top of page
Search

The Greatest Name in History (Luke 2:1-20)

Little Flock Church

Sermon on 28 November 2021 by Ps Justin


Luke 2:1-20 - “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.”


Philippians 2:9-11 - “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”


Jesus’ life is like no other. Jesus’ name is like no other. Jesus is a name above all names. When everyone hears the name of Jesus Christ on Earth, they have to bow before Him. All the knees underneath the Earth, who are the agents of Satan, must bow to Him too. The world has to confess that Jesus is Lord.


In Luke 1, the greatest man ever born of a woman is John the Baptist. In Luke 2, the one and only almighty God who ever lived is Jesus.


Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except through Him. Jesus came into the world in such a humble way. This is the way to discipleship, to Calvary, to the cross. Jesus was wrapped in a swaddling cloth. This is a great prophetic reference. The way leading to Calvary is through the manger. Jesus died on the cross. That is the truth. If everyone wanted to be set free and live a victorious life, Jesus said that He was there to seek and save those who are lost. You need to die to your self-will. When you talk about the cross, the devil shivers. Jesus is the king inside us. When you abide in Him, you will be set free. When Jesus says you are set free, you are set free.


Some people don’t want Jesus Christ. They just want to celebrate Christmas without Jesus. In everything we do, point it to Jesus and glorify Him. Point others towards Jesus. Guide these people to the path of peace.


Luke 2:11 was being prophesied by Isaiah.


Isaiah 9:6 - “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”


We are the object of God toward peace and goodwill.


John 1:12 - “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”


If you meditate on the word day and night, tremendous promises will come your way. In everything you do, you will have success.


Pointers for today (in comparison to the circumstances of John the Baptist’s):


1. Jesus’ Miraculous Birth


Luke 1:13 - “But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”


Luke 1:27 - “to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.”


John was born to elderly parents. This birth was difficult to achieve but not impossible. Jesus was born to a virgin. This birth was seemingly impossible to humans.


2. Jesus’ Birth Setting


Luke 1:57 - “When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.”


Luke 2:4 - “And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.”


Elizabeth gave birth in her home. Mary gave birth in Bethlehem. That was 90 miles away from her home. This birth was prophesied by Micah in the Old Testament.


Micah 5:2 - “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.”


3. Jesus’ Birth Circumstances


Luke 1:57 - “When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.”


Luke 2:7 - “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”


You and I are normal when it comes to birth. Jesus’ birth, however, is extremely different. He is trying to say that John’s birth is normal, like us, but Jesus’ birth is humble. Let us stand firm in the truth and faith that we receive. Stand in the garden of obedience. Grow your roots. Dig the sow of humility. Let your root grow down deep such that the fruit reaches high. To a great man, is it greater to be normal or to be humble?


Some people ask why they don’t have grace. The question isn’t about whether you have grace or no grace. It’s about if you are humble. The Bible says that grace is to those who are humble. You must have faith. God opposes the proud. If you say you have no grace, you are just saying that you are arrogant. When you have a light in you, you are a recipient and you tell widely about Jesus.


4. Jesus’ Birth Announcements


Luke 1:57 - “When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.”


Luke 2:10 - “but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”


Elizabeth announced the birth of John but the angels announced the birth of Jesus. Everyone was amazed by the birth of John. A group of people were singing after his Circumstances. However, a multitude of angels in heaven were singing for the birth of Jesus. They were probably singing in extremely high decibels.


Luke 1:67-79 - “Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.””


Luke 2:13 - “Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,”


Luke 1:66 - “Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.”


Luke 2:18 - “All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,”


Everyone who heard about Jesus’ birth marveled. No one can compare to the only God who ever lived - Jesus. The one who died for us on the cross was wounded for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Through these, you and I were healed. We all run astray. God laid these iniquities on Him. What shall we do now? We have to ensure that we are always standing in faith.


Luke 2:19 - “but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”


Luke 2:17 - “After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.”


Luke 2:20 - “The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.”


We have to ask ourselves that question. We should imitate what Mary and the Shepherds did. Mary meditated. The Shepherds worshipped and told others. Meditate on His goodness and blessings. Every drop of blood that came down from His forehead was for us. Let us preach forth the gospel.


Amen.

32 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


2 Kallang Ave #03-10/11/12/13 CT Hub (S) 339407

Tel: 69 777 070

Email: littleflockchurch@yahoo.com.sg   

  • White Instagram Icon
  • White Facebook Icon

Thanks for submitting!

©2024 Little Flock Church Singapore.

bottom of page