SLBS Christmas: The Presence of Love

The past two studies have focused on the possibilities that God had shared with His people: His messages through the prophets of the birth of the Messiah that would one day bring peace to the world, and His message through an angel that Mary was the chosen one who would deliver God’s promise of hope––the birth of His own Son––to all mankind. This third study focuses on the actual story of the Messiah’s birth, as told in the gospel of Luke. The circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus have been retold for centuries. But more than just an account of the birth of God’s Son, this story is one that shows the depth of God’s involvement in our lives as He brought His very presence to us in His loving gift of His Son.

Jesus’ birth was described slightly differently by each of the Gospel writers. Luke described the birth of Jesus in great detail, including His ancestry, the circumstances of His birth, and the miracles surrounding His coming. Matthew placed a heavy emphasis on Jesus’ royal lineage. John showed Jesus as the preexistent Logos, the Word of God, who was present at Creation and come to earth as a man.

This lesson will consider Luke’s account of the familiar Christmas story, probing the depth of love that God showed through His glorious gift. An important part of hearing the story is the compelling call to share that message of salvation and peace with others.

Luke 2:1–3 In his gospel, Luke provided much of the historical evidence of Jesus’ ministry. That evidence is especially significant in his account of Jesus’ birth. Historical documents that are not connected to the church affirm the accuracy of the names and places mentioned in Luke 2:1–7. The Roman emperor (or “Caesar”) Augustus reigned from 31 B.C. to A.D. 14. During his reign, an order was given for a census to be taken throughout “all the inhabited earth.” In this context, the “earth” literally meant the inhabited land and referred to those areas ruled by Rome. The census was taken for purposes of taxation, an action that angered Jews, most of whom despised Roman rule and the requirement to pay heavy taxes to Rome.

King Herod sought to avoid further problems from the Jews by requiring that the census registration be based on the original tribes of Israel (Gen. 49). Therefore, Jews were required to go to the town where the registry for their family tribe was kept. The census probably took place sometime between 6 and 4 B.C., a couple of years after Rome sent out the decree.

Luke 2:4 Joseph and his wife Mary left their home in Nazareth in Galilee and traveled to Bethlehem in the region of Judea, his ancestral home as a descendant of David and a member of the tribe of Judah. Scholars do not agree on whether Mary (or any woman) was required to register.

The direct travel route would have taken them through Samaria, about a 90-mile uphill journey. The Jews, however, preferred to avoid Samaria, as most Jews despised the Samaritans. Therefore, they normally took an indirect route, crossing the Jordan River to the east and traveling on the east side until they could cross back again into the Jordan region.

Luke 2:5 Mary may have accompanied Joseph to avoid the talk of the townspeople who realized she was pregnant before their marriage was official, or she may have gone with Joseph because she had already been away from him several months earlier while she visited Elizabeth (Luke 1:56). She possibly went to Bethlehem because she knew it would be the birthplace of Messiah, as prophesied in Micah 5:2. Regardless of the reason, the journey would have been difficult for any pregnant woman, especially for one who would soon give birth. The trip would normally take most of a week, but it could have been extended considerably because of her condition. Mary accompanied Joseph because she was “engaged to him,” meaning they were legally married and considered husband and wife. However, they did not have sexual relations until after Jesus’ birth (Matt. 1:18–25).

Luke 2:6–7 During the census, Bethlehem would have been crowded. This was probably the reason “there was no room for them in the inn.” Apparently the only available accommodations they could find were in a stable where animals were kept. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her Son and she named Him Jesus in obedience to God’s command (Matt. 1:21, 25; Luke 1:31). Luke recorded the details that Mary used a “manger,” or feeding trough, as a bed for her newborn baby, once again documenting the historical details of the birth.

Jesus’ birth in a stable suggests Mary and Joseph’s poverty and emphasizes Jesus’ humble beginning on earth. Mary had to wrap Jesus in “cloths,” or long strips of fabric to keep Him warm. God allowed His Son to be born in lowly circumstances to show His special concern for and connection with the poor. God allowed even the first moments of the birth of His Son to demonstrate the presence of His love for the poor and the needy.

Luke 2:8–9 In the fields outside Bethlehem, shepherds were guarding their flocks during the night. Ordinarily, sheep would be in the fields from March to November. Because of the nearness of the sheep to the temple mount in Jerusalem, these may have belonged to the temple priests to be used for holy sacrifices. If so, the sheep would have been in this field all year.

