The Birth of The King

of all time is a Frank Capra film called It's a Wonderful Life. Anybody see it?

Now there are several scenes in It's a Wonderful Life that are just really powerful and every time

I see it I get choked up. So you know there's the scene where everything is falling apart for George

Bailey and he gets mad with his kids. You know that whole scene where he yells and runs upstairs

and kind of lays into Zuzu's teacher, that whole thing. I could see myself in George Bailey. I'm

wondering if you can too. And then there's the whole scene at the end where George Bailey, second

least on life, he comes home, we're going to deal with the consequences and he's met by grace, met by

love. Room full of people. But the scene that chokes me up the most is this one. Mr. Gower,

the pharmacist, gets a telegram. His son's been killed in action. He's trying to drink away

his sorrows. And as he's drinking he fills a prescription and he fills it wrongly. He actually

puts poison in that jar. The young George Bailey sees it all. And when Mr. Gower gives the pills

to George to deliver, George doesn't deliver it. He comes back to the shop. Mr. Gower gets

a phone call. Why didn't they get their pills? Do you remember the scene? Mr. Gower yells.

He slaps George upside the head. Gives him a permanent deafness in his right ear. Remember that?

The young George Bailey whimpering, crying, saying, I know you didn't mean to do this. I know you

didn't mean to do this. I know you didn't mean to poison this. And there's that scene where he

undoes the lid, tests it, and his countenance changes. He knows what he's done. And he knows

that this boy has just rescued. This boy has just intervened. Well, these scenes are well-acted,

aren't they? And so you're watching and you're believing it, right? You're affected by it. You can

identify with it. They're powerful scenes. And these scenes from It's a Wonderful Life,

they affect us, don't they? But here's the deal. And at the risk of popping a sentimental bubble,

It's a Wonderful Life, actually did not happen. It's just a movie. It's a moving movie. Bedford

Falls was actually Seneca Falls, New York. The screenplay was based on a short story that was

first written on a Christmas card. Moving it is. But it never really happened. This morning,

I want to show you a few scenes from a story that actually happened. The real account of the

birth of Christ our King. And these scenes that you're going to see this morning

are to have an effect on us. So would you turn in your Bible to Luke chapter 2? I'm going to read

Luke 2 · chapter mention

verses 1 through 21. And then I'm going to walk you through it. So let's hear God's Word together.

In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered,

each to his own town. And Joseph also went to his town, went up from Galilee and 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 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were

there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him

in a swaddling cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and

they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news

of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David

David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped

in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was the angel, with the angel, a

multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth.

Peace among those with whom he is pleased. When the angels went away from them into heaven,

and 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. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph

and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told

them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary

treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and

praising God for all that they had heard and seen as it had been told them. Verse 21, and at the end of

eight days when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived

in the womb. This is not make-believe. This is not a Hollywood production. This isn't the creation of

someone's mind. It actually happened. There really was a baby miraculously conceived in a

virgin. And born in an animal stall. Who is Christ the King. The birth of this baby was announced by

angels. Three titles. Savior Christ and Lord. This baby was fully God and fully man. As Odd Thomas just said,

the only theanthropic one. Theos God. Anthropos man. There's only one. His name is Jesus.

He's alive and he's reigning. So there's six scenes I want you to see in this passage.

We start in Rome. Then we find ourselves on a dusty road. Then we find ourselves in an animal stall.

And from there we go to a field outside of Bethlehem. Then back to the animal stall. And then the last

scene is eight days later. You ready? Let's go to Rome. Luke chapter 2 verses 1 through 3.

Luke 2:1–3

Luke begins the birth of Jesus' birth in Rome. He starts with a decree that went out from

Caesar Augustus. Caesar Augustus was the first Caesar under which the Roman Empire began to worship

its Caesar's. Caesar's as gods. A savior of sorts. And Luke begins by pointing us to who is in charge of the

known world? Humanly speaking. It was Caesar Augustus. It was Caesar Augustus who ushered in the Pax Romana,

the peace of Rome. An extended time of peace for the Roman Empire. But don't be mistaken.

