IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME

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LUKE 2:1-20
Lesson 06
IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME

• Memory Verse: Gal 4:4
• In Luke chapter 2 we come to the birth of Jesus. The memory verse tells us that Jesus came in the fullness of time. What does that mean?
  • From the time of Adam’s and Eve’s sin in the book of Genesis and God’s first prophecy of the coming of the Messiah in Gen 3:15, man had been waiting with anticipation the coming of the promised Messiah.
  • What was the fullness of time? This prophetic phrase refers to the sovereignty of Almighty God:
    • =1= God needed to place in history a certain amount of events with the passage of time that would teach the people what God expected of man. (Gal 3:24)
    • =2= God needed to give a specific number of prophecies so that man would be able to recognize the Messiah when he came. (Joh 1:45)
    • =3= God needed to place in history a certain number of dramatic illustrations so that man would know what the Messiah would do when he came. We call these illustrations prefigures or types of Christ. (Gen 22:11-18)
    • =4= God needed to move people and nations into position like pieces on a chess board to bring about the events that were planned from the foundation of the world. (Heb 9:26 1Pet 1:20)
  • Background:
    • In the fullness of time, God needed to set the world stage for the greatest drama ever produced. These are some of the things that needed to be in place on the world stage:
      • =1= The Jews, representing the religious element, had to have progressed in their religious corruption and rebellion against God to the point where God could use them to fulfill His plan. Although they did not know God was using them to fulfill God’s will, God was none-the-less still in control.
      • =2= The Greeks, representing science and art, had to have progressed on the world scene to present the failure of human reasoning to produce a “perfect” man.
        • The intelligent man of that day had to confess that human reasoning, even though it was developed to a fine degree by the Greeks, had failed in its mission to lift man to a degree of perfection.
        • But God used the fine development of the Greek language used throughout the world to express the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
      • =3= The Romans, representing power and government, controlled a large portion of the world of that day.
    • Without the setting of the world scene in this manner, the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ would have been a forgotten series of local events.
• Read Luk 2:1-7
  • “a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” (1)
    • “all the world” refers to the inhabited world under the control of the Roman Empire of that day.
    • Caesar Augustus:
      • The actual name of this emperor was Octavianus. He was the adopted son Julius Caesar.
      • The name Caesar is a title.
      • The name Augustus is also a title that means = consecrated or holy.
        • This man was not content with being the government authority over this vast empire.
        • He wanted a religious title that would deify him. He chose the Augustus for that purpose.
  • Luke makes sure that we know historically which taxation this was in verse 2. It occurred when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
  • Why did Joseph and Mary have to go to Bethlehem?
    • To pay the tax a person had to go to the location of his ancestors.
      • This tax was for the purposes of funding an army to protect the Roman Empire.
      • This tax was also a way of taking a census for the purposes of political control.
        • By telling us of this taxation, Luke is also telling us that Joseph became the legal father of Jesus.
        • Joseph’s and Mary’s registration in Bethlehem made sure that their son would also be registered at birth.
    • While Joseph and Mary lived in the city of Nazareth, they were both from the lineage of David.
      • Notice that Luke tells us that Bethlehem is the location of the house of David.
      • Read the prophecy in Mic 5:2.
        • This informs us that Mary and Joseph were fulfilling prophecy when they went to Bethlehem.
        • It also informs us that the Messiah will come through the lineage of David and be born in Bethlehem.
    • Bethlehem not only fulfilled prophecy but it also completed the illustration that Jesus would be the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8)
      • All the animals used for sacrifice in the temple in Jerusalem came from Bethlehem.
      • Jesus Christ would be the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
• Read Luk 2:8-20 The Birth of Jesus
  • Why do we not know the exact day that Jesus was born when Luke is clear to tell us about the taxation?
    • The exact date is not important. The Holy Spirit only includes in Scripture those things that God wants us to know as truth.
    • We do know that he was not born December 25. How do we know this?
    • The shepherds were not out in the fields tending their flocks in winter.
  • God came as a baby
    • Read Phi 2:6-8
    • The miraculous aspect of the virgin birth is that God made himself flesh to enter this world as a weak and vulnerable baby.
    • Exactly what was His nature as a baby?
      • Jesus did not put aside His deity when he came as a baby.
      • Jesus did put aside His privilege and His glory.
      • He was equally God and man at that point in time. He put on our humanity. (Heb 4:15)
      • As a baby and as a growing child He grew up the same way all babies grow up.
        • He had to learn.
        • Read Heb 5:8
  • The shepherds in the field
    • Shepherds were not considered to be very high in social status.
    • In fact, they were thought to be unreliable as a witness. They were not permitted to testify in a court of law.
      • But God sent a heavenly visitation of angels to them.
      • God used them to give witness of this heavenly birth.
    • The field where the shepherds watched their flocks is the same field where Boaz first saw Ruth in Rut 2.
      • Boaz was the kinsman redeemer for Ruth and Naomi. In that aspect he is a prefigure of Jesus Christ.
      • Jesus Christ is our kinsman redeemer.
        • He came in flesh to identify himself with us. In that aspect He is our kinsman.
        • He died on the cross for our sins. In that aspect, He is our redeemer.
  • The angel’s message:
    • “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (10)
      • “good tidings” This is the good news of the gospel.
      • The original meaning of the word gospel means = an epoch-making event…an event that would change history.
    • “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (11)
      • The angel told the shepherds four necessary facts:
        • =1= What…a very important birth occurred.
        • =2= When…on this very day.
        • =3= Where…in Bethelem, the city of David.
        • =4= Who…a Savior which is Christ the Lord

This specifically tells them that this baby is the Messiah.

The title Christ means = the anointed one. In other words, the title Christ and Messiah are the same.

He is the Lord.

• • • • Notice that the shepherds do not question the vision or the facts of the message. They know it is real and from God.
    • ^“ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (14)
      • “on earth peace, good will toward men” . The meaning of this phrase is not as it seems.
        • Jesus did not come the first time to bring peace to the earth.
        • Read Luk 14:26
        • Jesus will bring peace to the earth at His second coming when He establishes the Millennial Kingdom of peace.
      • “on earth peace, good will toward men” This phrase should actually read, “Peace to men of good will on the earth.”
        • Those who know God will have peace through the forgiveness of sin.
        • This was what the Messiah came to accomplish in His first coming to earth.

HOMEWORK
Luke 2:21-35

• Application of Luk 2:1-20
  • What have you learned in this lesson that changed or added to your faith?
• Preparation for Luk 2:21-35
  • Read Luk 2:21-35
    • Why did Jesus have to be circumcised?
    • Why Mary was considered unclean for 40 days after Jesus’ birth when Jesus was without sin?
    • How did Simeon know that the baby was the promised Messiah?
• Memory Verse: Rom 8:3