The Lord Has Come!
Luke 2:1-38
The Advent of the Son of God (Lk. 2:1-7)
V. 1 – Decree went out from Caesar Augustus

Caesar Augustus was born with the name, Octavian. He was
adopted by his great uncle, Julius Caesar. After he was murdered,
Octavian split the empire of Rome with Mark Antony and Lepidus.
Before the birth of Jesus, the battle of Actium was fought between
Octavian and Antony (with the help of Cleopatra). Octavian won
the battle, and in celebration, changed his name to Caesar
Augustus (“The Great”).

Kenneth Latourette (Historian), “Jesus was born in the reign of
Augustus. After a long period of wars which had racked the
Mediterranean and its shores, political unity had been achieved and
the Roman Empire had become roughly coterminous with the
Mediterranean Basin. Here and there it was soon to spread beyond
it. Augustus was the first Emperor. Building on the foundations laid
by his uncle, Julius Caesar, he brought peace and under the guise
of the chief citizen of a restored republic ruled the realm which for
several generations Rome had been building. The internal peace
and order which Augustus achieved endured, with occasional
interruptions, for about two centuries. Never before had all the
shores of the Mediterranean been under one rule and never had
they enjoyed such prosperity. The Pax Romana made for the
spread of ideas and religions over the area where it prevailed.”

Decree or census – registration for records; tax purposes;
ordinance (mentioned by Josephus)
V. 2 – Quirinius was governor of Syria

Possibly his second governorship, or another ruler with the same
name; ruled over a large providence (including Palestine).
V. 4 – Lineage of David

The trip from Galilee to Bethlehem is about 80 miles. Joseph
returned to the land that his ancestors received when Joshua
divided up the land (Joshua 13:1-18:28)

Bethlehem – “House of Bread,” (prophetic, Mic. 5:2)
VS. 5-7 – time for her to give birth

Manger - Almost 700 years before Jesus’ birth, a prophecy was
given 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, who’s coming is from old
to everlasting.” We are not only told what city Jesus was born, but
the conditions of his birth. Jesus was not born in a palace. He
was not born in the most prestigious of hospitals. He wasn’t born
at home. Jesus was not even born in a Holiday Inn. He was born
in a cave-like-shelter-that kept the animals; with mangers or feeding
troughs. Luke mentions “manger” descriptions three times in Luke
2. But what’s a manger? 1st century Bethlehem homes were
usually built over a basement cave. Top floor was all the activity
(cooking, working and sleeping), and there usually was a kataluma
(GK, guest room) on the side. Below was the cave where the
animals stayed. This is where Jesus was born. So the real
translation shouldn’t be “there was no room in the inn” (Lk. 2:7) –
as though it was like Joseph and Mary were looking for a hotel to
stay at. The Bible states that the Romans had demanded everyone
go back to “his own town” to register. So, in essence, Joseph’s
family and friends didn’t have any room for he and his pregnant
wife. Perhaps they were all too crowded already. Some even
believe no one wanted to make room for them because Mary was
pregnant with child, and yet, Joseph and Mary weren’t officially
married yet. Another explanation that is given is since Mary was
pregnant, (according to Leviticus 12:1-4), she would be considered
unclean having given birth. Putting the rest of those in the same
house at risk of becoming impure. Whatever the reason, here’s
what we do know. 2 Cor. 8:9, “For you know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he
became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
The Shepherds Receive an Angelic Message (2:8-14)

Why did the angels appear to the shepherds?
o First, this announcement to shepherds is keeping with the
humble birth of Jesus being born in a feeding trough. You
see, shepherds were considered outcasts according to the
Rabbis. Being a shepherd was a lowly job. God sent angels
to the shepherds to demonstrate His love to the whole world.
Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve—and to give
His life as a ransom. Jesus came for everyone. The rich and
the poor, and everyone in between.
o Another cool point about angels appearing before the
shepherds is because they were announcing the ultimate
Good Shepherd. And if you recall, David was also a
shepherd who came from Bethlehem (“House of Bread”).
o Moreover, when you dive into Luke 2 and read the
description of the shepherds, we are told that they were out
in the “field keeping watch by night” (in Greek they were out
in the agricultural fields living among the sheep). These
weren’t no ordinary sheep. “The Mishnah records a Jewish
law that stipulates that all flocks be kept in the wilderness,
except for the temple services which was kept at Bethlehem.
These shepherds, then, were probably guarding sacrificial
lambs, many of which would become Passover lambs, when
the ultimate Passover Lamb was born!”
o And finally, the angels revealed themselves to these
shepherds to send a message of joy.
The Shepherds Go to Bethlehem (2:15-20)
V. 17 – They made known the saying…

The shepherds were the first evangelists
The Adoration of Baby Jesus (2:21-38)
V. 21 – Circumcised

This was according to the law (Lev. 12:1-4). Jesus came to fulfill
the law.
V. 22 – Purification

A process to remind that we are born in sin (Ps. 51).
VS. 25-35 – Simeon

Simeon was a righteous man who declared that Jesus is the longawaited Messiah, who will die for the sins of His people.
VS. 36-38 – Anna

An old prophetess who spent her life praying and fasting, and
faithfully awaiting the revealing of the Messiah.
Application: Why did Jesus come to earth?
Dr. Charles Ryrie provides a theological description of the purposes of the
Incarnation in his Basic Theology. First, the purpose of the Incarnation was to
reveal God to us (John 1:18; 14:7-11). Second, provide an example for our
lives on how we ought to live (1 Peter 1:21; 1 John 2:6). Third, provide a
ransom for our sins (Hebrews 10:1-10) that we might be reconciled to God (2
Corinthians 5:19). Fourth, fulfill the Davidic covenant (Luke 1:31-33) and destroy
the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Fifth, engage with us as a sympathetic
High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). Sixth, take on the role of qualified judge so that
Jesus can be the final say on everything (John 5:22, 27). Hence, the eternal
value that Christ brings through the Incarnation necessitates a response from
mankind to receive the redemption that comes from the physical resurrected
body of Jesus Christ.