Luke 2:1-20 The Newborn Portrait

Luke 2:1-20 The Newborn Portrait

Nathan Wakefield / General

Portraits of the King / Luke 2:1-21

Theological Proposition/Focus:The birth of Jesus reminds us that the Lion of Judah is not a tame lion, but he is safe. This highlights the paradox of the incarnation, where the all-powerful God chose the fragility of a newborn to reveal His glory and character. It encourages believers to reconcile their perception of God as being both mighty and gentle.

Christ Focus:

Homiletical Proposition/Application:This sermon can help Christians understand that while Jesus appeared as a vulnerable baby, He embodies divine strength and protection. In our struggles, we can find safety in an untamed God who is both powerful and loving.

Introduction

Image: Senior baby pictures

Baby pictures are a lot of fun, in part because baby pictures invite us to look forward.

We don't take ourselves too seriously in my family, and so when I graduated high school, we had fun with the yearbook. Parents could submit a baby picture of their graduating seniors and leave a message. Well, my mom, dad, and I conspired and decided to purchase a slot for my baby picture; but instead of my actual baby picture, we submitted a picture of a baby monkey. It ended up getting printed, and we had a good laugh.

But laughing aside, baby pictures are fun because it is fun to imagine the whole world ahead of someone. Yet, we need to realize that the sovereign God of the universe is in control.

Preview: God is sovereign even when we don’t think we have room—He brings peace even when we think we are good—and remains sovereign even in humble circumstances.

Setting the Stage:

Let's take a second and read [Luke 1:3-4]: "With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."<p>

Luke wrote the Gospel in order that people might know with certainty the truth of Jesus.

<p>Think about this for just a moment. It has now been more than 30 years since Jesus ascended into Heaven. Initially, there was a lot of excitement at the planting of this new thing called a church. But now, a generation and a half later, the church has taken root, but some of the original people are dying, and many are getting old. Did this Jesus thing really happen? Is Jesus really coming back?

Behind this backdrop, Luke writes the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles so that everyone can have a rock-solid understanding and trust in the message.

Sometimes it is fun to look back on a newborn baby picture and reflect on what was before that baby. Today, we look at the newborn Christ and see God's work.

Body

“Sovereign” despite “Saturation”—Even when you have no room for Jesus, He still has room for you (2:1–7).

God's sovereignty is evident even in the simple circumstances of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. The census decree brings Joseph and Mary to the prophesied birthplace, demonstrating that the untamed Lion is orchestrating history, but the lack of room reminds us that this orchestration is unbeknownst to the world. This reaffirms God's control and offers assurance that His plans cannot be thwarted, even when it seems like the world has no room for Jesus, Jesus is still at work. The humble beginning does not detract from Jesus's divine origin but enhances our understanding that God's strength is made perfect in weakness.

Big or small, busy or bored, powerful or weak, nobody is outside the sovereignty of God (1–3).

Luke is careful to remind us that the events of universal significance are occurring on a stage marked by earthly kings. In Luke 1:5, we were reminded that Herod was king of Judea, and now in Luke 2:1, we have Caesar Augustus, emperor of the Roman empire. Israel is still in captivity and subject to foreign power. But that does not mean that God is not the one who is really in control.

Luke moves on from his discussion of the emperor to a mention of a Roman census. The pieces of the puzzle are coming together, and God is moving at a global level to get each person in position for His next big move.

But it is not just rulers and the powerful that God is working into position. God is at work with small, insignificant people.

Poverty, insignificance, and inexperience did not keep God from using Joseph and Mary (4–6).

In Luke 2:24, we read that the sacrifice made by Mary and Joseph at the presentation of Jesus at the temple is the sacrifice made by the poor. So here in verse 4, we are introduced to a poor man from a remote area with little sway or influence.

In Matthew 1:24, we learn that after the angel of the Lord had told Joseph not to put away Mary, Joseph took Mary as his wife. Here in Luke 2, we see Mary described as being pledged to marry Joseph. What does this mean?

We have a poor couple coming out of nowhere; they are married but sort of. They have not consummated the marriage yet. Still, Joseph, the loyal and upright man that he is, cares for Mary with the utmost care as he brings her with him to yet another lowly town on the outskirts of civilization.

God is simultaneously working on two scales. He has worked through the rich and powerful and is at the same time working through the downtrodden and outcast. But that is just the beginning of this amazing story.

The ultimate paradox is that the omnipresent God of the universe does not need a lot of room to work (6–7).

