“The Savior Is Born”
[Luke 2:1-20]
December 24, 2018, Second Reformed
Church
This evening, we take a brief look
at the birth of the Savior in a very familiar text to us from the Gospel of
Luke.
And we see first, the birth of the
Savior is historical.
“In those days a decree went out
from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the
first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be
registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from
the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered
with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the
time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and
wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no
place for them in the inn.”
Luke is the Gospel writer that
writes in a Western style – putting his history in a linear format – noting a
number of historical people and events so his readers will know that this is
meant to be read as something that actually took place in history – and, in
fact, it did take place in actual history.
Caesar Augustus was the real ruler
of Rome from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D.
In 6 A.D., Quirinius was really appointed
as governor of Syria and was charged to take a census.
Joseph was a real man – a descendant of
King David – and when the census was called – and everyone had to return to his
or her ancestral home – he went, with Mary, from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem
in Judea – an 80-mile journey.
Bethlehem was filled to the brim with
people visiting for the census – so, when the rooms ran out, people stayed
wherever they could find some warmth and some type of bedding. And when her Baby was born, she lay Jesus in
the manger – in the feeding trough, because it was a soft place to lay the Baby
– amidst the food for the animals.
Some people say there is no proof
that Jesus ever existed – that this story – even with its historical figures
and places – is merely a story making some sort of moral lesson.
Here’s the problem – if this account
is exaggerated in any way – or if it is totally mythical – then Christianity is
not true and we have no reason to be here.
If Luke is lying or mistaken – then this is not the Word of God – Jesus
is not the Savior – and we are, at best, fools, and, at worse, liars ourselves.
If Jesus is the Savior, the birth of
Jesus is historical.
Second, the birth of Jesus is of the
Savior.
“And in the same region there were
shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear
not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the
people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped
in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”
There are plenty of people who will
say that Jesus is anything from a misunderstood rabbi to a great teacher, but
stop short of saying that He is the Savior.
Part of the reason for that is that we don’t believe we need a Savior.
In the United States, we lift ourselves
up by our own bootstraps – we don’t need anyone or anything to do anything for
us – except for the government…
But there is a different story in
the Scripture – and in our hearts, as well – if we are honest. Everyone believes in God – and we can argue about
that another time, if you like – but everyone really does believe that God
exists – and God has requirements for us since He is greater than us – and if
we do not meet those requirements, God will be angry at us – for our sin – and
that’s the problem – God is angry at humans for our sins – so we need a Savior
from God’s Wrath against us.
And here we have the Savior
prophesied by all of the Old Testament, born in Bethlehem – according to the
prophets – because the Romans conquered and called for a census…
And while shepherds were out in the
fields, feeding their sheep, the Angel of the Lord appeared to them to tell
them that the Savior had been born – and the Savior is for all peoples. Just as God promised their father, Abraham,
the Savior is for every single type of person in all of existence – not just
the Jews – but for people like us, too.
And through His life – through His
keeping of the whole Law of God – and through His death, during which He
received the Wrath of God due for all of our sin – Jesus saved everyone who
will every believe in Him for salvation – and secured it through His
Resurrection and Ascension.
That’s why His birth is good news of
great joy – the fact that there is One Way to salvation – and it is entirely
God’s work – is good news, because we are born spiritually dead and can do
nothing to save ourselves. Thus, it is a
great joy – we rejoice in the work of God through His Son Jesus and for His
Grace in salvation and in the gift of God the Holy Spirit Who enables us to strive
towards holiness.
Finally, the birth of Jesus requires
a response.
“When the angels went away from them
into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And
they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them
concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told
them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And
the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and
seen, as it had been told them.”
The shepherds heard that the Savior
is born and He is in Bethlehem and would be known by being in a manger in swaddling clothes. They recognized that this is truth – this is
from God – and they went, right away – to Bethlehem to find the Baby.
The next thing they did was they
told Mary everything that happened – this was information she should have – to
know what the angels are saying about her Son – about how the message of His
birth is being spread so that everyone will know that the Savior is born.
And they didn’t just tell Mary – and
Joseph, presumably – they told everyone they met on the way and everyone they
met on the way back, and they likely kept talking for days on end. This is the promised Savior, after all – if
you truly believe that it is He, why wouldn’t you be telling everyone? Why wouldn’t you risk ridicule and being deserted
by friends because you said these things?
It’s that important.
Finally, they glorified and praised
God. They praised God and thanked Him
for being faithful to His promise, for revealing it to them, for allowing it to
occurring in their lifetime. They glorified
God – as they told everyone about what happened and their meeting the Baby
Jesus – the Savior of the world – they said this shows God’s truthfulness and
ability to carry out the salvation He promised.
Isn’t He worthy of worship and honor and obedience and trust throughout
the ages?
So, here we are – it is Christmas
Eve 2018.
Jesus of Nazareth – Who we proclaim
to be God Incarnate – was born the Savior through the womb of the Virgin Mary
in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago in history.
And He lived and died and rose from the dead and ascended back to His
throne – accomplishing everything He set out to do – in the accomplishing of salvation
– in history.
Do you believe this to be true?
Do you have reasons for why you
believe this is true history and Jesus is really the promised Savior?
What will you do with this knowledge
– how will you respond?
How will the Savior being born
change who you are and what you do going forward from today?
One of my college professor told me
that Jesus was being illogical – you don’t have to respond to Him – you can
decide to just not have anything to do with Him.
Usually that’s true about things –
you can have no opinion. However, Jesus
doesn’t allow that choice – you are either for Him or you are against Him. You either respond to the birth of the Savior
with belief followed by obedience, or you respond by not believing – and if you
stay in that state forever, you will not meet Jesus as Savior on the last day,
but Judge.
This is a happy time – it is a
festive time – it is a time of showing our love for one another. It is also the time when we remember the
Savior is born.
Now what?
Let us pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for sending
Your Son to be born in history, the True Savior of all of His people and we ask
that You would grant us the assurance of our salvation – that we would believe
with such force that we have to respond like the shepherds. Send us out in faith and obedience with zeal
that the Name of Jesus would be known on every corner of the planet. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
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