1. The Real Christmas Story

2. The Real Christmas Story
Luke 2:1-40
v1-3….look at all the historical facts here.
v7….Jesus was born where animals were….animals were used in the Temple sacrifices….coincidence?
v8….it was not December 25th, it was probably in the springtime. Shepards/pastors care for God’s flock (Psalm 23:1, Isaiah 40:11, Hebrews 13:20 & 1Peter 2:25 & 5:2)
v9,10….what was the shepards reaction? This is how the birth of kings/princes was announced.
v12….a baby born in a manger was not normal, that’s why it was a sign.
v14….the more correct translation is, “ and on Earth, peace to men on whom His favor rest”.

3. The Real Christmas Story
v17,18….the 1st Christian evangelists were lowly shepherds instead of the King’s heralds.
v19….a young girl of ponders all of this.
v25-38….God confirms His plan by 2 witnesses (Deut 19:15 & Mt 18:16).
v31,32….Jesus is the Messiah of the whole world, not just Israel.
v34,35….note the order, the falling & rising, not the rising and falling. Maybe this refers to the dispersal of Israel (70A.D.) & the re-gathering of Israel (1948 A.D.) This clash hurts Mary deeply.
v39,40….Joseph & Mary were godly people, yet look at what God asked of them.

4. The Real Christmas Story
So why the big deal about Jesus? Let’s review some facts….
Genesis 2:4-9, & 3:6-24….note c2v16 & c3v22, the tree of life & offspring/seed of a woman (not of a woman & man) in c3v15. This seed is Jesus, Galatians 3:16.
Genesis is paradise lost….Revelation is paradise regained. In-between is the story of us, the human race & the story of our Redeemer, Jesus and about how God redeemed us…Revelation 21: :1,2,13-17….note v2,14 the tree of life.

5. The Real Christmas Story
So what do we do in the meantime?
Hebrews 12:2,3…fixing our eyes on Jesus…
Philippians 2:5-11…Jesus is God!
1st Corinthians 15:2-4…the basic message of salvation
1st John 5:11-13…assurance of eternal life
Romans 5:1,6,8 & 13:11-14…what we do with our salvation
Acts 4:12 & 13:47,49,52…Christianity is personal, not private
Christmas is not just some nice holiday – but the start of a radical new Kingdom. It reminds us that we need to follow King Jesus into His Kingdom, which will eventually merge into the eternal Kingdom or paradise restored. This Christmas, let’s celebrate Jesus!