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So if you have your Bible, take
it and turn in it to the Gospel of Luke chapter 2. We'll look
at verses 8 through 20 in a message that I've just simply called,
Considering the Christmas Story. And Father, I would just pray
that you would take our hearts collectively captive, Father,
and just speak to us today, Lord. Just wow us with your Word. You're
so good. And we love you so much. And
so we just pray, God, that today, however you want to speak and
whatever way you want to speak, that we would have ears to hear
you, and we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. You know how often we fail, I
have discovered, to pause and let the wonder of the Word of
God resonate in our hearts. And it's probably particularly
true concerning the story of Christmas. You know, we've all
heard it so many times that it can become trite and traditional
as opposed to really miraculous and meaningful. And yet, how
the wonder of the Word of God should fill our hearts when we
consider the story of Christmas. I mean, even in our text today,
we discover that even though everything that was happening
around Mary was going on fast and furious, yet she kept all
these things and pondered them in her heart. She paused to let
the wonder in. She contemplated and meditated
upon the miraculous nature of everything that was happening
around her and within her. And I pray that you find yourself
in much that same way today, pausing to let the wonder in
and reflect on the miraculous nature of everything that's happening
around you and within you. Not taking these things for granted
or as trite and traditional, but wonderful and miraculous
and meaningful. Everything about the Christmas
story should blow our minds. minds. I mean, no sooner than
man sinned than God revealed His plan to send a Savior. There He was, cursing the serpent
for being the agent that caused sin to enter into the world and
deceiving the woman and all of that. And He said, I will put
enmity between you and the woman. and between your seed and her
seed, and he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his
heel." And that right there is an allusion to the virgin birth
from the very beginning. How so? Because the woman doesn't
carry the seed, the man carries the seed. The woman carries the
egg. And so by stating that salvation
would come through the seed of the woman, God was informing
us of something fantastic, of something extraordinary and miraculous. That God would become the Son
of Man, that we through Him, mankind, might become the sons
and daughters of God. And it blows our minds even more
to realize that though God divulged the plan of salvation, even at
the first sin, that before even that, before creation, God had
ordained that Jesus Christ would come, that He would shed His
blood for the sin of the world. I mean, that's what Peter told
us. He said, He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the
world, but was manifest in these last times for you. I mean, think about it. The incarnation
is really presumed from the very idea of our salvation. Because apart from God becoming
a man, how then can He stand in the gap and die on the behalf
of man? You see, if sin could be atoned
for, through some other means, then surely the blood of bulls
and goats would have been sufficient. But it takes a man to atone for
man. And if by one man's sin, namely
Adam, judgment comes to all, then even so, by one man's obedience,
namely Christ, forgiveness and everlasting life can come to
all. And so God set His plan in motion
before the world was ever created. Then He began to give to us,
revealing that plan to man through Scripture in what we call progressive
revelation. And that means that God reveals
more and more of His plan over time through the prophets. And so he told Abraham, I will
bless those who bless you, I will curse those who curse you, and
in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Speaking
of the fact that the Redeemer would come through his loins,
He gives us pictures and types of Christ through men like Joseph
and Moses. You know, beloved of his father,
yet despised and rejected of his own, yet ultimately bringing
salvation to those who rejected him. That he would be a mighty
leader, miraculous in nature. He tells David that he will build
him a house, and that one from his loins will be upon the throne,
ruling and reigning forever. And he gives utterance to the
prophet Isaiah, for unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is
given. And the government will be upon
his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. And of the increase
of his government and peace there will be no end. And upon the
throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish
it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even
forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
And then he speaks through the prophet Micah and he says, 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 old, from
everlasting." And God is giving progressive revelation of the
coming of the Messiah, who He is, who He will be, where He
will be born, the kinds of things that He will do, that He will
rule, that He will reign forever. And then, like that, like a candle
that's extinguished, God goes silent. No more does he speak
to Israel, and 400 years go by, and there's fear on every side. Times are dark. They're under
the iron boot of Rome and the heavy-handed oppression of Rome.
