This time I invite you to turn in your Bibles with me to Luke chapter 2. I'll begin reading at verse 1 to verse 20. If you're using a pew edition of the Bible, it's found on page 1018. Luke chapter two, beginning at verse one, beautiful passage, narrative of the birth of our Lord and Savior. Let us now hear God's word. In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, And the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. and the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Thus far the reading of God's holy word may add his blessing upon the reading and preaching or teaching and preaching of it. Congregation of Christ What would life be like for you in 2020 if there were no birth of Jesus Christ and the life of Jesus Christ and the cross of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of Christ? What would life be like for you if our gracious God didn't send forth his son? If you stop to take time and think about that, reflect upon that, what would life be like for you if this event in human history did not occur? What would it be like for you? God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes on him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Without the birth of Jesus, and all the works of Christ that follow, life would be meaningless, hopeless, there would be much despair. But at the right time in human history, according to God's providence, His perfect plan, He sent forth His Son, born of a woman. Born at the right time. When we read a passage like this, and I'm sure we've read it numerous times in our lives, many of you have grown up in the church, you've read this story in your Sunday school classes, you've heard it preached, taught, you've talked about it at the dinner table. Have you noticed the providence of God in how He brought about the birth of the eternal Son of God? Have you reflected upon all the ways in which God has worked in order for this moment of history to occur? To occur to the glory of His name, but for your salvation. For my salvation. This is a beautiful narrative. It's a climax to the entire Bible. You want to know where the climax is in the Bible? It's here when Jesus comes, his first advent. It is here in the historical setting. is important as we reflect upon this passage of Scripture. I want to look primarily at verses 1 to 7. These verses will constitute the sermon text. And the first point is the historical setting of Jesus' birth. because it matters. God's purposes and plans come to pass through the events of human history, bringing together these events, peoples, places, in order for the birth of Jesus to fulfill the Old Testament promise. This most certainly can be said of the circumstances and events surrounding Jesus' birth in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary. The Old Testament scriptures teach that the child will be born in a town of Bethlehem. In these verses one through three, if you look at your Bible with me, in those days the decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria and all went to be registered each to his own town. This is the historical setting of Jesus' birth All in the Roman world, this is being referred to, are to be registered. There's a census to be taken. What is this, boys and girls? A registration. They would enter into the public record all the men, the names of the men, their property that they owned, and the income, what they made for a living. All that was to be recorded for the purpose of taxing them. for the purpose of taxation. And we see in our text that all in the Roman world should be registered to determine that. And each man went to his father's town to be registered. And this was the time when Quirinius of Syria was governor of Syria. Now there's some debate here about whether Luke's history is correct, because according to the historian Josephus, Quirinius wasn't the governor at the time of the census. But I'll just say this, that first and foremost, Luke's history is God's word, and God does not err. I'll just leave it at that. I'll just leave it at that. But we see here, most importantly, that at the time of Jesus' birth, the historical setting, Caesar Augustus was the emperor. His birth name was Gaius Octavius. He was the great nephew of Julius Caesar, who was the Roman Republic leader of the time. And he then became, Caesar Augustus became Julius' adopted son eventually. Octavius was then given the name Octavian. And in his early years, he was a vicious man, always seeking to be ruthless in order to gain himself up the ladder in politics and in leading the governments. So he was a ruthless man. But when Julius Caesar died, Caesar Augustus, or Octavian, became the leader. He became the king. And he expanded that kingdom and made it into an empire. And he became the first Roman emperor. This is important. The historical setting is important. Here we have a man who worked himself up the ladder. became a Roman emperor and given the name by the Roman Senate, Caesar Augustus. Augustus means magnificent or exalted one. Think about that for a moment and what God is doing. They declared him to be a God. They called him Pontificus Maximus, the high priest, the highest of priests. So here the Roman emperor is considered what? He's considered a god, a high priest, the one who rules a kingdom, an empire, and God uses this emperor to decree a census so that the Christ child would be born in Bethlehem. God's ways are amazing. Because in His providence and power, He uses Augustus, He uses heathen kings, pagan kings, in order to fulfill His purposes and plan. And we see it at work here in the historical setting. God's ways are truly amazing because unbeknownst to Caesar Augustus, a great king, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings will be born in Bethlehem. He will establish his kingdom, the kingdom of Christ. Augustus' kingdom was small, infinitely small compared to the kingdom of Christ. And we mustn't miss the providence of God at work in the historical setting that surrounds the birth of Jesus. Because Augustus, the magnificent one, the excellent one, the high priest of the Roman Empire, has nothing on Jesus. Amen? He has nothing on Jesus. No king, no ruler has one thing on Jesus. And we see This King of King and Lord of Lords being born in a humble town, a small town, Podunk Judea, a town called Bethlehem. What's the significance then of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem? Verse four, look with me in your Bible. