Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.

Erich Maria Remarque: “Nothing New From the West” (1929)

“One morning two butterflies play in front of our trench. They are brimstone-butterflies, with red spots on their yellow wings. What can they be looking for here? There is not a plant nor a flower for miles. They settle on the teeth of a skull. The birds too are just as carefree, they have long since accustomed themselves to the war. Every morning larks ascend from No Man’s Land. A year ago we watched them nesting; the young ones grew up too.”

Luke 1:46
ESV: “My soul magnifies the Lord.”
Vulgate: “Magnificat anima mea Dominum.”
“Magnificat,” lit. “to magnify”

Luke 2:1-3 – “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.”

“Caesar Augustus” – Born Gaius Octavian, grandnephew of Julius Caesar
Defeated Cassius & Brutus in Philippi in 42 B.C.
Defeated Mark Antony & Cleopatra in 31 B.C.

Luke 2:4-5 – “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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”

Bethlehem: 2,500 feet above sea level
Nazareth: 1,800 feet above sea level

Luke 2:6-7 – “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.”

“Inn,” Gk. κατάλυμα (katalyma), “a guest room”
Mk. 14:14

Q: What about the innkeeper?

Parable of Good Samaritan, Luke 10:33-35 – “But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’”

Luke 2: “inn,” Gk. κατάλυμα (katalyma), “guest room”
Luke 10: “inn,” Gk. πανδοχεῖον (pandocheion), “a public inn”

Truth: Peace is costly.

TAKEAWAYS

1. Peace doesn’t deliver us from our circumstances, but it does deliver us through them.
Jn. 16:33
Phil. 4:6-7

2. God’s peace delivers us through our circumstances, but not necessarily through our consequences.

COMMUNION

1. This is a practice for believers (1 Cor. 11:18, 33)

2. This is a practice that demands self-examination (1 Cor. 11:27-29)

a. The Bread
1 Cor. 11:23-24 – “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”

b. The Cup
1 Cor. 11:25-26 – “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”