Chapter 2
The birth of Jesus Christ.
Luke 2:1-20.
These verses relate the story of the birth of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Everybody loves this story and so they should because the
story of any birth is always beautiful and moving. The story of the birth of
Jesus has become part of western culture and many droves of people flock into
churches on Christmas day to be reminded of this wonderful story.
Every birth of every child is a marvellous event. I am told
by those who have witnessed the birth of a child that there is little that can
compare with the intimacy and extreme emotion that is coupled with this event.
Even midwives and doctors often say that no matter how often they witness a
birth, nothing can take away the sense of wonder and joy that always
accompanies the entry of a baby into the world.
This passage tells of a birth that was more wonderful than
any other before or since. While every birth is a miracle, the birth of Jesus
was the greatest miracle of all as God was being born into the world. The
author of the first letter to Timothy explains: 'Here is the great mystery of
our religion: Christ came as a human ...'[1]
We all know the story so well, but allow me focus our
attention on a few important truths.
Firstly, notice
where Jesus was born. The prophet Micah had prophesied that the event would
take place in Bethlehem[2]
- and sure enough, it took place in Bethlehem. This reminds us of the wonderful
truth that God is in control. He controlled the secular ruler Augustus and
directed him through thoughts, events and ideas, to decree that all people
needed to be registered. As a result, he, Augustus decreed that Mary and Joseph
should travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Roman emperor did not know that
he was a pawn in God's hands and that he was only doing what God was allowing
him to do.[3]
Especially in our troubled times in Britain today, we should
take heart that God is in control and can intervene dramatically into our
situation and change things. There are tremendous problems in our country at
this time. Morally and ethically there is a drastic decline. This is manifest
in many ways, not least in the erosion of the family, the discipline problems
in our schools, the increased incidence sexual promiscuity and perversion,
substance abuse - the list is endless. In a sense we are witnessing the steady
decline in standards and I would not be surprised if we were witnessing the
decline of western civilization - like Greece and Rome before us. This can be
for many reasons - not least being the conscious and wilful decision of many
people to deliberately reject God and the way of life he has decreed for all
people in his word, the Scriptures. Things will continue to get worse until
people make a conscious and wilful decision to turn away from sin, accept Jesus
and the way of life laid down in the word of God. When this happens God will
respond by transforming our society into one of peace, prosperity and order.
God is in control. As God intervened and changed the course
of history using Caesar Augustus as a pawn to do what he willed, so can he
intervene and use earthly rulers and others as pawns to bring about his
purposes on this earth. But people need to respond in obedience.
Secondly, notice
who the first people were who received the wonderful news of Christ's birth -
simple ordinary shepherds, not priests, rulers, theologians, scribes or
pharisees. This is not meant to imply that people who are learned or who have
position were excluded. The visit of the Magi - the wise men who followed the
shepherds - bears testimony of this. But all too often, simple people, poor
people feel that they do not know enough to be able to draw close to God.
Nothing could be further from the truth. What is important is not wealth,
position or knowledge - but faith.
God offers to all people faith as a free gift.[4]
All people have to do is respond by accepting it. Whether you are a university
professor, a mechanic, housewife, millionaire, street-sweeper, unemployed - no
matter what one's station in life is - all people are afforded the opportunity
to draw close to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, notice
the message the angels brought with them. They said:
... I have good news for you,
which will make everyone happy.[5]
The spiritual darkness that had covered the world for
thousands of years was about to be rolled away and God was to be revealed in
all his fullness through Christ; the way in which sin could be forgiven was to
be made available for all people; people can defeat the power of Satan, temptation
and sin in their lives and so be enabled to experience wholeness and
restoration while living on this earth; people were about to be enabled to
experience peace with themselves, peace with others and peace with God. Indeed,
the birth of Jesus is 'good news' and should make 'everyone happy'. Because of
Jesus there is hope, because of Jesus there is power, because of Jesus people
can be restored to God.
The angel was joined by many other angels who sang a
beautiful hymn of praise that explains in detail the wonder of Christ's birth.
We read in verse 14:
Praise God in
heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.
The greatest praise to God in heaven happened through the
birth of his Son. His life, death, resurrection and ascension revealed in detail
God's justice, holiness, mercy and wisdom. Jesus made it possible for peace to
be restored between sinful people and the Holy God because he paid the price
for the sins of humankind. When people accept the forgiveness of their sins and
the peace of God that passes all human understanding by faith in Jesus, it also
enables people live at peace with one another. O how the world needs Jesus.
Lastly, notice how
prompt the shepherds were in responding in obedience to what they were told. We
read in verse 16:
They hurried off
and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying in the feed box.
They responded immediately. They never debated, questioned,
doubted or even hesitated - they did something - they hurried off to find
Jesus. Let us all follow the example of the shepherds by responding
immediately. Let those who have never come to Jesus, come to Him today, accept
the free gift of forgiveness and enter a new life through faith. Let those who
have already accepted Christ, come to him afresh today and invite Him to fill
them with peace towards themselves, those we know and love and all the people
they have contact with.
I close with a news item that appeared in Time magazine that
graphically illustrates the significance of God's gift to all people.[6]
"When the post office in Troy, Michigan, summoned
Michael Achorn to pick up a 2 foot long, 40 pound package, his wife, Margaret,
cheerfully went to accept it. But as she drove it back to her office in
Detroit, she began to worry. The box was from Montgomery Ward, but the sender,
Edward Achorn, was unknown to Margaret and her husband, despite the identical
last name. "What if the thing was a bomb?" She telephoned the postal
authorities. The bomb squad arrived with eight squad cars and an armoured truck.
They took the suspected bomb in the armoured truck to a remote tip of Belle
Isle in the middle of the Detroit river. There they wrapped detonating cord
around the package and blew it to pieces. When all the debris settled, all that
was left intact was the factory warranty for the contents: a stereo AM‑FM
receiver and a tape deck console worth £350. Now the only mystery is who is
Edward Achorn and why did he send Michael and Margaret such a nice Christmas
present?"
We gasp with shock at the thought of a costly stereo in
pieces and how this family missed out on many hours of pleasure that the stereo
could have given them. Yet many reject the far more valuable gift of God's Son
and miss out on many years of blessing and meaning in their lives on earth -
and sadly also for all eternity. People might not yet know who Jesus is but if
they come to Him he will bless them with the most precious gift of all,
forgiveness, wholeness, peace, acceptance, meaning in life. In short, Jesus
offers people life on this earth in all its fullness and finally everlasting
life with God in heaven.
May our spirit be like the shepherd's. May we believe
implicitly, act promptly and wait for nothing - let us all come to Christ so
that like the shepherds, the journey we begin in faith may end with praise.
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