The First Noel
Text: Luke 2:1-7
Core Idea: The first Christmas was God’s salvation story unfolding in our history in an unexpected way – the Savior King coming as a baby to be placed in a manger – to show us that our salvation will be achieved in an unexpected way – the Savior King dying as a criminal in our place. He is the reason we celebrate and rejoice.
INTRODUCTION
Good afternoon, Lighthouse. If you’re visiting us for the first time, we want to warmly welcome you. And whether you’re joining us online or here with us, it’s always good to be together. I pray that all of you won’t leave this place without experiencing God’s love for you. Well, today, we’ll take a break from the Gospel of Mark and station ourselves in Luke 2 for the next three weeks to explore the story of Jesus’ birth – the first Christmas. Now, for all of our lives, we were conditioned to expect certain things during the Christmas season; and for the most part, we enjoyed them as planned – gifts, food, carols, friends, and family. But for the first-time last year, Christmas may have looked very different from before. Our whole lives, Christmas has been celebrated in the nearness of our relationships. We came together. We ate together. We celebrated together the fact that God Himself came near to us. And all of a sudden, it left us asking, “How can we rejoice at Christmas when we’re instructed to keep our distance from each other?” I wonder if this may be one of the reasons why some of us don’t “feel” like Christmas. But maybe this is a blessing in disguise, because God is using this opportunity to invite us to have a glimpse of what the first Christmas was like – it was a quiet, lonely, and painful day – very different from how we celebrate Christmas today. But through it, God will liberate us from the December hustle and bustle, from a lifetime’s nostalgia and expectation that does not necessarily reflect the true meaning of Christmas. Maybe this is an opportunity for us to recalibrate our hearts so that we can make this Christmas really about Christ. Then I pray that this passage will help us do exactly that. So, if you have your Bibles, please turn to Luke 2:1-7. Let me read for us.
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Three things about the first Christmas we learn from this passage:
HISTORICAL
PROVIDENTIAL
SURPRISING
1) HISTORICAL
Let’s start from verse 1. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” There were plenty of myths about different gods that people worshiped in Rome. But none of those myths would ever begin like this. This is not how you write a myth. Luke doesn’t say, “Once upon a time” or “a time long ago,” but rather, he says, “In those days.” Luke was very intentional in trying to do everything he could to convey that what he was about to share to the world was history – he wanted to anchor our understanding of Jesus’ birth in the context of the concrete facts of history. And in fact, the commentaries tell us that Caesar Augustus issued more than one census during his reign – so, the scholars are trying to figure out the exact moment when Luke recorded this. Now, why was it so important for Luke to show us that this story really did happen? Why is this important for us that this isn’t just an inspiring myth?
This is important for us as Christians because this is foundational to our faith. We believe that God entered our time and space, came into our history, and dwelt among us. He became one of us, fully God yet fully human, and bore our sins, died, was buried, rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven as He promised that at the right time, we too will be there with Him. This is the heart of our faith. Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” If this is true about Jesus’ resurrection (and it is), then isn’t this also true in terms of His birth? Just as our faith is futile if Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile if Jesus did not enter our world. Brothers and sisters, do you believe that the Christmas story is history – that it really did happen? I want you to answer this very carefully because if you truly believe that this really did happen, then our lives can’t remain the same. Our lives would be turned upside down because it means that we’re no longer in the dark, but we have seen the light; it means that we no longer live for ourselves, but we have ushered the King of kings, the Lord of lords into our lives; it means that we’re no longer enslaved to our sin, but we’ve been liberated (as 1 Cor. 15:58 says) to “give [ourselves] fully to the work of the Lord, because we know that [our] labor in the Lord is not in vain.” There’s meaning to our lives and all that we do because Jesus was born in a manger.
At the same time, seeing the Christmas story as a historical reality is vital not just for our faith but also for our evangelism. There are a lot of non-believing family and friends around us who may be quite skeptical about this story. They may assert that Jesus never really existed, that the Gospel accounts are not very reliable, or that the virgin birth is scientifically impossible. They may see this story simply as a harmless fiction about a baby being born that kind of symbolizes hope in this dark world. But the Bible makes it clear that this is based on a concrete historical reality. And knowing this is crucial because it gives confidence when we do share the gospel. Then it’s our responsibility to ready ourselves so that we may be able to answer their questions – not so we can humiliate them or knock them down but so we can help them gain a new perspective and invite them to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. I don’t have the time to address the questions that they might ask in this message (maybe another time); but you could reach out to me, and I could share some books you could read to equip yourself. Christmas is history, not a myth – and this changes everything. But this wasn’t just history.
2) PROVIDENTIAL
Let’s look at verse 1 again. For most of us, the name Caesar Augustus may not mean much. It’s grown insignificant to us but it’s the name that everyone knew in Jesus’ days. He was the nephew, later adopted son, and hand-picked successor to Julius Caesar. And as the first Roman emperor, he established what’s known as the Pax Romana, the Roman peace. The Romans loved him, and they viewed him as the one who would end all wars. In their minds, he was the greatest leader that the world had ever known.
