Tuesday, March 19, 2013

THE KING'S BIRTH AND HIS SHEPHERDS


Luke 2:1-2 ( ESV )
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2This was the first registration when£ Quirinius was governor of Syria.

·         Caesar Augustus-Augustus means the exalted one. He had this title as he saw himself as one who was worthy of religious veneration. It was during this time that Roman was at a time of peace or what was known as Pax Romana. Yet, a savior would be born during this time that would give an even greater peace. That of peace with God.

·         Registration-This was a census that took place about every 14 years. Its purpose was to number each family member and tribe and the results could also be used for poll taxes.

·         Quirinius served as governor in Syria at 2 different times.


Luke 2:3-5 ( ESV )
3And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4And 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,
5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,£ who was with child.

·         Every tribe went to their own hometown of tribal origin.  Joseph and Mary being both descendants of David needed to go to Jerusalem. The journey would have been about 70 miles long through the mountains and troubled roads filled with criminals. (A side thought to keep in mind, nowhere are we told of the comfort of Mary having an animal to ride upon. We simply do not know.) What a journey it must have been especially this late in her pregnancy.  Thy may have also been aware of the prophecy of Micah 5:2 which talked about the savior being born in Bethlehem.

·         Apparently Joseph had taken her into his house by this time but had not consummated the marriage until after the birth of Jesus. (Matt. 1:25)


Luke 2:6-7 ( ESV )
6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7And 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 fullness of time had come according to the book of Galatians and the savior would be born at the perfect time,  as well as the perfect place. A king who would leave all the glories of heaven, take upon flesh and humble himself so that we could have life eternal.

·         Note the phrase her Firstborn Son according to the scriptures in Matthew 12:46 Mary had other sons through Joseph later on. How did she clothe him? With swaddling  clothes, these were often strips of cloth that were used to bind a baby tightly. It was used to protect the baby from injuring itself and believed to strengthen their limbs. (Sometimes they were used to mummify a body for burial. This could be a picture of the burial or that Jesus was born to die.)

·         There was no place for them to stay but in the same area where animals were kept and laid in a manager or a feeding trough for animals.  What marvelous love is this!!


Luke 2:8-9 ( ESV )
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

·         The scene now shifts to a group of shepherds who were in the same general area. Bethlehem was nearby Jerusalem and the sheep would largely be used for temple sacrifices. The shepherds would work both day and night all year round.  They would stay near their flock and watch out for predators.

·         Can you imagine how they must have felt when the glory of the Lord shone around them? The shock, the fear the sheer awe of the moment.  The glory that had appeared to Abraham at Ur, at the tabernacle in Exodus, and that had appeared to Solomon at the temple. Their knees were literally knocking as the announcement was made.


Luke 2:10-12 ( ESV )
10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

·         Our God is the God of all comfort and that is the first thing that He does here for the shepherds.  He has not come as a minister of death but of life and proclaiming the greatest life that has ever been born.  It was a news of GREAT JOY to a people who were oppressed. What beauty in that this message would first be shared with lowly shepherds. Yet, it was not just good news for the Jews but for ALL PEOPLE. The Gospel was meant to be shared with all of mankind.

·         Bethlehem was to be the place where the king of kings was to be born. What an incredible God we serve as he chose not only shepherds to be the first who would hear but according to the scriptures little lowly Bethlehem was to be the place he would be born. He is called here a Savior only one of the two places in the Gospel where this title is used.  The other would be with the Samaritains in Jn. 4:42.

·         Would he be robed in the finest of linens? No, but rather in swaddling cloths and lying in a manager.


Luke 2:13-14 ( ESV )
13And 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!”£

·         I love this scene it as though not even the highest of heavens cannot keep its voice quiet. The term host has the idea of an incredible number or for that of armies. The great part here is that it is used of an army declaring peace to men. God receives all the glory as he brings peace to the earth. Not just for nations but a peace for individuals to have.

·         God’s peace is not a reward for those who have good will but a gracious gift to those who are objects of His good will. Better Greek rendering would be peace towards men on whom God’s sovereign will rest upon.


Luke 2:15-20 ( ESV )
15When 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.”
16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

·         What was the shepherd’s reaction? The same reactions that we should have one of expectation and the willingness to share the message that Christ has come. They had to see what the Lord had told them about and they could not wait one more minute. They saw Messiah just as they had been told lying in a manager.  When they saw Him they could not keep it to themselves they had to tell somebody. The people who they told were knocked senseless with awe over what the shepherds had seen and testified to.  They had to go out and as the old spiritual song said, “They had to go tell it on the mountain.” THE KING HAS COME.
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