(The Life of our Savior) The birth of Jesus. Chapter 1.7

The birth of Jesus (Luke 2: 1-20)

 Click here for outline of study

Our last study we had Zacharias (John the Baptist father) who for 9 months was unable to speak because of his doubt about his son’s birth. We also saw the Lord deliver in a big way, not only did the angel of the Lord tell Zacharias the truth (in him truly have a son, named John), but after he declared his name to be John, he was able to speak again. Nothing is said about John the Baptist growing up but we do read he lived in the wilderness for some time, most likely on his own.

 

Remember when we went over the details of the writers of each Gospel? We talked about how Luke was a doctor and really he really wanted to make sure he covered everything the others did not. Well Luke starts off chapter 2 with exactly that, he puts a stamp on the narrative with a date that world history can relate to.

 

Luke 2: 1-2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

Cesar Augustus was the first and according to many the greatest Roman emperor. (31 B.C.-A.D. 14)

Having replaced the republic with an imperial form of government, Augustus expanded the empire to include the whole Mediterranean world. He also established the famed Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”), and started ushering in the golden age of Roman literature and architecture.

Augustus means “exalted”.

In verse 2 it says a census was taken, paying taxes might sound familiar to us. The Jews had to pay taxes to the Roman government but didn’t have to do military service.

This was part of God’s plan, which a pagan empire would start to have control of His people and give the orders.

Luke states (again makes a point to write it down for a purpose), this was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. It looks like this official was in office for two terms, first 6-4 B.C. and the second one 6-9 A.D. A census is associated with each term. This is the first one the second one is listed in Acts 5:37.

Now people had to return to their “own city”, most likely the city of their ancestral origin. This is extremely important because Joseph and Mary are in Nazareth located in Galilee at this time and they had to head back to the area of Judea and the city of Bethlehem called the “city of David”, Joseph was of the house of David’s lineage.

After Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem the time can for Mary to give birth. God’s timing is perfect as always. Jesus being born in Bethlehem was to fulfill prophecy, where the Messiah was to be born, so this census was for a reason.

 

Luke 2:6 and while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

This is simply amazing to think about and comprehend, God in human form has just been born on earth and Mary and Joseph tried to get a room in the local inn but there were no rooms available. So they had to settle for a dirty and dusty manger where animals would sleep and eat.

The son of God has come into the world as humble as possible with extremely humble parents. We can’t help but think of our Lord and Savior being born in glamour and lights.

The Jews never expected the Messiah to come like this, not even close. They were expecting a royal family type of birth with media coverage and so on.

We will see throughout Jesus life that the way He was born is exactly how God’s heart is for us and how our heart needs to be towards others. This is where the awe comes in; the Christian faith is unlike no other man made belief.

Mary and Joseph have their baby boy, while they sit in a manger alone they know exactly who He is and what He will be, the world’s Savior.

Luke turns his text to a very important event that happened, again recall Luke saw that the three other Gospels didn’t have this in their text so Luke thought that it should be written down, because it is an amazing point and demonstration of God’s love for all.

 

Luke 1:8-9 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,

Before we talk about the shepherds let’s talk about angels for a little.

Why are they (people) terrified every time they see an angel?

Well the answer is simple, because they were “terrified”, our world has made a picture for us that angels are cute, white and fluffy with a shiny halo, did I mention they have a golden harp. But the reality is angels of the Lord are much different, it is why time after time all the accounts in the Bible when people run into an angel they are terrified.

Angels are warriors, doing the will of God, ready for whatever duty is called upon them. The angels will simply relaying a message or if the request of God requires force like in saving Lot from evil men in Sodom and Gomorrah.

These angles even when they deliver a message are fully dressed like a warrior ready for action. How do we know this you might ask?

We actually don’t, but the reality of all the accounts in the word of God and some of the actions of the angels when having to use force makes it a real possibility, which is another reason why people are frightened when they see the angel. Also they display the pure power of God!

But as in most cases in the Bible the angel of the Lord says in the next verse Luke 2:10-11 “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

 

Now back to the shepherds, why them?

Shepherds were blue collar workers; they were always working in the fields and tending to their sheep. These shepherds had to always keep an eye on the flock, they needed constant protection. They were not able to keep the Sabbath (for those that don’t know this is a day God told people to rest and reflect, it’s under the old Law), because of their need to protect their sheep so as the Pharisees (were a religious sect in Jerusalem) saw them they were not able to keep their religious purity. Shepherds were considered in the lower class of people and those with power would  looked down on them.

Interesting that Jesus called Himself the good shepherd, He protects His flock (us).

In Psalm 23 it reads “The Lord is my Shepherd . . .“God as shepherd is all over the Old Testament, and Jesus is described as a shepherd in the New Testament. Believers are comforted by Jesus’ words in John 10, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep… I know my own and my own know me . . . I lay my life down for the sheep.”

As we good through the life of our Savior we will find out God cares for those that are in need. God seeks those that society looks down upon, the world lifts up the proud.

Luke goes on in his Gospel to describe what happened next with the angels and the shepherds.

 

Luke 2: 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased.”

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

Imagine what this must have been like for these lower class workers to have these angels come to them and then they hurry to look for what they had been told and to find out that it had been true. They had to be so filled with joy and surprise wanting to tell all that even looked their way. With the next verses in the Bible, its states people were wondering about the things they were saying.

The angels of God came to the shepherds are they say what they were told about and they were no doubt on fire for this was the Savior of the world. These shepherds would for the rest of their lives be changed for sure.

18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

But what we see next is awesome and makes me think about as we go through Jesus life and Mary seeing all the things that her son does, she knows the whole time that He really is the Lord.

19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Mary treasured all the things the shepherds said about her newly born baby boy. What a thought. She had to have a million different things going through her heart from the time she had the angel come into her house to her going and meeting her cousin Elizabeth carrying John the Baptist to this day where these shepherds came praising God.

20 The shepherds went back; glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.