And here, we see him issuing “a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” Verse 3. “And everyone went to their own town to register.” This shows how powerful and influential he was because at his command, the whole nation was on the move. Can you imagine what this would’ve looked like? Now, in those days, there were two main reasons why a census would be taken: money and military. Rome was emerging as the superpower of the world. Then in order to support and sustain this growing kingdom, the people needed to be either taxed or drafted. So, when Caesar Augustus made this decree, he must have thought that it was going to fortify his empire; but little did he know that his action was setting the scene for a kingdom that would be far greater and never-ending.
Verse 4. “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” Just like others, we see Joseph and Mary leaving Nazareth, where they were living, to reach Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown. Verse 6, “While they were there… she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” This is significant because of Micah 5:2, which says, “But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” Here, Luke was telling us that no matter what the desires of Caesar Augustus were, no matter what he was trying to accomplish, he was simply an instrument in the hand of God. The Messiah was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem; but Joseph and Mary were in Nazareth. God could’ve sent another angel telling them to move but He used Caesar Augustus’ decree to lead them to Bethlehem so that the prophecy may be fulfilled in Jesus. In other words, this powerful man was nothing but a pawn in God’s providence of saving His people.
Well, what does this tell us? Pastor Ligon Duncan says, “Those prophecies remind us that the coming of Jesus is the result of the unstoppable zeal of a God of glorious redeeming grace.” He was unwilling to leave us lost in our sin and hopelessness. He was not going to leave this world in the dark, enslaved. He was determined to save us, which is why He orchestrated all things in order to bring us hope, shine light in our darkness, and give us life. Christmas isn’t just history; it’s His story. It’s all about what He did for us.
This might be a very important truth for many of us here. Our lives are products of God’s providence. In other words, He is attentive to every detail of our lives – all the circumstances of our lives are in His hands. This doesn’t mean that it won’t be hard. Think about Joseph and Mary. Because of this decree, they had to journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, which was like 150km in distance. And remember, Mary was pregnant – almost ready to give birth. So, whether they traveled on a donkey or by foot, the journey must have been not just uncomfortable, but brutal, painful, and horrible. I wonder how many times Mary said to Joseph, “I can’t do this. I’m done. I would rather die.” Yet this didn’t mean that they were outside of God’s will; in fact, they were exactly where God wanted them.
Brothers and sisters, I wonder if your journey seems brutal today – painful, horrible just like Mary. I wonder if you’ve uttered these words, “I can’t do this. I’m done. I’m giving up.” If that’s you, God wants you to know that God is still in control over your lives. He is at work, and He cares for you. Do you remember what Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20? “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” He didn’t say God turned his suffering for good (that He didn’t see it coming but He still turned it around to bless Joseph); no, God intended Joseph’s suffering for good. Then this Christmas season, while you may find yourself in a place of doubt, questioning the goodness of God, in a place of being on a journey of anxiety, loneliness, and hurt, may you remember that God intended everything in your life that’s happening right now for your good – for your salvation, sanctification, and ultimately for His glory. J.C. Ryle says “Let us ever rest our souls on the thought that times are in God’s hand. He knows the best season for sending help to His church and new life into the world. Let us beware of giving way over to anxiety about the course of events around us as if we knew better than the King of Kings what time relief should come.” In other words, God’s purpose is being accomplished in our lives right now even though it may not make sense to us. But the good news is that we’re not the only ones on this journey, fighting this good fight. He is fighting with us; He is fighting for us; He is with us on this journey – and at the right time, He will prove Himself glorious and good. Christmas reminds us of God’s providence in our lives.
3) SURPRISING
Let’s turn to verse 7. “She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” The picture that we normally have of Jesus’ birth is a very commercialized one. All the animals are quietly sitting around baby Jesus in an organized manner; angels are flying around; the star is shining a stage light on baby Jesus. Everything is just so pretty. But this is not the picture that we see in our passage today. What we read shows completely the opposite. It was a lonely scene – no one was there to celebrate with them. It says that she wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger – there was no doctor to help or no midwife to wrap this child. It was a painful scene – Jesus had to be placed in a manger (where animals eat from) because there was no other place to lay the baby. Can you imagine putting your newborn in a manger? It’s unthinkable from our standard but this is how Jesus came. The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Creator and Ruler of the universe coming as a small babe – weak, frail, vulnerable, poor, and in need of help all the time. Every detail we have about the birth of Jesus points to weakness, indignity, and poverty. One pastor commented, “If God has the power to move the heart of an emperor in order to accomplish His will, surely, He could have pulled some strings so that Jesus could have a place to lay His head on His first day of earth.” But that wasn’t the case.
