Difference between revisions of "Luke 2:1-20 Let's Go See Jesus"
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| − | '''Theological Proposition/Focus:''' | + | '''Theological Proposition/Focus: God has provided salvation that is freely available to all.''' |
| − | '''Homiletical Proposition/Application:''' | + | '''Homiletical Proposition/Application: We must accept God's offer of salvation regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.''' |
=Introduction:= | =Introduction:= | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
==Setting the Stage:== | ==Setting the Stage:== | ||
| + | Earlier we read Luke 2 and talked about some of the background, today we are going to look at Luke 2 and try to understand how it applies to each of us. | ||
| + | =Body= | ||
| − | = | + | ==The offer of salvation may not come at the most convenient time for you (1-7).== |
| + | ===God has access to a much bigger picture (1-3).=== | ||
| + | I think there are times when we may forget that God is actually in control of every possible detail, even details that are occurring on a grand scale. Luke begins his narrative of the birth of Jesus by drawing a large picture. | ||
| + | ====The reference to Caesar Augustus and his census reminds us that God's timing includes details on a global scale.==== | ||
| + | ====The reference to everyone going to their own town reminds us that even though it seems that Caesar is control of people's lives, it is actually God in control.==== | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
===God is in control of even the small details (4-5).=== | ===God is in control of even the small details (4-5).=== | ||
| − | ===God's details are part of His plan and might not be | + | Let's look at just a few of the details that come out here. |
| − | ===MTR: Consider how have you allowed timing to interfere with your response to God's call for you | + | ====A Home Town in Nazareth ensured Jesus was a "hick from the sticks" i.e. not from an area known for it's class (Matthew 2:23)==== |
| + | <p>Matthew 2:23, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.</p> | ||
| + | <p>That is Jesus was despised and rejected like the old prophets as described in Psalm 22:6-13; 69:8; Isa 53:2-3 while also being the branch of Isa. 11:2.</p> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====The trip to Bethlehem ensured Jesus fulfilled the details of Micah 5:2.==== | ||
| + | ====Joseph and Mary's family line ensured people would recognize Jesus as being a descendent of David.==== | ||
| + | ====Mary's status as betrothed and not married allowed for a virgin birth as predicted by Isaiah 7:14.==== | ||
| + | ===Image: Venn Diagram's=== | ||
| + | Do you remember Venn Diagram's from school. You know those diagrams where you draw a circle and say this circle represents all the things that are red in the world. This other circle represents all the hats in the world. This circle represents all women's clothing in the world and in the intersection we have women's red hats. That is how I picture some of these details that God was orchestrating. In Jesus God created one of the grandest Venn diagrams imaginable. | ||
| + | ===God's details are part of His plan and might not be convenient for you but they are still good (6-7).=== | ||
| + | Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "what about Mary's quality of life?" I mean thin about it, she was ready to give birth, is asked to travel, and can't even find a proper place to rest. Look at some of the details... | ||
| + | ====What about Mary's quality of life:==== | ||
| + | =====Mary traveled despite being great with child.===== | ||
| + | =====This is Mary's first experience with child birth, she is far from being an expert.===== | ||
| + | =====The baby did not come out in royal grandeur ready to sit on the throne but rather had to be cared for being wrapped in swaddling clothes.===== | ||
| + | =====Mary had not of the modern comforts in her hospital room but rather was forced to give brith in the part of the house reserved for animals.===== | ||
| + | =====Mary and Joseph arrive "home" for Christmas only to learn that another relative outranks them and is staying in the room they thought they would have.===== | ||
| + | ======I am sorry to burst your bubble but the picture of Mary and Joseph arriving at a hotel being turned away is not realistic or really supported in the text.====== | ||
