Luke chapter 2, page 1027.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire
Roman world.
This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and
everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town
of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting
a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her
first son, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them
in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks
at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you.
He is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign to you.
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God
and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.
When the angels had left them and had gone into heaven, the shepherds said to them, one
another, Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told
us about.
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told to them about
this child.
And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard,
which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel
had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification, according to the law of Moses, had been completed, Joseph
and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
As it is written in the law of the Lord, every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the
Lord and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the law of the Lord.
A pair of doves or two young pigeons.
Now, there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon who was righteous and devout.
He was waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the
Lord's Christ.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.
When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required,
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, This child is destined to cause the
falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that
the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed and a sword will pierce your own souls too.
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher.
She was very old. She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and then was a
widow until she was 84. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.
Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke of a child to all who
were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required
by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, their own town of Nazareth, and the child grew and
became strong. He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.
Thanks very much, Trevor. Long reading, big passage, but we're going to work through it together
with God's help. So keep your Bibles open. We'll pray and ask for God's help.
Father, just as your Holy Spirit taught and revealed to old man Simeon, all that you are going to do,
we pray that your same Holy Spirit would reveal your truth to us so that we grasp afresh who Jesus is
and what his coming means for us today. So we ask for your help as we look at your word together. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Well, it's considered to be one of the best underground cave systems in Europe.
The entrance, about 25 metres below the surface, takes you on this long, winding path.
And at the end of it, you come to one of the world's largest underground lakes.
The brochure said it all. Immerse yourself in the subterranean world.
Enjoy the rock formations formed over hundreds and thousands of years.
See the turquoise baths of Diana and take a trip over the underground lake.
So while on holidays, we went to visit Caves del Drac.
And what a surprise.
Apart from getting lost on the way, never trust the sat-nav,
we decided to stay at the back of the tour and take our time.
But as soon as the group who were at the front of the tour went through that section of the cave,
they turned off the lights.
So us at the back spent our time just looking at shadows.
And to make matters worse, we had to queue up for about 45 minutes
to get on this little rowing boat that would take you across the world's largest underwater lake,
which took no more than two minutes.
It was a surprise, all right.
It was not as we expected.
Well, as we enter into Luke chapter 2,
it is full of surprises.
But it's not as we expect.
In fact, it could leave us really disappointed.
First, there is a surprising king.
Look at verse 1.
In those days, Caesar Augustus,
you may have heard of him from history,
he was a very powerful man,
ruler over the entire empire of Europe,
of the Roman Empire, for 44 years.
An empire that stretched across North Africa,
right into most of Europe,
and covering modern Turkey and beyond.
He was a ruthless leader.
If you like, the power of Trump,
the might of Putin,
and the craziness of Kim Jong-un
all rolled into one.
And of course, as his empire expanded,
he needed more finances.
So, again, verse 1,
he issued a decree
that a census should be taken
of the entire Roman world.
A census was much more than just counting
the population of the empire.
It was a means of collecting taxes
and making money.
The lands and people that he had conquered
had now become the means
for funding his wars.
He was a powerful tyrant
who took no pity.
And everyone who lived in the empire
was forced to travel
to their place of birth
and register
so he could squeeze
as much money as possible.
So, verse 4,
Joseph also went up
from the town of Nazareth
in Galilee to Judea
to Bethlehem,
the town of David,
because he belonged
to the house and line of David.
He went there to register
with Mary,
who was pledged
to be married to him
and was expecting a child.
Even young pregnant women
like Mary,
who were on the verge
of giving birth,
were not exempt.
Everyone had to travel.
So there was no doubt
if you lived within
the Roman Empire,
who was ruler?
Who was boss?
But let's remember
what the angel had said
about the coming of Jesus.
Look back to chapter 1,
verse 32.
Here's what it says
about Jesus,
God's promised king.
He will be great
and will be called
the Son of the Most High,
a title reserved
for God alone,
but now applied to Jesus.
The Lord God
will give him
the throne
of his father David
and he will reign
over the house
of Jacob forever.
His kingdom
will never end.
So as we read
through Luke,
we see at least
at last a challenger
to the ruthless might
and power of Caesar.
God is raising up a king.
But what a surprise.
it's not what we expect.
Look back at chapter 2,
verse 6.
While they were there
registering,
the time came
for the baby to be born
and she gave birth
to her firstborn,
a son.
