Baby Jesus: What’s The Big Deal?

Let me ask you to remain seated this morning as we read from Luke 2. We will this morning be working through the narrative of Christ’s birth, which is articulated to us in this section from Luke 1:1-38.

The Purpose of Luke’s Gospel

Luke is writing these truths to his friend Theophilis. And as he is writing he is seeking to articulate to him a clear record of the things that have been accomplished. That’s how he phrases it. “The things that have been accomplished.” For he desires his friend Theophilis to be certain – to be certain – about this good news, about this gospel message. And central to that story is obviously the story of Jesus. His birth, his life, and his death.

3 Concepts: Incarnation, Adoration, Salvation

This morning we will be looking in these verses at three specific concepts. 1. We will look at the incarnation, which is the truths that we have just read. How God took upon himself the form of a man. The incarnation.

Secondly we will see the adoration. It’s caught in this entire section – from the beginning to the end of it. Just as you read it, notice how the incarnation is cause for celebration. Right? It is appropriate and right that the entire creation pause in adoration, exultation, of this God for that which he has done.

He was born to win for us, accomplish for us, our salvation.

And then lastly, in this same section, we will see that the cause of that adoration and celebration is our salvation. For that is what the incarnation is all about. He was born to win for us, accomplish for us, our salvation.

Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1 I am reading from the English Standard Version:

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.”

A Tale of Two Kings

The incarnation. It’s interesting that as Luke articulates to us the story of the birth of our king, he puts it in the context of another king. The story of the incarnation as Luke writes it is really a tale of two kings right at the beginning.

There’s a few things here it’s important for us to grasp about the one who is being born. In Luke 1 it has already been articulated that this one who is going to be born is going to be the very son of God. His pedigree is that he is divine.

The Son of King David

In chapter 2 here, Luke is keen to help us grasp that the one who is being born is a son of David. Look at verse 4. Augustus, the adopted son of Julius Cesar, has instructed that a census is to happen. And for this to take place everybody needs to go back to their original home – their place of birth. And so Joseph is taking his family back to Bethlehem. And verse 4 tells us why he is going to Bethlehem. It is because he was of the house and the lineage of David.

This child who is about to be born is a rightful heir – if you so please – of the throne of his forefather, David. The one who is being born is not only the son of God. Humanly speaking, he is the son of David. That’s his pedigree. But in this opening section what’s also in focus is his poverty. Not just his pedigree.

His Pedigree and Poverty

He truly is one who in and of himself is worthy of much. But as the story is written, there is emphasis of his lowliness. When he is born he is wrapped in swaddling cloths, he is laid in a manger, because there is no place for them in the inn.

The location of his birth is a stable. He has a manger – a feeding trough – for his crib. Because there’s no decent accommodation available for them in Bethlehem. This is the story of the birth of one king.

The Second King

The context itself refers to a Cesar Augustus. In fact, the very event happening is a flexing of muscles for Cesar. For a king to know just how great he was, his greatness oftentimes would be measured by numbering the people over whom he reigns and he rules. And hence here’s Cesar. He reigns and rules in many ways over the whole world – the known world – in quotes. Is that how it says it here?

In those days a decree – that’s a commandment – it’s an order, its an instruction, coming from a powerful and potent king. A decree goes out from this king that all the world should be registered. This one king inconveniences the entire world to demonstrate his glory and his might. The term decree shows that he’s in charge.

The Mighty Cesar

The very title Cesar shows just how potent he is. He’s not even merely a king or a chief or an MCA. He is Cesar. The Emperor over the entire known world. Quite glad and happy to inconvenience his citizens to demonstrate his power.

One king is born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths, for there’s no room in the inn. Another king, sitting over his Empire, disrupts the entire world. The world that is the known world at that point – for the sake of the counting and the numbering of his people.

The Geographic & Political Context

Notice also in this section that Luke is giving to us a lot of geographic and political context. That’s the world that Christ is being born into. He’s telling us the exact city that he is going to be born in. It’s Bethlehem. He is telling us about the time. It’s ‘those days.’

