On Thursday, December 9, 1965 a television show aired which captured nearly half of the possible viewing audience.1 It was called A Charlie Brown Christmas which ended with Linus telling Charlie Brown about the real meaning of Christmas by quoting Luke 2 from the King James Version of the Bible and the group singing together, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. This, the longest running cartoon special in television history, may be why a number of people have parts if not all of Luke 2 memorized in the King’s English who may have rarely read the Bible.
And though you don’t want to develop your theology based on cartoons, even cartoon specials, Linus is exactly right. The meaning of Christmas is the birth of Christ. It is a time of the year we set aside to celebrate the fact that God sent his Son into the world as a man who would eventually die on the cross for our sins and be raised from the dead on the third day. Therefore, it is fitting that in our study through Luke’s gospel we arrive at chapter 2 of this book on our Christmas Eve service, for we want to focus ourselves on the fact that God sent his Son to us as we celebrate this time of the year.
Even as then a Charlie Brown special is an odd place to find Luke 2 quoted, so Luke 2 itself shows us that Christ’s birth itself is not what we might have scripted. The story begins with the line, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” Everyone in the Roman Empire, including those living in Nazareth, had to register for this census so that they could be taxed. And though we don’t know if this is how it worked with everyone, the Jews at least had to report to that city where they could trace their ancestry. This led Joseph to Bethlehem, the city of David, because “he was of the house and lineage of David” (v. 4).
We don’t know if Mary was required by Rome to make the trip as well, but even if not the decision was made in Joseph’s mind that Mary would come with him. After all, they were betrothed, meaning probably that they were officially married and yet had not consummated the marriage. Mary was still a virgin. And if she had been left behind she would have been open to the shame and ridicule from those who knew she had become with child before marrying Joseph and were unaware of this miraculous conception that had taken place by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So Mary and Joseph set off for Bethlehem together. And while they were there the time came for Mary to give birth. However, there was a problem. There was no room for them in the inn. There was no place for her to have this child. Now it appears from Luke’s language “while they were there” that Mary didn’t go into labor on the very night they arrived in Bethlehem. It seems they had been there for at least a bit. However, whether they had been there a long or short time, they could not have the baby in any kind of public lodging. There was simply no room. After all, Bethlehem would have been crowded with people coming to be registered.
However, stables were common in the area. Since people would be traveling with animals, public lodging typically had a stable on the bottom floor or next to it. It appears that Mary and Joseph then decide that this is the best setting since they cannot have the baby in the inn. Therefore, Mary gives birth to Jesus and they wrap him in swaddling cloths and lay him in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. This is how our Savior the only Son of God, God the Son is born into the world, in a humble setting, lying in a feeding trough.
But it’s good for us to pause here in the story and appreciate one glaring truth, namely, that God sovereignly carries out his purposes and plans in the world.
You see, years earlier Micah had prophesied about the promised coming one. Specifically he wrote in Micah 5:2, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” If Jesus really is the promised Messiah, then he had to be born in Bethlehem. But how was this couple from Nazareth going to have this child about ninety miles away in Bethlehem? The answer was a census issued by Caesar Augustus.
Caesar Augustus’ original name was Gaius Octavius. He was the great nephew of Julius Caesar. After Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 B.C., Octavian found out that he had been named the heir in Caesar’s will. Therefore, he changed his name to Gaius Julius Caesar, and when he was declared to be the emperor of the entire Roman Empire, the titled was conferred on him, “Augustus” meaning the majestic or highly revered one. From that point forward he was known as Caesar Augustus.
He was probably the greatest statesman in Rome’s history. R. C. Sproul notes: “He began all kinds of building programmes and set up a massive system of centralized government, regulating commerce and trade. He strengthened the military and for his entire reign Rome was at peace. With his leadership was born that famous period known as the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome. He did much to advance the culture of the Roman empire. Towards the end of his life he said, ‘I found Rome bricks and I made it marble.’”2 He was a powerful and productive emperor. And he knew of his greatness. He even allowed himself to receive the title Dominus et Deus, meaning “Lord and God.”