She wrapped him in cloths
and placed him in a manger
because there was no room
for them in the inn.
Now it makes us stop
and ask,
what is going on?
God's promise,
this great,
the Son of the Most High,
the King of an eternal kingdom,
God who has come
in human form,
ends up,
verse 6
or verse 7,
in a manger,
a feeding trough
for animals
in a backward town
called Bethlehem.
This so-called
promised king
can't even find
anywhere to stay.
Hardly a threat
to the power
and might
of Caesar.
Mike McKinley,
who's wrote
a little helpful book
covering big themes
of Luke,
shows us
how these opening
verses
take us
on a downward
spiral
of power
and influence.
So again,
look at verse 1,
we've got
Caesar Augustus,
ruler
of the Roman Empire.
Verse 2,
Quinerius,
a local governor
with some power.
Verse 4,
we're introduced
to Joseph,
a poor
commoner.
Verse 5,
Mary,
a young,
unknown,
teenage,
pregnant girl.
And then
verse 7,
a baby,
seconds old
and gasping
for air.
From the great
and the mighty
to the weak
and the powerless.
From the most
powerful man
in the world
to the most
fragile and
insignificant.
The conquering king
to a crying
newborn.
This struggling
scrap
still bloodied
from the womb
is God's king.
Hardly inspiring
or hopeful.
What's going on?
Well,
God's king
does come,
but he comes
in weakness,
not power.
In fact,
the whole of
Jesus' life
would be marked
by weakness.
a servant
who would come
to give
his life.
Who would end
up,
as we get
to the end
of Luke,
slaughtered
on a cross.
Who on
this earth
would want
to follow
and trust
a king
like that?
But that's
the point.
God is
calling
for
faith.
Will you
trust in
the power
of men
or will
you trust
in the
weakness
of my
son?
Will you
follow the
kings and
rulers of
this world,
the might
of all
the powerful
corporations
who flex
their muscles
or will you
follow my
king
who died
for you
on the
cross?
Maybe
you're
disappointed
that Jesus
is not
something
more.
Well,
listen to
the
apostle
Paul.
He
explains it
for us
like this.
He says
the message
of the
cross
is
foolishness.
It's
weak.
It's
nothing
to those
who are
perishing.
But to
us who
are being
saved,
it is
the power
of God.
For the
foolishness
of God
is wiser
than man's
wisdom.
And the
weakness of
God is
stronger
than man's
strength.
Who do
you trust?
Who would
you put your
life into
the hands
of?
Well, we've
got a second
surprise,
a surprising
invitation.
for some
reason,
when
celebrities
get pregnant
or give
birth,
they see
it their
duty to
inform the
whole world.
I'm not
quite sure
why, but
that's a
celebrity for
you, I
guess.
Whether you're
Serena Williams
or William
and Kate,
well, people
must know
that we're
having a
baby.
Well, Luke
has another
surprise for
us.
Look at
verse 8.
And there
were shepherds
living out in
the fields
nearby, keeping
watch over
their flocks at
night.
Now, we've
all heard that,
we've sung the
carols, but I
want us to
forget the
image in your
minds of
those nice,
fluffy,
cuddly
shepherds that
might be
pictured on
your Christmas
cards.
Shepherds are
the lowest of
the low.
It was a
thankless,
dirty,
filthy job,
as verse 1
tells us.
They lived
out in
the fields.
And for
good reason
too.
They were
considered to
be thieves
and robbers
attacking
unsuspecting
travellers at
night.
If there was
a robbery
in town,
well, it
was the
shepherds.
They were
so despised
that their
testimony was
not even
trusted in
a court of
law.
You couldn't
believe them.
But yet,
it's to
these low
life that
God first
announces the
coming of
his king.
Look at
verse 9.
An angel
of the
Lord appeared
to them,
and the
glory of
the Lord
shone around
them, and
they were
terrified.
Well, who
wouldn't be
if an
angel appeared
in the
sky?
But the
angel said
to them,
do not
be afraid.
I bring
you good
news of
great joy
that will
be for
all the
people.
Today,
in the
town of
David,
a saviour
has been
born to
you.
He is
Christ
the
Lord.
This
announcement
is deeply
personal.
Did you
get that
in verse
11?
Today,
in the
town of
David,
a saviour
has been
born to
you,
to you
shepherds.
Yes,
the world
will hear
about it
in time,
but it
starts
personally
with you.
