Wednesday Evening Bible Study
May 24, 2000
Introduction
We have seen how God has begun to prepare certain people for the birth of
the Messiah. An angel appeared to Zacharias and Elizabeth, to tell them about
their son, John the Baptist, who would have the job of preparing Israel for the
Messiah.
We’ve seen how the angel also appeared to Mary, preparing her for the fact
that she would be the mother of the Messiah.
:1-7 Birth of a King
:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from
Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Caesar Augustus – this was Caius
Caesar Octavianus Augustus. He was the first of the Roman Emperors, he reigned from 27 b.c.
to a.d. 14
Matthew (Mat. 2:1) records that Jesus’ birth took place during the reign of
Herod the Great, and his reign ended in 4 BC.
We would probably favor putting Jesus’ birth somewhere around 4 BC.
:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Cyrenius – or, Quirinius, was governor over Syria from 6-7 AD. This
doesn’t fit with what Luke seems to be saying, at least in light with Herod the
Great’s rule. Answer: the word translate “when” (protos) could also be
translated “before”, as it is in John 1:15; 15:18. So, a better translation
would be, “this taxing was first made before Quirinius was governor of
Syria”.
:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
It was the Roman custom to have people
taxed in the city they lived in, it was a Jewish custom to go to the city of
your heritage. The Jews in Israel followed the Jewish custom to obey a Roman
law.
:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of
the house and lineage of David:)
Bethlehem was the family ancestral home for David. It was actually the
home of David’s great-great-great-grandfather, Boaz, the man who married Ruth
(Ruth 2:4).
This would be at least a 70 mile journey through the hills of Israel.
:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
espoused – mnesteuo –
to woo her and ask her in marriage; to be
promised in marriage, be betrothed
Joseph and Mary were not yet married. Even though she is nine months’ pregnant,
he has stood by her, out of obedience to the Lord:
(Mat
1:18-24 NIV) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary
was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was
found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. {19} Because Joseph her husband
was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had
in mind to divorce her quietly. {20} But after he had considered this, an angel
of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do
not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her
is from the Holy Spirit. {21} She will give birth to a son, and you are to give
him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." {22}
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: {23}
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will
call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." {24} When
Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took
Mary home as his wife.
:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished
that she should be delivered.
While in Bethlehem, Mary gives birth.
Lesson
God is able to get you where you need to be.
The baby was born in Bethlehem. The baby needed to be born in
Bethlehem in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy:
(Micah
5:2 KJV) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be
ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
But there was a problem in the works. Mary had become pregnant through the
power of the Holy Spirit. She had gotten close to Bethlehem when she went and
visited her relative Elizabeth, who lived just outside of Jerusalem. But she
had gone home to Nazareth to be with her family and her fiancé, Joseph.
Problem: How could the prophecy be fulfilled if Mary and Joseph
were living in Nazareth?
Answer: God gives a nudge to the world’s emperor, Caesar Augustus,
who just happens to come up with this idea to tax the whole world and make
everyone go to their ancestral home to be counted.
God uses a pagan emperor to bring about His divine purpose.
:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the
inn.
swaddling clothes – sparganoo
– to wrap in swaddling clothes.
These were strips of cloth used to bind up a newborn’s arms and legs to keep
them warm and secure. Newborn babies don’t like it when you don’t wrap them up
tightly.
The language suggests that it was Mary who wrapped the baby in the
swaddling clothes. In other words, there had been no midwife. Mary had given
birth on her own without any help.
manger – phatne – a crib, a manger. A place where the horses ate
their food.
Tradition has it that Jesus was born in a cave in the hillside behind the
inn.
Lesson
True humility
Here is climax of the event in which the Creator of the Universe has come
to visit earth by taking on human flesh.
Instead of being born in marble floored palaces, He was born in a stable.
Instead of being welcomed by multitudes of wealthy, influential people,
there was no room for Him at the inn.
If God was able to work things out so that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem
in order to fulfill prophecy, why didn’t He make the entrance of His Son into
the world a little more glorious?
(2
Cor 8:9 KJV) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might
be rich.
Because God is concerned that we learn humility. He has set us an example
to follow.
(Phil 2:3-11 NIV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. {4} Each of
you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others. {5} Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be
grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! {9}
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is
above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The issue is not about what you “deserve” from others. The issue is about
loving and serving others, working to meet their needs.
:8-20 Shepherds
:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night.
abiding in the field – agrauleo
– to live in the fields, be
under the open sky, even at night. These shepherds were used to living
outside, either in huts or tents. Flocks were only kept out in the field all
night from the time of Passover in April until the fall. It’s not likely that
Jesus was born in December.
shepherds – not exactly the most glamorous of
professions. It’s a humble profession. You don’t have to be wealthy,
glamorous, or a genius to know God. He comes to humble people.
Some have suggested that these
shepherds may have been tending flocks that contained lambs which would be used
for the Passover Sacrifice.
:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them:
the angel of the Lord – better translated, “an angel of the Lord”.
