The Christmas Story

Luke 1 spoke about the miraculous virginal conception of the peace-child. This miracle brought about, in due time, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the King of the world. Luke writes about this birth in Luke 2. We want to examine seven points from this passage, especially verses 8 through 20.

1. What Is Incarnation?

The late professor John Murray of Westminster Theological Seminary defined incarnation as following:

The incarnation means that he who never began to be in his specific identity as Son of God, began to be what he eternally was not. . . . The infinite became the finite, the eternal and supratemporal entered time and became subject to its conditions, the immutable became the mutable, the invisible became the visible, the Creator became the created, the sustainer of all became dependent, the Almighty infirm. . . [In sum], God became man.

[This incarnation means] the conjunction in one person of all that belongs to Godhead and all that belongs to manhood.¹

J. Oliver Buswell, Jr. says,

The virgin birth was a special miracle wrought by the Third Person of the Trinity, whereby the Second Person of Trinity, the eternal Son of God, took to himself a genuine and complete human nature, and was born as a man, without surrendering in any way his complete divine nature.²

2. The Time and Place of Christ’s Birth

Jesus was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor. It was predicted by prophet Micah that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). In God’s sovereignty, Augustus issued a decree (Gk. dogma) that a census be taken of the whole Roman empire to facilitate the full collection of taxes. In obedience to this dogma, Joseph traveled with the pregnant Mary from Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

Caesar Augustus, the emperor, was in fact serving the newborn King of kings in ordering the census. Born as Gaius Octavian, Augustus was the grand-nephew and later adopted son and designated heir of Julius Caesar. Ruling as emperor from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D., he was acclaimed as the architect of Pax Romana. The famous Myrian inscription speaks of him in this manner: “Divine Augustus Caesar, son of a god, imperator of land and sea, the benefactor and savior of the world.”³ In other words, Augustus was acclaimed as God, Savior, and King.

But Jesus Christ, the infant born in Bethlehem, is infinitely superior to Augustus. He is the true God and Savior, not a pretended one. He is the eternal Lord and King. He was the born King of the world and is the King of kings and Lord of lords. His dominion alone is universal and eternal.

3. Jesus Was Born in a Stable

Christ was born, not in a mansion in Rome or Jerusalem, but in a manger where cattle were kept. As a man, he said, “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Here also there was no place for him in the inn or in a private home to lay down his infant head.

Luke emphasizes manger by referring to it three times. Jesus was probably born in a cave or a cow shed in Bethlehem, the city of his father David. When he was born, Mary wrapped him in strips of worn-out clothes to keep his limbs straight. Ezekiel speaks of the common infant care: “On the day you were born, your cord was not cut nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped with clothes” (Ezek. 16:4). But Mary did all these things for the infant Jesus. She was not assisted by a midwife nor, we suppose, by Joseph himself. But God gave Mary all the grace to do all these things alone.

Therefore, the King of kings, the eternal God, was laid, not in a golden cradle, but in a feeding trough for animals. His parents were very poor, as we read in Luke 2:24, because they could only offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves.

A tradition going back to the second century located the birth of Jesus in a cave. Emperor Constantine erected a basilica in Bethlehem over a likely cave, which has been excavated under the present Church of the Nativity.

4. The Great Birthday Celebration

There was a great celebration at Jesus’ birth, beginning with an announcement, followed by great singing. This celebration took place not in the daytime in Jerusalem in the temple, but in a field in Bethlehem at night. No kings, princes, priests, scribes, Pharisees, nobles, wise, or mighty were invited. Instead, God invited the nothings of the world-in this case, some wretched, despised, unclean, poor shepherds.

These shepherds were considered to be unreliable witnesses. In fact, they were not permitted to give testimony in court. They were considered unclean because they could not keep themselves ceremonially clean as they worked with the sheep. Yet such shepherds, as well as publicans and prostitutes were invited to enter into Christ’s kingdom, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

All sinners who acknowledge they are sinners are invited to Christ’s birthday celebration. The angel of the Lord, therefore, appeared to these shepherds who were keeping their flocks. These sheep were destined for temple sacrifices. But the birth of Jesus would put an end to all such animal sacrifices.