“Do you remember those days when Quirinius was still the Governor and Cesar Augustus, right, was the Emperor? Do you remember that time when Cesar ordered for that census and wherever you were in Rome – let’s say in a far off part in Rome…” You would remember this event. You would remember this event for it disrupted the entire region. And what Luke wants Theophilis to grasp is yes, it was a very specific moment and time in history, that God the son broke into this world and was born in a manger.

It’s Relatable and Real

It’s very relatable. It’s almost like I’m talking to you about something that happened, and I’m telling you “do you remember that time in 2007? Do you remember that time? That evening when the announcements were made about the vote?” Most of us would remember where you were at that particular moment and time. And then I fill in… at that very moment here’s what was going on.

God taking upon himself the form of a man is a real tale. It’s not a made up story.

This tale that is being told about God taking upon himself the form of a man is a real tale. It’s not a made up story. Luke is providing verifiable facts to Theophilis that he can look back to. But he’s also reminding him that this one who we call our God and our saviour is one who submitted himself to all of those facts.

Jesus Was Born Into This Situation

He walked in the dark of this world. He experienced the tyranny of flawed despots. His life was not shielded from bad politics or from tyrannical kings. Physical, social, political, financial struggles are now his own. He stepped into that world. He submitted himself to those realities – they are now his.

Jesus is not shielded from any harsh realities by his divine status – or even by his human ancestry.

He is a child who is being born in Bethlehem because a certain Cesar, all the way out there in Rome made a decree. And that’s why he and his family are where they are right now. Experiencing all of those realities of this fallen and broken world. He was born to taste of those things, to know them, to experience them, to be subjected to them just like other men and women are.

That’s what he’s done in his incarnation. He is not shielded from any of those harsh realities by his divine status – or even by his human ancestry. God has taken on the form of a man and he lies in a manger.

Notice a few things here about his incarnation.

Lessons From The Incarnation

The incarnation is saying to us that God not only cares for us, but he has acted in wondrous and shocking ways to address our sin and suffering. He has come and taken upon himself our form. Your agonies, your stresses. Your experiences of pressure that might tempt you to feel that “you know what, a distant God can’t quite understand this.”

Incarnation says something different.

He Has Come, And He Knows…

Because he is a man he will know what it means to be tired. Because he is a man he will know what it is to be in relational strain. Because he is a man he knows what it is to be in pain, to be lonely. That’s what God has done. He has come.

You cannot say that Jesus hasn’t been there for you. He came.

The incarnation means we should not run away from Jesus. You can find fault with this church. You can come up with a lot of arguments about how flawed his Church is. Quite easy to point out flaws in a gathering of flawed people. It’s not really that impressive – because that’s really what this is. You can find flaws in brothers and sisters, but you cannot say that Jesus hasn’t been there for you. He came.

Look at the distance he covered, from his throne to the manger. And he was coming for you. He has not distanced himself from your struggle with sin and suffering. He has become a man to be tempted at every point without sin, so that he could be your suitable high priest – the incarnate son of God.

Luke 2:8-21

Notice as this narrative goes on in verse 8, it tells us:

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14   “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”

The Praise Of Two Choirs

You’ve seen the incarnation. A tale of two kings – as different as they come. But notice here adoration, the praise of two different choirs.

There’s two scenes in this section. One is the scene where you have shepherds in the field. Glad tidings they bring as the host of angels sing. The second scene is shepherds by the crib. Glad tidings, they repeat, and together they sing for all that they have heard and seen.

Shepherds in The Fields

Notice in the first scene the audience. The audience of that first scene are shepherds. In the same region, there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over the flock by night. Luke is one of the only gospel authors to refer to this particular crowd. It’s a lowly crowd that God has chosen as the ones who are going to receive the news that the son of God has been born.

It’s shepherds. It’s not kings or scholars. It’s not pastors or prophets or doctors or lawyers, or other men of great honour. No, it’s shepherds. Those that belong to a class that is far lower, far smaller. You see at this time shepherds would be considered as one of the lowest, of the lowest, of the lowest of social classes.

The Lowliest of The Low

In the time of the patriarchs the task of shepherding was still highly regarded. But by the time that Christ is being born, shepherds were not even allowed to bear testimony in certain court cases, because their testimony is considered untrustworthy. There’s arguments that can be made about shepherds being considered even as unclean, and forbidden from entering into certain rooms.