This peace was a peace by force. A peace under threat. As if Romans, there was a common understanding.

Hey, don't rock the boat and everybody will be happy.

But if you rock the boat, you will find a Roman legion on your front doorstep before you can say Pax Romana.

So look at what Caesar does. He issues a decree that everyone in the Roman Empire must register.

Register for what? Probably a tax. It takes money to run an empire.

And in order to register, everybody must go to their place of birth.

And so in verse 3, everybody goes.

Caesar speaks. Everybody listens.

Everybody obeys.

He issues a decree and everybody obeys.

Caesar exerted some kind of power, didn't he?

It's impressive.

It's impressive.

He issues a decree. It's obeyed.

And one is left that he is in charge.

What he says goes.

Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem as a result.

Because Joseph is a descendant of David.

Which means Bethlehem was his hometown.

But we know there's more to this than meets the eye.

There's someone greater than Caesar who's orchestrating all these events in order to carry out his purpose for the fullness of time.

What was to happen in Bethlehem would be of cosmic and eternal proportions.

All heaven has been waiting, anticipating the birth of the Christ.

Let me just read you the prophecy I read earlier.

700 years earlier.

Micah 5.2.

It speaks of where the Messiah would be born.

The long-awaited king.

And then it also says something about who this king is.

But to you, O Bethlehem, Epapha,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.

Messiah. King.

Whose origin is from of old.

From ancient days.

The one to be born in Bethlehem would be a king.

And not any king.

This is actually the ancient of days being born.

God in the flesh.

Emmanuel.

There's someone greater than Caesar orchestrating these events in Luke chapter 2, 1 through 3.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

What God had said 700 years earlier,

He is bringing it to pass.

So scene 1 begins in Rome with a guy claiming to be a God,

a savior of source, who ushers in a kind of peace.

He's issued a decree,

but we know that it's actually God at work.

God's in charge.

Caesar is fulfilling God's purposes.

And the God who was reigning over the nations back then,

is reigning over the nations today.

Same God.

So we move to scene 2.

Verses 4 and 5 of Dusty Road.

Joseph and Mary are on their way.

They are heeding Caesar's decree,

who we actually know is God's will.

God is getting something done.

So remember,

Mary conceived this child in Nazareth.

And Nazareth is in the northern part of Israel.

And Micah 5, 2 says,

the Messiah needs to be born in Bethlehem,

which is due south.

About 60, 70 miles south.

And so this decree by Caesar is actually God's means

by which he's getting this 14-year-old pregnant girl

from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill Micah 5, 2.

Is that amazing?

Well, as the crow flies,

it would have been 60, 70 miles.

But we learn from John 4,

Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans.

And in order for Mary and Joseph to go straight down,

they'd have to go through Samaria.

So they probably took kind of a route that started south

and they went around Samaria and back through to Bethlehem.

So it was probably 80 or 90 miles all said and done.

Now, imagine.

Guys, this is going to be more difficult to imagine for you.

Ladies, this might be a little easier for you.

Imagine a 14-year-old girl who is nine months pregnant

without her mother,

having to travel 80 to 90 miles,

either by foot or on donkey.

It would have been very uncomfortable,

to say the least, don't you think?

Physically uncomfortable,

emotionally uncomfortable.

Can this baby be coming today

on this road?

What you need to see is that this 80 to 90 mile journey

was God's sovereign plan

being worked out step by step.

According to Caesar's decree,

they're going to go register for a tax.

According to God's decree,

they're going to fulfill Micah 5-2.

The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

God's making it clear

that this baby boy

is going to be of the line of David.

Fulfilling the promise of 2 Samuel 7

in which God promises to David,

you'll always have someone on the throne.

You're going to have one day a forever king

reigning forever on your throne.

So this 80 to 90 mile journey

on a dry and dusty road,

it's essential.

It's an essential part of God's plan

for the fullness of time.

God's in charge.

He's bringing it to pass.

He's bringing to pass

His plan of salvation for all people.

Scene 3.

Scene 3.

Scene 3.

We get to an animal stall.