As a whole, shepherds were despised. People often scorned them because they failed to keep or ignored much of the Mosaic Law. Since most people were suspicious of them because some shepherds were thieves, they were not allowed to serve as witnesses in court because their testimony was thought to be unreliable. But whether they deserved this reputation or not, God chose to honor them by revealing to them the birth of His Son, a fact that would have surprised and astonished many Jews. God used the announcement to share the presence of His love for those who were outcasts or needed salvation.

In the midst of what was an otherwise typical night, the darkness was suddenly shattered by “the glory of the Lord.” An angel appeared in the shepherds’ midst and sent waves of fear throughout the camp. Though these men were used to fighting wild animals that threatened their sheep, the angel’s presence terrified them. After calming their fears, the angel shared God’s incredible message: God was fulfilling His promise to send Messiah into the world.

Luke 2:10 This news brought “great joy,” especially for the Jews. “The people” was traditionally a specific reference to the descendants of Israel. In Jesus, God’s salvation is made available to all people regardless of their heritage (Rom. 1:16). Still, Jesus was sent initially to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6, 15:24). For centuries they had awaited the promised Messiah. They erroneously thought He would lead them out of bondage from foreign oppressors and restore the prestige and honor Israel had once known under kings David and Solomon.

Luke 2:11–12 The angel told the shepherds where and how they could find the baby. They identified Him as “Savior,” the One who would “save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21); “Christ” (the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messiah), which means “anointed one;” and “Lord,” a term usually used in reference to Almighty God. These terms clearly pointed to the deity of Jesus—not only was He fully human, He was fully God.

Luke 2:13–14 In response to the angel’s announcement, a large group of angels—the word “host” literally means army—suddenly appeared and voiced praises to God for what He had done. The heavenly army also pronounced a blessing of “peace among men with whom He is pleased.” The angels’ words are a reminder of the enmity that existed between a holy God and sinful humanity (Rom. 5:10, Col. 1:21). Jesus had come to earth to pay the penalty for humanity’s sin. Only through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ could that hostility be eliminated and the peace with God that the first humans experienced in the Garden of Eden be restored. Yet this peace does not come automatically to everyone; it only comes to those who have accepted the gift of salvation God offers to all people through faith in His Son.

Luke 2:15–16 After the angels departed, the shepherds acted on what they had heard. They obediently went to Bethlehem and searched for the child, finding the newborn just as the angels had told them.

Luke 2:17–20 After they saw the Christ child, the shepherds were ecstatic. In their excitement they shared what “had been told them” with others, most likely with anyone they encountered. Those who heard the story “wondered at the things” the shepherds told. Luke recorded four powerful events in this passage: the vision of angels, the announcement of the coming Christ, the appearance of a newborn in a manger, and the testimony of the shepherds who witnessed it. Each were singularly incredible occasions; when consided together, these document the unmistakably miraculous event of the birth of God’s one and only Son. Regardless of the response they received, the shepherds still shared the message wherever they went.

Interestingly, Luke added what seems to be a footnote, but actually ties the circumstances of Jesus’ birth to His future ministry. Luke recorded that Mary responded to the events with continued amazement at what God had done through and for her. She “treasured” what she had experienced and pondered the memories throughout her lifetime.

God chose to reveal the birth of His son Jesus in a peculiar way. While Jesus was deserving of a prestigious birth announcement, this was not what He received. His birth should have been shouted from the mountaintops, but it wasn’t. His birth should have been proclaimed in every palace across the land, but no such proclamation was made. Instead, God chose a barn to hold the newborn baby. He chose a group of ruffians—smelly shepherds—to be the first to learn of Jesus’ birth. And, God used these smelly shepherds to go and tell Mary and Joseph (and whoever else was in the stable) the message of hope and love they received from the angels. God seemed to wrap His love in the most humble circumstances.

As you prepare to teach this lesson, really ponder all that happened in this story: all the people involved, the message involved, and the love that was shown through it all. Are you comforted by the fact that God used humble circumstances to proclaim the love and hope found in Jesus’ birth? Do you think your students are? How can knowing that God chose the humble to bring the message of His love to the world impact your students today? Your students are searching for love and many times they will say they are not good enough to receive it. If God blessed the shepherds in this process, God will give hope and love to anyone who searches for it.