and some have been white.  Some have gone on to be doctors and lawyers and Indian chiefs.

 

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

 

 

1. A Baby was Born, 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.

 

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, Joseph was following the predetermined plan of God that we know of from 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 young, teenage 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 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.

 

Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God. 

 

In verses 6 and 7, Jesus was born.  God became flesh incarnate.

 

A baby was born that was a fulfillment of prophecy and conceived by the Holy Spirit.

 

 

2. God was Glorified, 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. 

 

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 the phrase, “good tidings” in verse ten.

 

The first reason that God is to be glorified and is glorified is because when Jesus was born, He was God’s provision for all people to be saved.  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 only 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. 

 

Second, God is to be glorified and is glorified because having a personal relationship with only Son is the only way to be at peace with God.    Look at verses 13-14.

 

Suddenly, 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, goodwill toward men.” 

 

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 Christmas Sunday, 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. Worshippers Witnessed, 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 witnessed Jesus personally.  

 

In verses seventeen and eighteen, they told others about this Savior.  In other words, they witnessed for Jesus publically.  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.  The worshippers witnessed.

 

 

Conclusion

As I conclude this morning, I want you absolutely, positively remember the true story of Christmas on this Lord’s Day.

 

However, as the Body of Christ, we don’t remember the story of Christmas but also the why of Christmas.  Why was Jesus born?

 

He was born to die.  He was born to die on the cross and for our sins.  His mission wasn’t just about the cradle but also the cross.

 

Therefore, 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.  Is He your personal Lord and Savior?   

 

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?