It’s shepherds! Not those that are highly regarded. And yet it is that class of citizens that God chooses to allow the angels to go and make announcement to them that his son has been born.

It’s For All the People

And notice also in the news that they bear. They inform us that this salvation is for all the people. It’s not just for some of the people. It’s for all the people. The only other place where you can find ‘all the people’ in this particular section is where Cesar Augustus commanded that ‘all the people’ be numbered. Disrupting his entire kingdom for his convenience, and for his boasting, and for his flexing.

For you see that’s how it works, isn’t it? The ones at the top get to enjoy it, while the rest of us act as their footstool. That’s the way of power and authority in the world. But not so with this king.

A Different Type of King

Oh, this is an entirely different king. This king is not all about driving on the wrong side of the road and hooting so that the rest of you can get out of his way, so that he can get to wherever he’s getting without any traffic. No common inconveniences.

The very idea of incarnation is he has submitted himself, humbled himself, humiliated himself, to take upon himself all of the struggles that are most familiar with the one who is living in Muslim Kawangware. That’s the place that he’s chosen to be born. So that those fears, insecurities, struggles and sufferings – he was to know all of them.

Salvation for All People

The brokenness of this world, that’s what he’s stepped into. So that the salvation that he brings is made available and accessible, not only by the high and mighty. The hyper scholars of our age and time. The wealthy and the nobles. The pharisees and the scribes who even in their religion have upped themselves and are a little notch higher than the rest of society. No. Jesus has come to provide a salvation that is accessible for all people. All people.

The poor, the weak – oh yes – the rich and the famous. All people are included in this salvation that our God has come to offer.

But not only notice the audience, notice also the message.

The Angel’s Message

The message is the centre. For here they say – or rather the angel says – it’s one angel (Luke 2:10) ““Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.”

That’s the big deal. The big deal is not just that there is a cute baby that has been born in Bethlehem. Because some of our songs dare almost to sound like that’s the big deal about Christmas. Look at Jesus and how cute he is – ahh! And it all becomes about this feeling – right?

Feelings are good. I have a lot of them – right? But that’s not the centre here: the cuteness of the scene. Rather the one who is born is Christ who is the Saviour.

What Makes Christmas Important?

The word Christ of course is the word Messiah. He is the long anticipated one. And this is what makes the day that we are about to celebrate, all important. This news is that peace can now be made available – can now be known – with all whom he is pleased. This is good news of great joy.

The response is this one angel who is announcing that a saviour has been born in Bethlehem, is joined with a multitude of angels.

The Reaction of The Shepherds Is Important

What I love about this scene is, one angel showed up, the shepherds were terrified! Right? For glory filled the skies. And as though that was not enough we are told an army of angels appeared together with that angel and they sing a song in praise. What a glorious sight!

Can you just imagine how three minutes ago they had grass in their teeth, chatting about some random things about sheep, or some politics in Bethlehem. And now they are there – lowly shepherds – unclean, unworthy, disregarded, hearing the announcement from an angel – and now a whole host of angels singing glory be to God! “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The audience are lowly saints. The message is a Saviour has been born, and the response as it ought to be is worship and praise. Well the shepherds, in haste, they run to go and see those things that they have been told.

In The Presence of The New Born King

Think about it again. Shepherds are not allowed in certain rooms and places because they are unclean. And it is shepherds that are one of the first people to be invited into the very presence of the newly born king. Quite important!

If you are a scribe, or a prophet or a priest in this time you’ll be wondering, why not me? Why not us? God has been born and the ones who get the invitation to go into the very place where he’s been born, are shepherds.

Invited Into The Inner Room

Not only are they privileged to hear this news from angels, they are privileged to be invited into that inner room. To that very exclusive scene where Jesus is.

But notice that when the shepherds get there, that this is all about the message. This is all about the message. Notice what they are saying. They are seeing in Luke 2:15 “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

What’s It All About?

It’s about the message. The message is what is controlling their understanding, their interpretation, of what they are beholding. Verse 17: “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.”

What’s special about this child is what had been said about this child. Who is this? This is the Saviour that is going to bring about peace for all peoples, of all classes. This is the one!