Image: Being Sick and away from home is one thing, giving birth away from home it something entirely different.

I have had the unfortunate experience of being very sick and away from home. When we travel, I have a bad habit of being willing to try new foods, and sometimes it is not the best idea. But what Mary goes through takes it to a whole new level.

The omnipresent God of the universe takes up residence in the smallest of places.

Mary's time to deliver the baby comes, and as we all know, there is not much room in Bethlehem. So, what happens? The God of the universe is placed in a manger because there is no guest room for Mary and Joseph.

We could go around telling people, "My God is bigger than your god," and that would be accurate, but the ultimate truth is that while my God is incredible, he is capable of working with anything.

There is a lot of paradox here. God has been working on a global scale, but He also works small scale too. And more than that, he can use small scale to make significant changes. A lot of people are too busy for God, but in reality, they just don't understand that what we really need to do is give ourselves to God. Even giving God something is better than nothing; he can work with you!

Image: When I work I like to spread out my stuff and fill a space.

I have a tendency to think I need more space than I really do when I work. Just ask Emily; when I start a project, I have stuff everywhere. God is the sovereign God of the universe; we need to turn to Him and ask Him to work on us.

Sovereign in Suppressed Struggles — Whether it is a recognized need or not, God's offer is an offer of peace (8–14)

The untamed God values the lowly, inviting everyone into His kingdom. The 'Glory to God' sung by angels reminds us that peace comes not from earthly security but from trust in God's mighty yet gentle nature.

What may have seemed a peaceful night gave way to something amazing (8–9)

Whether caring for lambs destined for sacrifice or just doing what shepherds do these shepherds did not expect their peaceful night to be interrupted.

Some theologians have suggested that the shepherds here might have been caring for lambs that were destined for sacrifice in Jerusalem. They also could have been shepherds just doing their job. Regardless, the picture we have here is of a group of shepherds peacefully enjoying the night sky while watching their flocks. Likely, these shepherds knew not much in life other than being a shepherd. These shepherds were doing what shepherds do—minding their own business and protecting their flock.

Then something unthinkable happens. The night sky erupts as an angel appears, and the glory of the Lord fills the sky.

You wouldn't expect the shepherds to be the recipients of such an announcement.

Think about this for just a second. You might have expected the glory of the Lord to appear in the temple in Jerusalem. I probably would have expected the glory of the Lord to appear at the birth of Jesus over the manger where he lay. But never would we expect the glory of the Lord to appear to lowly shepherds watching their flocks.

Yes, shepherds need God but I doubt they expected God to come to them personally.

I suspect that the shepherds were caught completely off guard. Why would God offer them his presence in such an explicit way? Sure, they needed God, but I doubt they really understood or felt that need. They just did their thing.

In life we often know we need God but we don't live like we need God.

In life, we need God, but most of the time we don't really feel it or recognize it. We go through life largely acting, thinking, living as if we don't really need God, but that doesn't keep God from bursting onto the scene of our life!

Despite their terror, the shepherds needed to learn not to be afraid (10–12)

So what is the natural response when we find ourselves in the midst of God's glory when we didn't even think we needed it? Fear. The shepherds were afraid, but they didn't need to be.

The fear of the shepherds is met first with a command—do not be afraid—followed by a reason—there is a message of good news, hope, not just for the shepherds but for all people.

We go through life largely ignorant of our need for God and His presence. I use the word ignorant, but maybe that is not quite right; I don't think we are innocent, and sometimes we think of ignorant as having a component of innocence. No, we simply choose to ignore or prioritize aspects of life other than God and His glory. What that means is that when we are forced to see God and His glory, we can often respond with fear.

The message we need to learn from the angels is that we don't need to be afraid because the God of the universe has a message of great joy that is made available to all people. But the titles the angel uses are themselves incredibly significant for us to understand why we don't need to be afraid.

• Today — Israel's wait is over
• In the town of David — a fulfillment of Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
• A Savior — someone to deliver Israel from their biggest problem
• Messiah — He is the Christ, not just another judge as in the book of Judges; this is the one who will ultimately deliver people.
• The Lord — This Savior is worthy of your complete devotion.

The reality is that a declaration of peace is in effect (13–14)

If that wasn't enough, what happens next is spectacular. The sky explodes with the heavenly hosts, and their message is one of incredible significance—peace to those on whom his favor rests.

The term Pax Romana has been used to describe Rome at this time. But in reality Rome was not a place of peace for the everyday person.

