Teacher: Rusty Kennedy Series: Holidays |
Rusty's Notes | |
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Luke 2:1-20
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.[1]
Video: Leavener Kids (2010)
Questions to Lily:
- How has your Christmas list changed in the last 10 years?
- Your Grandfather would be 75 tomorrow… Your 2nd Christmas without him… What do you think his last Christmas list looked like… or even now?
- Of the story you read this morning… what character(s) do you most relate to at this point in your life?
Main Characters of the Christmas Story
- Jesus
- Mary
- Joseph
- Shepherds
- Angel of the Lord
- Magi – Wise Men
- Herod
How did each character respond?
Mary – song in Luke 1 – worship – thanksgiving
- Luke 1:46-55
Joseph – Matthew 1:18-25
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.[3]
- honor & obedience (engagement was a legally binding commitment)
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.[4]
- One should not romanticize the occupation of shepherds.
- In general shepherds were dishonest and unclean according to the standards of the law.
- They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came. Such outcasts were the first recipients of the good news.[5]
- scared but obedient – boldness – told everyone – first evangelist.
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah:
Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.” 9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.[6]
– Seekers checking things out – We like questions at Leavener.
Herod – Matthew 2:16
16 Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.[7]
- paranoid – prideful – jealousy – some of you were drug here – you would rather remain king and lord over your own life.
- Christianity is not about rules and religion… he entered into that system and wrecked it.
Angel of the Lord - Luke 2:9-14
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors![8]
- How amazed the angels must have been when they saw the Creator born as a creature, the Word coming as a speechless baby.[9]
Grace >
Heartfelt response >
God’s kindness leads to repentance >
Change of mind >
The baby’s message >
Change your minds >
The Messiah is here.
Would the Jews embrace Jesus?
A few… but not the masses.
They would not give up religion or the Law for freedom.
Men and women who followed were totally transformed.
[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Lk 2:1–20). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Lk 1:46–55). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Mt 1:18–25). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Lk 2:8–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, p. 108). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Mt 2:1–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Mt 2:16). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Lk 2:9–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 176). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.