And as they are departing, verse 20, “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God” why? “For all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

This Scene Can Be Misinterpreted

Without the truth about Jesus – who he is and why he has come – this scene can be totally misinterpreted. You will not understand the big deal about this scene, if you do not have these divine words to understand, who is this? And why has he come?

It’s the shepherds who are welcomed in. And when they come in it’s all about the message. It’s the message that brought them. It’s the message that they repeat again to Mary. It’s the message about this little one that they go away singing and praising about. And that’s what they do. Their response is one of worship.

The Return of The Shepherds To Their Sheep

Notice, one, that they returned. It’s a beautiful story. The angel and the angels have turned up. They have gone into the city, they have seen the baby, and – I won’t make a big deal out of this – but it’s quite important that they returned back to their sheep again.

They didn’t remain up on the mountain top. They went right back again to their sheep. But if you think about it they are going back again to their disrespected jobs. They are going back again to that society infamy. But notice how they are going back. They are going back praising and glorifying God for what they have heard, and what they have seen.

The Change in The Shepherds

The change in them has not so much been effected in a change that it is no longer sheep that they are caring about. Or the city now sees them as very important people. God sees them as important people. God has valued them by sending the angels to them. God has valued them by sending them right into that room – to give them a sight of the baby who has been born.

On earth there’s all manner of classes that might be ascribed. This God has come to tear all of those boundaries away.

And because of the realities of the Christ, the Messiah, the hope of the world who has been born, they are going right back to their ordinary mundane work, but with joy that is inexplicable! And with lips that are filled with praising constantly.

Some Lessons About The God We Serve

I mean in this section, notice again, that the story of the incarnation shows us the kind of God that we serve.

It is Thomas Watson who says that “the highest of angels live to minister to the lowest of saints.” That’s how beloved we are in the eyes of this God. On earth there’s all manner of classes that might be ascribed. This God has come to tear all of those boundaries away.

All of the treasures and the privileges of heaven are bequeathed by grace to the lowliest of the lowliest of saints.

He does not see as man sees. He does not respect, and treat, and love and serve in accordance to the ways of man. All of the treasures and the privileges of heaven are bequeathed by grace to the lowliest of the lowliest of saints.

Notice Who Is Not In The Room

Would you notice that? Would you notice the ones who are not in that room? And be afraid. Be afraid of power. Be afraid of that fame that you might want to claim for yourself. Be afraid of exalting yourself a notch higher and above the rest of the people. Be afraid of wanting to identify yourself more with strength than with weakness; more with wisdom than with foolishness.

Would you notice the ones who are not in that room? And be afraid. Be afraid of power.

Be afraid of that. More with health than with sickness. Isn’t it crazy that Jesus came and said that “I came to heal the sick.” “You are saying you are well? You are fine? You don’t need help? Well, I haven’t come for you. The ones I came for are those who are weak, those who are sick. Those are the ones that I have come to save.”

Who Jesus Came For

Blessed are the poor. Blessed. Happy – happy are the poor. Not those who will claim to have it all. Or even have a little need. The unclean, the rejected, the despised, those who are aware of their unworthiness. The tax collectors, the prostitutes. This is who Jesus has come for.

Oh Church! Do you identify with the shepherds? Oh pastor, oh preacher, oh members, do you identify with the shepherds and say “this is us”? “This is me. Before my God I am unclean. I am unworthy. I am rejected and despised – rightfully. So, it is not unfair treatment in the presence of my God, for me to be denied access. I come empty, I come weak.”

Ah! It’s those who can rejoice in this story. Because the minute you add to that list you look at this story and you say what? He came for shepherds. He came for people just like me.

He Came For The Lame

To quote a famous poet, named Lecrae, he said “God came for the lame, and I’m the lamest.” I love that line. That’s what we should rejoice in this story.

The son of God was born in a manger in Bethlehem. And the angels announced that good news, to shepherds, to outcasts, out in the field. And that means that there’s hope for you and for me this day.

Church, would we embrace that reality for ourselves on this day? Would we embrace that by confessing our sins one to another? By fleeing away from an image of strength and having it all together? Of being great and glorious? And hiding behind all our accomplishments and our strengths. And would we embrace the reality of who we are before God? And rejoice that this is why he came.