And when we get there,

we're hearing a baby crying.

Joseph and Mary

arrived safely in Bethlehem.

This is verses 6 and 7.

But it turns out when they arrive,

a lot of other people have showed up

because they've got a register too.

And so there's no open rooms at the inn.

Apparently there was just

one inn in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was not a big town at all.

Now imagine with me,

here is a modern interpretation

of this event.

Joseph and Mary

pull up into Bethlehem

in his well-used F-150

because he is a carpenter.

They pull up into Bethlehem

and they see the neon light

above the only inn in Bethlehem.

And it's called

the Bethleh Inn.

Do you see it?

And as they pull up,

they're both looking at the vacancy sign

in neon.

And as they pull up,

there is vacancy.

And as soon as Joseph puts it in park,

guess what turns on?

No vacancy.

Their hearts would have dropped

when they heard the news.

Imagine,

she's nine months pregnant.

They show up,

there's no place to say.

Mary's thinking,

where am I going to have this baby?

Joseph's thinking,

where's she going to have this baby?

Nobody seems to care.

So Joseph and Mary

are left to make the most

of what's available to them.

And so they

probably settle down

in some kind of animal stall

or cave

that's connected to this inn.

It would have been

very rough.

Stale hay.

Dirty animals.

It would have been

smelly.

And then the time

came for Mary

to deliver this baby.

And remember,

she's 14

and her mom's not there.

It would have been tough.

I mean, seriously,

Joseph is there.

Joseph is there.

And with the baby,

a new smell

enters the stable.

There's the stale hay.

There's the dirty animals.

And now the smell of birth.

This was very surreal.

Our king was born

in the humblest of places.

He was not born

into prestige,

power,

or privilege

like Caesar.

Our king was born

to a peasant

in an animal stall.

When Christ was born,

he in no way

ceased to be God.

Rather,

it was the eternal God

who took on human flesh

what he did give up

was the glory

that was his in heaven.

He made himself nothing.

He went from

the glories of heaven

surrounded by angels

singing his praises

to stale hay

in a stable

surrounded by

lowing animals.

It was quite a change of venue.

He made himself nothing.

He became one of us.

Why?

So that he

can identify with us

in every way

yet without sin.

He understands.

He's walked in our shoes.

God became a man.

God.

What happened

in this animal stall

in one sense

was very ordinary.

But it was also

extraordinary.

Because the eternal God

for the first time

took on human flesh.

We sing this song,

O come all ye faithful

at Christmas time.

And it's got this line,

very God

begotten,

not created.

And we're singing

about Jesus.

Very God.

He's God.

Begotten,

not created.

What's being said there

when we sing that

is this.

This child is fully God

and fully man,

born of a virgin.

But when Jesus was born,

it's not as if

the second person

of the Trinity

came into existence

at that moment.

He already existed.

What we're singing about

when we say

very God begotten,

not created,

it is that

the second person

of the Trinity

is taking on

for the first time

flesh.

This is unbelievable.

Begotten,

not created.

God became a man.

He took on flesh

in order to be

our Savior.

So what we see happening

in scene three

is that the birth

of Christ

took place

in the humblest

of circumstances.

Which stands

in stark contrast

to what's going on

in Rome.

The King of Kings

and the Lord of Lords

was born

in a very humble

little town

of Bethlehem.

And God's Word

was fulfilled.

Micah 5.2

Fulfilled

as God said it would be.

The Ancient of Days

had been born

that day.

Scene 4.

This is verses

8-14.

A field outside

of Bethlehem.

It's a dramatic

change of scenes.

We move from

an animal stall

to an open field.

Shepherds

are tending their flock.

It's evening.

Now,

if you were to rank

a shepherd

in social standing

at that time,

they would have come

in a click

above lepers.

They were despised

and looked down

upon because

of their occupation.

They were seen

as perpetually unclean

because they were

always with animals.

So it's very important

to note

that when the

angel of the Lord

comes to announce

the birth of Christ

the Messiah,

he appears

to shepherds.

nobody's.

But God knows

and loves

nobody's.

