Christ Birth

We learn about who God is by looking at the scene of the Birth of Christ.

Luke 2:1-21

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 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.

The Shepherds and the Angels

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 Savior, 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.

We learn about who God is via the Birth of Christ.

God watches over the trip to Bethlehem as the distance to travel was around 70-80 miles – note map:

Humble arrival

As all powerful, creator of the universe, God chose to come to the earth as a child with very limited fanfare. 

The actual physical location

Would any of use choose to be born in a barn?  If we were, would we proudly declare that?  Here the supreme God of the universe allowed His birth to be among the animals and trappings of any decor.

God’s Control of the World

Child to be born in Bethlehem – Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth   – some 70 – 80 miles – as Bethlehem was 5 miles outside of Jerusalem.  Note map…    To get them there God had Caesar Augustus give a degree for a census – by Jewish tradition that practice required registering in one’s place of birth.    (Doing what God requires frequently takes us out of our ‘comfort zone’.

The Timing

Unexpected, the majority of Jews that were told of the Messiah coming, yet had stopped looking.   A remnant was alert and watching.  Today a ‘remnant’ watches and waits for the 2^nd coming of Christ.

In Poverty

Jesus was born in a state of poverty.   He never sought riches.   Jesus told his disciples that ‘value’ is in being God’s child.  God does not guarantee comfortable lives.  In one’s discomfort there is meaning in God’s plan.  WHAT was the meaning for Jesus to be born poor?

Luke 9:48 –  48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” 

Announced to very few

His announcement was to shepherds in the fields outside the city.   Not to people at the palace, the temple, the rich, the upper class in society – instead to one of the lowliest occupational groups of people, the shepherds.  They were outcasts, not allowed in the city and not trusted by the general public, for often they were thieves.

Jesus would come NOT to the proud and powerful, but to the ‘outcasts’ and humble” – the least of the social list.  To them the Angels announce the “KING”: 

Luke 2:10–12   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 Savior, 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.”

Not obligated to talk to the world’s occupants.  He talks to HIS chosen people.

God comes to the plain, the ordinary, and the outcasts of society – He comes to anyone with a humble heart that will accept Him. 

As was discussed by Paster Odle that when people recognize a super human being, they become fearful.

People in the Bible who were confronted by God or his angels all had one consistent response—fear.  Here is a chart taken from “Life Application Commentary” providing references to such occasions.