Sunday
Morning Bible Study
February
22, 2015
Introduction
Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel
preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid
to die? Does it speak to the broken
hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision
Is the church loved? Regular: 2900
words Communion: 2500 words Video: 333
words in 2 minutes / 166words/min.
Adjusted word count sb 3700
Video = 2:59 2:21 1:26 4:57 = 11:43,
or 1960 words
Israel Trip – Join us! Get your deposit in.
Luke was a doctor and a travelling companion of the apostle Paul.
He wrote this book while Paul was in prison.
In writing his book, Paul made use of other older documents like the Gospel
of Mark, as well as extensive eyewitness accounts.
We have looked at the events leading up to the birth of Jesus, including the
birth of John the Baptist to old Elizabeth and Zacharias.
2:59 500
2:1-7 Jesus is born
:1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
:2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
:1 decree – dogma
– doctrine, decree, ordinance
:1 Caesar Augustus
He was born Gaius Octavius, the grand nephew of Julius Caesar.
He was the first of the Roman Emperors,
reigning from 27 b.c. to a.d. 14
Matthew (Mat. 2:1) records that Jesus’ birth took place during the reign of
Herod the Great, and his reign ended in 4 BC.
We would probably favor putting Jesus’ birth somewhere around 4 BC.
:2 census – apographe
– a writing off
This was about Roman record
keeping.
They would make a record of people,
their income, and their property.
This would be the basis of future
taxation.
Forms of this word are translated
“registered” in vs. 1, 3, 5.
:2 was governing – hegemoneuo
– to be leader, to lead the way; to rule, command
:2 Quirinius
He was governor over Syria from 6-7
AD. This doesn’t fit with what Luke
seems to be saying, at least in light with Herod the Great’s rule. Answer:
the word translate “first” (protos)
could also be translated “before”, as it is in John 1:15; 15:18. So, a better translation would be, “this
taxing was made before Quirinius was
governor of Syria”.
:2 governing Syria
Syria was the province that the
land of Israel was a part of in the Roman Empire.
:3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
:3 registered – apographo
– to write off, copy (from some pattern); to enter in a register or
records; spec. to enter in public records the names of men, their property and
income
:3 everyone to his own city
It was the
Roman custom to have people taxed in the city they lived in, but it was a
Jewish custom to go to the city of your heritage.
The Jews in
Israel followed the Jewish custom to obey a Roman law.
:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the
house and lineage of David,
:5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
:4 lineage – patria
– lineage running back to some progenitor, ancestry; family, in a wider
sense, nation, people
:4 city of David … Bethlehem
Bethlehem was the family ancestral home of King David.
Because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he was required to travel to
Bethlehem to register for the census.
It was actually the home of David’s
great-great-great-grandfather, Boaz, the man who married Ruth (Ruth 2:4).
Video: Nazareth to Bethlehem map clip
To travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, they probably headed east to the
Jordan River, down the Jordan River valley to Jericho, then up into the hills
to Jerusalem, then south six miles through the hills to Bethlehem.
The total trip would be about 90 miles. With a young gal in her ninth month
of pregnancy.
:5 registered – apographo
– to write off, copy (from some pattern); to enter in a register or
records; spec. to enter in public records the names of men, their property and
income
:5 betrothed – mnesteuo
– to woo her and ask her in marriage; to be promised in marriage, be
betrothed
There were
three phases to getting married in Jesus’ day.
Engaged
Parents would
arrange marriages for their children when they were as young at two years old.
Betrothed
A year or so
before the actual marriage, the couple was considered “betrothed”. Though they
had not yet had sex, they were considered by custom to be as if they were
married (cf. Gen. 29:21; Deut. 22:23-30).
The only way
to break the “betrothal” was to get a divorce.
Mary and
Joseph were seriously engaged, but have not had sex yet.
Married
The marriage
was finalized with the wedding.
:5 with child – egkuos – big
with child, pregnant
The word is based on the word for “waves”, like the curve of a swell on the
sea.
(Matthew 8:24 NKJV)
And
suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with
the waves. But He was asleep.
:1 all the world should be registered
should be registered – apographo
– to write off, copy (from some pattern); to enter in a register or
records; spec. to enter in public records the names of men, their property and
income
This census or “registration” was
not a taxation on the people, though it probably was the basis for future
taxes.
The decree came from the emperor in Rome, some 1500 miles away from Nazareth.
And yet the result of this government decree forced Joseph and Mary to
travel 90 miles, during a time when they shouldn’t be traveling.
And in the end, the baby was born in Bethlehem.
There was an ancient prophecy that spoke of this.
(Micah 5:2 NKJV) “But you, Bethlehem
Ephrathah, Though you are
little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings
forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
Micah wrote this 700 years before Jesus.
It was recognized by the Jews as indicating where the Messiah would be
born.
When the Wise Men will show up in Jerusalem to ask King
Herod about the birth of a new king, Herod asked the priests where that would
be taking place, and they used this Scripture to point to Bethlehem.
