“Keep Up The Christmas Declarations”

First shared on 12.28.22. First posted on 12.30.22. See the previous study on Luke 1:5-17 (“Get Ready For Christmas! Celebrate the Presence!”), on Luke 1:26-33 (“Prophetic, Angelic Pregnancy Announcement”), on Luke 1:34-38 (“The Christmas Miracle: Nothing Is Impossible With God!”), and on Luke 2:1-7 (“The Best Gift In History: The Deliverer’s Delivery”).

Introduction
Bible Study Audio
Bible Study Video
Live Stream Recording
Bible Study Slideshow
Conclusion
Bibliography

Introduction

Well, now that Christmas has come and gone, how much longer should we keep our Christmas tree up? How much longer should our Christmas lights flash at night?

Waiting until the Spring is likely not a good thing.

But it’s always a good thing to spread the good news – that the true Savior who brings true peace is born. Christ — the Messiah who is the true Lord — has come.

Though it may be time to take down our Christmas decorations, let’s always keep up our Christmas declarations.

Bible Study Audio

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Bible Study Video

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Live Stream Recording

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Bible Study Slideshow

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12-28-22 Bible Study Slides Luke 2_8-20

Conclusion

Caesar Augustus (Lk 2:1) was thought to be a god, a son of a god, the Lord, and the “savior of the world” – whose birth meant peace, hope, and good news for all people.

Nonetheless, Luke lets us know that Jesus is the true Son of God – the Messiah, who is the LORD – the true Savior of the world who brings true peace (shalom), hope, and Good News (gospel) to all people.

Augustus is exalted, but the One who will be exalted above every name (Php 2:9-11) has humble beginnings – a humble birth.

And, by an angelic army, the true peace of God that He brings about for those whom God favors for being faithful to Him is first announced to humble shepherds.

God uses outsiders to proclaim the gospel, redefining spiritual family (cf. Lk 8:19-21). The Lord uses the lowly, upending the status quo.

As we’ve said, though we may have a high view of shepherds, most people held them in low esteem.

But, ironically, the good news first comes not to the people in power, but to peasants… not to the courts of kings, but to some fellows in the field. As it’s been said, and as we often see in Luke, “…the lowly are lifted up.”¹

So, no matter who you are, no matter what your social status is, no matter what people think about you… like the shepherds, we should all spread the Good News² of Christmas.

And, Christmas ain’t merely about earthly family or earthly peace; it’s about being apart of God’s spiritual family by surrendering to His Son — and thus having peace with God.

Christmas ain’t merely about presents from the store, but the Presence of the Lord.

And even though Christmastime is now over, we should always proclaim the Good News – the Gospel – that a Savior has been born. That Jesus saves from sin (Mt 1:21). That He died on the cross for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

And that all who are faithful to God the Son are reconciled back into right relationship with God the Father.

The good seed of the Good News may not always fall on good ground. But, we should strive to be good shepherds for the Good Shepherd… and go, tell it anyhow. We should go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.

Like Mary, we should always treasure the good news in our hearts. It should always be on our mouths and on our minds. And we all should always give God all the glory.

So, though it may be time to take down our Christmas decorations, let’s always keep up our Christmas declarations.

Bibliography

Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. [BDAG]
Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–. [EDNT]
Bock, Darrell L. Luke: 1:1–9:50. Vol. 1. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1994
Cross, F. L. and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Edwards, James R. The Gospel according to Luke. Edited by D. A. Carson. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015.
Evans, Craig A. Luke. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1990.
Garland, David E. Luke. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: . Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.
Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997.
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996. [LN]
Morris, Leon. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 3. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
Schreiner, Thomas in Burge, Gary M., and Andrew E. Hill, eds. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. [NIDNTTE]
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
Strauss, Mark in Arnold, Clinton E. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus. Zondervan. Kindle Edition, 1998.
Trites, Allison A., William J. Larkin. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 12: The Gospel of Luke and Acts. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2006.
Water, Mark. The Christian Book of Records. Alresford, Hants, UK: John Hunt Pub., 2002.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.