And then suddenly, even just as quickly, like a light beaming
and piercing through the darkness, the words of Isaiah the prophet
are fulfilled. The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light. And those who dwell in the land
of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. And an angel of the Lord, you
know the story, appears to Mary, this young girl, and says, Rejoice,
highly favored one. The Lord is with you, and blessed
are you among women. And he gives to her the single
greatest news the world could ever hope for. And he says, You
have found favor with God, or grace in the sight of God. And behold, you will conceive
in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name
Jesus. And he will be great, and will
be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house
of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary's all, man, that sounds
awesome, but I'm not married. You know, so how exactly is all
this supposed to take place? And the angel says to her, listen,
the Holy Spirit will come upon you. And the power of the highest
will overshadow you. And therefore, also that one
who is to be born will be called, check it out, the Son of God.
Hallelujah? For with God, nothing will be
impossible." Okay, flash forward a number of months, and there's
Mary, and she's great with child. And the prophets have said that
the Christ child will be born in Bethlehem. But currently,
she and Joseph, the one to whom she is betrothed, well, they're
in Nazareth. And so how is God going to get
Mary to Bethlehem? Well, I trust that you're in
Luke chapter 2. Let's actually look at the very first verse. We read that it came to pass
in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that
all the world should be registered. And this census first took place
while Quirinius was governing Syria. And so all went to be
registered, everyone to his own city. And 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 is of the
house and the lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his
betrothed wife, who was with child. And so it was, while they
were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 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 miracle The greatest miracle of human
history takes place in the quiet simplicity of a busy Bethlehem
night, and no one knows the difference. And that's the humility of our
Lord. I mean, think about it. He could have been born in the
ivory palaces, you know, anywhere he wanted to, in the uppermost
echelon of society with more money, more prestige, more fame
and fortune than anyone else in human history. But that wasn't
in his heart. but rather he would be a high
priest who would identify with all of mankind. He said, take
my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am lowly, gentle, and
lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Our
Lord was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He identified himself not with
those who have, but rather with those who have not. Now, look at verse 8. Now, there
were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping
watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord
stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were greatly afraid. And 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. For there is born to you this
day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this
will be a sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped
in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there
was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God
and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill
toward men. Well, I want to take the time
to notice some of the nuances of this Christmas story. Because
I find it interesting that of all the people whom the angels
may have appeared to, you know, they didn't choose the scribes. They didn't choose the priests. They didn't choose the Pharisees. They chose shepherds. Again,
the lowly, those keeping watch over their flocks by night. News
of the Lamb of God. came first to the shepherds keeping
watch over their flocks." Some suppose that perhaps these shepherds
were those who were keeping watch over the flocks that were used
as sacrifices in the temple. If that be true, The picture
becomes all the more profound as the angel announces to these
shepherds who are watching over these lambs prepared for sacrifice,
the good news of the Lamb of God who would be sacrificed for
the sin of the world has come. And there He is, the angel of
the Lord, standing before them, and the glory of the Lord shown
around them. And the first thing that He says
to them is, Do not be afraid. If you're a note taker, the first
thing we see here is that the message of the coming of Jesus
Christ is a message that banishes fear. Do not be afraid. 400 years had gone by. God had been under the radar,
if you will. No word. Israel was in captivity. Darkness, confusion. The angel
says, don't be afraid. Fear not. God is still in control. God is still on the throne. I don't know, maybe some of you
here feel a little bit like you're in the dark. You know, you're
confused and uncertain. You're wondering, maybe, why
God hasn't seemed to speak to you lately. Where He is? Perhaps some fear has gripped
your heart. Maybe fear for your job. Maybe
fear for your marriage. Or maybe fear for your child's
future. Or fear for where you're at regarding
your own eternity. And God pierces the darkness
with the light of His Word to your heart today. Do not be afraid. Fear not. For behold, He says,
I bring you good tidings of great joy. Good tidings, or good news. This angel's giving these shepherds
the gospel. That's what that means. Fear
not, I bring you good tidings, good news. God gives you good
news of great joy today. Listen, not only does the gospel,
number one, banish fear, number two, it brings great joy. Yes? Fear and joy are on the opposite
ends of the spectrum. They are polar opposites of one
another. God wants to fill your heart
with joy. And we're not talking about happiness,
right? We know that happiness is circumstantial. If I think things are going good,
I'm happy. If I think things aren't so good, I'm not so happy
anymore, you know. However, joy is constant. Why
is that? Because it's not based upon what
happens to me or what happens around me, but it's based upon
Christ in me. Jesus said, as the Father loved
me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. And if you
keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have
kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love. In these
things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you,
and that your joy therefore shall be or may be full." You see,
true joy isn't something that can even be known to the unbeliever. It comes from the Lord. Good
tidings of great joy I bring, He says, to you. So I want you
to notice this message, man. It's for you personally. This
good news of great joy has been delivered with you in mind. The gospel message always emphasizes
the value of the individual. No matter where you've been,
no matter what you've done. I mean you might be rebellious,
or pardon me, religious. Sort of the same. Religious like
Nicodemus. Or you might be oppressed and
confused like the woman at the well. You might just be lost
and without hope like the woman with the issue of blood who had
exhausted every resource and discovered no help or no hope.
