Luke a-18
OUR TEXT
Luke 2:15-18
15 “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”
IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN!
Is it Christmas or it’s just another holiday?
The weather outside is frightful and the fire inside is delightful; As long as we care to know. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Chestnuts may be roasting on an open fire; Jack Frost nipping at your nose; And so it’s been said, many times, many ways: Merry Christmas to you!
To the atheists, Christmas is a religious sham! They argue that, if God does not exist, then, obviously Jesus’ birth cannot represent the Incarnation of God in human history, which Christians, all over the world, celebrate at this time of the year.
Most who profess Christianity, as well as many who do not, in this age of political correctness, the name of the game is COMPROMISE. For fear of offending their “so-called” friends, they would rather bend the TRUTH than tell the TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH!
They have no “Fear of God” in their hearts. They would rather obey men than God. For they are ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: though they know it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Romans 1:16).
Who changed the TRUTH of GOD into a lie?
The early Catholics did not celebrate Christmas. Tertullian (one of its leading 2nd/3rd century writers, whom it sometimes refers to as “the father of Latin Christianity”) warned that to participate in the winter celebrations make one beholding to pagan gods. There was one such celebration known as Saturnalia that was celebrated by the heathen in late December.
Then there is the “commercialization” of Christmas. In the Philippines, Christmas is celebrated for the longest time in the world—beginning on the 1st day of September and to end on the 6th day of January of the New Year. And because of this, we see people buying gifts with money that they don’t have, to give to people that they don’t love, and expecting to receive the gifts that they like.
ut, the truth remains, most people miss the reason for Christmas! Why? Because, they are:
I. LOST IN THEIR PROFESSION
Luke 2:7
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger: for there was no room for them in the inn.”
On that first Christmas morn, little did that innkeeper know he had just turned away Jesus, the Christ—the Son of God and Creator of the entire Universe, saying that there was no room in his inn for Him?
In turning Jesus away, the Son of God had nowhere to lay His head except for a manger in a stable.
Jesus, the King of Glory, was born in a stable so that He could redeem all of humankind from sins.
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
John 12:32
The late H.G. Wells, British author, once said, “I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history.” How true! Jesus Christ is indeed the pivotal point in our history. And He will be the pivotal point for all eternity.
The all important issue for you and for me is this: Will we tell Jesus there is no room for Him in the inn of our hearts?
How we answer that question will determine where we will spend eternity. If you have never invited Jesus into your heart, why not do it NOW! Tomorrow may be too late. “Today if ye will hear his voice” (Psalm 95:7). For only Jesus, and Jesus alone, can forgive your sins and give you the gift of eternal life. Because:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
Because they are:
II. LOST IN THEIR PERCEPTION
Matthew 2:1-3
1 “NOW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
It was a mark of humiliation put upon the Lord Jesus that, though He was the Desire of all Nations, yet His coming into the world was little observed and taken notice of.
His birth was obscure and unregarded: Herein, He emptied Himself, and made Himself of no reputation.
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:6-7
Who’s the King of the Jews?
The wise men from the east asked Herod the king where the King of the Jews was to be born. Herod was deeply disturbed because he had earned the title, king of the Jews from the Romans, and he was planning that one of his sons would inherit the title from him. Equally disturbing was the news that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, the site of Herod’s summer palace.
Summoning the wise men to determine when the star that guided them had first appeared, Herod was able to calculate the infant’s approximate age. With the request that they let him know when they found the child so that he too could come and worship Him, Herod sent the strangers on their way to Bethlehem. But after presenting their gifts, the wise men returned home without notifying Herod, for they had been warned in a dream to avoid him..
Fearful of any rival, instead of coming to worship the child, Herod ordered the slaughter of all boys under the age of two years in Bethlehem. Jesus escaped the massacre because Joseph, also warned in a dream, had fled with Mary and her child to Egypt.
Because they are:
III. LOST IN THEIR INTERPRETATION
Matthew 2:4-6
4 “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
Nobody can pretend to tell where the King of the Jews is, but Herod enquires where it was expected He should be born.
