1.

Verses 1-7 describe the place where the Savior was born. What does the Bible say about the Savior’s birthplace? (Micah 5:2) What does this passage indicate about the Father God who sent the Savior as he had promised? 

** Bethlehem of Judah in Israel, which was the hometown of David (and Joseph who came from the line of David). 

Bethlehem means in Hebrew a house of bread, indicating that Jesus is the bread of life which satisfies man. 

** It indicates that God is faithful to his promise. 

This faithfulness of God the Father is perhaps the most important, foundational truth, on which our salvation hinges. 

We are unfaithful, but God is faithful, so we have the hope to be faithful and participate in his plan of salvation, overcoming our fatalism and habitual unbelief.

We can see this truth working in man’s life by looking at how despite children’s unfaithfulness, when parents are faithful, once unfaithful children end up repenting and picking up the message, so they become faithful again. By the same token, if parents are unfaithful children are exposed to the devil’s schemes, so they end up being harassed by the wolves. Examples include broken children from broken families where their parents had gone unfaithful. It was the same in the day of John the Baptist, for the Lord God sent John to turn father’s hearts to their children, and disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous. 

2. 

Verse 7 says that after his birth the Savior was placed in a manger (a feeding trough for animals).  This implies that Jesus was born in a stable used for animals.  What does the expression “because there was no room for them in the inn” tell us about: 1) Joseph and Mary; 2) the people under the rule of Caesar Augustus; and 3) God the Father?

** They were poor, indicating that Jesus was born in a relatively poor family with no political clout. 

** The love of many grew cold.

** He is full of love. We did not love him, but still he loves us. For this reason the Apostle John says, “We did not love him first, but he first loved us.” In love he visited us, even if we gave him the cold shoulder. 

3.

Consider the shepherds in verses 8-9. What does “keeping watch over their flocks at night” tell us about them? Why might they have been “terrified” upon seeing the glory of the Lord? What does their response suggest about the condition of fallen men?

** They were sort of humanly faithful.

** They were sinners who remained separated from the Lord. The glory of the Lord refers to the essential nature of God, indicating that the presence of the Lord (even the hint of it) made them “uncomfortable”.

** Fallen men feel more comfortable in their own sin. This is like a frog feeling snug in a pan of warm water. This reminds us of what Jesus said of the Pharisees, “You would die in your sins.” John 8:24.

4.

Meditate on the meaning of the angel’s words in verses 10-12. What do the following statements mean to you? 1) Do not be afraid; 2) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to “you”; 3) He is Christ, the Lord; 4) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.  

** Do not be afraid: this means that we should overcome the sense of condemnation. God did not send Jesus to condemn us but to save those who believe in Him. Many do not come to service or bible studies, driven by the sense of condemnation. But we must overcome this sense of condemnation. 

** Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: this indicates that Jesus is not one of many Saviors but the Savior whom God had promised to send. It also teaches us that Jesus is going to be a personal Savior for each of us.

** He is Christ, the Lord: Christ means Messiah which in Hebrew means the anointed. He is not the “anointed” of the anointed, in that of all the anointed, he alone is the one appointed by God to save the lost from the power of sin and Satan. [Note: in Israel’s history they anointed three offices: prophet, king, and priest. Jesus is prophet, priest, and king. Jesus is the King of kings, Lord of lords, priest of priests, and prophet of all prophets. In fact he is the author of all of them.]

This indicates that Jesus came to be my own priest (or simply shepherd who stands before God as my ultimate defense attorney), my prophet (meaning a Bible teacher, revealing God’s truths to me), and the King meaning he is the one to establish the rule of God in my heart.

** This will be a sign to you…: this tells us that unlike worldly saviors, he is the one who is totally accessible, so I can welcome with a joyful heart, just as I can welcome a little baby. After all he came to be born in a humble place like my own smelly heart. At the same time this indicates that Jesus is a gentle king. In addition, his life must first be born inside of me, and grow up in me. The word “sign” also indicates that its beginning is small but its end will be unimaginably glorious. It also points to the direction for us to go, for sign points to the destination. 

5.

Imagine yourself being at the scene described in verses 13-14. What do the following lyrics tell us about the way God grants great joy to man? 1) Glory to God in the highest (Isaiah 40:1-31); 2) on earth peace to men; 3) on whom his favor rests.

** Joy comes when God reveals his glory to each person. The expression “glory to God” refers to the credit that needs to be given to God the Father. The credit then is for the Lord God fully revealing himself (his intrinsic nature as God) in and through Jesus Christ. God has many different ways to reveal his glory to men, such as in nature and through people in his redemptive history. In his nature, for example, King David said that the heavens are telling (of this glory). In a microcosm and macrocosm, he reveals his glory in the way he designed and makes things work. In the lives of people such as Abel, Enoch, or Elijah, God reveals his glory. But his glory has never been fully revealed as fully as in the life of Jesus Christ, for his birth, his growth, his ministry, his death, his ascension and his ministry to this date fully reveals who God is. Glory, then is the original purpose of God in creating man, for he made man to help man enjoy his glory and reveal His glory. This is the source of joy for man, for it is when one fulfills his purpose of creation that one’s joy becomes complete.

Note: the angel’s voice saying “Glory to God in the highest” is in fulfillment of what Isaiah said in Isaiah 40:5.

** On earth peace to men: this refers to one of the fruits of the work of salvation in and through Jesus, that is, peace between God and men and then among men. This peace is not a superficial, temporary, political peace, but deep inner peace that is eternal and spiritual. This peace is the source of great joy, for in order for the joy to become truly great it must be a collective experience.

** On whom his favor rests: this represents the condition for one to experience the joy of God, that is, living by faith in the Lord God. The Bible teaches us that it is when one lives by faith in the Lord that the Lord shows his favor on us. The point is that God’s favor is not conditional upon our merits, but upon His merits, that is, by faith in His goodness. In Luke’s gospel chapter 1, Elizabeth also expressed the same thing by saying that Mary was blessed by God for her faith in the Lord. 

When Jesus came, he constantly exhorted people on this point, that is, to have faith in God, which is what causes God’s favor to fall upon people. 

In this holiday season we need to believe all that Jesus says he would do, will be fulfilled. 

6.

Read verses 15-16. What do the shepherds’ actions suggest about the way for us to take possession of the great joy the Lord has in mind for us? 

** The words such as “go” and “see” are the key. We need to actually go and attend the worship such as Christmas worship. When we actually do this, God will bless us with firsthand knowledge about the joy of God.

7.

Read verses 17-20. What did the shepherds do with the good news they received? How did the Lord bless their service?

** Spreading the good news is the final key to experiencing complete joy in the Lord.

The end