God is interested

in the most

ordinary of people.

Like you

and like me.

It was nighttime

so it would have

been dark.

The angel of the Lord

appears and the glory

of the Lord

shone around them.

The shepherds,

verse 9,

were terrified.

They didn't know

what's happening.

This came out

of nowhere.

They were overwhelmed.

What's going to

happen to us?

The angel's quick

to comfort.

Fear not.

Fear not.

This angel hadn't

come to warn

or destroy.

This angel came

to announce

something wonderful.

good news.

Read to me

verse 10.

The angel

speaking to the

shepherds.

Fear not

for behold

I bring you

good news

of great joy

that will be

for all the people.

Good news.

Great joy

for all the people.

It literally

reads like this.

Fear not

for behold

I am good

newsing you

with great joy

for all people.

the Greek word

is

evangelizomai.

It's the word

we get

the word

from which

we get

evangelize.

It's like

the angel

is saying

hey I am

evangelizing you

with great joy

for all people.

I'm good

newsing you guys.

I'm

gospelizing you.

the angel

has appeared

to proclaim

good news

and what

is that

good news?

What is

at the heart

of this

announcement

of good news

for all people?

What is it?

Who is it?

It's all about

this baby.

Look at verse 11.

The angel

says

for

he's going to

point to the

content of the

good news.

For unto you

is born

this day

in the city

of David

a Savior

who is

Christ

the Lord.

In a very

short span

this angel

announces

the good news

and it has to do

with this

baby

and he gives

him three

titles.

Savior

Christ

Lord

Savior

this baby

is a rescuer.

As God

in the flesh

he would

rescue a people

from the

oppression

and tyranny

of sin

death

and the devil.

That's what this

little baby is going to do.

Christ

or King

this baby

is the long

awaited Messiah

the long

awaited King

of David

God

in the flesh

ancient of days

here today

the descendant of David

who would reign forever

on David's throne

this is the one

he is the King

of Kings

lying in that name.