How To Embrace Why Jesus Came

One basic way of doing that – we confess our sin. Not only to God, in private, where we acknowledge just how wretched we are – but then in public we reduce it to it’s just some mistakes, and it’s just some errors, no big deal really.

But let’s confess our sins to the point of embarrassment. And let our only be this child who was born – for he came for those like we are.

Luke 2:22-36

The last scene here starts from Luke 2:32. And it says:

“And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27 And he came in 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, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29   “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
30   for my eyes have seen your salvation
31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32   a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Run To Him

See in the incarnation, God descends and takes upon himself the form of a man to be our suitable high priest. To know all of our struggles with suffering and the temptation of sin. So that he is able to sympathise together with us. Oh saints, run to him! Run to him, run to him.

Don’t flee from him. Don’t demand another path. It’s Jesus who is our salvation.

Notice the ones he came to? To invite the lowliest of saints to join in the highest of praise? To join in that adoration, it’s shepherds – the lowly, the weak, the despised, the outcasts. The little nobodies. They don’t stand behind pulpits like this. Nobody knows their names. They don’t have cards to dish out – you can’t google them and find out who they are.

If they serve, they serve in quietness and anonymity. And yet God knows them, he loves them, he treasures them, and he invites them in.

And notice lastly here – our salvation: the hope of two saints.

The Hope of Two Saints

Notice how the character of these two saints is in focus. Simeon – Luke 2:25 – he is called a righteous man and devout. We are told that the Holy Spirit is upon him. We are told that that God has given to Simeon a word we’ve not heard about or we will hear about after. But God has revealed to Simeon the fact that he will not die. What a precious gift for Simeon – God and his ways! Not to the famous Pauls and Peters, but with Simeon, God has given him that treasure: you will not die until you see my salvation.

Simeon & Anna

That’s a treasure that God has given to this saint. And when he comes into the temple, he comes in the Spirit. That’s Simeon. Godly and devout.

Anna. What a beautiful name. A dear sister – I can’t wait to meet her in heaven. She has given her life to serve the Lord. She does not depart from the temple, worshiping, with fasting and prayer. Day and night. I mean you will struggle in the Bible to find a description of a more godly individual. Of a more consecrated and set apart saint from Genesis to Revelation! I dare you to try that!

And with such choice words used to describe a choice saint. This is who they are. Their hearts, and souls and minds are all given to the Lord.

Their Response To Jesus

What do people like that say when they see Jesus? When they hear about Jesus?

Here’s what Simeon says. Simeon says “it is enough.” Luke 2:29: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word”. Simeon is ready to die. He is ready to die. The fact that Jesus has been born and Simeon has laid his eyes on Jesus, he says “it is enough. I’m ready. I’m ready to now come home and be with you for the rest of my days.”

This is a high privilege for Simeon. His whole life, his understanding of all that this world is about is centred upon this one child!

High Praise For A Little Baby

The credibility that these two saints have is captured by the testimony of their character. And if their comments cause us to pay heed to this child for those godly saints who have given themselves to serving the Lord are uttering shocking words – high words – about this little one.

Anna, we are told – the largest portion is given to her character – and we are told she begins to give thanks to the Lord and to speak of him to all. That’s what she does. When she sees the birth of this one – this is what she talks about. It’s all about Jesus and everybody she comes into contact with, she wants them to know about this child who has been born.

Why Are They Making Such A Big Deal?

Why is that the case? Well look at Luke 2:32 c. Why the saints would react so. Why is Simeon making such a big deal of the birth of this child?

Luke 2:30: “for my eyes have seen your salvation.” This is who Jesus is. Jesus is God’s salvation. 

Let me put it differently. There is no salvation from God outside of Jesus. Can I say that one more time? No salvation, no hope, no help from the holy God outside of Jesus.

All Promises of Salvation Come Down To Jesus

So when Simeon beholds Jesus, that’s where all of his hope is! And all of the salvation that he would have any cause to hope in that has been promised by the prophets, illustrated by the events of the Old Testament – all of it comes all the way down to this child. All about him.