| + | In this period of time when a relative came into town the family made space for them. Actually the idea of a modern hotel is pretty unlikely here. Instead Joseph would have entered town, proclaimed his family line and relatives would have opened up their homes. The problem seems to be that another relative who outranks Joseph is occupying the space. To turn Joseph onto the street would be shameful and so Joseph and his bride are given space in the house, space that is normally used by the animals. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The point is that the birth of the Savior was anything but convenient for Mary and Joseph and seemingly insignificant historically, but it was part of God's plan. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===MTR: Consider how have you allowed timing to interfere with your response to God's call for you.=== | ||
==The offer of salvation is available to all (8-14)== | ==The offer of salvation is available to all (8-14)== | ||
| − | ===The shepherds were the most unlikely recipients of God's message.=== | + | ===The shepherds were the most unlikely recipients of God's message (8-9).=== |
| − | ===The words of the message emphasize the significance of the event.=== | + | ====I would have sent the angels to the temple, or the palace, or even the manger, but shepherds?==== |
| − | ===The sign of verification can be tested without specialized instruments.=== | + | Shepherds were the downcast of society. They lived nomadic lifestyles and had a reputation for theft.<ref>Blomberg, Craig L. Jesus and the Gospels: An introduction and survey. B&H Publishing Group, 2022, 241.</ref> |
| − | ===Image: | + | ===The words of the message emphasize the significance of the event (10-11).=== |
| − | + | In this case, the Greek really matters so we are going to have to dig into language a little. | |
| − | ===The marketing reveals the target audience.=== | + | ====The word εὐαγγελίζομαι (I bring good news) was a Roman propaganda term that was re-coined through Jesus.==== |
| − | === | + | The word had previously been used for glad tiding associated with the "birth of an heir to the empire, his coming of age, and his ascension to the throne."<ref>Garland, David E. Luke. Zondervan Academic, 2012, 122.</ref> |
| + | ====The word σήμερον (today) in verse 11 links OT with NT, the prophecies of the past are finally coming true!==== | ||
| + | ====The word σωτὴρ (Savior) is not the word βασιλέως (King)==== | ||
| + | Jesus is king but unlike the good news of the birth of a new king Jesus is so much more, he is Savior! | ||
| + | ===The sign of verification can be tested without specialized instruments (12).=== | ||
| + | I love the idea of a litmus test, a way to know if something is what it claims to be. However, so many times the test requires specialized equipment. | ||
| + | ===Image: Testing fuel for ethanol=== | ||
| + | Some airplanes can run on regular automotive gas but require absolutely zero ethanol. There is a specialized ethanol testing dye that you can purchase to test for the presence of ethanol but something like that requires you buy special dye. Thankfully there is a simple test that can be employed. Ethnol absorbs water, so if you take a test tube and fill it with a little water, then mark exactly where the water is at and then add fuel. If after 20 minutes the water position has not changed then you are Ethnol free otherwise there is ethanol in your fuel. It turns out that testing for ethanol is accessible to anyone. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===The marketing reveals the target audience (13-14).=== | ||
| + | ====God did not just send one angel. God sent the entire team, from a marketing perspective he was all in on this audience.==== | ||
| + | ====The message was one in which God was the center.==== | ||
| + | ====The offer was of peace that could not be earned but rather granted to those whom God chose.==== | ||
===MTR: Consider the proclamation have you accepted that salvation is available to you personally?==== | ===MTR: Consider the proclamation have you accepted that salvation is available to you personally?==== | ||
==The offer of salvation demands a response (15-20)== | ==The offer of salvation demands a response (15-20)== | ||
| − | ===The shepherds actions demonstrate their acceptance of reality (15-16)== | + | ===The shepherds' actions demonstrate their acceptance of reality (15-16)=== |
| + | Have you ever seen/heard something and immediately started to wonder, is this really true, is it even worth my effort to explore? This is exactly what the shepherds did not do! Instead, the shepherds said to each other, wow, let's get going! | ||
| + | ====It is interesting that the Angels do not command that the shepherds go and they do not offer to accompany them on the way! This significant event has been completely left in the hands of humans!==== | ||
