Sunday Sermon Luke 2:1-7

We are glad that you have joined us for today’s service as we are currently in between books and will be starting Ephesians at the first of the new year which is right around the corner!

As you know, I am not a holiday preacher because I like to stay on course with the book we are in.

But because we are between books, today is the day of salvation!

Today, we are going to look at the Christmas story or if you may, the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So let us open our Bibles us to Luke 2

Read Luke 2:1-7

Prayer

Lord Heavenly Father, thank you that we can gather together to worship you in Spirit and in Truth freely this day and we ask that you would first forgive us for being consumed with the materialism, party’s, lights, food and drink that this time of year brings while not focusing on you! Please fill us with your Spirit and help us to fix our eyes on Jesus for He and He only is the reason for the season. Remove any and all distractions Lord, and set our mind and heart on you. Help us to receive with meekness your implanted word which is able to keep saving our souls and give us practical nuggets of truth for our lives. Help us to grasp the depths of your love for us this year as we look at the birth of your only begotten Son who died for the sins of the world.

In Jesus Name

We will celebrate Christmas this week. The Christmas season has become the busiest time of the year. We have been preparing for it for months and it seems as if the whole month of December needs to be reserved for gatherings and fellowship.

I enjoy those special times with family and friends, but I often wonder if Christmas hasn’t become too busy.

If we aren’t careful we will schedule ourselves into a frenzy and wear ourselves out.

We will become so busy that we fail to consider and fully appreciate what it is that we are celebrating.

A large majority of Americans, as well as people around the world, celebrate Christmas, but what is the main focus of the season?

I believe that the modern world has hijacked our sacred holiday and made it a commercial nightmare. Rather than a time for thankfulness and rejoicing, it has become a time of jealousy, resentment, and greed.

There is little consideration for the birth of our Lord. Most are only concerned with whether that coveted gift has been wrapped and placed under the tree.

We have read the account of the day that our blessed Lord was born. This is the real focus of Christmas. That is what Christmas is all about.

If we fail to see Jesus, then we have missed it all. On that faithful day there were no Christmas trees or parties. There were no extravagant gatherings, just Mary, Joseph, and Jesus there in a cattle stall in Bethlehem.

In fact the city was full of activity, but it wasn’t concerning the birth of Christ.

Most on that day were distracted, but a few were devoted.

Truth be told church we really do not know when Jesus was born, but Clement of Alexandria recorded a date of May 20

Let’s look at the this text and consider the birth of our Lord

Luke 2:1 NKJV

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

In those days, what days?

This is the day of King Herod the Great, well he was not so great.

And of John the Baptist

We know in Luke 1 that John the baptist was born

Decree- dogma-rule, ordinance, command , doctrine, or a philosophical opinion

So what we have is an ordinance set out by the Emperor and his name is Caesar Augustus

His real name is Gaius Octavius and he the grandnephew of Julius Caesar.

Augustus- means majestic one or honored one

He was given this title or name by the Roman senate church because they were impressed by his ability to lead

Some said, “He was Caesar from the gods!”

In fact, on a couple of inscriptions that were found be archeologists said that Caesar Augustus was the savior of the world.

But we know this is not true, for he was just a man like you and I leading Rome, sorta like the president of the US.

What is intriguing to me is how Luke mentions him to show the Sovereignty fo God at work.

Although Caesar Augustus was on the throne of Rome and ruling, The Lord of Heaven is on the throne over everything, including Caesar Augustus....

He is ruler over all, Amen!!

Note, the word registered here at the end of verse one..

Some of your translations say taxed, but registered is the best translations and we will learn why.

Luke 2:2 NKJV

This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

There are two reason why a census would be given:

Military- they would use the census to count the number of fighting men

Taxation- to fund the government

they would take to get more revenue

and for Rome to provide perks for the people

Two examples of this would be:

The Pax Romana- this was a worldwide peace enforced by Rome

There were soldiers all over the place as you have seen in movies and they ensured a forceful peace and calm for the people

These soldiers kept people toting the line, like our police officers do today

Somebody had to pay for roads

Rome had amazing engineers and workers that built roads that lasted, in fact if you would go there today you could still walk on them

Rome built over 50,000 miles of road

Luke 2:2 NKJV

This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

Quirinius-koo-ray'-nee-os-warrior

He was consul B.C. 12., and was made governor of Syria after the banishment of Archelaus in A.D. 6. He was probably twice governor of Syria; his first governorship extended from B.C. 4 (the year of Christ's birth) to B.C. 1. It was during this time that he was sent to make enrolment which caused Joseph and Mary to visit Bethlehem. Luke 2:2. The second enrolment is mentioned in Acts 5:37.

First-protos- or it can mean before

Most scholars believe this verse should read : this census took place before Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Luke 2:3 NKJV

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

What is interesting about this text is that Rome did not require that you go back to your country of your ancestors, but rather just be counted because they wanted to know the number of men that were able to fight and certainly they wanted your money.

But we do know that there was a Jewish requirement or law if you may that required that you go back to your place of origin to be registered or counted.

Why?Why would the Jews want this?