Another way of saying it. If you reject Jesus, if you are looking away from Jesus, then you are looking away from God. And all of the salvation that he offers to you it’s all in Jesus.

Notice a few other things in this section that are important.

Born To Die

One, he is the hope of the world for all people: Jews and Gentiles. But you will notice here that Jesus has been born to die. Even in his narrative of birth. Luke 2:33 Simeon alludes as he is speaking to the parents that this child’s story has a very dark future in that sense. A lot of pain is going to come to you Mary, because of this child. And he is alluding to the reality that Christ is going to die on the cross.

The salvation that God offers to us through Jesus is going to ultimately be accomplished through the pain that Jesus Christ will bear. In this section it is caught in the pain that Mary herself will experience.

Under The Law Of God

This section is beautiful and powerful because you notice that at the very birth of Jesus, he was submitted and subjected to the law of God.

So Galatians 4:4. I’ll get to it one of these days. If God keeps me alive and if you don’t fire me for the next couple of Christmases – I’m eager to preach Galatians 4:4 in one of these Christmas sermons. But it articulates to us that God basically was born – the son of God was born – under the law.

Not only has he submitted himself to all of the struggles of mankind, the tyrannical rule of Cesar Augustus, the realities of poverty that his parents would know – or the struggle at least of the middle class or the lower class whatever it is that you are going to articulate her – Christ has also been born under to the yoke of the law.

And in verse 22 it says it. Just look at how many times it repeats it here:

“And when the time came for their purification” note! “according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord” and then the law is quoted. “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice” according to what? “according to what is said in the Law of the Lord.” Verse 27 comes to an end: “to do for him according to the custom of the Law.”

Why Is Everything Done According To The Law?

The Law. The Law. The Law. The Law. The Law. It’s like music isn’t it? Really short quote portion and the Law is quoted like 5 times. Everything that is being done to Jesus at the temple is being done in accordance to the Law. And that Law is interpreted and a cause is given.

The Passover

Why did they have to bring their first born to the temple? You know the story – why is it? Because of the passover. And at the passover the first born of Egypt were all slain. And from that day it was instituted that from that time on the first born of all things in the home of the Jew would be consecrated unto the Lord; would be holy unto the Lord.

So if you are Jewish mum and you get your first born child, your responsibility is to go to the temple and offer a sacrifice. Something has to die in the place of your first born son – as it was in the day of the passover. Where the only reason why the first born children in the homes of the Jews, the only reason they did not die, is because something died in their place.

And they took that blood and they painted it on the lintels of the door. And so it becomes a rule in perpetuity, pointing to this first born. Pointing to this one child.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

All the sacrifices that have been offered, up until this day – including for Jesus himself – were pointing to the sacrifice that this child would come to make a short while after. A couple of pages after. That would bring to an end all of the sacrifices that had been made in Israel. For his sacrifice was the ultimate sacrifice, that made atonement for the sins of all who came to him. In humble admission of their unworthiness, of their un-deservedness, and they cling to him and look to him.

They would receive the salvation that is spoken of in this passage.

The Exodus

Jesus has been born not only to accomplish the passover. Jesus has been born to accomplish the Exodus for. his people. In a short while later – keep flipping through – and you get to chapter 11. Moses and Elijah show up to him. Why? To talk to him about the Exodus that he was about to accomplish.

This is who we are here to celebrate – the birth of a king.

Able to sympathise with all of your infirmities, that’s your king.

Oh – so would you notice again in this section, what’s the big deal? Oh the big deal is God took upon himself the form of a man, for you. For you!

A Suitable High Priest

Such is your God! Such is your king! Not one who exists to abuse and use his people. But one who came to love and to serve, to seek and to pursue. So that he would be your suitable high priest. Able to sympathise with all of your infirmities, that’s your king.

Baby Jesus is Worthy of Praise

And he invites you to come to him – to bow the knee. His incarnation does not reduce in any way his glory. Angels on high – a host of them – appear to worship the babe in the manger. His incarnation has in no way reduced his glory or his deity. He is worthy of the praises of all the heavens, and all the earth, as he lies in that crib as a baby.