| + | <p>As I look at the Christmas story I am struck by the human aspects of the story. Everything about the story proclaims that Jesus is a divine solution to a human problem and so there is an expectation that we as humans accept the reality and take action.</p> | ||
| + | |||
====Accepting reality requires more than just words but action.==== | ====Accepting reality requires more than just words but action.==== | ||
| − | ===The shepherds proclamation | + | The shepherds could have said, "ok, cool, now back to our work." They did not, instead, the shepherds took action, dropping everything and going! |
| − | + | ===The shepherds' proclamation demonstrates their acceptance of the value of Jesus (17).=== | |
| − | ===The shepherds departure reminds us of our ultimate goal (20).=== | + | Most people understand that you don't share insignificant mundane details of life, you share major events. We learn that the shepherds share the details of the event! They understood the significance. This was no mere king, this was the Savior. The result was the shepherds talked about this amazing experience. |
| − | + | ===The people demonstrate the genuineness of the shepherds' response (18-19).=== | |
| − | + | ====I have heard often that shepherds were disqualified from serving as a witness in a court because they were not trusted. The people trusted them!==== | |
| + | I think it is important to realize that the shepherds were changed, men. Somehow the change in the shepherds was recognized by others because their testimony was not automatically dismissed. Think about it, how many UFO encounters do you believe? Something about the change in the shepherds must have been very convincing. | ||
| + | ====Mary treasured up and pondered these things - imagine what Mary must have thought without having 20/20 hindsight!==== | ||
| + | I imagine this was all very overwhelming to Mary and even more, questions were coming to her mind. Remember, she did not have any of the New Testament, and given literacy and the role of women in society I would be surprised if she had anything but a rudimentary understanding of the Old Testament. Mary's faith stands out to me as incredible. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===The shepherds' departure reminds us of our ultimate goal (20).=== | ||
===MTR: Respond to the offer of salvation: accept, proclaim and glorify.=== | ===MTR: Respond to the offer of salvation: accept, proclaim and glorify.=== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:19, 21 December 2022
Theological Proposition/Focus: God has provided salvation that is freely available to all.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: We must accept God's offer of salvation regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
Contents
- 1 Introduction:
- 2 Body
- 2.1 The offer of salvation may not come at the most convenient time for you (1-7).
- 2.1.1 God has access to a much bigger picture (1-3).
- 2.1.2 God is in control of even the small details (4-5).
- 2.1.2.1 A Home Town in Nazareth ensured Jesus was a "hick from the sticks" i.e. not from an area known for it's class (Matthew 2:23)
- 2.1.2.2 The trip to Bethlehem ensured Jesus fulfilled the details of Micah 5:2.
- 2.1.2.3 Joseph and Mary's family line ensured people would recognize Jesus as being a descendent of David.
- 2.1.2.4 Mary's status as betrothed and not married allowed for a virgin birth as predicted by Isaiah 7:14.
- 2.1.3 Image: Venn Diagram's
- 2.1.4 God's details are part of His plan and might not be convenient for you but they are still good (6-7).
- 2.1.4.1 What about Mary's quality of life:
- 2.1.4.1.1 Mary traveled despite being great with child.
- 2.1.4.1.2 This is Mary's first experience with child birth, she is far from being an expert.
- 2.1.4.1.3 The baby did not come out in royal grandeur ready to sit on the throne but rather had to be cared for being wrapped in swaddling clothes.
- 2.1.4.1.4 Mary had not of the modern comforts in her hospital room but rather was forced to give brith in the part of the house reserved for animals.
- 2.1.4.1.5 Mary and Joseph arrive "home" for Christmas only to learn that another relative outranks them and is staying in the room they thought they would have.
- 2.1.4.1 What about Mary's quality of life:
- 2.1.5 MTR: Consider how have you allowed timing to interfere with your response to God's call for you.
- 2.2 The offer of salvation is available to all (8-14)
- 2.2.1 The shepherds were the most unlikely recipients of God's message (8-9).