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. In obedience to the governing authorities, Joseph travels to Bethlehem, 90 miles of hard terrain, through the hill country, to get to Bethlehem, which means house of bread. Did Mary have to go? No, she didn't. It wasn't necessary. However, she travels with Joseph about four to seven days, and she's very pregnant. Ladies, think about that for a moment. There were no comfortable SUVs. There were no comfortable minivans available. 90 miles, four to seven day journey. And she's very pregnant, making the long, dangerous journey through the hill country. But by God's grace, he arrives safely with Joseph and the unborn child in the city of David. Bethlehem. Bethlehem. Bethlehem, the house of bread, where the bread of life is born. Jesus. It was called the city of David because that's where David, King David, the great king of Israel was born. That was his hometown. And God promised David that his son will be the future eternal king to his throne. That a son from his body will come. Now Joseph we see in our text is from the house and lineage of David. And so he goes to be registered there. But Mary also At Luke chapter 3, there's a genealogy of Jesus, which I believe is a genealogy that relates Mary to David's line as well. So Jesus then is the true son of David. He is the true son. And he will be called no less than 14 times in the New Testament, the son of David. in fulfillment of God's promise in the Old Testament. The Messiah is the son of David, and here the Christ child arrives in Bethlehem to be born according to the Old Testament promise. You see, he must be from King David's very ancestry and family. And that's what God does. And he works out all the events in history with people and places in order for this child to be born in this place and to be called the son of David and to be the son of the Most High God. God is good. God is amazing. He is amazing. Furthermore, his birth in Bethlehem. The significance of Bethlehem is that it fulfills Micah chapter five, verse two and following. Listen to what is said here. And then also think about the historical context which we spoke of earlier. In Micah chapter five, verse two and following, we read this. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me, one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient of days." In other words, friends, the ruler born in Bethlehem is none other than the eternal Son of God. Caesar has nothing on Jesus. Jesus is the true exalted one, the true eternal God, who is from ancient of days. Well, Micah continues in the prophecy, therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth, then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel, and he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord. He will lead the people in truth and righteousness. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. His kingdom is greater than all the earthly kingdom of the world. And then he concludes, and he, this ruler, this great shepherd, shall be their peace. we will know the peace of Christ, a peace that passes all understanding, a peace given to us by the Spirit of God through faith in Christ in our hearts. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is the beginning of God's work of salvation that is for everyone who believes. the significance of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. Again, foretold by the Old Testament scriptures, God delivered his promise. Lastly, the humble birth of our Lord and King. Look at verse six and seven with me. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. Notice firstborn son there. Mary had other children and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, cloths, and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. This was a humble birth. The time is at hand for Mary to give birth. You know, today when couples Receive the news of a child in the womb. They're expecting. What happens? Preparations are made. Preparations are made before the due date. There are plans. Bags are packed. Nurseries are painted. You even have the birthplace determined. You know which hospital you're going to. You probably even did a tour of the hospital by a nurse. Everything is planned out accordingly. Joseph and Mary, this isn't the case for them. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but the Lord directs his steps. And there they find themselves in the small town of Bethlehem and were unable to secure a room in the inn. And this word inn can mean guest room. It's the word used for upper room where the supper of the Lord was had with the disciples. I don't think the person at the desk of the inn was being rude or unkind. There just wasn't room there. There wasn't space available there. And we've got to remember that there was a registration that was taking place here. And so because of that, there were Roman government officials there. There were Roman soldiers there. The hotels were full. Places were full. It was hard to find a place to stay the night. And so for them, they ended up in a place of humble means, of a humble place, like perhaps a cave, which was common in those days, or it could have been a stable for cattle or for animals. We don't know exactly what kind of place was it. We know that there was a manger, a feeding trough for animals. In fact, in caves they used to carve out mangers or feeding troughs into the cave for the flocks, for the cattle. But this is a humble birth of a king, isn't it? The Son of God assumed or took on our human nature and flesh in Mary's womb and was born in the most humble and lowly manners possible and lay in an animal's feeding trough. Perhaps Joseph placed hay in that manger, laid the child in there, looked at that child, played with the child, but in that manger was Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of the Most High. a humble birth for a humble king. Here the king of Israel lie, here the king of heaven and earth lie in a manger. Yet there's no pomp or show, there's no glitter or balloons, there's no welcome party, no fancy baby wear, no expensive fine clothes made of purple that are fit for a king or prince, no cradle There's a manger, a feeding trough, and there is no palace. This speaks of a humble birth, because his birth was one of humiliation, and this Jesus was acquainted with humiliation. He lived in a state of humiliation from the time of his birth