Our texts for December 7 are Luke 1:1-4; Luke 1:39-45; Luke 1:46-56; Luke 2:1-7. We considered Luke’s competence as an historian. Then we contemplated Elizabeth’s pronouncements of blessedness and Mary’s responding song. Then we thought about two saviors, the imposter Caesar Augustus and Jesus Christ our true Savior. Jesus fulfilled Micah’s Messianic prophecy. Jesus died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised again from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures. Only the true God-man could have done this for us.

Today’s sermon audio can be found on Castbox at 143 “She Gave Birth to Her Firstborn Son”, Luke 2:1-7.

  1. Introduction: History & Its Meaning (Luke 1:1-4)
    1.1. Luke as Historian
    1.2. Luke as Theologian
  2. Elizabeth’s Blessings (1:39-45)
    2.1. Elizabeth Blesses Mary (42A)
    2.2. Elizabeth Blesses Jesus (42B)
    2.3. Elizabeth Blesses Mary Again (45)
  3. Mary’s Song (1:46-56)
    3.1. Mary Praises God Her Savior (46-47)
    3.2. Mary Sings about Why She Praises God (48-49)
    3.3. Mary Sings about Why We Should Praise God (50-55)
  4. Conclusion: Jesus’s Birth (2:1-7)
    4.1. Caesar Augustus (1-3)
    4.2. God Our Savior (4-7; Micah 5:1-5a)

Scripture References: Luke 1:1-4; Luke 1:39-45; Luke 1:46-56; Luke 2:1-7; Micah 5:1-5a;

Time sequence markers in Luke 1-2 ( ESV ):

  • 1:5 “In the days of Herod, king of Judea …”
  • 1:24 “After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden …”
  • 1:26 “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent …”
  • 1:39 “In those days Mary arose … ”
  • 1:56 “And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.”
  • 2:1-2 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.”