Lesson
God knows how
God knows how to get you where you need to be.
He used the pagan ruler of the world to move Joseph and Mary.
There are times when we wonder why things are forcing us to go in
directions that are uncomfortable.
It wasn’t a great time for Mary to be traveling.
Yet perhaps God might be at work to get us to where we need to be.
(Romans 8:28 NKJV) And we know
that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose.
Illustration
When Horatio Spafford made the ocean
crossing to meet his grieving wife, he sailed near the place where his four
daughters had sunk to the ocean depths. There, in the midst of his sorrow, he
wrote these unforgettable words that have brought solace to so many in grief:
When peace, like a river,
attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea
billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou hast
taught me to say,
It is well, it is well,
with my soul.
Though Satan should
buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance
control,
That Christ hath regarded
my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own
blood for my soul.
The story doesn’t end with the writing of a
hymn.
Spafford belonged to a Presbyterian church,
and they considered the tragedies that his family had gone through as some sort
of divine punishment from God. Spafford
disagreed. He formed his own group
called “The Overcomers” and in 1881 set out for Jerusalem. They would form what would be known as “The
American Colony” in Jerusalem. For the
next seventy years, this group would be used to relieve the suffering of all
those living in Jerusalem – Jews, Muslims, and Christians, through the running
of soup kitchens, hospitals, orphanages, and other charitable ventures. When
WWI hit Palestine, they were an important source of aid and were trusted by all
sides of the conflict.
This group that had 70 years of healthy,
productive, compassionate ministry, was birthed by a man who had endured great
pain.
Beloved, God knows how to get you where you
need to be.
When things don’t make sense or seem out of
control, God knows all about it.
You can trust Him.
Just think of Joseph
getting his summons to report to Bethelehem…
:6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her
to be delivered.
:6 completed – pletho
– to fill; to be fulfilled, to be filled
:6 to be delivered – tikto
– to bring forth, bear, produce (fruit from the seed); of a woman giving
birth
:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling
cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the
inn.
:7 brought forth – tikto
– to bring forth, bear, produce (fruit from the seed); of a woman giving
birth
:7 firstborn – prototokos
– the firstborn
:7 wrapped … in swaddling cloths
– sparganoo
– to wrap in swaddling clothes
From the word for “strap”, as to
strap something down.
Even now, when your baby is first born, you are taught to wrap them up
tight in their blanket. A baby needs to feel wrapped up, like they were in the
womb.
The language suggests that it was Mary who wrapped the baby in the
swaddling clothes. In other words, there had been no midwife. Mary had given
birth on her own without any help.
:7 laid – anaklino
– to lean against, lean upon; to lay down
:7 laid Him in a manger
manger – phatne – a crib,
a manger
It comes from the word for “eat”. This is a place where animals eat, a
feeding trough.
Jesus used this word when talking
about how people treat their animals on the Sabbath.
(Luke 13:15 NKJV) The Lord
then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath
loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?
Tradition has it that Jesus was born in a cave in the hillside behind the
inn.
Lesson
Humble Example
Here is the climax of the grand event in which the Creator of the Universe
has come to visit earth by taking on human flesh.
Instead of being born in marble floored palaces, He was born in a stable.
Instead of being welcomed by multitudes of wealthy, influential people,
there was no room for Him at the inn.
If God was able to work things out so that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem
in order to fulfill prophecy, why didn’t He make the entrance of His Son into
the world a little more glorious?
(2 Corinthians 8:9
NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might
become rich.
He did it for our sake.
God is concerned that we too learn humility.
(Philippians 2:3–8
NLT) —3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking
of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in
others, too. 5 You must
have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think
of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine
privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human
being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death
on a cross.
Life is not about getting what you “deserve” from others.
Real life is all about loving and serving others.
:7 no room for them in the inn
:7 room – topos
– place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space
:7 inn – kataluma
– an inn, lodging place
(Mark 14:14 NKJV) —14 Wherever
he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest
room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
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2:8-14 Angels Announce
Linus tells us that this next passage is what Christmas is all about. Follow
along in your Bible.
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:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
:8 living out in the fields – agrauleo
– to live in the fields, be under the open sky, even at night
:8 keeping – phulasso
– to guard; to watch, keep watch
:8 watch – phulake
– guard, watch; a watching, keeping watch
:8 keeping watch – literally, “guarding their guard”
:8 shepherds living out in the fields
Shepherds weren’t considered the most likeable of people.
They were considered thieves and cheats.
If the shepherds came to town, you might want to lock up your kids to keep
them safe.
Some have
suggested that these shepherds may have been tending flocks that contained
lambs which would be used for the Passover Sacrifice.
Flocks were only kept out in the field all night from the time of Passover
in the spring until the fall.
It’s not likely that Jesus was born in December.
Linus read so … skip to …
:9 And behold, an angel of the Lord
stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
greatly afraid.
:9 an angel of the Lord –
This is not to be confused with the
person in the Old Testament known as “The angel of the Lord”, which we believe
was Jesus.
