LUKE LESSON 4

    We will begin this lesson in Luke 2:1 "And it came to pass in
those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that
all the world should be taxed."  Luke 2:2 "( [And] this taxing was
first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)"

    This is beginning to tell of the birth of Jesus. The time is when
this tax was begun (in the time of Caesar Augustus).

    Luke 2:3 "And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city."
Luke 2:4 "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-
lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)"

    It appears that each family returned to their place of birth where
they were registered and were taxed from where they were born nd not
from where they lived now. We Christians know that the main reason
they had to go to Bethlehem was to fulfill prophecy. It had been
prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, in Micah 5:2 "But
thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands
of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to
be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from
everlasting."  God's prophecy has to be fulfilled in every detail.
"Bethlehem" means house of bread.  Jesus is the Bread of Life.

    Luke 2:5 "To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great
with child."

    Mary was living with Joseph, but had never slept with him. She is
pregnant by the Holy Ghost of God. It is time for her to be delivered.
Luke 2:6 "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered."

    It is generally understood that this was in the winter. Not
everyone believes December 25th to be the exact day, but I believe it
was the exact day because the Jewish feast of Lights falls on this
day; and Jesus is the Light of the world. This is the feast of
dedication or feast of Lights. This feast begin on December 25th and
goes eight days.

    Luke 2:7 "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him
in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no
room for them in the inn."

    Mary possibly had more children besides Jesus, later,  because the
marriage of Mary and Joseph was complete. We do know that Mary and
Jesus' brothers came to see Him and are spoken of as Jesus' brothers.
Matthew 12:47 "Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy
brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee." These would have
been Jesus' half brothers. They would have been Mary's children by
Joseph.  We do know that Mary lived with Joseph twelve years as
husband and wife. We see in verse 49 of this chapter that Mary was
still married.  As to the inn being full, there were so many people in
town to pay their taxes that all of the rooms were full. this place
they stayed was really a place in a cave where the animals were kept.
A manger was a rock hewn out where the animals were fed.

    Luke 2:8 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in
the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."

    The "same country" just means in the area around Bethlehem. this
is an area that would be perfect for grazing sheep. These shepherds
had to watch for wild animals attacking the sheep at night. Jesus is
the Great Shepherd and Christians are spoken of as sheep. So what
would be more appropriate to tell first than the humble shepherd.

    Luke 2:9 "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."

    Many, many times the presence of the Lord is shown by a very
bright Light. The Shekinah glory of God is a presence of very bright
Light. Moses was in the presence of this Light on Mt. Sinai. This same
bright Light led the children of Israel, and this was the same bright
Light seen on the Mount of Transfiguration. We see that they feared
the Lord. Man fears his shortcomings being known of God.

    Luke 2:10 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

    God's message to mankind, then and now, is "fear not". This good
news is for everyone ("all people"). The gospel of Jesus Christ is
good news of great joy. The message is: there is hope.

    Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

    This Christ child is the Saviour of the whole world. This is
Messiah, the Anointed One, who has come to save whosoever will. Jesus
Christ was born of a woman for the people.

    Luke 2:12 "And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

    This tells the shepherds that Jesus will be in the cave where the
stock is held because of the manger. The manger was used to feed
fodder in.

    Luke 2:13 "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of
the heavenly host praising God, and saying," Luke 2:14 "Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

    This "heavenly host" is a band of angels. One of the jobs of the
angels is to continually praise God. Jesus is the King of peace.
Peace has come to the earth in the form of a babe in a manger. This
"good will" is from God to man. God has made a way for lowly man to be
saved.

    Luke 2:15 "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from
them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go
even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which
the Lord hath made known unto us."

    The shepherds immediately want to go into Bethlehem to see this
wonderful thing that the angel has told them. The angels have now done
what they were sent to do and have gone back to heaven. Angels are
ministering spirits. They realize this message that they have received
is from the Lord.

    Luke 2:16 "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph,
and the babe lying in a manger."

    They had no difficulty finding them because of the manger
mentioned. They lost no time getting to the cave. The fact that Joseph
is there makes earthly men associate Joseph as Jesus' Father, but
Jesus' Father was God.

    Luke 2:17 "And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the
saying which was told them concerning this child."

    They gave an eyewitness account of the birth of the Christ child.
There was no way that they could keep from telling about the angels
and the Light and the message. When anyone receives a message directly
from God, it is difficult not to tell.  What made it even more
important to tell, would be the fact that they saw with their own eyes
the fulfillment of what they were told.

    Luke 2:18 "And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things
which were told them by the shepherds."

    These shepherds, giving their testimony. were an amazement to
those they told this to. Most people would not have believed they had
this experience with these angels. Most believed that only priests and
high priests had this type of experience with God. These were common
people. They didn't believe because of who they were.

    Luke 2:19 "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in
her heart."

    Mary knew that Jesus was special. She knew that He was the Son of
God. She knew this, too, was special, and she remembered all these
events.

    Luke 2:20 "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto
them."

    There would be literally years pass before this great happening
would be diminished in their memory. Their praising God was because
the promise of a Saviour had been fulfilled in their very own eyes.
This overwhelming presence of God and the message the angel brought
would remain with them all of their lives.
                           Luke 4 Questions

1.  What decree did Caesar Augustus give?
2.  In whose time was the law given?
3.  Where did each person have to go to pay the tax?
4.  Where had Joseph and Mary been living?
5.  Where did they go to be taxed?
6.  Why did they go to this city?
7.  What was the main reason they went there?
8.  What book in the Old Testament tells of Jesus being born in
    Bethlehem?
9.  What was Mary to Joseph?
10. Who is Mary pregnant by?
11. What time of year was this?
12. Why does the author believe it was December 25th?
13. In verse 7, Jesus is called Mary's ___________.
14. What does the word "manger" tell us?
15. We know that Matthew 12:47 tells us that Jesus had ____________.
16. What were they really to Jesus?
17. In Luke 2:49. we know that Mary was married how many Years?
18. Who was told first of Jesus' birth?
19. Who told them about the birth of Jesus?
20. Many times the presence of the Lord is shown in what?
21. What glory is this presence called. many times?
22. Name one other time the glory of God was seen in a bright Light.
23. What did the angels tell the shepherds First?
24. In Verse 11, what is He called besides Christ the Lord?
25. What suddenly appeared with the angel?
26. Who is this host?
27. How had peace come to the earth?
28. What did the shepherds do when the angels went back to heaven?
29. Why did earthly people want to believe Joseph was Jesus' Father?
30. After the shepherds had seen Jesus, what did they do?
31. How did the people accept it?
32. Why did the shepherds praise God?