God
doesn't
send out
a tweet
with the
hashtag
kingisborn,
or there's
no announcement
in Jerusalem
news on
the papers,
there's no
press briefing
inviting all
the political
and religious
elite.
Instead,
it's a
personal
visit on
a secluded
hillside to
a bunch of
dirty low-life
shepherds who
no one would
ever believe.
In
modern terms,
dare I
say it,
it's like
God going
to the
traveller
site,
inviting the
so-called
despised of
our society.
Well,
surely God
can do
better than
that,
couldn't he?
What's
going on?
Well,
it's telling
us that
God is a
God of
grace.
God
is a
God's
favour.
Verse 13,
suddenly a
great company
of the
heavenly
hosts
appeared
with the
angel,
praising God
and saying,
glory to
God in the
highest,
on an
earth,
peace to
men,
on whom
his favour,
literally
upon whom
his grace
has fallen.
God
invites
these
low-life
shepherds
to come
and see
this
newborn
king
because,
well,
it's because
it's God's
good pleasure
to do so,
because God
delights in
showing his
grace to
unsuspecting
people.
This is the
way God
works.
It was the
same for
Elizabeth,
remember,
back in
chapter 1
verse 25,
old
barren
Elizabeth,
verse 25,
the Lord
has done
this for
me,
she said,
in these
days he
has shown
his favour
or he
has shown
his grace
upon me
and taken
away my
disgrace.
Or look
at verse
30,
as the
angel announced
the good
news to
Mary,
but the
angel said
to her,
do not
be afraid
Mary,
you have
found favour
with God.
Literally,
God's
grace has
come upon
you.
These two
unsuspecting
women,
these
unsuspecting
shepherds,
God's grace
is not
earned or
deserved,
it's dispensed
at God's
good pleasure
and will
because,
well,
God just
delights
in giving
his grace.
look again
at what
the angels
say to
the
shepherds,
verse 10,
chapter 2,
the angel
said,
don't be
afraid,
I bring
you good
news of
great joy.
That will
be for all
the people
today in
the town
of David,
a saviour
has been
born to
you,
he is
Christ
the
Lord.
Christ
is a
title.
Sometimes
we read
the word
Messiah.
It means
God's
chosen
anointed
king,
ruler,
supreme
power.
And God
is saying
to these
shepherds,
come,
here is an
invitation for
you to
go and
see my
saving
king,
my ruler,
and it's
a personal
invitation to
you.
Who would
choose
shepherds
to be
the first
hearers of
such
momentous,
life
transforming,
world
changing
news?
Well,
God
would,
because
God is
a God
of grace.
Why would
he do
it?
What's
going on?
Well,
as we
read through
Luke's
gospel,
we will
discover that
there are
two kinds
of people.
Of all
the people
we meet,
they will
be in
two
categories.
There are
those who
are the
outsiders,
those who
are morally
broken,
spiritually
unclean,
people who
are on
the edges,
people like
the
shepherds.
And then
we'll meet
the others,
the insiders,
those who
see themselves
as morally
good and
spiritually
pure,
people who
have
influence
and
power,
people like
the
political
and
religious
elite,
like the
Pharisees
that we'll
come across.
But Luke's
big surprise
as we read
through it
is that,
well,
from God's
perspective,
the outsiders
are invited
in,
while the
insiders
are left
out.
You see,
God has
sent his
chosen
saving
king,
Jesus
to
invite
sinners,
the morally
broken.
He came
to seek
and save
the lost,
the spiritually
unclean,
those who
know that
they can't
save themselves,
the despised
and the
rejected.
God goes
to
shepherds
and he
shows them
grace.
Disappointed
that God
doesn't treat
you differently?
that you
look at
your good
life and
think,
well,
what a
good
person
I am
and,
well,
God is
in some
ways bound
to treat
me differently.
Not the
case.
You see,
until we
too,
each one
of us,
become like
the shepherds,
until we
stoop to
such humility
and see
ourselves as
being morally
broken,
with nothing
to offer.
We will
never,
ever come
to know
and experience
God's grace.
If I see
myself as an
insider,
one of the
good people,
I ain't
going to
know God's
grace.
I must
become like
a shepherd
to experience
his grace
in my life
each and
every day.
surprised by
the saviour
that we
meet?
Well,
here's a
third surprise.
A
surprising
salvation.
Remember
how Luke
started out
in chapter
two?
