Luke 2: 1-7

Christmas

AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THOSE DAYS

I. The Historical Setting

A. God fulfilled His prophecy concerning the Messiah’s birthplace by wondrously using the Roman emperor.

B. God has Caesar serve His purpose to bring about the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, as foretold by Micah 5:2.

1. Joseph and Mary lived in the northern region of Canaan, in Nazareth of Galilee, so they had to travel to Bethlehem.

2. They travelled the about 90 miles to Bethlehem from Nazareth, slowly because of Mary’s condition: almost due to deliver.

II. The greatest wonder ever is told in a most simple way.

A. First, this wonder of wonders begins with the virgin conception.

B. The delivery and birth of the Son of God in human flesh was normal – nothing unusual about it.

1. There is nothing to indicate that Mary’s child was the Son of God Himself!

2. He was brought forth in the same way as all other babies.

3. Further, there was “no room for Him in the inn,” so He was laid in a manger in a stable area.

4. The swaddling clothes with the manger express His abject poverty: the bare necessities were the poorest of all.

III. The great significance.

A. He came into a world which did not welcome Him (no reception) or even want Him.

1. He came and the world knew Him not (John 1:10). He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him (John 1:11).

2. We have nothing to give Him or to help Him. His abject poverty represents our complete spiritual poverty: dead in sin.

B. This setting declares that it is all of Him, Who gave His all to accomplish the work of redemption.

1. This is the proper and right way to begin the work of the Savior (from sin), Christ the Lord.

2. Thus, all the glory is His. Praised be His name forever.