You might be wealthy like Zacchaeus. You might be poor like any number
of the lepers or the blind or the lame that our Lord Touched
circumstances are immaterial. What matters is, are you a sinner? If so, you need a Savior. This
message is for you, you see. But it gets even bigger. Because
not only is it for you personally, it's for all of mankind collectively. The angel declares that this
message will be to all people. The gospel message is for all
people, everywhere, throughout all time. It does not matter
what culture you are in. It does not matter what generation
you belong to. It does not matter the color
of your skin. Again, all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God. Therefore, all are in need of
a Savior. Therefore, the message is for
all. The message of the cross. It
is cross-generational. It is cross-cultural. It is the
cross. Because the gospel does not address
culture. The gospel does not address the
traditions of man. The cross addresses the depravity
of the human heart. And that applies to and gets
a grip on us all. Okay? This message was given
first to a handful of shepherds in the middle of a field on the
outskirts of Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago, and yet it stretches
out to every tribe, every tongue, every people, every nation, and
finds application on the other side of the planet some two millenniums
later in a little city, in a little church called Calvary Chapel
of Joplin in the middle of Missouri. I mean, There is no other name
under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. The
Christmas story is good news given to all men everywhere. Now look at verse 11. For there
is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is
Christ the Lord. Okay, well we've spoken so far
of the fact that the gospel message, beginning with the incarnation,
is a message that banishes fear, brings great joy. It's for you
and me personally. It is for all of humanity. Verse
11 really brings us to the heart of all the information. He says
it's a message that brings salvation. There is a born to you this day
in the city of David a Savior. All we, like sheep, have gone
astray. We have all turned everyone to
our own way, and God has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. And so God becomes a man, and
as a man lives a sinless life, takes upon himself the sin of
the world, sheds his blood, he suffers, he dies, he pays a debt
that he didn't owe, because we owed the debt we couldn't pay,
so that whosoever would call upon the name of the Lord would
be saved by grace through faith in him. It is the gift Of all
gifts. It is the gift of God. For the
wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord. He is our Savior. He is our Redeemer. He is our Deliverer. Christ,
the Anointed One. The Messiah. And Lord, above
all, over all, yet came to this earth to lay down his life for
all. Amen. Now, in verse 13 we read
that suddenly there was with him, or there was with the angel,
a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, glory
to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward
men. It's a message of salvation.
It's a message, notice, of peace. I mean, this is one of those
scenes that we can only imagine and undoubtedly fall radically
short of in our minds. I mean, how many angels are represented
by the word multitude? I mean, I have no idea, but undoubtedly
this was one of those scenes that's out of this world, you
know? There was a pun intended there, by the way. Angels, not
from this scene, out of this. Okay, I'll move on. Verse 14
brings to us the Latin, Gloria. How many of you know that song?
In excelsis Deo. We sing that. How many of you
know even what that means? You're singing, Gloria, in excelsis
Deo. And you're going, what am I singing?
Exactly. What does this mean precisely?