In the
days of
Caesar
Augustus,
the great
ruler over
the entire
empire,
Israel,
this small
little land,
this small
little nation,
are under
the might
and power
of a
foreign
oppressor.
But let's
also remember
what the
prophets
had promised
all these
hundreds of
years ago.
Keep your
finger in Luke
and go back
to Isaiah
52.
Isaiah
52.
So we've
got to
keep
context
in mind
here.
Luke
wants us
to know
Caesar
Augustus,
the empire,
the ruler,
he's the
suppressor,
he's in
charge.
But with
that in
mind,
we've got
to remember
the promise
of the
prophets.
And the
context in
Isaiah 52,
if you
look at
verse 4,
God's
people have
been oppressed
by other
nations.
So verse 4,
for this is
what the
sovereign Lord
says,
at first my
people went
down to
Egypt to
live.
Do you
remember how
they were
oppressed
by the
Egyptians
in slavery?
And then he
says,
lately,
Assyria,
this other
great nation,
has come
in and
has oppressed
them.
And we
know too
that the
Babylonian
nation,
they oppressed
also.
But there
is a
promise of
comfort and
redemption to
come.
So look at
verse 9.
Burst into
songs of
joy together,
you ruins of
Jerusalem,
for the Lord
has comforted
his people,
he has
redeemed
Jerusalem.
The Lord
will lay
bare his
holy arm
in the
sight of
all the
nations,
and all
the ends
of the
earth will
see the
salvation
of our
God.
There's a
promise that
well,
a redeemer
is going
to come
who's going
to bring
comfort to
God's
people.
When is
it going
to happen?
Well,
let's go
back to
Luke chapter
2.
and verse
25.
Because at
this stage,
while yes,
they're living
in their
own land,
they're still
under the
oppression of
now another
nation,
the Roman
Empire.
And here
we're introduced
to an old
man called
Simeon,
verse 25.
Now there
was a man
in Jerusalem
called Simeon
who was
righteous
and devout.
He was
waiting,
literally his
whole life,
longing for
the consolation
or the
comfort of
Israel.
And the
Holy Spirit
was upon
him.
And when
he sees
this promised
Saviour,
because,
verse 26,
it had been
revealed to
him by the
Holy Spirit
that he
would not
die before
he had seen
the Lord's
Christ,
Christ.
Look what
happens,
verse 28.
Simeon took
this child
in his arms
and praised
God,
saying,
Sovereign
Lord,
as you
have promised,
promised all
the way back
as we'd
read in
Isaiah,
you now
dismiss your
servant in
peace,
for my
eyes have
seen your
salvation.
At last,
after all
of these
years,
God's
salvation
has come
in the
person of
Jesus.
Jesus,
but Simeon
was not
the only
one waiting.
Look down
at verse 36.
There was
also the
prophetess,
Anna,
the daughter
of Phanuel
of the
tribe of
Asher.
And she
meets this
baby Jesus
in the
temple,
verse 38,
coming up
to them,
coming up
to the
parents at
that very
moment,
she gave
thanks to
God and
spoke about
the child
Jesus to
all who
are looking
forward,
or literally
all who
are waiting
and longing
for the
redemption
of Jerusalem.
At last,
it seems
that God's
promises of
the past
have now
been fulfilled.
God has
come in
the person
of Jesus
Christ to
redeem his
people from
the might
and the
oppression
of the
Roman Empire.
A mighty
king who
would rule
forever and
make everything
right.
But
surprise,
it's not
as we
expect.
Listen to
what Simeon
says about
this
Redeemer.
Verse 34,
Then
Simeon
blessed
them,
that's the
parents,
and said
to Mary
his mother,
This
child is
destined to
cause the
falling and
rising of
many and
Israel,
and to
be a sign
that will
be spoken
against.
In other
words,
people are
going to
oppose him
so that
the thoughts
of many
hearts
will be
revealed.
will
be
filled.
It's not
what we
expect.
Surely
messiahs,
these kings
are meant
to unite
people
together
and build
an army
and be
powerful
and mighty,
but God's
king, it
seems, is
going to
do the
exact
opposite.
When he
arrives,
well, he's
going to
cause
division
amongst
the
people.
Depending
on how
people relate
to Jesus,
some will
fall,
some will
rise.
it seems
more like
there's
going to
be civil
war.
And if
that's not
bad enough,
listen to
what he
says to
Mary.
Look at
the very
end of
verse 35.
And a
sword will
pierce
your own
soul too.