The chief priests and scribes need not take any long time to give an answer to this query; nor do they differ in their interpretations, but all agree that the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem. The proof they produced is taken from Micah 5:2.
LISTEN! Christ will be a Savior to those only who are willing to take Him for their Governor. But why did the chief priests and scribes stumble on the truth about Jesus?
They were self-righteous and over-zealous who held to the letter of their erroneous interpretation of the Scriptures regardless of whether they nullified the Word of God or not. Take heed! The Truth is hatred to those who hate the Truth!
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6
Because they are:
IIII. LOST IN THEIR TRADITION
Matthew 15:1-3
1 “THEN came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”
The thing laid to the disciples’ charge is nonconformity to the teachings of their church (v. 2). What was the tradition of the elders? That people should wash their hands before they eat. Actually, the charge was directed to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the reason why the Lord replied with a counter charge:
Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
NOTE:
That which men say, even great men, and learned men, and men of authority, must be examined by that which God saith; and if it be found either contrary or inconsistent, it must be rejected (Acts 4:19; 5:29).
“But Peter and John answered and saith unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” Acts 4:19
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
V. OUR RESPONSE TO THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:15-18
Our response to the message of Christmas should be like the shepherds’ response. NOW, the shepherds had a choice—to obey or to disobey. They chose to obey! Likewise, we should obey!
Observe:
1. THEY OBEYED GOD.
– When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
– So, they hurried off and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
2. THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS.
– They hurry to Bethlehem. Where do you find a manger? In a stable, of course! So, they checked out the stables in this village and came across one with a babe sleeping in it.
– They meet the Holy Family and share with them their story of the angelic visitation.
3. THEY SHARED THE GOOD NEWS TO OTHERS.
– Then they go and tell other what the angels have told them, just like the villagers did after the remarkable birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:65-66).
– They made known what had been told them about this child. The angel’s announcement of “a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” is spread throughout the area, resulting in amazement in the hearers.
4. THEY GLORIFIED AND PRAISED GOD.
– The final scene in this passage is the shepherds climbing back up the hill where their flocks lie.
– The angel had told them what to expect and that’s just the way they found it.
– We leave them glorifying and praising GOD!
VI. THE LESSON FOR US TO LEARN
What are we supposed to get out of this telling of the story of Jesus’ birth? Several things:
1. God brings Good News to the poor and humble.
– The shepherds, sometimes despised by their countrymen, were the first recipients of the Good News of Jesus’ birth.
– Since God is no respecter of persons, we are not supposed to show favoritism either.
2. The Glory of the Lord is powerful and huge.
– Just because we don’t see it visibly doesn’t mean that God is not active.– He often works in quiet ways. Only occasionally does He confirm His presence in miraculous ways.
3. Jesus is the Son of David. The expected Savior, Messiah, Master, Lord, God in our midst.
4. The Good News is for all people, Jew or Gentile.
5. Not all people, however, receive God’s peace.
– Only those whom Jesus has sovereignly chosen receive God’s peace. Don’t let suggestions of predestination trouble you.
– Be humble enough to allow God to be sovereign beyond your own meager understanding of these things. Deal with it!
APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO THIS GOOD NEWS INCLUDE:
1. Great Joy (Luke 2:10).
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
2. Praise (Luke 2:13-14, 20).
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, good will toward men.
20 And when the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
3. Curiosity to confirm its truth (Luke 2:15-16).
15 “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
4. Telling others (Luke 2:17).
17 “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”
5. Amazement (Luke 2:18).
18 “And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”
6. Thoughtful meditation (Luke 2:19).
19 “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
No where do we see unbelief!
PRAYER
Almighty Father, what an amazing night the shepherds had!
To have a glimpse of your heavenly glory,
To hear a mighty army of praise,
To see the Messiah-Child,
To listen to the angel recite His glorious title—Savior, Messiah—Lord.
Thank you for letting us hear the story again.
Write it large and indelibly in our hearts that we might be fervent Good News tellers, too.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen!