Born of the Virgin Mary

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A sermon on Luke 2:1-20 (ESV)

Christmas Day, 25 December 2017

“Unto you is born this day…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!” So the proclamation rings out from Heaven “which shall be for all people.” Beginning with the Shepherds in the fields, word of the Savior’s birth still rings out across the world. What happened in Bethlehem is no longer mere prophecy on a page, but historical reality. The Savior’s birth cannot remain the private secret of the Holy family, as when Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is born, out there for all the world to know.

A Savior was born to you in Bethlehem. The Savior for your family and friends, your enemies and strangers you’ve never met. It’s not me. It’s not you. They called his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Christ is born of the virgin Mary–for you!

Luke 2:1-20 (ESV)

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.