The end
of all of
this is
going to
be very,
very painful.
Whatever
the sword
is,
and I
think it's
referring to
the crucifixion
of Jesus,
there's
going to
be a
lot of
suffering
for Jesus
come the
end of
his life
on earth.
And for
Mary,
his mother,
as she
stands at
the cross
and sees
her own
son crucified,
a bloody
mess on
the cross,
well,
a sword
will pierce
your own
soul too.
Your heart,
you are
going to
be broken.
So
Jesus,
rather than
being
remembered
as the
great
liberator,
is going
to be
remembered
as the
great
divider.
What's
going on?
Where's
the salvation
in that?
You see,
so often
we think
of Jesus
in terms
of our
own
little
immediate
lives
and the
situations
around us.
We think
Jesus,
the saviour,
yeah,
I like
that,
he's
come to
fix my
life,
change my
circumstances,
make my
life more
prosperous and
successful.
It's all
about Jesus
dealing with
my particular
social needs.
I've got a
problem,
call on Jesus
and he'll
fix it.
He's the
saviour,
a saviour to
make my
life better.
But that's
not what's
happening here.
look at
these two
characters
again that
we have
in chapter
two,
Simeon
and Anna.
Simeon,
we know,
well,
he's an
old guy
at this
stage,
he's on
his way
out.
Verse 26,
it had been
revealed to
him by the
Holy Spirit
that he
would not
die before
he had
seen the
Lord's
Christ.
He was
old and
ready to
die and
he was
just
waiting.
Anna,
we know,
is very
old.
Verse 36,
it tells
us that
she was
very old
and she
had lived
with her
husband seven
years after
her marriage
and was a
widow until
she was
84.
But as
she was
waiting,
look at the
rest of
verse 37,
she never
left the
temple but
worshipped
night and
day,
fasting and
praying.
For Simeon
and Anna,
their whole
life has
been waiting,
has been
focused on
Jesus,
longing and
waiting.
You see,
for them,
salvation was
not material
and social,
it was
personal and
relational.
They longed
for Jesus.
They wanted
Jesus to
come.
Jesus was
sufficient.
Jesus was
enough.
Again,
look at how
these two
characters
respond to
Jesus.
Verse 29,
this is
Simeon,
sovereign
Lord,
as you
have
promised,
you now
dismiss your
servant in
peace,
for my
eyes have
seen your
salvation.
He doesn't
need anything
else.
He's quite
happy to
die now
because he
has Jesus.
And verse
38,
look at how
Anna responds.
Coming up at
that very
moment,
she gave
thanks to
God and
spoke about
the child.
It was
all about
Jesus
because he
was the
one who
had come
to bring
redemption.
So you
see,
salvation is
not primarily
a change in
my circumstances,
but a
change in
my
relationship.
Salvation
is all
about ordering
your life
around the
person of
Jesus and
longing for
him.
So let me
ask us all
the question,
are you at
the centre of
your own
life and
is Jesus
just simply
there to
kind of come
into your
life to
meet your
own desires
and your
wants?
Or is
Jesus the
centre of
your life
and you
are there to
serve his
desires?
Maybe
you're
disappointed
that Jesus
doesn't do
all that you
want him
to do.
Well,
let me
suggest this.
Jesus has
come to do
more than
you could
ever expect
or imagine.
He is
this promised
king,
God's
chosen
saviour
who's
come to
invite
outside
like you
and me,
welcoming
us in,
coming to
live in
weakness
and dying
on a cross
for my
sin and
for your
sin so
that we
might have
our lives
reorientated,
refocused
and living
for him.
remember,
salvation
starts
by relating
to Jesus
correctly.
How do
you
relate
to him?
Let's just
take a moment
to reflect
and think
about that
and we'll
pray
together.
there.
Whoa.
There we
are.
There we
how do you
how do I relate to Jesus
Father we are sorry for
treating Jesus as simply
one who comes to
meet our own needs
and fix up our life
as we demand
help us to reorientate
our life around him and
put him at the very center
to look to him
to long for more of him
in our lives
to trust him completely
even when we do not understand
we thank you Jesus that you came
and did die for us
foolish to the world
powerless to all who look
but for all who are trusting
it is the wisdom and power of God
to change our lives today
so Father help us
to keep following the Savior
in all the ways that he calls us to live
and that you would help us to
orientate our lives around him
we ask all these things in Jesus name
Amen
Mmh
um
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