Well, this is what it means. Glory in the highest God, or
to God. So glory in the highest to God. It is a message. This message
is one that glorifies God. Glory to God in the highest. Jesus Christ is here. The message of the incarnation
of Christ and the subsequent salvation of man is a message
that glorifies God. He made a way where there was
no way, for with God nothing will be impossible. It is a message
that brings peace to man. He says peace. First we have
peace with God, right? We know there's a two-fold peace
that comes. First we have peace with God through the blood of
the cross of Christ. That is salvation. And then we
have the peace of God through the process of sanctification. First comes peace with God. As Paul the Apostle said, for
it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell
and by him to reconcile all things to himself. by Him, whether things
on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the
blood of His cross." So we have peace with God through the blood
of Jesus Christ. Then comes the peace of God.
It's not a peace of our own, you see. It is His personal peace
that He gives to us. Again, by the words of Paul the
Apostle, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which
also you were called one body and be thankful. As we sing this
time of year, his law is love and his gospel is peace. Look at verse 15. And 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.
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the
babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him, they
made widely known the saying which was told them concerning
this child. And all those who heard it marveled
at those which were told them by, all those things which were
told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things
and pondered them in her heart. And then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had
heard and seen as it was told them." Just two things, you guys,
that I want to draw out of this particular portion as we consider
the Christmas story. You know, what conclusions might
we be able to draw? You know, as it pertains to a
message that banishes fear, that brings great joy, that is for
you and me personally, and for all of mankind collectively.
It's a message of salvation for man. It brings peace with God,
brings glory to God. What conclusions might we draw
of such a message? Well, number one, again, if you're
a note taker, it's a message that demands a response. Okay? These guys heard this message
and then they had a decision to make, right? I mean, there
it was. Believe it and receive it. Respond
accordingly and act upon it. Or say, Dude, why'd you slip
into my lamb chops, bro? Because I just seen something
crazy. Did you see that? I saw that. Did you see that?
I don't know, man. I gotta, I gotta. And you know,
you could have rejected it. Or decided to sleep on it. Or
maybe look into it later. But one way or another, They
had to make a decision. And the Gospel brings us to a
point of decision. Accept and act upon this message,
or reject this message and continue on In life, business as usual,
the gospel demands a response. It calls out and says, accept
it or reject it, but there's no neutral ground concerning
it. Okay? Number two, it is a message
that deserves to be shared. Number one, it demands a response.
Number two, it deserves to be shared. These guys met Christ
that night, and there was no stuffing that message down. They were not staying silent.
I mean, we sing the song, Silent Night. Truth of the matter is,
it wasn't that silent. I mean, these guys weren't keeping
quiet about any of it. You know, they were going to
share, I mean, they were shouting it from the rooftops because
they came to know the Lord and they refused to keep silent. We see there, verse 17, they
made widely known the saying which was told them concerning
this child. And even so, Christ in you and
Christ in me should stir us to share the message with others.
And so, things may be happening fast and furious around you,
but may you pause to let the wonder of the Christmas story
resonate in your heart. And may you, like Mary, keep
these things and ponder them in your heart, and may you have
a very Merry Christmas. Let's pray. Lord, as we consider
the Christmas story today, help us that we would pause, that
we would be still, and allow the wonder of your word to have
your way in our hearts. That you would so love us, that
you would come and dwell with us, that we might spend eternity
with you. Jesus, what you've done for us,
it demands a response, it deserves to be shared. And so give us
boldness to share with others the hope we have in you. And though the wages of sin is
death, we're so glad, God, that you have given us the gift of
eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And I just encourage you that
while our heads are bowed and our eyes are closed, here today
and you haven't responded to that message of the love of God,
that God has loved you with an everlasting love. And you have
not responded in such a way as to open your heart and repent
of your sin and turn to Jesus Christ. And today, the greatest
gift of all can be yours. The gift of everlasting life.
And you can be forgiven of all of your sin and made right in
the sight of God. Just believe upon the Lord Jesus
Christ. Receive Him as He is, your Savior,
Christ the Lord.
Considering The Christmas Story
Series Luke
| Sermon ID | 1223121428272 |
| Duration | 30:34 |
| Date | |
| Category | Sunday Service |
| Bible Text | Luke 2:8-20 |
| Language | English |
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