Merry Christmas!

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1. We naturally hope for good things when we start working on something. This hope is what drives us. If things turn out the way we hoped, we feel happy and satisfied. But if they don't, we can feel confused and lose our motivation. For example, one reason I became a pastor was because I hoped God would give peace to my family, especially between my parents. When that didn't happen, I felt very sad and let down for a while. Even though I knew in my head that God is always good, my heart struggled to believe it. Similarly, in the first century, Jewish people living under Roman rule were waiting for a savior, called the Messiah. They hoped this Messiah would free them from Roman control and bring them better times. Some thought the Messiah would create a strong nation. Others thought he would focus on spiritual freedom and restoring their religious traditions. These hopes were based on the writings of prophets like Isaiah and Daniel, but different groups and individuals had different ideas about what the Messiah would be like.

2. Everyone in the first century was excited for the Messiah to come to Earth because there was a theological movement in the Jewish community which is the Messianic Expectation. It has been for over 400 years at least. But when Jesus, the coming and long-expected Messiah, was born, it wasn't what people expected, not following the Messianic Expectation. Instead of being born in a palace, he was born in a stable. It was a simple and humble beginning, not like the powerful king many imagined. Today, we'll talk about what Jesus's birth means and why it's important for us. Let's read Luke 2:1-20. It tells the story of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, Jesus being born in a manger, and the angels telling the shepherds the good news.

Luke 2:1–4 NASB 2020

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

Luke 2:5–7 NASB 2020

in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came 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 2:8–10 NASB 2020

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

Luke 2:11–14 (NASB 2020)

for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”

Luke 2:15–20 NASB 2020

When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

3. The Christmas story is different from what we might expect.  Instead of a rich and powerful family, we meet Joseph and Mary, who are poor.  Jesus is born in a stable, not a palace.  The first people to see Jesus are shepherds, not kings or important people. This shows us that God works in ways we might not expect.  Jesus' birth teaches us that God's power is not about being rich or famous.  We might think God would do things differently, but God's plans are often a surprise.

4. The Bible shows us that God does things His own way.  He keeps His promises, but often in ways we don't expect. Even God's agreements with people are different from how we make agreements.  For example, God made a special promise to Abraham. God promised Abraham many children and a land for them to live in.  But to show that this promise was real, God did something unusual.  He used a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch with animal parts.  This was very different from how people usually make agreements in the Ancient Near Eastern. Just like Jesus was born in a surprising way, God often does things that we don't understand.

Genesis 15:9–11 NLT

The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.

Genesis 15:17–18 CSB

When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River:

5. In ancient times, strong countries made agreements with weaker countries.  The weaker country had to promise to follow the stronger country.  They did this in a special ceremony with animal parts.  The weaker country would walk between the animal parts to show they would keep their promise. But when God made His promise to Abraham, He did something different.  God Himself walked between the animal parts.  This showed that God was making the promise and He would keep it.  Usually, the weaker country did this, but God did it instead.  This shows how powerful and kind God is.

6. This means that God's promise will never be broken.  God Himself made the promise, so it will last forever.  This shows us how much God cares about His promises and His people.

7. God's promise to Abraham shows us something important: God is powerful, but He is also humble and kind.  God didn't make this promise like people usually do. He did it in a surprising way, just like He did when Jesus was born.  God made this promise a long time ago, but it shows us how Jesus would come later.  Jesus was God, but He became a human.  He wasn't born in a king's house, but in a simple place where animals stayed.  So, we should always remember that God can do surprising things.  We should be ready for God to work in our lives in ways we don't expect.

8. God didn't ask us to do anything to earn our salvation; He gave it to us as a gift.  Just like He made a promise to Abraham, God made the biggest sacrifice possible to save us.  He didn't have to do this, but He loves us very much.  Because of His love, He gave us the promise of salvation through Jesus.  God's love is a free gift for everyone who believes in Him.

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 2:9 MSG

What we do see is Jesus, made “not quite as high as angels,” and then, through the experience of death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory “bright with Eden’s dawn light.” In that death, by God’s grace, he fully experienced death in every person’s place.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NKJV

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

9. Jesus showed us what it means for God to be humble.  God kept His promise to Abraham in a surprising way, and Jesus also lived in a humble way to save us.  Jesus was born in a simple place and lived a life of helping others.  He even died on a cross to forgive our sins.  Jesus' whole life shows us how humble God is and how much He loves us.

Philippians 2:1–3 NASB 2020

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;

Philippians 2:4–7 NASB 2020

do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.

10. Sometimes, it's hard to understand how God does things.  People often think things should be a certain way, and God's way is different.  If we don't try to understand God's way, we might not understand Jesus.  It might seem strange that Jesus was born a baby and then died to save us.  We usually think being powerful and successful is important, but God shows us a different way.  God's plan is beautiful because it's different from what we expect.  It shows us a better way to live.

11. To understand how God works, we need to let go of our own ideas.  If we hold on to what we want, we won't understand God's way.  We should ask God to help us think like He does and be open to His surprises.  Just like Jesus chose to be humble, we should also let go of our selfish wants.

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

12. Jesus' birth is how God kept His most important promise.  This promise didn't come true because of powerful people, but because of God's love. God did things His own way, a way that surprises people.  God's love is a gift for everyone, and it's the only way we can be saved through Jesus.  Let's celebrate Jesus' birth!  It's the amazing start of God's plan to save us.  Let's praise God and be thankful for His surprising ways.  God is with us!