This is not to be confused with the person in the Old Testament known as “the
angel of the Lord”, which we believe was Jesus. The word “angel” (angelos)
simply means “messenger”. John the Baptist was called a “messenger” (aggelos)
(Mat. 11:10). Here (Luke 2:9), this person is of the species of angelic
creature that we commonly call “angel”, but the word isn’t always used that
way. Jesus, as “the angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament wasn’t of the
class of creatures we call “angels”, but He was at times a “messenger” of God.
glory – doxa –
glory, splendour, brightness
shone – perilampo –
to shine around
In the middle of the night, suddenly somebody turned on the lights!
:9 and they were sore afraid.
or, “greatly frightened”, so they should be.
:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy,
bring you good tidings – euaggelizo
– to bring good news, to
announce glad tidings. This is the word we get “evangelize” from. We too have
“good news”.
:10 which shall be to all people.
The good news wouldn’t just be for the Jews, though Jesus did come for
them. The whole world has benefited from Jesus’ coming to earth.
:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord.
Jesus wouldn’t one day become a Savior. He was born a
Savior.
:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
What an odd sign for the birth of a Savior. Yet what a wonderful sign for
a group of shepherds. They might not have been allowed in to see a child born
in a palace, but they could visit a manger.
Lesson
Jesus is reachable.
He is not beyond you. He is not out of your reach.
:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,
suddenly – exaiphnes –
of a sudden, suddenly, unexpectedly
multitude – plethos –
(“plethora”) a multitude; a great number,
of men or things
host – stratia – an army, band of soldiers; in the NT, the hosts
of heaven; troops of angels. An entire angelic army shows up.
praising – aineo –
to praise, extol, to sing praises
in honour to God. It’s very possible that the angels were singing
here.
:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
good will – eudokia –
will; delight, pleasure, satisfaction
Better translations:
(Luke
2:14 NASB) "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men
with whom He is pleased."
(Luke
2:14 NLT) "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all
whom God favors."
(Luke
2:14 NIV) "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom
his favor rests."
Lesson
Peace comes to people whom God is pleased with.
What makes God pleased with us?
Heb
10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him.
(Heb
11:6 KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
It’s learning to have faith, learning to trust Him.
1) Our war with God is over when we learn to trust Him.
(Rom
5:1 KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ:
When I come to the place where I realize that I am separated from God by my
sin, and I come to realize that God will forgive me if I ask Him, I come to the
place where God will declare “peace” with me.
2) When we learn to trust Him, we will experience His peace.
(Phil
4:6-7 NASB) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. {7} And
the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Anxiety, the opposite of peace, comes as we worry about
the future. Yet when we learn to take the things we worry about, and pray
about them, and totally trust them into God’s hands, we will experience His
peace.
An evidence that I’m actually trusting God in my prayers
is whether or not I can pray with thanksgiving. This isn’t just a rote
speaking of words, but a heartfelt, deeply felt thankfulness that you know that
God is going to take care of the situation. It’s not a thankfulness that God
is going to answer my prayer the way I want, but that I’m thankful that
He’s going to answer the prayer the way He wants.
Illustration
Suppose we go out to lunch together, and when the waitress
brings the check, you say to me, “Let me pay for this!” I would then make the
token argument and say, “No, let me pay”, but after a few rounds I’d graciously
allow you to pay for my lunch and then I’d say, “Well, okay, thank you”.
Why would I say “thank you”? Because I believe you’re going to take
care of the bill.
:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Lesson
Get the message.
I think it could have been very likely for the shepherds to have gotten
caught up in the fact that they had just been in the middle of an angelic
concert. They could have gotten caught up in the fact that they had been
surrounded by the glory of the Lord.
But they had heard the message about the Saviour, and that was what they
listened to.
Sometimes we can get so sidetracked about watching how a message is given,
who gives the message, or what kind of special effects are used, that we miss
the message.
It is wonderful that God will speak to us through the use of spiritual
gifts. It is also wonderful that God can speak to us directly out of His
Word. It can be great if we get to listen to a great teacher like Pastor
Chuck, Jon Courson, or Greg Laurie. But it really doesn’t matter how the
message comes, just get the message.
Do you know what God has been speaking to you? Are you willing to do it?
:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger.
I kind of get the idea that they left the sheep out in the field to run
toward Bethlehem.
:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was
told them concerning this child.
The first evangelists were shepherds.
:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told
them by the shepherds.
I find it interesting that we don’t have any record of anyone else running
to the manger to see the baby. I wonder why?
I think God was careful to make sure the angels showed up before the right
people.
:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
kept – suntereo – to preserve (a thing from perishing or being
lost); to keep within one’s self, keep in mind (a thing, lest it be forgotten)
pondered – sumballo –
to throw together, to bring together; to
bring together in one’s mind, confer with one’s self
I think that Mary was probably Luke’s source for these incidents. This gal
remembered the rest of her life the things that had happened that night.
:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
glorifying – doxazo –
to think; to praise, extol, magnify,
celebrate. This is a word related to what the angels sang, “Glory to God…”
(2:14).
praising – aineo – to praise, extol, to sing
praises in honour to God. This is the same word used to describe the angels’
praise of God (2:13).
heard and seen – the shepherds had both seen and heard
things. They had seen the angels, they had seen the Baby. They had heard a
message and perhaps a song from the angels.
I wonder if they had actually learned
an angelic song from the angels?