Luke 2:6-20 Jesus birth reveals Gods’ plan of redemption. LOVE IS PROMISED (Genesis 3:15) The First Layer Genesis 3:15 will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Promise in the Garden. Sin of Adam God makes a promise - The promise is that Jesus will overcome the Serpent. Forgiveness through sacrifice is shown Genesis 3:21 21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. Man was not suppose to die, but sin brought death. God shows Adam and Eve what death looks like and then clothes them in the skins of the sacrifice. The Bible tells us we “put on” Jesus, we are given his righteousness (Romans 13:14 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.) Our bodies still suffer the fall and our sinful dust pollutes the World, that is why it groans, waiting on redemption. (Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.) LOVE IS PORTRAYED The sacrificial system is codified in OT Law. Abraham and Isaac Genesis 22:8,13 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. The Passover Exodus 12:6-7 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. 7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. God further illustrates the necessity of a sacrifice for sin through Abraham and Moses. The Passover lamb, the Day of Atonement foreshadow God’s future fulfillment of His promise LOVE IS PRESENTED Luke 2:6-14. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. The Shepherds and the Angels 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Born in humility Declared to the lowly shepherds Given for all men LOVE IS PROCLAIMED Luke 2:15-18 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Shepherds obeyed quickly Proclaimed by the Shepherds Application Jesus is born to die for us all Jesus fulfills all the promises of the Old Testament. Conclusion: Jesus was born to become the perfect sacrifice for our sin. He lived a perfect life and died in our place on the cross. From the promise in the Garden to the sacrifice of The Lamb of God, from His birth in Bethlehem to the proclamation to the Shepherds and of the shepherds, The Story of Christmas is a tapestry of Gods’ love. Every layer brings us closer and closer to Gods’ full revelation. His eternal plan is to redeem and restore us. This Christmas reflect on the Layers of Love that led to Jesus Christ and His birth. Always marvel at Gods’ promise, the sacrifice, the birth, and the spreading of His love to all the World. The story is not finished. Gods’ love continues to spread through us as we spread the Good News with the World. Reflect on God's love. Marvel at His promise. Spread the love of Christ.