I believe the angel of the Lord in this account was Gabriel. So there was Gabriel and the poor, despised shepherds with their animals. God the Father himself was there, for we are told, “The glory of the Lord shone around them.” This was nothing less than the shekinah glory of God appearing for the birthday celebration of God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The angel proclaimed the gospel to the poor sinners who were deeply afraid. How many people live in deep fear due to their sins! Adam and Eve were afraid because of their guilt. But the gospel drives out all our sin-caused fears. So the angel said, “Stop being afraid because I proclaim to you good news, the gospel of great joy, which shall be to all people, that is, all people of the world” (Luke 2:10, author’s paraphrase). The gospel of great joy is the antidote to the great fear caused by our great sin against our great God.

What is the good news? “Today is born to you a Savior Christ the Lord in the city of David” (italics added). Isaiah prophesied about this: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isa. 9:7, italics added). He is given for us, for our benefit (Heb. lanu). So the angel was declaring, “Today is born to you“-the dative of advantage, meaning for your benefit, for your salvation – “a Savior Christ the Lord in the city of David.” Christ was born for our benefit and for the benefit of the whole world. Jesus is called Savior only twice in all the gospels: in Luke 2:10 and in John 4:42, where he is called the Savior of the world.

Then the angel gave two signs to increase the shepherds’ faith. First, he said, you will see this Savior, Christ the Lord, wrapped and lying in a manger. This Jesus was the only newborn infant who lay in a manger in the city of David, probably surrounded by animals.

Second, they saw and heard the choir of heaven singing. After speaking to the shepherds, angel Gabriel joined an army of angels to sing in worship of this God who was sending his Son to earth to reconcile sinners to himself through his atonement. The angels were singing for the birth of God’s Son. But they also sing continually, daily at the rebirth of sinners. Jesus declared, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). I pray that because of your repentance, heaven will rejoice and the angels will sing even this day. Whenever a sinner comes to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, there is great singing, celebration, and joy in heaven in the presence of angels and of God our heavenly Father.

The angels’ song spoke of the result of Christ’s birth: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace for men of God’s favor” (Luke 2:14). God’s glory was revealed when he sent his eternal Son as an infant to make atonement for the sin of the whole world. Therein lies the glory of God. Jesus would live for God’s glory, fulfilling all God’s law, and he would die for God’s glory. So he declared, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4). When he died on the cross, he said, “Tetelestai – It is finished!” The work of God-the work of redemption-was finished.

I pray we will not forget God the Father, who did not spare his own Son for our salvation. Let us join the celestial beings to give God the glory that is due his name. The angels sang, “On earth peace for all of God’s chosen ones.” Such people will be given grace to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners. If one is not saved, it is because he refuses to acknowledge that he is a sinner. God will never save a person who will not confess that he is a sinner.

But thank God, he does save sinners. And such people will enjoy three-dimensional peace of God. First, they experience peace with God. The war with God is over. All enmity ceased when Jesus dealt with our sins on Calvary’s cross. No longer enemies, we are now friends, yea, children of God. Second, we experience peace with the people of God, especially with those in the church, with whom we are united in the bond of peace. Third, we now have peace within ourselves. True shalom comes to us through Christ’s life and death. Because of our Father’s action, we can enjoy this peace now and for all eternity. So peace is speaking about all the blessings associated with the coming of Jesus Christ into this world.

5. What Is the Gospel?

What is the gospel, the good news of great joy sung about by the angels? It has to do with a person, God’s incarnate Son. (PGM) We think there are many things we have to know, but there is only one thing needful. Do you know the gospel? Do you know Jesus Christ and what he has done? This newborn alone can solve our terrible sin problem.

What is the gospel? Paul says, “[Christ] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). He also writes, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Isaiah declared, “You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout. Lift it up! Do not be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ . . . How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'” (Isa. 40:9-10; 52:7-9).

