1. The Day Jesus was Born

2. The First Noel? No observance of birth commanded by God Added by men, Psa. 19:13; Matt. 15:7-9; 28:18 (Col. 3:17) Date of birth not in the Bible: –Days of Herod the Great (37-4 BC) & Caesar Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD), Matt. 2:1; Lk. 2:1 –Winter very unlikely, Lk. 2:8 (S of S 2:11) No observance of birth commanded by God Added by men, Psa. 19:13; Matt. 15:7-9; 28:18 (Col. 3:17) Date of birth not in the Bible: –Days of Herod the Great (37-4 BC) & Caesar Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD), Matt. 2:1; Lk. 2:1 –Winter very unlikely, Lk. 2:8 (S of S 2:11) 2

3. The First Noel? “ But the exact time of his birth is unknown; there is no way to ascertain it. By different learned men it has been fixed at each month in the year. Nor is it of consequence to know the time; if it were, God would have preserved the record of it. Matters of moment are clearly revealed; those which he regards as of no importance are concealed…” (Albert Barnes, Commentary on Luke 2:8) “ But the exact time of his birth is unknown; there is no way to ascertain it. By different learned men it has been fixed at each month in the year. Nor is it of consequence to know the time; if it were, God would have preserved the record of it. Matters of moment are clearly revealed; those which he regards as of no importance are concealed…” (Albert Barnes, Commentary on Luke 2:8) Deuteronomy 29:29 3

4. An Obscure Day Entrance into world was humble & lowly, Luke 2:4-7, 12, 16 (Matt. 11:29; 2:23) We must seek Jesus: –Shepherds, Lk. 2:15-16 ( Acts 17:27) –Later, the wise men, Matt. 2:1-2, 11 We must be humble like Jesus, 1 Pet. 5:5-7 Entrance into world was humble & lowly, Luke 2:4-7, 12, 16 (Matt. 11:29; 2:23) We must seek Jesus: –Shepherds, Lk. 2:15-16 ( Acts 17:27) –Later, the wise men, Matt. 2:1-2, 11 We must be humble like Jesus, 1 Pet. 5:5-7 4

5. A Miraculous Day Virgin birth, Lk. 1:31, 34-35, 37-38 –Conception, Matt. 1:18, 20-23 (Isa. 7:14) –In Bethlehem, Matt. 2:4-6 (Micah 5:2) God became flesh, Isaiah 9:6-7 (Jno. 1:14; Heb. 2:14) –Left heaven’s glory, Phil. 2:5-7 –A body was prepared for Him, Heb. 10:5 Virgin birth, Lk. 1:31, 34-35, 37-38 –Conception, Matt. 1:18, 20-23 (Isa. 7:14) –In Bethlehem, Matt. 2:4-6 (Micah 5:2) God became flesh, Isaiah 9:6-7 (Jno. 1:14; Heb. 2:14) –Left heaven’s glory, Phil. 2:5-7 –A body was prepared for Him, Heb. 10:5 5

6. A Day Salvation Came Down to Man The unfolding of God’s plan, Matt. 1:21; Gal. 4:4-5 –Mary saw these things as God sending salvation to His people, Lk. 1:47, 54-55 (cf. 1:67-79) –Angelic pronouncement, Lk. 2:8-10 –Simeon saw the Lord’s salvation when he saw the child, Lk. 2:28-32 The unfolding of God’s plan, Matt. 1:21; Gal. 4:4-5 –Mary saw these things as God sending salvation to His people, Lk. 1:47, 54-55 (cf. 1:67-79) –Angelic pronouncement, Lk. 2:8-10 –Simeon saw the Lord’s salvation when he saw the child, Lk. 2:28-32 6

7. A Day of Joyful Worship The angels, Lk. 2:13-14 The shepherds, Lk. 2:20 Later, the wise men, Matt. 2:11 Our daily worship of “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11; Jno. 4:24) The angels, Lk. 2:13-14 The shepherds, Lk. 2:20 Later, the wise men, Matt. 2:11 Our daily worship of “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11; Jno. 4:24) 7

8. A Day to Tell Others Shepherds heard good news, Lk. 2:10-11 Given a sign & saw angelic chorus, Lk. 2:12-14 Considered the event, Lk. 2:15, 16 Told others what God had made known to them, Lk. 2:17 We are to tell others the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20) Shepherds heard good news, Lk. 2:10-11 Given a sign & saw angelic chorus, Lk. 2:12-14 Considered the event, Lk. 2:15, 16 Told others what God had made known to them, Lk. 2:17 We are to tell others the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20) 8

9. Child in the Manger… Is now King of heaven & earth, Rev. 12:1-5 (Matt. 28:18) His judgments are righteous: We must humbly obey Him or face fierce judgment, Rev. 12:5 Through His blood we overcome & rejoice, Rev. 12:10-12 Is now King of heaven & earth, Rev. 12:1-5 (Matt. 28:18) His judgments are righteous: We must humbly obey Him or face fierce judgment, Rev. 12:5 Through His blood we overcome & rejoice, Rev. 12:10-12 9