Sermon Notes for Luke 2:1-20, Christmas Day
1. Luke chapter 2 and Matthew 1-2 tell us all that we know of
the life of Jesus until the time of His public ministry when
He was thirty years old. The Gospels are not biographies
but they do tell us enough to know who Jesus is and what He
has done for us.
2. Without his own knowledge and will Caesar Augustus, the
Roman Emperor, arranged the conditions for Jesus' birth.
The providence of God rules all the affairs of men so that
His name is hallowed, His kingdom comes among men and His
will is done now and forever.
3. That Jesus would be born of a virgin was foretold at Isaiah
7:14. That He would be born in Bethlehem was foretold at
Micah 5:2. And that He would be called "Jesus" was foretold
by the angel at Matthew 1:21. Jesus Christ is the central
fulfillment of the Old Testament.
4. Although Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married, from
Matthew 1:25 we learn that they did not live together as man
and wife until Jesus had been born.
5. Jesus was the firstborn child of Mary and Joseph. That
neither asserts nor denies that Jesus had sisters and
brothers from Mary and Joseph. But the virgin birth of
Jesus applies only to His conception and birth. The Bible
does not say that she remained to be a virgin after Jesus'
birth. Very likely she and Joseph had more children after
Jesus' birth. His brothers and sisters are mentioned
repeatedly in the Gospels. Cf. Matthew 13:55-56. Jesus was
not conceived by human father but by the Holy Ghost, Luke
1:35, so that He would not be conceived and born in sin.
The Bible does not say that Jesus' birth was abnormal. Very
likely He was born in the usual way.
6. When the angels appeared to the shepherds the shepherds
became afraid. The angel said; "Fear not." About eighty
times in the Old Testament and the New Testament God and His
messengers say to fearful people: "Fear not." And in all
cases a reason for not fearing is given immediately. Here
the angel says: "Because I bring you good news." Once on
the Sea of Galilee Jesus said to His disciples: "Fear not,
it is I." God never merely says: "Do not be afraid." He
always tells us why we should not be afraid.
7. In this chapter we are told that the angels praised God for
what He had done, verse 13, and the shepherds praised God
for all the things which they had heard and seen. The hosts
of heaven and earth rejoice and praise God for the gift of
His Son, Jesus Christ. And in heaven the angels and
redeemed sinners will praise God forever. For example, see
Revelations 5:11-12.
8. Many Christmas hymns in the church are based on the account
in Luke 1-2. Furthermore, Luke gives us the four great
Canticles: Mary's Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55, which is
commonly sung in the Vesper Service; the Benedictus Luke
1:68-79, which is commonly sung in the Matins Service; the
Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory Be To God on High), which is
commonly sung every Sunday; and the Nunc Dimittis (Lord, now
let your servant depart), Luke 2:29-32, which is commonly
sung in the Vesper Service. The shortest of these is the
Gloria, Luke 2:14, but it is rightly sung the most often.
It is our text for today.
9. The angels rejoiced when God created the world, Job 38:7,
when Christ was born, Luke 2:13-14, and still do when one
sinner repents of his sin, Luke 15:7-10. The angels rejoice
over creation, redemption and sanctification. We should
remember that when we confess either the Apostles or the
Nicene Creeds.
10. Jesus became poor so that we might be rich. II Corinthians
8:9. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.
Philippians 2:6-7. He came to serve us. Mark 10:45. He
still serves us. Matthew 28:20. He will still serve us in
heaven. Luke 12:37. What a wonderful Savior He is! What a
wonderful example He is! If I wish to be first in the
kingdom, I must become like Jesus, last, servant of all.
Matthew 20:26-28. The work of the church is to preach the
Gospel and to serve mankind, as did Jesus.
Sermon Outline for Luke 2:1-20, Christmas Day
Theme: THE ANGEL'S SONG LEADS US FROM FEAR TO JOY
Introduction: Great musicians like Bach, Handel and Mozart have
written arias and oratorios on the basis of Luke
2:14. Many Christmas hymns are based on this
text. Our text is a great turning point in
history. The world sat in darkness, sin and
fear.
But God appeared in the person of a baby. That
baby was true God, revealing the glory, peace and
good will of God. After each musical composition
J. S. Bach would write S. D. G. "Soli Deo Gloria"
"To God Alone be the Glory." And each Sunday
morning we sing: "Glory to God on High." This
song introduces Jesus Christ who revealed God's
glory, peace and good will. It is the great song
of angels and Christians.
I GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
The word "glory" occurs over 400 times in the Old Testament.
It denotes God's awesome splendor and holiness. He is the
God or King of Glory. Psalm 24:7ff; 29:3. Sinful man could
not behold this glorious God. Moses feared when God
appeared in glory. But in the New Testament "glory" is used
in association with God's visible revelation of Himself to
man. When the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds
they were afraid. Luke 2:9. But he said: "Fear not for I
bring you good news." The revelation of glory made them
unafraid. By faith we look forward to the glorious
appearance of the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who
gave Himself in our stead. Titus 2:13. When God became
man, man believed in his glory although he could not yet see
it. John 1:14 says "We beheld His glory." II Peter 1:16
says "We were eye-witnesses of His glory." They saw Him
transfigured, Luke 9:31-32, revealing the glory of God. We
see God's glory in Jesus' miracles. John 2:11; 11:40.
Jesus and the Father glorified each other when Jesus died
and rose for us. John 13:31-32. "Glory to God in the
Highest" means that Jesus is my Savior. Now His is the
glory. Galatians 1:5; Hebrews 13:21. When we die we shall
be glorified. Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:21; I Corinthians
15:43.
