Pastor Dave Martin, Cross Creek Community Church, Dec 14, 2014
“HIS story - our story” “JESUS’ BIRTH” part 16
Lu 2:1-20 (Page 724) & Selected
“Incredible” – something difficult to believe, extraordinary, magnificent, wondrous, unbelievable, astonishing,
seemingly impossible events… But as angel Gabriel told Mary in Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with
God”… What impossible situation are you facing? Let’s consider some incredible events surrounding birth…
HIS-story Continues…
1. HIS Incredible Journey to Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Jn 6:51)
Luke 2:1-5 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire
Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And
everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in
Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Consider:
 Gov’t census… Augustus Caesar was ruling BUT God was in charge… God used his decree at that
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exact time to take Joseph back to the town he was born in, Bethlehem, God’s prophetic town…
Many times God prophesied the Messiah would be born in David’s royal line, his home town…
Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of
you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient
times." NOTE: It was the pagan authorities who are responsible for bringing Jesus to Bethlehem…
“Everyone went”… A strong Greek word suggesting hustle and bustle in travel — people going in
every direction with haste… Sounds very similar to our Christmas shopping experience today!
60+ miles in mother’s womb… Can you imagine how tiring this was… Traveling from the “hick”
town of Nazareth in region of Galilee to Tiny town called Bethlehem in Judea… Joseph & Mary
legally engaged, not yet consummated in marriage… Baby Jesus could be born at any moment
2. HIS Incredible Birth in a Stable (Isa 7:14; Jn 1:1,14; Rev 1:18)
Luke 2:6-7 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn.
Consider:
 “No room”… Exhausted, wore out from traveling and not finding a place to rest... With all the influx of
people registering... the inn was full – a “no vacancy” sign was lit and flashing! A crowded inn reminds me of
our crowded lives... We far too often fill our lives with “things” giving God the left-overs… Mary & Joseph
were sent to the local sheep stable – often a cave in those days – not the best of smells
 Passover Lambs… In the stables of Bethlehem was the birthplace for thousands of Jewish Passover lambs
raised to sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem… Interesting that Bethlehem was the hub for raising lambs in
Israel… … Josephus reports 256,000 sacrificial lambs were slain during a Jewish Passover they celebrated
around the time of Christ… It is significant and not by chance Jesus was born in a stable like all the other
Passover Lambs… We’re told in Jn 1:29… “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”…
then in 1Pet 1:19-20… “Redeemed with precious blood of Christ, a lamb w/o blemish or defect… Then again
in 1Co 5:7 “…For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
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Cloths… The swaddling clothes v7 were cloth torn into strips. To keep warm… security… still
practiced today in Mideast… It’s also the same Greek word used to describe medical cloths and was
also used for wrapping people for burial when they die… Jesus was born to die… Cloth/spices/tomb
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Laid in a manger… A feeding trough licked by the sheep… Three times the manger is mentioned in
Luke 2… Angels told the shepherds it would be a sign to them… The Son of God began his life in a
feeding trough for sacrificial animals. Ironically his life would not end much better. It ended on a
dirty wooden cross with rusty iron nails - used by those crucified earlier… From a manger licked by
cattle to a cross stained with blood. And neither place: the manger of Bethlehem nor the cross of
Calvary was really fitting for the Son of God, “Immanuel”.
3. HIS Incredible Announcement to the Shepherds (Isa 40:5-11)
Luke 2:8-16 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at
night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the
Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 When the angels
had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see
this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary
and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Consider:
 Lowly shepherds… Snubbed by the religious people, they were the nobodies of society – they were
zeros, outcasts… Considered ceremonially “unclean” and forbidden to attend religious gatherings…
Low class trash, banned from city, w/ no rights, who were snubbed, ignored, despised & rejected
Lonely, tough, stinky and shunned because of an unclean lifestyle… Considered thieves & “liars”
who were not allowed in court… BUT, God uses the most unlikely individuals to carry out His plans
 Angels… Angel of the Lord, perhaps Gabriel who God used to make special announcements… He
proclaimed incredible news! Then we see a “Ministering beings/spirits/ messengers/ servants” Heb
1:14… God’s ministering angels are seen throughout the scriptures… Abraham, Joshua, Daniel, etc…
At Christ’s Conception, Birth, Temptation, Garden, Resurrection, Ascension… Then we read a
“Heavenly host” appeared to the shepherds… A “host” ‘stratias’ and means an army of angels, “ten
thousand times ten thousand and thousands & thousands ” 100,000,000+ in Rev 5:11… special
physical sight of the unseen spiritual dimension… This whole army of angels lit up the night sky…
 Fear… Glory of the Lord “shone” around them… to fully illuminate – spectacular, incredible… They
were “terrified”… God’s host lit up the dark world of the shepherds... the night became as brilliant
light… The angels delivered God’s message to the world…
Vs 10-11 “… I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a
Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” - not to Herod, Caesar, Chief Priest but to the shepherds!
 Jesus is SAVIOR – He will save us from our sins… Calvary!
o
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Jesus was born into this world to rescue you and me from our sins. That’s His mission.
The perfect Son of God suffering and dying for the sins of the world.
 Jesus is CHRIST – He is the promised Messiah who would come!
o
He came in the fullness of time into the perfect culture, government, chronological time…
 Jesus is LORD – He is “God with us”… Becoming flesh to die for us!
o
Greek “kurios” is a title of absolute supreme in authority… Jesus is our Yahweh, or God… He is our
Immanuel, He is God with Us!
 Haste to seek & find the Savior… What a wondrous night… GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY for ALL
PEOPLE… Entire world would be blessed! The long awaited for Messiah can be found in a cradle, a
manger licked by the animals... The Incredible Christmas Story!... The shepherds hurried to seek
out Jesus… 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the
manger… God used the most unlikely, common, uneducated individuals to carry out His plan on
earth… They sought and found the Savior… An encounter with Jesus changes us forever!
4. HIS Incredible Power to Change Lives (Isa 42:1-9; Eph 4:22-24)
Luke 2:17-20 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them
about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary
treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Consider:
 Spread the Word… When Christ changes your life, you tell others the Good News of the Savior
 Amazement… The response of the people was wonder & astonishment… They too drawn to Savior
 Life change… An encounter with Jesus absolutely changes a person… sins forgiven, peace, hope, etc
 God’s exalted… When lives are changed through the risen Christ… God receives the glory!!
The lowly Shepherds were the First to Hear about the birth of Jesus! V11… First to Seek after Jesus! V16… First
to Find Jesus! V16… First to Share about Jesus! V17… and then the First to Rejoice over Jesus! V20
Consider: What change has Jesus made in your life?
What’s most important to you? Priority – “If it’s a priority we’ll make it happen, if not we’ll make excuses”
Happy with your life? Experiencing deep sense of well-being, joy? Walking in light or stumbling in darkness?
Prioritize your life…
 Invest quality time with the Lord! - Acts 2:42… Prayer, Word, Service
 Take every thought captive in Christ! - 2Co 10:5… Battle won/lost in mind… think right
 Live daily in obedience to God’s Word! - 2Jn 1:6… Obeying the Light/truth you have… grow
SLIDE 19 - Greatest man in HIS-story, named Jesus… He had no servants, yet they called him Master. He had
no degree, yet they called him Teacher. He had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet
kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they
crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
SLIDE 20 - Jesus gave it all for you… What are you doing for Him?
Changed lives makes a difference for Christ in the world… GO - Make a difference in your world!
SLIDE 21 - This Wednesday Family Night movie at 6:30
“God’s NOT Dead”
Let’s Pray