God is With Us | Luke 2:1-20
Read Luke 2:1-20
After looking at the beginning of the Christmas story we now get to remind ourselves and witness the birth of Jesus Christ; the Lord and Savior of the world.
The Point: God came down into this world to save us sinners from our depravity; to save those who believe in Him into eternal hope and glory for eternity. God is with us because God loves us.
- God’s perfect plan is to save humanity from sin—to offer forgiveness to disobedience and to restore a relationship with His family.
Luke 2:1-7
“’But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.’” –Micah 5:2
God commanded His people to pass down the ten commandments, God’s law and these promises of coming salvation to their sons, to the next generation, this is why we have many prophecies of Jesus coming to save the Israelites from their sin and into eternal hope. God is making Himself known, God is revealing Himself so that His people can follow Him and be in relationship with Him. We call these agreements between God and His people covenants—agreements. –Deuteronomy 6:4-9
The Romans thought they had ultimate control; they thought they had the ultimate authority, but we are reminded that God’s plan overshadowed the Roman’s plan—God is over this world, He is in control, He is sovereign, and the Roman’s census fulfilled God’s prophecy in Micah 5:2
“Now, Octavius would change all that. In 27 B.C. he arranged for the Roman Senate to give him the title Augustus, which means “exalted” and “sacred.” Now Rome wasn’t a republic, governed by laws; it was an empire governed by an emperor. The first Emperor of Rome was this same Caesar Augustus.”
—Enduring Word Commentary
Luke is reminding his audience (the gentiles) that this baby is to be born in a town which came from the rulership of David; Jesus comes from the lineage of David (Luke 2:4). The Gospel of Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience so Matt. Includes more details in his account especially in the naming of Jesus (Matt. 1:22-23) This naming “Emmanuel” literally means “God with us” and fulfills the prophecy given to King Ahaz in Isaiah 7:14.
- Jesus was born. God Himself came down onto the Earth to be with His people. Jesus will live a perfect life and die a bloody death to save humanity from hell. God wants to be with us for eternity.
Jesus was born in a manger. The original Greek word used here is:
φάτνη phátnē, fat'-nay; from πατέομαι patéomai (to eat); a crib (for fodder):—manger, stall.
The English word for Manger means feeding trough or feeding stall (for animals).
God is at work in the imagery here; reminding His people who He is. Christ states many times that He is the ultimate food. He offers eternal food that will sustain His followers for eternity.
- a) John 4:9, 10-14 b) Exodus 16:4 c) John 6:51,56-58
Even at His Birth, Jesus is telling His people that He is God. That He is the ultimate food for their soul as animals would eat from that trough, from that manger. Jesus is our provision, Jesus is our sustenance for eternal salvation.
“That there was no room in the inn was symbolic of what was to happen to Jesus. The only place where there was room for him was on a cross.” – William Barclay
- God has loved us so we can love others. God is commanding His people to walk with Him in ministry, to share the truth, mercy and love of Christ with those around them.
Luke 2:8-20
God’s glory shines through His people, through those who follow Him. God is establishing a new covenant with both His chosen people, the Jews, and with the gentiles, the non-Jewish people. After Jesus is born the angels appear to these lowly Shepherds—the Shepherds obey the angels and they become the first witnesses of the birth of Jesus Christ.
“As a class shepherds had a bad reputation…More regrettable was their habit of confusing ‘mine’ with the ‘thine’ as they moved about the country. They were considered unreliable and were not allowed to give testimony in the law courts”—Leon Morris
Jesus chose to come into the world in the humblest way possible and He is revealing Himself to some of the most lowly/ humble audience in the world. God works in these unqualified men’s hearts as they become the first hearers and witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
–Luke 2:9-14
The shepherds go to visit Mary, they listen to the angels and look at the reaction Mary has: –Luke 2:16-19
“Treasured” in the Greek:
συντηρέω syntēréō, soon-tay-reh'-o; to keep closely together, keep, observe, preserve. to keep within one's self, keep in mind (a thing, lest it be forgotten)
Not only has God been born into the world; coming down as the perfect God / Man Jesus Christ but He is now bringing witnesses together. These first few witnesses worship God in different ways and this Christian community is edified in the presence of Jesus Christ. They are encouraged, built up, and Mary will treasure this community in heart for the rest of her life.
“The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” – Luke 2:20
A Christian lives with an unexplainable hope because they have been saved from the punishment of their sins by a God who loves them so much that He came down to this earth, lived a perfect and sinless life, died on a cross and came back to life so that they can live forever with Him in heaven. This is what love is.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends.” –John 15:12-15