II ON EARTH THERE IS PEACE
When man fell into sin there was no peace between man and
God and no peace among men. Sinful man is dead in his sins
but he is worse than dead because he is at war with God and
with man. Man causes wars and rumors of wars. But Jesus
says: "Do not be shaken, for these things must be, but the
end is not yet." Matthew 24:6. Awful things will happen.
But our text says: "Fear not. There is peace on earth."
This is not a state or a condition. Of course, God wills
peace for the whole creation. I Corinthians 14:33. But
when you have the peace of God you may have strife with your
relatives who are not Christians. Read Matthew 10:34-36.
But even then you can have peace with God. He says: "My
peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the
world gives I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled
nor let it be afraid." John 14:27. "I have said these
things to you so that in Me you have peace. In this world
you have tribulation. But be cheerful, I have overcome the
world." John 16:33. Though we were dead in sins, He made
us alive, forgiving us all our sins. He wiped out the
handwriting against us. He nailed our sins to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-15. Christ Jesus is our peace. Ephesians
2:14. He is the king of peace. Hebrews 7:2. His gospel is
the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15. The peace of God,
Christ's gift, protects us. Philippians 4:7. Justified by
faith, we now have peace with God through Christ. Romans
5:1.
III THERE IS GOD'S GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN
This is the proper translation, not "to men of good will."
Because of God's good will, the Son is hidden to the wise
but revealed to the babes. Luke 10:21. The arrogant world
does not know the Son. The repentant sinner does know the
Son. The word "good will" occurs at Ephesians 1:5-9. Read
all of Ephesians 1:3-14 with special emphasis on verses 5
and 9. Why did you become a Christian? Because of a
decision? No, no. But only because of the good pleasure of
God's saving will in Christ Jesus. Because of His good
saving pleasure God chose you in Christ Jesus to save you
eternally.
Conclusion: Praise God for the baby Jesus. He brings peace and
God's pleasure.
Sermon Notes on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23, I Christmas
1. The text dwells on the flight to and return from Egypt.
Therefore, verses 16-18 have been omitted.
2. Three times we are told that the angel of the Lord appeared
to Joseph in a dream (1:20; 2:13; 2:19). In all three cases
these words are introduced by "Behold." This is like
saying: "Note this." It calls our attention to an
important item. It demanded faith in God's Word to be as
obedient as was Joseph in each case. He did not argue. He
acted.
3. King Herod was a very cruel man. He ordered the death of
all babies two years and younger around Bethlehem. God
rescued the baby Jesus from cruel Herod. After Herod died,
Archelaus his son became ruler over Judea. He was as cruel,
if not crueler, than his father Herod. God rescued the baby
Jesus from cruel Archelaus. Already when Jesus was a baby,
Satan and his allies were pursuing Jesus. But God delivered
His Son from all His enemies.
4. Some Bible scholars think that Matthew 2:15 is a second
fulfillment of Hosea 11:1. They think that Hosea 11:1
refers first to Israel coming out of Egypt and only secondly
to Jesus Christ. We think that Matthew 2:15 is a direct
fulfillment of Hosea 11:1 and does not refer to Israel in
the Old Testament.
5. Verse 23 says that the prophets foretold that Jesus would be
called a Nazarene. It says "prophets" not "prophet."
Therefore Matthew must be referring to more than one
prophecy. But there is no passage in the Old Testament
which says: "He will be called a Nazarene." How do we
solve this? The Hebrew word for "branch" is "nazar."
Perhaps from this word the word "Nazarene" was derived.
Jesus was later known as "the Nazarene" sometimes in
derision, sometimes by way of complement. Cf. Matthew
26:71; John 18:5-7; 19:19; Acts 2:22; 3:6; 4:10; 6:14; 22:8;
24:5; 26:9. And even Pilate used this name to identify
Jesus in the superscription on the cross. Very likely it
means that Jesus would be of lowly birth and from a small
despised town. The Old Testament often depicts the Savior
as a despised man. Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 49:7; 53:3.
6. When Jesus was a baby He became a fugitive. Because of the
sins of people He had to flee several times. Like Jesus,
His children are pilgrims and strangers in this world.
Hebrews 11:13.
7. The Psalms are full of prayers for the Lord's guidance:
5:8: "Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my
enemies. Make Your way straight before my face." 25:5:
"Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of
my salvation. On you I wait all the day." 27:11: "Teach
me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because
of my enemies." 31:3: "You are my rock and my fortress;
therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me."
43:3: "Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them
lead me." 61:2: "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to
the rock that is higher than I." 139:23-24: "Search me, O
God, and know my heart, try me, and know my anxieties, and
see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting." 143:10: "Teach me to do Your will, for You
are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of
uprightness."
8. The word "dream" appears four times in Matthew 1 and 2. At
1:20 Joseph is told not to fear but should take Mary his
wife. At 2:13 he is told to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
At 2:19 he is told to return to Israel. At 2:22, when
Joseph feared, he was told to go to Galilee. The prayers
for guidance in the Psalms are the prayers of David, of the
Messiah (see Luke 24:27), and of every Christian. The Lord
leads His children when they are afraid and even when they
do not see danger ahead.
9. God used dreams to warn Joseph and the wise men (2:12).
Note that the dreams are based on the Word of God (1:23;
2:15 and 2:23). Joseph and the wisemen did not have the
Bible as we have it today. Now we are directed to the
message of His Son in the Scriptures (Hebrews 1:1-2). He
Himself said: "Search the Scriptures." John 5:39. God has
not promised to appear to us in dreams. He may choose to do
so but He has not promised that He will.
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