The word “angel” (angelos) simply means “messenger”. John the Baptist was called a “messenger” (aggelos) (Mat. 11:10). Here (Luke 2:9), this person is of the
species of angelic creature that we commonly call “angel”, but the word isn’t
always used that way. Jesus, as “the
angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament wasn’t of the class of creatures we
call “angels”, but He was at times a “messenger” of God.
:9 shone around – perilampo
(“around” + “shine”) – to shine around
:9 greatly afraid – literally, “fearing they were afraid”
:9 the glory of the Lord
Shekinah?
:10 Then the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid, for behold,
:10 … I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
:10 bring … good tidings – euaggelizo
(“good” + “message”) – to bring good news, to announce glad tidings
We get our word “evangelize” from this.
:10 which will be to all people
The good news wouldn’t just be for
the Jews, though Jesus did come for them.
The whole world has benefited from Jesus’ coming to earth.
:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord.
:11 born – tikto
– to bring forth, bear, produce (fruit from the seed); of a woman giving
birth
:11 born to you this day …a
Savior
Jesus wouldn’t one day become a Savior. He was born a Savior.
:12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped
in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
:12 the sign – semeion
– a sign, mark, token
:12 a Babe – brephos
– an unborn child, embryo, a foetus; a new-born child, an infant, a babe
:12 wrapped … in swaddling
cloths – sparganoo – to wrap in swaddling clothes
:12 manger – phatne
– a crib, a manger
:12 lying in a manger
This is how they would recognize the child.
This newborn will not just be wrapped in swaddling cloths like all
newborns, this one will be laying in a feeding trough.
Lesson
Within reach
Jesus was not born in a golden palace, away from the riff-raff of the
world.
He was born in a place that even shepherds would be able to enter, even be
familiar with.
Jesus is not beyond you.
He is within your reach.
:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying:
:13 suddenly – exaiphnes
– of a sudden, suddenly, unexpectedly
:13 multitude – plethos
– a multitude
:13 host – stratia
– an army, band of soldiers
Don’t think of “host” like Martha
Stewart. These are angelic warriors.
:13 praising – aineo
– to praise, extol, to sing praises in honour to God
:13 a multitude of the heavenly host
Don’t think of “hosts” as in Martha Stewart.
The Bible word for “host” means “army” or “soldiers”.
A huge angelic army suddenly appears before the lowly shepherds. And they
say…
:14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
:14 Glory to God in the highest
or, “the highest glory to God”
:14 goodwill – eudokia
– will, choice; good will, kindly intent, benevolence
:14 Glory … peace, goodwill
Lesson
The Message
The angels are proclaiming two things:
God deserves honor
To God belongs the highest glory
What God has just done is completely amazing. God has sent
His Son.
(2
Corinthians 5:21 NLT) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our
sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Man can know God
Men can have God’s peace and kindness
What Jesus is going to do is going to bring peace between
God and men, and they will know God’s kindness.
This comes when we believe in Jesus, when we trust what He has done by
dying for our sins.
(Romans
5:1 NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith,
we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
This is our message as well. This is the “good news”.
2:15-20 Shepherds Visit
:15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that
the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
:15 gone away from them into
heaven
I wonder what that looked like? Did
they just disappear suddenly, or did they fly higher and higher?
:15 this thing – rhema
– that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken,
word; subject matter of speech, thing spoken of
:16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying
in a manger.
:16 with haste – speudo
– to haste, make haste
:16 found – aneurisko
– to find out by search
:16 manger – phatne
– a crib, a manger
:16 the Babe lying in a manger
The shepherds found the Babe just where the angel had said He would be, in
a feeding trough.
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:17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying
which was told them concerning this Child.
:17 they made widely known – diagnorizo
– to publish abroad, make known thoroughly
:17 the saying – rhema
– that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word;
subject matter of speech, thing spoken of
:17 Child – paidion
– a young child, a little boy, a little girl
:17 they made widely known the saying
These lowly, common shepherds “evangelized”. They spread the good news of what God had
done.
They share the same message that was told to them by the angels.
God deserves honor.
Man can know God.
:18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were
told them by the shepherds.
:18 marveled – thaumazo
– to wonder, wonder at, marvel
:19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
:19 kept – suntereo
– to preserve (a thing from perishing or being lost); to keep within one’s
self, keep in mind (a thing, lest it be forgotten)
:19 these things – rhema
– that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken,
word; subject matter of speech, thing spoken of
:19 pondered – sumballo
– to throw together, to bring together; to converse; to bring together in
one’s mind, confer with one’s self
:19 Mary kept all these things and pondered
I wonder if this is hinting that Mary might have even made a written
record. We do believe she is one of Luke’s eye witnesses.
:20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
:20 heard and seen
The shepherds hadn’t just “heard” things. They followed up and verified
that what they heard was true.
This is descriptive of an eyewitness account.
:20 glorifying and praising God
The shepherds learned to do what the angels did. They gave praise to God. Let’s review…
Video: Christmas Hallelujah
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