However, as he looked around at the confused state of the empire, he longed to bring more organization and to produce an avenue for taxing the people. That was his motivation. But we know that from the perspective of eternity he decreed that a census take place so that a virgin and her betrothed husband would get to Bethlehem. This powerful emperor was but a pond in the hand of God, who rules the world and holds the king’s heart in his hand. As mentioned, no doubt Joseph would not have left his wife behind because of the scorn and ridicule she would have received, but it could be that there was another reason she traveled with him. We have every reason to believe that Joseph and Mary were familiar with the Scriptures. And God had confirmed through angels to both him and Mary that the child in her womb was the Christ. So we can imagine Joseph and Mary talking one evening about all of these things when all of the sudden one of them said, “But the Messiah has to be born in Bethlehem. That’s what Micah prophesied. So how in the world will we get to Bethlehem?” Can you imagine their thoughts when a decree was issued that they would have to go to Bethlehem at the time when Mary would be set to deliver this child? They would have known that it was the hand of God at work.
What a unique story in the history of the world! It’s amazing to contemplate. However, what is not unique is the way God works in this story, namely, in the fact that God is always sovereignly carrying out his purposes and plans in this world. Could you imagine Mary and Joseph raising their fists at God saying, “Why did you let the emperor issue a decree? Mary’s going to be very pregnant, and traveling ninety miles is no easy task. C’mon, God, aren’t you in control?” Of course not. That’s humorous because we know how the story ends. We know God was carrying out his perfect plans.
Well, let me exhort you to see that same thing in your own life. Have faith that God is really working all things after his own purposes and plans. So instead of raising your fist to heaven, why don’t we raise our hands to him this Christmas in praise, thanking God that even when our lives make no sense and are terribly difficult that we can know that he is in control. Let us praise him that he is using everything in our lives right now for his purposes and plans, indeed, for our good and his glory. Can you come to any other conclusion when you read this text or numerous other texts in the Bible about God’s providential control of the world? God is soverignly carrying out his purposes and plans in this world and that includes what is going on in your life today.
As Luke continues the story of Christ’s birth he moves our focus from the stable to a field in that region where shepherds were keeping their watch at night. It probably seemed like any other night. Perhaps some were catching some sleep while others were watching so that they could watch over the sheep throughout the night, taking shifts. However, this night was no like any other. Suddenly an angel appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were of course terrified, just as Zechariah and Mary had been when the angel came to them. And just like in those situations the angel immediately tells them to fear not. He declares to them, “Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy for all 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” (vv. 10-12).
And if that news wasn’t enough, suddenly a host of other heavenly beings suddenly appeared praising God in their midst, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Again, let’s pause and consider a few things from this incident with the angels and shepherds. First, remember that Luke is writing this gospel so that Theophilus might know for certain the things that he has been taught. Well, one of the chief things he has been taught is that Jesus is the promised Messiah. And Luke has shown again and again in the first chapter alone that Jesus is God’s Son and the Messiah. In this text Luke affirms it once more very clearly from the mouths of angels. First the angel appears to the shepherds and declare that the child born in Bethlehem in the city of David is a Savior, Christ the Lord.
I don’t think Luke any room for doubting who Jesus is, but just in case we’ve missed it, Luke spells it out for us again. Jesus is the Savior, Christ the Lord. To be the Savior means that he is the one who is coming to deliver his people. Judges in the Old Testament were referred to as saviors or delivers because they delivered people from their enemies. That’s exactly what Jesus is doing, coming to deliver us from Satan, sin, and death. He is also the Christ. To be the Christ meant something very specific. He is the promised Son of David who would live and reign forever as King over his people. And finally, he is the Lord. “The Lord” can mean nothing else from the angel’s mouth except that he is God himself. When we sing at Christmas time, “What child is this?” the answer is that he is the Lord. He is God the Son. He is the one seated on the throne when Isaiah looks up and sees the Lord seated on a throne with angels around him declaring, “Holy, Holy, Holy” and is so brilliant and glorious that Isaiah believes he is going to die. He’s one so majestic that being whose voices can shake the heavens worship him.
Is there then any wonder that a host from heaven gather to praise God when Jesus comes into the world born to a virgin? Far better than we do the angels knew who Jesus was and is. He is God, the Creator. If we could get but a glimpse of how glorious Jesus is we would no doubt be amazed at the fact that he would be born into this world and laid in a feeding trough. What a contrast to that scene Isaiah saw. As Paul said, “He did not consider equality with God a thing to be exploited but humbled himself, taking on the form of a servant.” He did that so that we might be redeemed.
I think we’re to be moved by this scene, this contrast of the angels’ praise and Jesus lying in a feeding trough. I think we’re to be taken back at this. But how is it to affect us? What is to be our response to this amazingly humbling scene of the Son of God lying there? One way the Bible tells us to apply that truth is to have that same mindset. We should humble ourselves and serve others.