- 2.2.2 The words of the message emphasize the significance of the event (10-11).
- 2.2.3 The sign of verification can be tested without specialized instruments (12).
- 2.2.4 Image: Testing fuel for ethanol
- 2.2.5 The marketing reveals the target audience (13-14).
- 2.2.6 MTR: Consider the proclamation have you accepted that salvation is available to you personally?=
- 2.3 The offer of salvation demands a response (15-20)
- 2.3.1 The shepherds' actions demonstrate their acceptance of reality (15-16)
- 2.3.2 The shepherds' proclamation demonstrates their acceptance of the value of Jesus (17).
- 2.3.3 The people demonstrate the genuineness of the shepherds' response (18-19).
- 2.3.4 The shepherds' departure reminds us of our ultimate goal (20).
- 2.3.5 MTR: Respond to the offer of salvation: accept, proclaim and glorify.
- 2.1 The offer of salvation may not come at the most convenient time for you (1-7).
Introduction:
Need: We need to respond to Jesus
Preview: Today we are going to see that the offer of salvation may not be convenient, is available to all, and demands a response.
Setting the Stage:
Earlier we read Luke 2 and talked about some of the background, today we are going to look at Luke 2 and try to understand how it applies to each of us.
Body
The offer of salvation may not come at the most convenient time for you (1-7).
God has access to a much bigger picture (1-3).
I think there are times when we may forget that God is actually in control of every possible detail, even details that are occurring on a grand scale. Luke begins his narrative of the birth of Jesus by drawing a large picture.
The reference to Caesar Augustus and his census reminds us that God's timing includes details on a global scale.
The reference to everyone going to their own town reminds us that even though it seems that Caesar is control of people's lives, it is actually God in control.
God is in control of even the small details (4-5).
Let's look at just a few of the details that come out here.
A Home Town in Nazareth ensured Jesus was a "hick from the sticks" i.e. not from an area known for it's class (Matthew 2:23)
Matthew 2:23, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
That is Jesus was despised and rejected like the old prophets as described in Psalm 22:6-13; 69:8; Isa 53:2-3 while also being the branch of Isa. 11:2.
The trip to Bethlehem ensured Jesus fulfilled the details of Micah 5:2.
Joseph and Mary's family line ensured people would recognize Jesus as being a descendent of David.
Mary's status as betrothed and not married allowed for a virgin birth as predicted by Isaiah 7:14.
Image: Venn Diagram's
Do you remember Venn Diagram's from school. You know those diagrams where you draw a circle and say this circle represents all the things that are red in the world. This other circle represents all the hats in the world. This circle represents all women's clothing in the world and in the intersection we have women's red hats. That is how I picture some of these details that God was orchestrating. In Jesus God created one of the grandest Venn diagrams imaginable.
God's details are part of His plan and might not be convenient for you but they are still good (6-7).
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "what about Mary's quality of life?" I mean thin about it, she was ready to give birth, is asked to travel, and can't even find a proper place to rest. Look at some of the details...
What about Mary's quality of life:
Mary traveled despite being great with child.
This is Mary's first experience with child birth, she is far from being an expert.
The baby did not come out in royal grandeur ready to sit on the throne but rather had to be cared for being wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Mary had not of the modern comforts in her hospital room but rather was forced to give brith in the part of the house reserved for animals.
Mary and Joseph arrive "home" for Christmas only to learn that another relative outranks them and is staying in the room they thought they would have.
I am sorry to burst your bubble but the picture of Mary and Joseph arriving at a hotel being turned away is not realistic or really supported in the text.
In this period of time when a relative came into town the family made space for them. Actually the idea of a modern hotel is pretty unlikely here. Instead Joseph would have entered town, proclaimed his family line and relatives would have opened up their homes. The problem seems to be that another relative who outranks Joseph is occupying the space. To turn Joseph onto the street would be shameful and so Joseph and his bride are given space in the house, space that is normally used by the animals.