Our God reigns for us! Therefore, burst into songs of joy together! Isaiah says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor” (Isa. 61:1-2). And in Isaiah 9:4-6 he speaks about the great joy that is going to come to Zion, for the people of God, because of three reasons. First, God is going to break our yoke and bars (Isa. 9:4). Jesus himself said, “Come unto me, all those who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, author’s translation). He has broken our yoke of slavery to sin and Satan. Second, “The war is over” (v. 5). The equipment of war is being burned up because Christ fought the war and won. Third: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” This Son will finish his job.

Our God comes to fight and win. He comes in Jesus, preaching good news to the poor. The gospel reveals the person and work of Christ, who set us free from all shackles and burdens.

6. The Names of Christ

Who is this child born and son given to us? He has many names because it is impossible to comprehend the nature of the eternal Son of God. But let us look at some. Know him well. The more we know him, the more we can rejoice with unending joy.

• He is Emmanuel, “God with us.” John writes, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, author’s translation). He is very God and very man, not a God so transcendent that he does not want to come to us. He came to us in Jesus Christ. He is God down here with us, God who comes to help us in all our troubles. Paul says, “But if Christ is in you . . .” (Rom. 8:10). So he is Emmanuel, God with us, God about us, and more than that, God who has taken up residence in us.
• He is Savior, not only of the poor shepherds but of all the elect sinners of the world. This Savior accomplishes our salvation and applies it to us. God himself was called Savior in the Old Testament (Isa. 45:15, 21). Only God can save us from our sins and he did. Jesus Christ is God and Savior. This infant is God who saves.
• He is Jesus. Interestingly, Gabriel did not tell the shepherds the name Jesus. This was the name given by God his Father. “You shall give him the name Jesus, for he shall save all his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). In him all the families of the earth will be blessed. He saves us from all our sins so we can stand before God without sin and clothed in his divine righteousness. We stand before God in exceeding joy without shame and fear.
• His name is Christ. He is the Spirit-anointed promised deliverer. As the Holy Spirit came upon him, he was anointed and qualified to be the anointed prophet, giving us the true revelation of God. He is truth and speaks truth, and we will find this truth when we open the Bible. We believe in the authority of the Bible. He is also the anointed priest, our great high priest, a priest without sin. And not only is he the perfect priest, but he is also the perfect victim. It was his sacrifice that brought reconciliation to God. He is our propitiation and intercessor. Even now he prays for us in the heavenly places. He is also the anointed king. Being the firstborn of Joseph, he is the legal heir to David’s throne. His kingship is forever. He has universal dominion. “But you, O 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” (Mica 5:2). He is the eternal God became man.
• He is the Lord, Yahweh. In the Old Testament, Yahweh as translated in the Septuagint by the Greek word Kurios, which is applied to Jesus. When we say, “Jesus is Lord,” we mean, “Jesus is God.” Jesus the infant we see lying in a feeding trough in Bethlehem is God himself.
• He is called Wonderful Counselor, meaning he is divine, supernatural counselor (Isa. 9:6). He is God-counselor. The Spirit of counsel will rest upon him. He is a wonderful strategist whose plan will defeat all strategies of his enemies. His plan for our salvation would be successful, including the death of the cross, because he would rise again, having defeated all his enemies. What a wonderful counselor! Paul declares, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Rom. 11:33-36).
• He is Mighty God, that is, he is a warrior God (Isa. 9:6). Woe unto us if this One opposes us, for he always wins. The seed of the woman Mary, he crushes the head of the serpent, defeating the prince of this world and destroying the one who holds the power of death. He came to destroy the devil, our slavemaster, and free us from slavery to sin and Satan. In Exodus 15:3-4 we read, “The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea” (Exod. 15:3-4). And Paul writes, “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col. 2:15). This child is God Almighty, the champion fighter. So go ahead, challenge him! Call him out! He will fight us, and we will lose. Surrender is our only option. Yet losing is also our salvation. May we therefore bow down to him and confess him Lord. The psalmist exhorts, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Ps. 2:12).
• He is the Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6). According to the customs of the Near East, every king was seen as the royal father of the nation. This title reveals that Christ’s paternal care for his royal subjects never ends. It is eternal. “But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name” (Isa. 63:16). The psalmist tells us, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (Ps. 103:13). He cares for his children with a father-like compassion. He never stops loving us, though his love includes divine discipline for our good.
• He is Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6), the prince who defeats all his enemies through war and ushers in everlasting peace. It is not win-win. He wins, and sinners lose. Micah says he is our peace (Micah 5:5). This peace was achieved for us by his death on the cross. So Paul writes, “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace, through his blood shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20). Peace comes at a high cost, and Jesus paid the highest price for our peace. And Isaiah concludes by saying, “Of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isa. 9:7). His government will increase to fill the whole cosmos. That is why, if we do not surrender to him and embrace his government now, we will have no peace now or tomorrow or at the moment of our death. True peace comes to us only through surrender to the Prince of peace.
• He is the Shepherd (Micah 5:4): “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD. . . . And they will dwell securely.” He is the shepherd who will care for his flock, as we read in Ezekiel 34. There we are promised that God will shepherd us himself, and he is doing it in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd,” and then he says he will do what no other shepherd has ever done in the history of the world: “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). He will be with us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death and will bring us to dwell with God forever. Believers will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. But those who never believed in Jesus Christ will walk through the valley of death. That is why we must ask you: Do you believe this gospel the angel proclaimed and sang in God’s glorious presence, in the hearing of the poor shepherds-the gospel regarding Jesus and his saving work?

