The Birth of the Messiah:
A Christmas Series 2023

f) Christ is fully man (vs 14)

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

g) Christ is preexisted God (vs 15-16) 1

5 John bore witness about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has been ahead of me, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

h) Christ is full of grace and Truth (vs 17)

17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

i) Christ is the Only Begotten God (vs 18)

18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

d) Christ sent a faithful witness of the Truth (vs 6-8)

6 There was a man having been sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to bear witness about the Light.

e) Christ is Saviour (vs 11-13)

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to what was His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Christ is God (vs 1-2)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

b) Christ is the Creator God (vs 3)

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Romans 11:36,

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Colossians 1:16-17,

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

c) Christ is Life and Light (vs 4-5)

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

John 5:26,

“For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

John 11:25,

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Psalm 19:7-10

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Psalm 119:33-40

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart. 35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain. 37 Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways. 38 Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. 39 Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good. 40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness.

1) The Shepherd’s response (vs 15)

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

Quote: Romans 10:9-10

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation.

2) They hurriedly found their way to Mary, Joseph and the baby. (vs 16)

16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

3) The dialog between the shepherds and Mary and Joseph (vs 17)

17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

4) The Shepherd’s spread the good news. (vs 18)

18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

5) Mary’s deep meditation of these things. (vs 19)

19 But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart.

6) The Shepherds glorified and praised God (vs20)

20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Luke 2:1-5 - The census Decrees/ Joseph and Mary

1 Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. 4 And 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, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child.

Luke 2:6-7 - The birth of Jesus

6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room.

Luke 2:8-14 The shepherds and the angelic announcement

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But 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. 11 For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is bChrist the Lord. 12 “And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men bwith whom He is pleased.”

LUKE 1:26-30

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

LUKE 1:31-35 31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

LUKE 1:36-38

36 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 “For anothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

1) Elizabeth gave birth to a son (vs 57-58)

57 Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.

2) Zachariah named his son John (vs 59-64)

59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zechariah, after the name of his father. 60 But his mother answered and said, “No, but he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 And they were making signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. 64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing God.

3) The people believed the word of God (vs 65-66)

65 And fear came on all those living around them, and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all who heard these things put them in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was indeed with him.

Luke 1:18-25

1) Zachariah’s lack of faith in God’s Word (vs 18-20)

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For aI am an old man and my wife is advanced in 1years.” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am aGabriel, who bstands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

2) The Lord fulfilled His word in spite of Zachariah’s lack of faith ( vs 21-25)

Luke 1:21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. And he akept 1making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 And it happened that when the days of his priestly service were fulfilled, he went back home. Luke 1:24 After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she 1kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked upon me to atake away my disgrace among men.”

Preparing the Way: The Birth of the Messiah (Luke 1:1-17)

1. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous people (vs 5-7)

2. Zechariah and Elizabeth will have a son (vs 8-14) 3. Who is John? (vs 15-17)