he is the Lord

there is coming

a day

in which every

knee shall bow

and every tongue

confess

that this baby

is Lord

of all

master

of all

you know

the

in Matthew's account

the wise men

got it right

remember

they

bowed

before this baby

at the heart

of the gospel

is not a math

equation

at the heart

of the gospel

is a person

it's all about

Jesus

Savior

Christ

Lord

Emmanuel

Paul talked

about it this way

Colossians 1

28

Him

we proclaim

and that's

exactly what

this angel

is doing

this angel

is proclaiming

Christ

Jesus

is the

Christ

the gospel

is all about

the person

work of

Jesus Christ

there's more

going on here

notice that this

good news

about Jesus

brings great joy

for those who

receive it

it's the great

joy of salvation

those who would

put their faith

in this baby

and trust him

they would

experience the joy

of rescue

the joy of

redemption

the joy of

adoption

salvation

and this great

joy can be found

in no one

else but

Jesus

salvation is

found in no

one nowhere

else other

than Jesus

no other name

under heaven

by which man

can be saved

Jesus is that

name

this great joy

of salvation

found in Christ

is for all

people

Jesus

is the Savior

the King

the Lord

of all

nations

and he's

gathering for

himself a

people from

every tribe

tongue and

nation

a people that

see him for

who he is

and joyfully

turn from sin

and joyfully

trust in him

alone

for salvation

well let's go

back to the

field

the angel

says in

verse 12

hey go see

for yourself

I'm not

making this

up

this baby

which I'm

telling you

about

you can

go see

right now

he's wrapped

in swaddling

clothes

lying in a

feeding trough

at the

Bethlehem

in

if that had

not been

enough

look at

verses 13

and 14

the angel

of the Lord

that brought

this good

news

is then

joined by

a multitude

of heavenly

hosts

don't think

barbershop

quartet

of angels

we're not

singing glory

to God

in the highest

here in

four part

harmony

what's going

on here

is all

of the

heavenly

host

has

emptied

heaven

to

declare

and mark

this day

this is

monumental

this is

historic

for the

fullness of

time had

come

when God

sent his

son born

of a woman

born under

the law

to redeem

those who

were under

the law

what the

angels knew

and what they

were singing

about

is that

this baby

is bringing

with him

a cosmic

eternal

change

they sing

glory to

God in

the highest

and on

earth

peace among

those whom

God is

pleased

they're saying

praise God

for his

glorious plan

of salvation

that brings

real peace

to real

sinners

praise God

for all

who willfully

bow their

knee and

experience

fullness of

peace

a full

and lasting

peace

not by

threat

but a

peace

by grace

the

Savior is

God's

gift to

sinners

and the

angels knew

it

they knew

that God

is changing

the course

of eternity

with this

baby

and they

glorify

God for

it

now

Jesus

wasn't

born so

that we

can have

a holiday

Jesus

wasn't

born

so that

you can

get out

of school

Jesus

wasn't

born so

that we

can boost

our economy

with all

sorts of

purchases

Jesus

was born

in order to

rescue sinners

from their

sins

that's why

he was

born

scene for

this baby

born

and it's

marked with

this angelic

host singing

God's praises

the first

Christmas

day

it's historic

God

has arrived

on the

scene

as a

man

right

according

to

plan

scene

five

back to

the animal

stall

at the

Bethlehem

Shepherds

are breathing

heavy

because

verse 16

they run

there

they're

obeying

what the

angel told

them to

do

go check

it out

and so

they go

and check

it out

they're

very aware

that God

has revealed

this to

them

they're

very aware

that this

is monumental

they arrive

at the

animal stall

and find

the baby

in the

manger

just as

the angel

said

and still

trying to

catch their

breath

they're just

saying to

anybody who

would listen

what the

angel had

made known

to them

what is that

that this

baby is

descended of

David

and he is

savior

he's the

Christ

he is the

Lord

this is

the Messiah

what I want

you to see

here is this

the response

verse 18

they wonder

verse 19

Mary

treasure

verse 19

again

Mary

pondered

verse 20

these

shepherds

go back

to their

fields

glorifying

and praising

God

it's a

worshipful

response

to this

news

this

newborn

king

brings

about

worship

in our

hearts

for who

he is

so what

should

characterize

your heart

this

Christmas

worship

wonder

that God

would become

a man

treasure

that God

became a

man to

save you

ponder

that this

was God's

plan from

before the

foundation of

the world

it's huge

glorify

and praise

rejoice

that this

Christmas

God has

revealed himself

to you

and that you

have bowed

your knee

to him

the king

of kings

and if you

haven't bowed

your knee

to him

what a

great

Christmas

it would

be if

you did

if you're

not a

Christian

would you

receive the

greatest gift

ever given

would you

receive

salvation

in Christ

by faith

alone

you just

need to

say I'll

take it

scene five

we see this

worshipful

response

scene six

eight days

later

were finally

told this

baby's name

Jesus

Joseph and

Mary had

obeyed what

the angel

had told

Mary to

name this

child

Jesus

literally

means

Savior

Jesus the

Savior

Jesus the

Christ

Jesus the

Lord

and just

in case

you've

forgotten

Jesus is

no longer

lying in

the manger

he lived a

sinless life

he died on

the cross

for sinners

like you

and me

he was

raised on

the third

day defeating

sin death

and the

devil and

he's ascended

into heaven

where he sits

at the right

hand of the

father awaiting

the day in

which he

returns and

when he comes

back you know

what he's

bringing with

him fullness

of justice

completeness

of peace

he wipes

out all

leukemia

no more

war

no more

tornado

tsunamis

cleans it

up

this baby

whose birth

we celebrate

this Wednesday

he would be

great

because he's

the great

I am

six scenes

of a real

story

not produced

by Hollywood

this is God's

plan

and our

response

is worship

the birth of

Christ our

King has

changed everything

so we

with the

angel

proclaim Jesus

as Savior

King

Lord

and we say

glory to God

in the highest

and peace on

earth to all

men who bow

their knee to

him

Merry Christmas

let's pray

thank you

for the

canát

see you

here

in the highest

game

what

said

y

a

kind