7. The Faith of the Shepherds

The shepherds believed what the Lord declared through the angelic host. Leaving their sheep in God’s care, they hastened to Bethlehem in search of Jesus. The Lord promises, “You . . . will find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13). These shepherds sought Christ with all their heart, and they found him, lying in a manger. Then they preached the gospel to Mary and Joseph and others, telling them what the angels had said: “Born today in Bethlehem in a manger a Savior for us, Christ the Lord.”

What was the reaction of King Herod to the news of the baby’s birth? He was troubled (Matt. 2:3), and along with him, all Jerusalem was also troubled. In fact, Herod wanted to kill Jesus. That is the attitude of many people today also, though no one can kill God. Others were amazed at the news. Yet mere amazement is not faith.

But Mary treasured and pondered the gospel in her heart. She meditated on it to discover the full meaning, and she discovered it. This son in the manger would be her Savior, her Christ, and her Lord. Salvation had come to the house of Joseph, as it would later come to the house of the publican Zacchaeus.

The shepherds believed and returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God. The gospel gives great joy to all who believe-joy in the Holy Spirit. They praised God for honoring them in this way. These lowly shepherds were nothing in the eyes of the world, yet God’s favor rested on them. They were chosen from the foundation of the world and on them God lavished his grace.

What can we do for such gospel salvation? Grace to us brings praise to God, a praise that is unceasing. That is why we worship God.

Conclusion

We must understand who Jesus is. Do not sympathize with this infant lying in the manger. Later on, he himself would say, “Do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children” (Luke 23:28). Friends, we either believe the gospel or do not believe it. We either surrender to this mighty God or we do not. We must treasure and ponder the gospel, or not. And we will either rejoice exceedingly, or live in the gloom of divine wrath, depending on whether we honor God’s Son by repentance and faith, or dishonor him through unbelief.

Let us be like the shepherds. Let us believe the gospel and praise God for his great salvation. Let us say, “Come, Lord Jesus. Live in me as Lord and Savior forever. Let us join with the songwriter: “You ask me how I know he lives; He lives within my heart.'”

May we therefore come as empty vessels and ask the Lord to fill us with himself and with his grace. May we live for his glory from this day forward. A child has been born to us, a son has been given to us to bless us, and we are truly blessed.

¹ John Murray, Collected Writings of John Murray: Volume Two, Select Lectures in Systematic Theology (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1977), 132, 133.

² Oliver J. Buswell Jr., “The Virgin Birth of Christ” in Baker’s Dictionary of Theology, edited by Everett F. Harrison et al (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1982), 543-544.

³ Joel B. Green, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 125.