The Jews were very particular about there lineage and the tribe they were from and they believed in keeping good records so they made it a requirement when the census was called they would travel back home

But what is sad is all the hustle and bustle of the census, the traveling and the spending of money, that no one was looking for the Messiah, they were more concerned with Rome and their own busyness church that they forgot the Messiah.

These were the people who were distracted, but not devoted...

We can be really religious people and forget about the Messiah.

We can have our hands in much busy work, but not bending the knee to the Messiah.

This could be compared to building your house on the sand instead of the Rock.

So there was a Roman requirement to be registered and counted, thus taxed

And there was a Jewish requirement on top of that to go home to your place of origin and be counted.

Luke 2:4 NKJV

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

We see here that Joseph and Mary who is somewhere between 14-16 are in Nazareth, but must travel to Bethlehem because this is where Joseph is from.

Notice that Joseph is of the lineage of David and from the tribe of Judah.

It is important to note that Mary was in her third trimester and that there was no cars, no buses, no planes, no motorcycles, no SUV, and no Ubers.

It was a 70-90 mile trek scholars believe and if you notice the text reads they went up, this does not mean north, but rather south in direction.

People would normally hike about 20 miles a day, but since Mary was pregnant they probably did like 10 miles per day.

And I think it is important to remember that it was dangerous, it was cold, and their thieve and robbers out there.

But where God guides, He provides!

The reason it was up, is because of the elevation gain. Thus, it was not flat land church and Mary was pregnant!

Bethlehem was south of Nazareth and Judea church

Why would they travel this distance church?? Why?

Luke 2:26–38 NKJV

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Mary and Jospeh knew that she was carrying the Messiah in her womb and they also knew this prophecy church and that God was using them to fulfill such a prophecy :

This was a divine set up church!

The Lord was leading in all of this!

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Ephrathah was the district and Bethlehem was the town.

Bethlehem is two words in Hebrew

Beth-be’t- the House

Lehem- Bread

Bethlehem is the House of Bread

All around Judea and Bethlehem was wheat fields church, sorta like here.

It was known as the Bread Basket of the day and thus:

We have Jesus being the Bread of Life

Therefore the Bread of Life was born in Bethlehem, just like King David and Joseph

Luke 2:5 NKJV

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

Here we see that there was a betrothal period church which lasted around 12 months I believe

Then they would marry and the marriage would be official my consummation or intimacy

LET US REMEMBER THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SCORNED AND TREATED POORLY BECAUSE SHE WAS PREGNANT BEFORE THEY MARRIED.

IT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO ....

Luke 2:6 NKJV

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

Church, after a 90 mile hike and there commitment and submission to the Lord, the time has come to meet the Savior of the World.

Luke 2:7 NKJV

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Notice that the text says she brought forth her first son. There were more children.

Swaddling clothing- these were pieces of cloth of about 4-5 inches in diameter and 18ft long. Salt would have been ground and rubbed into the cloth. Then they would wrap the baby very tight and the reason for this was of an ancient tradition. they believed if you did not wrap the baby tight that their limbs would not grow straight, but rather crocked.

It was very similar to how Jesus was wrapped when he was placed in the tomb

I have some bad news for you, the manger might not have been what you have always thought it to be, nor the inn.

Some of us travel and when we read the word inn, we may think of the:

Holiday Inn

Shilo Inn

Ramada Inn

Knights Inn

But the Inn we are talking about is far from this, they were far from a Holiday!!

There is great discussion about this within scholarship and I would like to give you a possibility:

The Inn’s back then were called Caravanserai and I want to show you a picture:

There are rooms all around the Inn and then you see that whole in the ground?

That was were water would be for the people.

But what is interesting is that caravans of people, their animals, and things would need to take a break and they would rent a room.

There was not rooms available for Mary and Joseph, no Room for Jesus.

The people would stay in the rooms while the animals would stay in the court yard.

There are two theories about where they stayed, either in the courtyard with the animals are in a cave in the field.

Can you imagine the smell in the courtyard?

Jesus was not born in a palace or some fancy place church, but in a borrowed manger! He was buried in a borrowed tomb. He was actually born homeless like you and I.

Matthew 8:20 NKJV

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

And for the nice wooden manger in the nativity scene, well lets look at what it might look like:

Application

The bottom line here church is that there was not room in the INN for the Messiah, just like for much of the world.

Caesar Augustus was ruling Rome, but God was over ruling Him.

So, lets not get caught up with what the president is doing, but rather that God’s ways are not our ways!

Let’s not get caught up with we do not like the way the governors or mayors are do things, or even our bosses, because although God has given them authority, he rules over them.

We see here God’s sovereignty and mans responsibility church.

Romans 8:28–29 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

You may have rulers in your life, but God rules over all!

There was no room for Jesus in the INN, people were distracted with many things like materialism, like party’s, and travel and did not have room for Jesus.

Do you? Do you have room in your heart and inn for Jesus?

Are you devoted to Him? Or distracted with the things of this world?

Prayer

Benediction

Numbers 6:24–26 NKJV

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’

The Lord Bless You!

Your Mission Starts Now!

Merry Christmas!

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