Then it leads us to wonder, “Why? If Jesus came to conquer the darkness and destroy all evil, why didn’t He come in power? Why didn’t He come with a host of angels? Why did He come in weakness? Why did He come as a baby?” Because if Jesus came in power to judge and destroy all evil, we would not be here. Jesus coming in weakness was an act of love and grace for us. If you think that’s an exaggeration, then you’re underestimating your sin – the rage you have, the jealousy, the selfishness, the self-centred ambitions, the lust, the pride that’s buried in your hearts. If God was going to exterminate all evil, the whole humanity would be destroyed with it “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The reason why Jesus came weak was so that we may have a way to live – to have life and hope for the future. You see, He didn’t come to rule but to be rejected and killed so that we would be called the children of God. He didn’t come to be crowned but to be cursed so that we would be blessed. He didn’t come to bring judgment but to bear judgment so that His righteousness will be ours. Here, He’s lying on a wooden manger; but later, He’ll be nailed to a wooden cross. In other words, He came weak not only to identify with us but also to take our place in order to accomplish something that we could not do on our own. He came to show us that we can’t save ourselves and that His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than ours. Who would’ve imagined that the Messiah would come in poverty, in frailty to live the life that we couldn’t live, die the death that we should’ve died, and rise from the grave so that those who believe in Him may have life and life to the full? Do you realize how radical this story is? Listen to these passages. 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” And John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It shows just how far He’ll go to save His people; just how much He loves us, how much He’s willing to sacrifice, give up, just so that we can be included in His story.
Then how should we respond to this truth? Three things. First, it should cause us to embrace our own weakness and humbly depend on God. Eric Geiger said, “Many broken cliches have failed to give accurate perspective on weakness. Some church and ministry leaders have preached, ‘God will not give you more than you can handle.’ Actually, He will give you way more than you can handle in your own strength. In His goodness He will allow life to overwhelm you so that you will humbly need His strength and wisdom.” This quote spoke powerfully to me personally because this was something that I’ve been wrestling with. I want to be completely honest with all of you not to make this about me, but to encourage you and empathize with you if this is something that you’re experiencing. I’ll start by saying this: this whole transition has been incredibly overwhelming. At home, I felt like a failure. No matter what I did to love and support Alicia, I felt like it was never good enough (not that she demanded more; this was just how I felt). I found myself being impatient and expressing my anger and frustration more frequently than I wanted to toward Eli who was just adjusting to all the changes that were happening. I felt weak, inadequate as a husband and a father. At church, I felt completely lost. Preaching every Sunday alone was a huge learning curve. I pushed myself to get better but it wasn’t easy with so much pressure on me. I found myself trying to do ministry not to fail – not to disappoint people. I felt weak, inadequate as a pastor. Countless times, I prayed, “God, why did You allow this to happen – all at once, in this way? It’s too hard to carry. How can You leave me here? Don’t you want me to do well for Your glory and for the growth and joy of Your people?” And this week, as I meditated on this passage, I felt like God was saying this, “That’s precisely the reason why I put you in a place of weakness, not strength. If you started this journey from a place of strength, you would not have turned to me. If you succeeded in all that you did, your heart would be filled with pride and arrogance. If you thought you knew how to build this church, you would’ve driven this church to the ground. Just as it was my will to send my Son in weakness in order to bring salvation, your weakness is exactly where I want you to be. Do you trust me?” Then it dawned on me, even though God had intentionally put me in a place of weakness, because I was uncomfortable, miserable, I was doing my best to run away and remove any uncertainty or vulnerability from my life. But here was God telling me, “It’s okay to feel weak. Turn to me. Trust me. I’ll be with you. I’ll help you. I’ll rescue you.” This didn’t mean that I wasn’t going to let go and let God do everything – no, I knew that I’ll be even more faithful and diligent. But I also learned that I’m still in His will even in my weakness, frailty, and vulnerability – He was calling me to depend on Him.
Brothers and sisters, do you feel like you’re in a place of weakness today? Do you feel like a failure? Do you feel completely lost? Do you feel like that at your workplace? Do you feel like that at home in your marriage, parenting? Do you feel this way about your finances, singleness, spiritual life, or anything else in life? But rest assured, your weakness doesn’t mean that you have somehow found yourself to be outside of God’s will. In fact, this is exactly where God wants you to be right now. And He’s inviting you to depend on Him. He will lead us, fill us, shape us, save us in ways that we would have never imagined – but it will be good because His ways are always perfect.
Second, it should cause us to be with those who are weak. We’re called to dwell with sinners – be in a community with others who are weak, imperfect, broken, hurt, and jaded. This will not be easy – it will take great effort and humility to be with them because in their brokenness and weakness, they may sin against us and cause us to sin against them. Yet this is exactly what Christ did for us – He came to dwell with us, sinners – even when He knew we would hurt Him, betray Him, and reject Him. Then we must learn to emulate Christ as we love those around us with patience and kindness even if it costs us greatly.
Lastly, it should cause us to worship Jesus. This story is given not just to move us to depend on Him or inspire us to live like Christ; it’s ultimately given to captivate our hearts to the beauty of Christ so that we would worship Him, praise Him, adore Him.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, the first Christmas was God’s salvation story unfolding in our history in an unexpected way – the Savior King coming as a baby to be placed in a manger – to show us that our salvation will be achieved in an unexpected way – the Savior King dying as a criminal on the cross in our place. The whole gospel story is about what God is doing for us, not what God is asking us to do so that we can be accepted. Then it would be a great tragedy this Christmas for us to enjoy the gifts of family and friends and yet fail to remember and appreciate the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ. He is the reason we celebrate; the reason we rejoice.