The Whole Truth - Luke 2:17-20
December 10, 2023
Christmas pop quiz for you this morning…
- Joseph was from: a) Bethlehem b) Jerusalem c) North Dakota d) Nazareth
- Who insisted that Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem? a) The Angel b) Mary’s mom c) Caesar Augustus d) Herod 3. How does the Bible say Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem? a) camel b) donkey c) walked d) it doesn’t
- Mary and Joseph were married when she became pregnant. T or F
- Mary and Joseph were married when Jesus was born. T or F
- What did the innkeeper tell them? a) there is no room at the inn b) I have a stable you can use c) nothing
- According to the Bible, which animals were present at His birth? (circle all that apply) a) cows b) sheep c) goats d) chickens e) dog f) doesn’t say
- Who saw the Star in the East? a) Shepherds b) Herod c) Magi d) Angels
- The angels sang to the shepherds about the Baby’s birth. T or F
- What sign did the angel tell the shepherds to look for? a) baby in manger b) the Star c) crying baby d) baby in stable
- How many Magi came to see Jesus? a) 3 b) 12 c) 20 d) don’t know
- Where did the Magi find Jesus? a) in a manger b) at a house c) Holiday Inn d) in a stable
- Which gospels talk about the Christmas story? (circle all that apply)a) Matthew b) Mark c) Luke d) John
- Since Jesus was born… Christmas has always been celebrated on Dec 25th. T or F
let’s find out the whole truth and nothing but the truth about Christmas… pray…
Luke 2:17-20… “they reported the message they were told about the Child… all who heard it were amazed… returned glorifying and praising God for what they had seen and heard…”
rhema… uttered by a living voice; actual spoken words of God…
if we’re looking for truth… where do we find it…
Exo 34:6… “the Lord is… abounding in faithful love and truth…”
Psa 25:10… “all the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth…”
Psa 40:11… “Lord, your constant love and truth will always guard me…”
Psa 89:14… “righteousness, justice, faithful love and truth go before You…”
emet… firmness, faithfulness; sureness, reliability; stability; divine instruction…
John 1:14-17… “Word full of grace and truth… law given, grace and truth came…”
John 14:17… “He is the Spirit of truth…”
John 17:17… “Your word is truth…”
John 18:38… “what is truth, asked Pilate…”
aletheia… what is true in any matter; reality, fact, certainty; truth as taught in Christianity, opposing superstitions of Gentiles, inventions of Jews, corrupt opinions of false teachers…
every day fear tries to steal your freedom… put you back into slavery… only thing that can drive our fear… even great fear and phobias… is the perfect love of God…
Luke 2:9… “glory of the Lord shone around them… were terrified…”
1John 4:16-19… “no fear in love… perfect love drives out fear…”
present indicative active… continuous; fact, no doubt; accomplished by subject of verb…
shepherds were sore afraid, greatly afraid, terrified, filled with great fear, terribly frightened, absolutely terrified, y tuvieron gran temor… and then they weren’t…
Luke 2:10-20… “fear not, today a Savior has been born for you, this will be the sign, find baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger… hurried off and found the baby… after seeing, told everyone what had happened… all who heard were astonished… went back to their flocks… glorifying and praising God…”
what happened… they found the whole truth… met Jesus… found a Savior…
Luke 2:11… “the Savior, yes, the Messiah, the Lord… has been born today…”
soter (n)… deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation; blessings and benefits…
sozo (v)… keep safe; rescue from danger or destruction; make well, heal, restore to health…
a Savior saves… doesn’t bring judgment, guilt, shame, or condemnation…
John 3:16-36… “God gave… everyone who believes has eternal life… did not send Son to condemn world, but to save the world… anyone who believes is not condemned…”
John 12:31-32… “this is judgment… if I am lifted up… draw all judgment to Myself…”
Acts 13:39… “everyone who believes… declared free of guilt from all things…”
Rom 8:1… “therefore, no condemnation now exists in Christ Jesus…”
Rom 10:11… “the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame…”
Christmas is a reminder that this gift of salvation is freely given…
Isa 55:7-12… “God will have compassion… He will freely forgive…”
Luke 7:42… “they could not pay… he freely forgave them both…”
Rom 3:24… “justified as a gift by His grace thru redemption in Jesus…”
Rom 5:12-21… “greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness…”
Rom 6:23… “free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus…”
Rom 8:32… “did not spare His own Son… freely gives us all things…”
gifts must be received in order for us to enjoy benefits… your part in the Christmas story is to receive all that God has freely given us thru His Son…
John 1:12… “all who receive Him… become children… to those who believe…”
John 3:27… “no one can receive anything… unless it is given from heaven…”
Acts 1:8… “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”
Rom 5:17… “receive overflow of grace… gift of righteousness… reign in life…”
Gal 3:14… “blessing to Gentiles thru Jesus… receive promised HS by faith…”
Jam 1:6-8… “doubter should not expect to receive anything from the Lord…”
lambano… to take what is one’s own; receive what is offered; not refuse or deny…
whole truth is sometimes different than we’ve been taught… not cozy wood crib with straw, but indentation in stone… remind you of anything… baby born to die…
Luke 2:12… “find a baby wrapped in cloth… lying in a manger…”
Matt 27:59-60… “body wrapped in linen cloth.. in tomb cut into the rock…”
Col 2:17… “these are a shadow of what is to come… the substance is Christ…”
what’s the truth of how shepherds found Jesus… wasn’t star, but stone manger… angel didn’t say which manger… incredible story… for next week… pray…
Micah 4:8-5:2… “and to you, tower of the flock, royal might and power shall come, kingdom restored… one will come from you to be ruler, origin from everlasting…”