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Sabbath School Lessons by Dr. Robert LaMay

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Glorify and Praise the Lord

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December 21, 2008

Lesson: Luke 2:8-20

Key Verse: Luke 2:20

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Introduction

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During the reign of Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1-6), first emperor of Rome, a decree was sent out that the world should be taxed. This included the taking of census of all those under the rule of Rome. Joseph, being of the lineage of David, went to the city of Bethlehem, at the time when Mary was “great with child.” It was here that the promise of the coming of God’s Messiah would be fulfilled: “But thou, Bethlehem 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 of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

Joseph learned of this child, who would be born of Mary, from the angel of the Lord. The angel said to him, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus (Joshua); for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21; see Luke 1:30-33 for the angel’s message to Mary). Isaiah spoke of the coming of the Messiah: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Christ, the incarnate Son of God, being both man and God, is Immanuel (God with us), the only Savior of man. God the Son took on our nature that we might behold the love of God in His saving grace. His name was both of earth and heaven, “Joshua,” which means “Jehovah is salvation.” Thus the Messiah, “Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking upon himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin” (Shorter Catechism # 22).

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Discussion: Who was this Son whom Mary would give birth?

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Tidings of Great Joy –Luke 2:8-10

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Mary brought forth her firstborn son, wrapping him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. The grace of God was with Mary and Joseph as they entered the crowded city of Bethlehem. The Spirit opened an innkeeper’s heart, as he found a pleasant place for them in his manger. The grace and love of God the Father is revealed in his every ordaining and providential act, whether it is in the birth of Christ, or where Mary would cradle her child.

At the time of the birth of Jesus, shepherds had brought their flock to rest in the fields. As they “watched over their flock by night,” God the Father was watching over his people. The shepherds heard of God’s promised Messiah, as “the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.” David had sung, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who has set thy glory above the heavens” (Ps. 8:1). Speaking of Christ, the prophet declares, “Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne” (Zech. 6:13).

When we consider the glory of God the Father, and that of the Son, there should be a great sense of awe and fearful reverence. The brightness of the glory of God in Christ ought to bring us to our knees in humble adoration. The Shepherds were afraid. The brightness of God’s glory outshone the brightness of the stars. The fast beating of their hearts were subdued by the words of the angel. “Fear not!” The Word of God calms the soul when it is cast down and disquieted, for its hope is “in God; for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Ps. 42:5-6). As the majestic voice of the Lord stirs our soul, the promise of his presence calms it. The shepherd’s soul was calmed by this promise of the Lord, “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

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Discussion: Describe the difference between the experience of Mary and that of the shepherds.

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Glory to God –Luke 2:11-14

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The good news was to the shepherds and to all of God’s people, that a Saviour was born, who is “Christ the Lord.” A Deliverer had come, a Savior who would deliver his people from their sins. Jesus spoke of himself as the Deliverer: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). Come to this word, as the Samaritan woman came to hear Jesus, and responded, “Now we believe, … for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42).

The shepherds were given a sign; “Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. The promised Messiah had come! This proclamation of the Good News of the coming of Christ, the Son of God, incarnate, could only be followed by the joy of heaven: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Christ’s own words echo down to us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Peace between man and God can only come through Jesus Christ and his redemptive work on his cross. For so great a salvation, let us praise the Lord with his angels: “Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens; … Praise ye him all his angels; … Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children; let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven” (Psalm 148).

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Discussion: Why is it that our souls desire to praise the Lord?

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He Has Made Known –Luke 2:15-20

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After the angels departed from the fields, the shepherds said one to one another, “let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” We come to the Word of God, and proclaim the Gospel revealed to us with the same spirit of the shepherds, testifying that we have seen and heard that which the Lord Himself has made known to us. The shepherds “came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. These words went out as a glorious fountain, telling all “which was told them concerning this child.” All who heard the message of the angel, as told by the shepherds, wondered, and “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” The shepherds returned to the field “glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.”

There is no carol as sweet and promising as that message of the angel to the shepherds. As with them, and the prophet, we have heard the good tidings of a great joy: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; … and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). Let us sing of the glory of Christ our Savior and King: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in” (Ps. 24:9). This is our song of Praise. And this is our song of testimony: Go ye into all the world and preach the good tidings of a Great Joy!

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Discussion: What are we to make know to those around us?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2009 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.
 
 

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