Luke 2:1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6 While they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The narrative of Christ’s birth is probably one of the most familiar passages known throughout the Church, if not the entire Western world. In fact it is so well known that it has become mundane. But stop for a minute and look it this story with new eyes.
In a world before microchips, instant communication, and instant data tabulation, Caesar required everyone to return to their birthplace to register for tax purposes. Little did Caesar know that his order actually fulfilled the 800-year-old prophecy of the prophet Micah that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 As both Joseph and Mary were members of the house and family of David they were required to register in Bethlehem. How would you feel if an occupying foreign government, in direct violation of God’s Law,
2 Samuel 24 ordered a census requiring you to journey 90 miles by foot and donkey, during the rainy season while nine months pregnant, in order to pay the taxes that they imposed on you?
After making the unpleasant journey and, no doubt muddy, dirty, and tired, they had to settle for staying in a stable because the town was packed with travelers coming to register. While in the stable Mary gave birth to her first-born child. Notice that Luke says first born. That is because, as we have already noted, Luke gathered eyewitness accounts of the life of Christ from many people who knew Christ personally, including his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude, the sons of Joseph and Mary. Mark 6:3
After our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned against the Creator by following their own desires rather than living in obedience to God, Genesis 3 instead of disowning and abandoning mankind, God revealed his plan to restore us. Here Luke tells us that this plan to provide a Savior for mankind, developed before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4 and revealed in the fullness of time, Galatians 4:4 was fulfilled when Mary gave birth. Luke 2:6
Here in his opening lines, Luke introduces a theme that will carry throughout the life of Christ. Christ, the Redeemer King, Revelation 19:16 Christ, the Creator of all things, in both heaven and earth, Colossians 1:16 chose to come to earth. He was born to poor parents, not wealthy well-connected parents, in a stable, not a mansion, and was wrapped it torn cloths, not silks, and laid in an animal’s feeding trough, not a gilded cradle.
In bringing the offer of salvation to mankind, Christ upended and reversed mankind’s artificially contrived value system. Since Adam’s rebellion we are all to one degree or another self-centered. We want to do things our way. By ignoring our Creator’s ways we frequently make a mess of our lives, families, friendships, churches, and even nations. By contrast, in Christ’s Kingdom the least are the greatest. Luke 9:48 True leadership is displayed in service. Those offered restoration as citizens of Christ’s Kingdom are the poor, the marginalized, the weak, and the unattractive. By the predominate standards of the world, Christ’s Kingdom is upside down, just like his birth. What earthly king would willingly choose poverty, birth in a stable, and eventual homelessness?
As Bruce Cockburn sings in his song, “Cry of a Tiny Babe”
And there are others who know about this miracle birth
The humblest of people catch a glimpse of their worth
For it isn’t to the palace that the Christ child comes
But to shepherds and street people, hookers and bums
And the message is clear if you have ears to hear
That forgiveness is given for your guilt and your fears
It’s a Christmas gift that you don’t have to buy
There’s a future shining in a baby’s eye
Like a stone on the surface of a still river
Driving the ripples on forever
Redemption rips through the surface of time
In the cry of a tiny babe
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Luke 2:8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and singing,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, to men on whom his favor rests.”
In Christ’s upside down Kingdom the first announcement of his birth, proclaimed by a heavenly army of angels, is made, not to the high priest in the temple or to King Herod in his palace, but to the blue collar, working-class shepherds, guarding the sheep that the wealthy used for their temple sacrifices.
What do you see as your greatest need?
Is our greatest need physical health, financial security, enjoyment in life, psychological health, or political solutions to the world’s problems? Those things are all important, but they are not our greatest need. If health was our greatest need, God could have sent a doctor. If financial security was our greatest need, God could have sent a financial advisor. If our greatest need was enjoyment, God could have sent entertainers. If our greatest need was our mental health, God could have sent a psychologist. If politics was our greatest need, God could have sent a politician. No, our greatest need is for a Savior. Why? We are sinners at enmity with God…enemies of God, Romans 5:10 and we are hostile to God. Romans 8:7 To address this need the angel announces that God has sent a Savior who is Christ the Lord. (Paraphrased sermon notes: Pastor Frank Taylor, Uniontown Bible Church, Union Bridge, MD 12-24-22)
In his prophecy Isaiah put it like this:
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. Isaiah 40:2
Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed their Creator and joined in Satan’s rebellion, mankind has been at war against God. But now the angel announces to the shepherds that the newborn child will make peace possible between the warring factions. We were exiles from Eden, but now God has provided a way for the hostilities of war to cease and for our exile to end.
Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and singing, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
God’s heavenly army appears to the shepherds proclaiming peace to men.
How is this peace possible?
As rebels warring against God we have a double problem.
First, although we have all sinned against God and stand as condemned rebel combatants in his Court, Isaiah explained that our iniquity is pardoned by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.
For Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 He gave himself for our sins that he might rescue us… Galatians 1:4
Second, though our sins have been pardoned, our hearts are still captive to sin. To address this God has changed our hearts.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19
To solve our double problem, in Christ, our Savior, God has provided a double cure. First, Christ took our guilt upon himself and, second, God gave us new hearts, placing Christ’s righteousness in us.
They, who are effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them: the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified; and they are more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to practice holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Westminster Confession of Faith, Of Sanctification
Luke 2:15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying, which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things, which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
From the very beginning of mankind the wages of sin has been death. Romans 6:23 As God had warned Adam, death is what we earn for our rebellion against God. In fact, the Old Covenant sacrificial system was built on that principle. From the time of Adam onward an animal was sacrificed on the altar to remind men and women that their sins lead to death. But more than that, it reminded them of God’s Promise, Genesis 3:15 that, in the fullness of time, he would send a Savior, born of a woman, to defeat death. The Old Testament sacrifices were visual placeholders pointing to the sacrifice that Christ would make to redeem his people. But that is getting way ahead of Luke’s story.
Now, finally, at long last, at the birth of Christ, the angels cannot contain their joy, announcing;
For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord… “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, to men on whom his favor rests.”
Ever since Adam’s rebellion against God, all of creation has suffered under the resulting disorder, as it awaited the fulfillment of the promise of salvation.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage and decay and brought into freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning… Romans 8:19-22
Throughout ancient history, all of creation, the prophets, and even the angels, longed to understand how God would defeat death and bring salvation to mankind.
It is then indeed important for us to consider what a dreadful curse we have deserved, since all created things in themselves blameless, both on earth and in the visible heaven, undergo punishment for our sins; for it has not happened through their own fault, that they are liable to corruption. Thus the condemnation of mankind is imprinted on the heavens, and on the earth, and on all creatures. It hence also appears to what excelling glory the sons of God shall be exalted; for all creatures shall be renewed in order to amplify it, and to render it illustrious. But he means not that all creatures shall be partakers of the same glory with the sons of God; but that they, according to their nature, shall be participators of a better condition; for God will restore to a perfect state the world, now fallen, together with mankind. But what that perfection will be, as to beasts as well as plants and metals, it is not meet nor right in us to inquire more curiously; for the chief effect of corruption is decay.
(John Calvin, Commentary on Romans)
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:10-12
And now, at long last, in the fullness of time, Galatians 4:4 the Promise that all of creation, prophets, and angels had looked forward to, has been revealed. The heavenly host of angels cannot contain their joy as they announce the birth of Christ.
This grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things so that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:7-10
The James Webb telescope has allowed us to see deeper and deeper into God’s marvelous creation. The recent Deep Field images reveal that there are perhaps two trillion galaxies each with hundreds of billions of stars. This unimaginable vastness declares God’s glory.
The heavens show forth the glory of God and the firmament the work of His hands. Psalm 18:2
It was the intention of God, the cosmic designer who engineered all of this creation, to exhibit his grace and wisdom to all of his creatures, including the rulers and authorities throughout the vast universe, through the Church. By voluntarily dying in the place of these rebellious men and women, created in the image of God, living on the planet earth, Christ demonstrated his unsearchable riches… to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
The Church has been designed by God to be like a divine stage on earth where the glory of God’s grace is put on display for all of heaven to see. He is using the Church to be a living illustration of the glory of his grace… This is where the cosmic mission of the Church comes into full view, as the glory of God connects with the grace of God. From the divine perspective, God has chosen to create human beings, knowing that we would sin against him, and that in order to forgive us of our sins, he would send his Son to die on the cross, and therefore glorify himself by showing us grace… Through that plan, the Church becomes like an angelic academy where God demonstrates and teaches the hierarchy of angels in heaven that he is an infinitely wise and gracious God.
(Kevin Hay, The Church’s Cosmic Mission, g3min.org)
Glory to God in the highest,
On earth peace to men on whom his favor rests!