Luke 2:7-20
The Message of Christmas
Introduction
1. Is there any good news at Christmas?
2. Luke 2:7-20 we see 3 messages of Christmas:
I. A MESSAGE OF RECONSILIATION 2:8-14
II. A MESSAGE OF RECOGNITION 2:15-20
III. A MESSAGE OF REJECTION 2:7
Is there any good news at Christmas?
I. A MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION 2:8-14
This ‘good news’ went first to the outcast of society…the shepherds.
Angel…to the Jew an angel meant that God was near. They feared they might
die. They were terrified!
A. A Soothing Message 10a
“Fear not”
1. It implies that something had shaken their world.
2. God knows all of the fears without being told.
3. What is causing you fear? Jesus comes to remove fear.
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.
B. A Salvation Message 10b-11
1. The Proclamation… Good tidings… “Good News”
2. The Product…of receiving ‘Good News’….great joy!
3. The People…for whom this Good News is available... all
4. The Personalization…for unto you…It is for everyone, but it is for you.
What will you do with the ‘Good News’?
God came into the world…Savior…Christ (Messiah)…Lord
(Jehovah…Sovereign)
C. A Showing Message 12
‘This shall be a sign’
1. The Sign…the signature at the end of a letter is to substantiate the content.
God doesn’t ask us to take a blind leap of faith, BUT we must take a step
of faith!
2. The Substance…a baby wrapped…
*The Messiah…Christ the Lord in a feeding trough for animals!
*God’s Word pointed the way to Jesus. It still does!
D. A Shuttering Message 13-14
Suddenly…with the angel…a multitude saying…
1. The Source…glory to God in the highest…
2. The Salutation…peace
3. The Subjects…peace among men in whom God is well pleased!
Peace…the world longs for peace…there is peace with God and the peace
of God. Mankind needs a Savior in order to be pleasing to God!
Is there any good news at Christmas?
II. A MESSAGE OF RECOGNITION 2:15-20
These social outcasts, the unclean of society, the shepherds preach a message!
A. A Message of Obedience 15-16
“If you go…you will find”
1. Their Anticipation…let us go and find…see the thing that has come to
pass…It takes a step of faith!
If you seek Me you will find Me if you seek for me with a whole heart!
2. Their Authority…which the Lord hath made known unto us…
3. Their Arrival…they came with haste…
4. Their Actualization…they found…
It’s True…God’s Word Is True!
B. A Message of Opportunity 17-18
The Saw…They Said…All those who heard wondered…
The same is true today. When you see and experience, you can’t keep quite!
C. A Message of Outcome 19-20
1. The Preciousness 18 I wonder if Mary kept a diary?
2. The Praise 20
Heard/Seen/Told unto them…It was all true!
*They were still outcast…still shepherds…still in the field…
But they will never be the same!
Is there any good news at Christmas?
III. A MESSAGE OF REJECTION 2:7
No room for them in the inn… inn is the same word for upper room (Luke 22:12)
The older, privileged relatives stayed in the ‘upper room’. Below were the
animals. This provided heat for the house in the winter. It was here that Jesus
was born!
A. A Message of Sadness…no room
*People have room for everything BUT not Jesus.
*There is a God-shaped emptiness on the inside of everyone, and man tries to
fill it with something.
B. A Message of Sorrow…
Without Jesus you have no hope…no purpose…no meaning for being alive!
C. A Message of Separation…
The guests are in their warm beds, but Jesus is pushed out, relegated to a
feeding trough for animals. Jesus gets the left-overs, and you get the best.
Is there any good news at Christmas?
God became man.
He died on the cross to forgive you of your sins…
In order that you may have eternal life!
That’s Good News!