The Pax Romana, or "Roman Peace," refers to a period of relative stability and minimal large-scale warfare across the Roman Empire, lasting roughly from 27 BCE to 180 CE. This era, initiated under Emperor Augustus, saw improved infrastructure, trade, and governance, which contributed to the empire's prosperity and the spread of ideas. However, this peace came at a cost. The Roman government maintained control through military might, heavy taxation, and suppression of dissent. For many individuals, particularly those in conquered territories, the Pax Romana meant exploitation, forced labor, and a loss of autonomy. Slaves, the poor, and those who opposed Roman rule faced harsh conditions and punitive measures. Thus, while the empire enjoyed broad peace and stability, countless individuals lived under oppression, highlighting the paradox of a peace that brought suffering to many.

Image: Bullet holes in an airplane

On November 11, 2024, a Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was struck by gunfire as it approached Toussaint Louverture International Airport. The plane was hit multiple times while flying over an area near the airport affected by gang violence. Upon landing, a bullet was reportedly found lodged beneath the co-pilot's feet. While the bullet did not physically strike the co-pilot, its proximity highlighted the danger of the situation. Here is the thing; the plane flew all the way back not knowing how close they came to having the co-pilot killed.

Sovereignty in the stable — The baby in the manger is the mighty creator Himself (15-21)

The shepherds' response as they spread the news of what they had witnessed highlights the transformative power of encountering Jesus. Just as the shepherds shared the untamed and yet safe narrative of Jesus' entry into the world, believers today can find courage to proclaim this mysterious truth. This reinforces that true safety lies in embracing the seeming paradox of Jesus' power and vulnerability.

The shepherds went not to a magnificent palace but rather a lowly stable (15)

Image: Dressing for an event, visiting the Oval Office and being cheap.

Have you ever had to carefully pick out clothes to make sure you were not underdressed for an event? Years ago, Emily and I had the opportunity to visit the White House. But Emily and I are also pretty cheap, so I ended up parking several miles from the White House and we walked several miles through D.C.—Emily in a fancy dress and I in my suit. We had a good time, got to visit the Oval Office, and very clearly did not fit in. But I will say, having Joe Biden, then Vice President, put his arm around us was a truly unique experience. We were invited to something special even though we did not fit.

Had the shepherds been told to visit the temple or the palace, I am sure they would not have fit in. But God did something different. God sent the shepherds not to a palace but to a lowly stable. As we look at the manger and the baby in the manger, we need to realize that this is the creator of the universe who has made himself accessible to each of us.

The insignificance of the stable placed responsibility on the shepherds (16-18)

The very unplublic presentation of Jesus meant the shepherds had a great responsibility.

Think about this. Had Jesus been born in the temple or the palace, there would have been a very public proclamation of the birth. However, Jesus was not born in the palace or in the temple. The masses knew nothing of the significance of this event. The only people who really understood what had happened were a group of lowly shepherds. The angels did not make their announcement in the temple; they told these lowly shepherds. The insignificance of the circumstances of the birth of Jesus meant that these shepherds had a great responsibility. The only people who would know were those the shepherds chose to tell!

We have a great responsibility, not to mere judo-Christian morality but to the real message of the Gospel.

We need to take this to heart in that we have been entrusted with the Gospel message; we must do the work of spreading it. It is interesting. The message of the cross is not a message that often gets a lot of airtime. People talk about Christian principles; they talk about Judeo-Christian morality, but the average person does not know the reality that there is nothing they can or should do to earn salvation. The only way to salvation is to accept that Jesus made complete payment for sins.

We must proclaim that the only way to salvation is to accept that Jesus made complete payment for sins.

Think about it—you won't be able to control someone with that message. In fact, all you can do with that message is give them freedom. This means that the message of salvation is not going to get widespread traction or publicity. The only way people are going to hear the true Gospel is if you go out and tell them!

The baby in the manger is the Lion of Judah (19-20)

So how does the story end? Well, we have the classic nativity scene, and there in the manger is the baby Jesus. He has his entire life ahead of him; what will that life entail? Suffering, death, and the greatest victory ever.

When we look at that baby in the manger, may we see the Lion of Judah.

Image: Seeing the lions in Africa

While we were in Africa, I was mesmerized by the lion. I just stood looking at this magnificent animal while it sat. The power was incredible, the strength amazing, and I couldn't help but think that when I look at Jesus face to face, the power will be even greater. Yet Christmas is all about Jesus.