Jesus’ humbling nature was not only show in his humble birthplace but in his death as well. He would die for us, dying the death of a criminal alongside two criminals. Therefore, dare we refuse to serve one another when this is our Savior? As we think about how great Jesus is and what he did, even coming into this world that we might be saved, let us respond by serving each other. Let us ask what we might do to serve one another even as Christ served us. After all, he is the Savior, the Christ, the Lord and was born in a feeding trough so that we might be exalted on that final day.
This scene with the shepherds also reminds us that Jesus has come for as many as will believe in him. If we were scripting this scene the angels would have appeared to Caesar Augustus. They would have declared who is really bringing peace, not him but Jesus. They would have mocked the peace of Rome, comparing the peace that Christ brings – peace with God. Or they would have appeared to some prominent speakers of the day who could go and proclaim the news as the respected of society. But they didn’t appear to these. They came to shepherds.
Shepherds were not exactly the most highly regarded of the day. They were poor and dirty. But the angels came to them. And when they said that Christ is born they said to the shepherds, “For is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (v. 11).
Jesus had come into the world for them and those like them. Jesus did not humble himself, coming into this world so that only those who we find to be prominent might be saved. He came for all who would believe, whether they be poor or rich, handsome or unattractive, having great abilities or none at all.
Therefore, let this move us to go to all with the gospel. I fear in my own life that I find myself drawn more to those whom I feel can profit me. I’m eager to share the gospel as long as it’s with someone who is like me. And I’ve prayed this week, “God, please help me to labor to lift up those who offer me nothing, those whose friendship will bring no praise, those who are a bit odd and have been neglected in our society.” Only when our heart is bent toward such people can we begin to emulate our God’s actions of sending his Son to us or sending his angels to these shepherds. Remember that Christ has come for all who will believe, not simply those whom we find prominent. May we be willing to throw our lives into service of those who cannot benefit us for Christ’s sake.
Finally, the story ends with the shepherds saying to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us” (v. 16). And as quickly as they could they went to Bethlehem looking for this child. He had to have been somewhat easy to find. After all, though there might have been many babies in the city there was no doubt only one wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
When they found him they made known to Mary and Joseph and all there what had happened. And Mary began treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. You can imagine how much she must have had in her mind.
On November 4, 2002 I was rushing home from a class to meet my wife to go to the hospital as she would give birth to our son, Michael. I had jokingly told her that she couldn’t have the baby until Monday, November 4 at 2:00 PM. I had a big assignment to do and present and figured I would be finished by 2:00 on that day. After she called and I got in the car my clock showed 2:04 (what a good wife I have!).
The next nine hours were crazy. We were calling our parents and some friends. I learned how all the machines worked at the hospital. We learned that this was the day that Lili’s mom’s mom had died years earlier. It appeared that God was redeeming the day for her with the birth of her first grandson. It was a crazy day, and I remember being moved to tears multiple times throughout the day.
It was probably after midnight by the time everything had settled down and it was just Lili and me in the room. I was exhausted (less than her though, I’m sure), and I sat back in the uncomfortable chair I would have to sleep in and pondered everything that had happened. We had just had our first son. I went over every detail of the day because I didn’t want to forget anything. In fact, six months later as we celebrated our three year anniversary I gave Lili a journal entry in a journal I had bought for her a couple of years earlier. It was my reflection on that day. Even as I wrote it I found myself moved to tears at the grace of God in giving us a child.
Can you imagine Mary’s emotions as she pondered what God had done, everything that had taken place? No doubt she was humbled and brought to tears, praising God. She might have been the very source for Luke for these events, having thought about them from that day for the rest of her life. She had been so blessed. And so had these shepherds been blessed. They left, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and scene.
And I can’t help but think that we to should be moved to praise God and declare what he has done in Jesus Christ to others.
Of all the people in the world, for some reason God has opened our eyes to the good news. For some reason in God’s grace we know what he has done for us in Christ. And he has commanded us to remember what he has done as each week we come to the table, pondering what Christ has done. So may we find ourselves praising God for his grace to us, and may we be just as urgent as the shepherds to declare the good news, knowing that we too are undeserving recipients of such grace from God.
This Christmas, let us remember that God is carrying out his plans in this world; that the birth we celebrate this Christmas is that of Jesus: the Savior, the Christ, and the Lord; let us remember that he has come for all who will believe; and may our response to this good news be to praise him and tell others of what Christ has done. Let this story lead us to humble ourselves in service to one another. Let this story lead us to take the gospel even to those who cannot profit us with their abilities or riches or knowledge. And let this story lead us to praise God who sent his Son to serve us, who were but his enemies and are now his children. May we praise him even as we come to the table. Amen.