The point is that the birth of the Savior was anything but convenient for Mary and Joseph and seemingly insignificant historically, but it was part of God's plan.
MTR: Consider how have you allowed timing to interfere with your response to God's call for you.
The offer of salvation is available to all (8-14)
The shepherds were the most unlikely recipients of God's message (8-9).
I would have sent the angels to the temple, or the palace, or even the manger, but shepherds?
Shepherds were the downcast of society. They lived nomadic lifestyles and had a reputation for theft.[1]
The words of the message emphasize the significance of the event (10-11).
In this case, the Greek really matters so we are going to have to dig into language a little.
The word εὐαγγελίζομαι (I bring good news) was a Roman propaganda term that was re-coined through Jesus.
The word had previously been used for glad tiding associated with the "birth of an heir to the empire, his coming of age, and his ascension to the throne."[2]
The word σήμερον (today) in verse 11 links OT with NT, the prophecies of the past are finally coming true!
The word σωτὴρ (Savior) is not the word βασιλέως (King)
Jesus is king but unlike the good news of the birth of a new king Jesus is so much more, he is Savior!
The sign of verification can be tested without specialized instruments (12).
I love the idea of a litmus test, a way to know if something is what it claims to be. However, so many times the test requires specialized equipment.
Image: Testing fuel for ethanol
Some airplanes can run on regular automotive gas but require absolutely zero ethanol. There is a specialized ethanol testing dye that you can purchase to test for the presence of ethanol but something like that requires you buy special dye. Thankfully there is a simple test that can be employed. Ethnol absorbs water, so if you take a test tube and fill it with a little water, then mark exactly where the water is at and then add fuel. If after 20 minutes the water position has not changed then you are Ethnol free otherwise there is ethanol in your fuel. It turns out that testing for ethanol is accessible to anyone.
The marketing reveals the target audience (13-14).
God did not just send one angel. God sent the entire team, from a marketing perspective he was all in on this audience.
The message was one in which God was the center.
The offer was of peace that could not be earned but rather granted to those whom God chose.
MTR: Consider the proclamation have you accepted that salvation is available to you personally?=
The offer of salvation demands a response (15-20)
The shepherds' actions demonstrate their acceptance of reality (15-16)
Have you ever seen/heard something and immediately started to wonder, is this really true, is it even worth my effort to explore? This is exactly what the shepherds did not do! Instead, the shepherds said to each other, wow, let's get going!
It is interesting that the Angels do not command that the shepherds go and they do not offer to accompany them on the way! This significant event has been completely left in the hands of humans!
As I look at the Christmas story I am struck by the human aspects of the story. Everything about the story proclaims that Jesus is a divine solution to a human problem and so there is an expectation that we as humans accept the reality and take action.
Accepting reality requires more than just words but action.
The shepherds could have said, "ok, cool, now back to our work." They did not, instead, the shepherds took action, dropping everything and going!
The shepherds' proclamation demonstrates their acceptance of the value of Jesus (17).
Most people understand that you don't share insignificant mundane details of life, you share major events. We learn that the shepherds share the details of the event! They understood the significance. This was no mere king, this was the Savior. The result was the shepherds talked about this amazing experience.
The people demonstrate the genuineness of the shepherds' response (18-19).
I have heard often that shepherds were disqualified from serving as a witness in a court because they were not trusted. The people trusted them!
I think it is important to realize that the shepherds were changed, men. Somehow the change in the shepherds was recognized by others because their testimony was not automatically dismissed. Think about it, how many UFO encounters do you believe? Something about the change in the shepherds must have been very convincing.
Mary treasured up and pondered these things - imagine what Mary must have thought without having 20/20 hindsight!
I imagine this was all very overwhelming to Mary and even more, questions were coming to her mind. Remember, she did not have any of the New Testament, and given literacy and the role of women in society I would be surprised if she had anything but a rudimentary understanding of the Old Testament. Mary's faith stands out to me as incredible.