to the grave. He was acquainted with much grief, as the prophet Isaiah says. His entire earthly ministry was a life of humiliation and hardship. And it began at the incarnation of Jesus, at His birth, when He became a servant, a servant, to give His life as a ransom for many. Friends, He didn't come to be served like a king. He came to serve and give His life. This is Jesus, the baby in the manger and his mission. He didn't come with a whole army of heavenly angels so that he might conquer evil and Satan. No, he came in humility, in humiliation to be our humble king whose earthly mission, whose mission was to glorify the Father, to do his Father's will by laying down his life as a ransom for many. so that we might know the forgiveness of sins and granted eternal life. And so he's born in humility, in humiliation, in the manger in Bethlehem, according to the promises given to the fathers, according to Abraham's Abrahamic covenants. He died a humiliating death on the cross. He was buried. See, we cannot separate the humiliation in his birth and the humiliation he endured at the cross and at the burial. We can't divorce these events from his birth, his burial, and then to his subsequent resurrection from the dead and ascension to the right hand of the Father. Otherwise, the story is incomplete. It leaves us wanting. We need the whole story, the whole Christ. It begins with the Christ incarnate, born in the manger. About a month ago, in Texas, a homeowner's association gave a household, a family, a fine. Why'd they find them? Well, the homeowners said that they needed to take down the cross that was on their lawn, not because they were against Christianity, but because it was the wrong time of the season. They needed a nativity scene out there first, not a cross, because it was the wrong time of the season. The nativity scene points to what Jesus will eventually do. He was born to die for sinners like you and me. He was born to live a perfect righteous life, God with us, to save us from our sins, to give us life. And God gave us the greatest gift of all, the Lord Jesus Christ, over 2,000 years ago. He gave. But love is. Love is sacrificial. Love gives. God gave you, Christian. Gave His Son to die for you. That's what this little child in the manger will accomplish. Paul says, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, the Eternal Son was rich, yet for your sake, Christian, became what? Poor. Poor. So that you, by His poverty, might become rich. A person can have the whole world and all of its treasures and be utterly lost, be spiritually bankrupt, spiritually poor. But in Christ, and through faith in Him alone, we are made rich. Because Jesus is our matchless and priceless treasure who makes the spiritually poor spiritually rich by His grace. He entered the world in the most humble and lowliest of manners. Perhaps in a cave, perhaps in a cattle stall. perhaps in the courtyard of the inn where the livery was, where the place was where they kept the horses and camels for the people who were staying at the inn. But it was a place where a king is not typically born. He entered the world as servant so that we are made to be kings and priests unto our God. He was raised from the dead and given the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and tongue confess that He is Lord. He is King. Is He King? Is He Lord of your life? Does He reign and rule in your hearts, friend? To have Jesus as Savior is also to have Him as Lord. We call Him Savior, but He has to be Lord too. Is He Lord of your life? Does He dwell in you by the Spirit? verses eight and following, we have a beautiful picture of the majestic angels lighting up the dark night of the sky and proclaiming the good news of the Savior's birth, singing, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is well pleased. And the angels tell the shepherds of this Savior's birth, and they go see the Savior, they see Christ the Lord, and they rejoice, they praise the Lord. You and I have heard the wonderful news of Jesus' birth and what it means for you and me. What is our response to this good news? Is it worship? Is it praise? Is it adoration? Two weeks ago, I illustrated a point by using a song entitled, What If God Were One of Us, which was sung by Joan Osborne. I shared some of the lyrics of that song. What if God were one of us? Well, God became one of us and dwelt among us and died for us sinners or believers. God is one of us, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and now who sits bodily in his resurrected and glorified body at the right hand of the Father, and yet remains in us and with us by the power of his Spirit, for he is Emmanuel, God with us. God with us. And this Christmas, in this Christmas season, maybe you need to reflect on your life. Perhaps this is the first time you've heard the Christian message in this way. Perhaps you've only known this Jesus as that cute baby in a manger and has seen nativity scenes and, oh, he's just a baby. Oh, he's Savior. but haven't seen him as Lord and haven't trusted in him for forgiveness and for eternal life. Perhaps those watching via live stream, you too haven't trusted in Jesus. Now is the hour, now is the hour of salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Believe in this Christ who was born in Bethlehem according to the scriptures. Believe in him, amen. Let's pray. Oh, Father in heaven, we glorify your name. We praise you, oh Lord, because you have done wonderful things Too many to count. Your blessings are abundant. Your mercies are new every morning. And we see your great love, your great mercy lavished upon sinners in this narrative of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus. We have read the most glorious story, the most beautiful story of the birth of the one who came for your people so that we might have life, comfort, assurance, hope. Help us, O Lord, to believe and not doubt. Help us, O Lord, to trust in your holy word, to trust in your son, our savior Jesus. Help us, oh Lord, to live according to this holy and divine word, so that we, like the angels, like the shepherds, would glorify you, that like the shepherds would glorify and praise the good and great shepherd of the sheep, The one who truly is our ruler, who leads us in this life, and takes us to our heavenly inheritance. The one who leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. The one who is Jesus Christ. We pray in His name, Amen.