Isaiah 9:6 New International Version
(NIV)
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
This morning I want to talk about what
happened that Bethlehem morning. This is
an amazing story and scene. First, Mary and Joseph who lived in Nazareth 80 miles
away or about 7 days by donkey.
They are compelled to go and register in
their Families home by an international census a decision made in Rome to go to
Bethlehem. God is the God the
international. He Makes rulers do His
will. The greatest empires have done his
will throughout the centuries. They are
compelled to go and register in their Families home. How else would they end of in Bethlehem which
is the birthplace of David whose family Mary and Joseph belonged. Now in Mic 5:2, a promise was given to this
this small community that out of it would be born the Messiah. God always fulfills His word. Remember that today.
In Bethlehem they arrived to find no room in the inn. Now Mary was about to give birth. In those days, they did not have a Hilton or Travelers
Inn. It would have been homes with
attached rooms. Can you see them going
from house to house looking for a place to stay. No room because of the census. Finally they are able to secure a
stable. This would have been a place
where the animals kept at the back of a home or a cave under the house. In the church of the nativity it is a
cave.
Now Jesus was born without a doctor or
midwife. Joseph would probably had to do
the delivery. He wraps Jesus in
swaddling clothes and lays him in a manger or feeding trough made out of
straw. So there they sit, alone,
wondering what will happen next. A young
couple alone in the world with a brand new baby, Joseph thought is this it. Not knowing God had something wonderful for
them. This was the "sign" to
the shepherds that the baby they found in Bethlehem was indeed the Messiah -
not the fact that He was "swaddled", that is, bound up in the wrap
normally used to dress newborn infants in that day and age, but the fact that
He, the Lord of the world, the One who created everything and who holds
everything together by His powerful Word, was to be found lying in something so
far from elegant that it was worthy of note and comment. This sign was a clear
indication of the kenosis or humbling which coming into this world, becoming a
true, unglorified human being, and taking on the form of a servant would entail
for the Son of God. It was symbolic and representative of the human life He
would lead: not a life of privilege, luxury, and appreciation for who He was
and what He was about to do for all mankind, but instead a life characterized
by humility, by privation, and by experience of the most outrageous
ingratitude.
The proclamation to the
shepherds:
(8) Now there were
shepherds in that area who were camping out and keeping watches through the
night to tend their flock. (9) And an angel of the Lord appeared to them and
the glory of the Lord shone all around them [so that they] were very
frightened. (10) And the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid. For,
behold, I proclaim good news to you [of] a great [occasion for] joy which will
belong to your entire people. (11) Today there has been born for you a Savior.
[Even He] who is Messiah (i.e., Christ), Lord - in the city of David. (12) And
this will be your sign [that the One you find is truly Him]: You will find a
[newly] swaddled baby lying in a feeding trough". (13) And immediately
there was with the angel a multitude of [the] heavenly army [of elect angels],
[all] praising God and saying, (14) "Glory to God in the highest
[heavens]! And [also] on [the] earth among men of [His] good pleasure (i.e.,
"men with whom He is well pleased = believers)". (15) And it came
about as the angels left them for heaven that the shepherds were talking with
each other. "Let's go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has
happened which the Lord has made known to us". (16) And they hurried and
went, and they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby [who was] lying in a feeding
trough. (17) And when they saw [these things], they let [everyone] know about
what had been told them concerning this child. (18) And everyone who heard was
amazed at what was told them by the shepherds. (19) And Mary remembered these
words of theirs, [and was] meditating on them in her heart. (20) And the
shepherds returned [to their flocks], glorifying and praising God for all the
things they had heard and seen [which turned out] exactly like it had been told
to them.
Luke 2:8-20
Lessons we learn here. Of course the Lord is revealing this great
event to Shepherds because David started out as a shepherd before he became a
king. An angel appears and the glory of
God shone around them. He tells them not
to be afraid. Whenever God appears
supernaturally there is always a reaction.
Fear, amazement and bewilderment.
Did you know the phrase do not be afraid or some variation of it appears
in the bible 365 times one for each day of the year?
1. The angel reveals that the
message He brings is good news to all people every where. Salvation is for everyone. It is a universal message, of salvation,
healing and deliverance.
2. He reveals four things about this child. He is the Savior, the messiah, the Christ and
Lord. It is Savior and Lord of all
mankind.
3. He then gives them the sign to find the child. Find a baby a newborn baby wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
4. Then immediately there is a multitude of angels with him. They
praise God. Now we do not know if they
sang or not but they said the following things which is wonderful. Glory, honor, praise and worship belong to
God in the highest. There is no one like
our God. He is omnipotent, all knowing,
pure, holy, righteous lovely, eternal and compassionate. There will be peace on earth and good will to
men. God is going to bring peace through
the Prince of peace and through Jesus Christ God will extend God will to all
people, of race, creed, color, tribe nation and language. What a message of hope.
5. So the shepherds make a decision to find the baby because of what
had been made know to them. Can you see
them inquiring house to house looking for the baby. Checking every stable, grotto and cave. It must have caused quite the stir. Mary and Joseph hear the commotion the
shepherds coming into where they are. Seeing
the babe, them telling everyone there what had happened. There were no doubt people who came with
them. You know how something causes a
crowd to gather. These shepherds are the
first witnesses of what they seen and experienced. When telling others about Jesus just tell
them what you seen and have experienced.
6. Everyone was amazed by what the shepherds told them. When the Lord does something it leaves an
impression on your heart design to change you forever. Of course it is our choice to let that
impression grow and change us.
7. Mary remembered their words and thought about them in her
heart. This was confirmation for her and
Joseph that they were doing the will of God.
One moment Mary and Joseph are sitting alone with the baby then the next
moment the shepherds and the people with them show up. God always confirms His word. People, circumstances and tangible sign or
evidence
8. The shepherds return to their flocks praising and glorifying
God. Three things had happen to
them. They had seen and heard things no
one had ever experienced before. They
had God confirm His word for them. They
would talk about it for years. It would
be an event that would change them and the world forever. This is what happened on that Bethlehem
morning. As we close today I would
encourage you to reflect on what you have heard and as we take communion today. Remember what Jesus did is good news for
all. His broken body and shed
blood. His death, burial and
resurrection all started on that Bethlehem morning.
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