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Luke chapters 1 & 2
Scene 1 | The Census
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered… So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.” ~Luke 2:1-3
Over 700 hundred years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem the prophet Micah foretold this event saying:
“Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.”
~ Micah 5:2
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If a major event was foretold hundreds of years before it happened would that pique your curiosity? If you could look into it and discover the truth about it, would you?
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The census was one of the things God used to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in order that the prophecy would be fulfilled. Check it out for yourself.
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Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman Empire from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. It was he that began this census.
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“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.”
~Luke 2:1-3
Scene 2 | The Announcement
" She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” ~Matthew 1:21
This is a big deal: God became one of us in the person of Jesus to save us from our sin. All of us have sin. Sin is anything we think, say or do that disobeys God. We were created to have a relationship with God. But sin separates us from God. God loves us, and sent His Son to restore the relationship we broke.
That’s why Jesus came to save us from our sin. The Bible tells us that the cost for sin is death (Romans 3:23) and Jesus died in our place. He was actually punished and put to death for the bad things we have done, all our sins. Here’s more great news He defeated death and rose from the grave. Did you know all you have to do is trust in Him? We need to agree with God that we are sinners and accept that Jesus died in our place and rose again.
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“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God."
~John 3:16-18
"God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee,  to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.  When the angel came to her, he said, 'Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!'   She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  The angel said, 'Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you.  Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great, and He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.  He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.'”
~ Luke 1:26-33
Scene 3 | Traveling to Bethlehem
“And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem…" ~Luke 2:4
The prophecy about Jesus birth was fulfilled in this way according to Luke’s historical account:
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“And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.”
~ Luke 2:4-5
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What a trek that would have been…over 70 miles through mountainous terrain while Mary was with child.
Scene 4 | The Inn
"While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." ~Luke 2:6-7
In Philippians 2:6-8, the Apostle Paul wrote this about Christ Jesus:
"Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!"
What an amazing plan! The humble King, the approachable Jesus is the Savior of the world and our only hope.
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We are all in the same boat. We are all sinners and what we earn by sinning is death, eternal separation from God. But great news, Jesus died in our place. Trusting in his death for our salvation means eternal life with Him which is the gift of Christmas.
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"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
~Romans 3:23
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"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
~Romans 6:23
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Scene 5 | The Wisemen
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.” ~ Matthew 2:1
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'”
~ Matthew 2:1-2
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This great gift came for all people from powerful wisemen to humble shepherds. The wisemen saw the value of this great gift and followed a star as they traveled a great distance to see Christ and offer their own gifts.
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Scene 6 | The Shepherds
"In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified." ~Luke 2:8-9
What a beautiful Christmas story as the angels came to shepherds to tell of this great gift that a Savior has come to save the world. But this story is not over as the gift of salvation is avaliable to me and to you, and certainly why we should celebrate this Christmas!
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"In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.'
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Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
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Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people He favors!
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When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'
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They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told."
~ Luke 2:8-20