So today you are invited you to join, to join in that praise. Not join in that praise as those who are high and mighty, lofty in your understanding of who you are – thinking only about your strengths and covering up your weaknesses – but exposing who you are. Coming to him as you are. Asking that he would pardon you, have mercy on you, be gracious with you. It is those ones that are invited to join with the highest of praise.

The Only True Source Of Joy

And it’s very true right now, this very moment I speak. That those of you that are clinging to your pride, to your identity of your accomplishments – you don’t know joy – I know that – I’ve been there! Maybe even yesterday evening. Pride doesn’t lead to joy – this is something totally different.

If you are clinging to your pride, to your identity of your accomplishments – you don’t know joy. I know that! I’ve been there!

Standing before God just as you are, receiving his mercy and his grace, offered to you though his son, that’s the joy we’re speaking about. That’s the joy that will be in heaven.

Identifying With The Shepherds

A gathering – multitudes upon multitudes – from every nation, tongue and tribe, of forgiven saints, worshiping the lamb who was slain for them. That’s what you are invited to do today. Identify with the shepherds. And don’t be afraid to do that. Why? Because Christ has come to offer salvation for those who are weak.

You should be afraid to identify with their weaknesses, if that’s where the story ends. But if the story ends with ‘Christ died for those weaknesses, Christ died for those sins, the blood was shed to cleanse you of all of that iniquity, his work on the cross is going to accomplish – his resurrection – is going to accomplish victory over the grave – then we can come weak and frail to the cross without fear or shame. For we know that in Christ there’s hope and mercy for such as we are.

Christ has been incarnated. Let us join in praise together with the angels for he has accomplished salvation for us.

Come! Come To Know Christ!

If you are not a Christian, oh I pray that you come to know him this very day. Would you acknowledge your sin? Would you acknowledge you’re really no better than the shepherds. Would you not hide behind any claims of arguments that you have about why you are not a Christian – because you know a Christian or two that are inconsistent? Or you know, the Church today is all about just collecting money from ignorant people?

You can point out all of those things, but I want you to stand before God and his holiness – you know yourself. You know your sin. After all of the cute and clever arguments, you know that in your heart of hearts, you conscience accuses you of having fallen short of the standard that God has set for you. We invite you to cling to Jesus.

Would you not cry out to Him even now? Would you not have yet another pointless Christmas that’s about eating and feasting?

He came for you. He was born so that he could die in your place, and pay the penalty that you deserve. Would you not cry out to Him even now? Would you not have yet another pointless Christmas that’s about eating and feasting? Would you not see the joy that is in the hearts of the shepherds as they go back outside the city? To tend sheep in the night?

That the joy that they have that is causing them to praise the Lord, and glory in him, is a joy you know nothing of? With the fame and the pleasures of this world, you know nothing of that joy. Would you not turn away from the momentary pleasures of sin, which abide for a moment, and cling to Jesus!

Bend the knee to this newborn king. Who died for you and for me. And receive salvation. For that’s the point of the incarnation.

Whatever Your Circumstances, You Can Have Joy

I know saints, wherever you are, whatever circumstances that you are in at this very point in the year. It might not be a Christmas like any other. Maybe it’s tough economic times that are hurting you – and you are very conscious of the fact that you are unable to afford the kind of Christmas you are typically able to afford.

Couldn’t take your family out on holiday, can’t buy a goat to slaughter it – or fill in the blank. Would you rejoice in seeing that that’s not what Christmas is for believers? That’s not what we celebrate when we think about the birth of the son?

The Incarnation Accomplished Salvation

We celebrate something that the realities of this world cannot touch or affect. This Jesus came to provide for us a salvation that the government of Kenya cannot corrupt. That the changing tides of the weather or economy, or my current relational status, or whatever it is, they cannot touch the salvation that the incarnation came to accomplish for me – for Jesus died and then he rose again. And that’s yours!

Whatever my circumstances, if the shepherds tending sheep outside the city in the night gloried and rejoiced, so can I.

Claim that, you know what, this Christmas, whatever my circumstances, if the shepherds tending sheep outside the city in the night gloried and rejoiced, so can I. For I know more than what they know. And in the story of the gospel I have seen more than what they saw! For I have the entire story unfolded before me.

So I enjoin you the primary application of this passage, which is ‘Praise the Lord!”

Amen.