Series: Christmas 2023
Sermon: Jesus the Savior
Bible Passage: Luke 2:11
“In the city of David, born to you today the Savior, who is the Christ, the Lord”
I. Two places are important for our Christmas Day study:
1. Migdal Eder
a. Gen 35:21 “Then Israel [Jacob] traveled on and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder”
b. Targum Jerusalem on Gen 35:21. Jacob journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of the Flock (Migdal Eder), the place from which the King Messiah will reveal himself at the end of days
c. Micah 4:8 As for you, watchtower for the flock (Migdal Eder), fortress of Daughter Zion—your former dominion will be restored
d. Mishna “Sheqalim 7:4: Cattle found between Jerusalem and Migdal Eder— and in an equivalent range on all sides of the city—[if] male, they are deemed to be burnt offerings; [if] female, they are deemed to be peace offerings.
2. Bethlehem: “As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah—from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past” (Micah 5:1)
3. These two places—Migdal Eder and Bethlehem, are close to each other
a. May be called “Greater Bethlehem Area”
b. Migdal Eder, Bethlehem, Hebron, Mamre, and Kiriath Arba are in the same location
c. It’s the region of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ruth, and David
4. According to Micah 4 & 5, it is from here, the LORD would restore the people of Judah
a. Gather the lame to be God’s remnant (4:6a, 7a)
b. Assemble the exiles and those who are harmed (4:6b)
c. Rule over them forever—restoration (4:7b, 8)
d. Provide them with rule of peace and security (5:1-4)
For many centuries the people of Judah did not have a king
II. Luke 2:11
1. The shepherds were in Migdal Eder, a messianically significant place
a. “Migdal Eder” is the place from where the Messiah/King, the Son of David was going to come and restore His people (cf. Gen 35:21, Micah 4:8, 5:1)
b. The animals reared in this place were used for sacrifice purposes of the Temple (cf. Mishna Sheqalim 7:4)
c. The shepherds who are mentioned in verse 8 are not ordinary, poor, shepherds
d. They most likely were Levites, educated in their Scripture and were appointed to take care of the animals for the Temple—one of the sections of the Levites
e. The shepherds recognized “the Angel of the Lord” and were able to understand the angel’s message
2. The Angels said to them, “In the city of David, born to you today the Savior, who is the Christ, the Lord”
3. The term “Savior” has at least four shades of meaning
a. Helper
b. Rescuer
c. God’s agent of salvation
d. God
e. At Jesus’ birth, God has started fulfilling Micah 4 & 5
i. Gather the lame to be God’s remnant (4:6a, 7a)
ii. Assemble the exiles and those who are harmed (4:6b)
iii. Rule over them forever—restoration (4:7b, 8)
iv. Provide them with rule of peace and security (5:1-4)
4. The shepherds responded to the message of the Angel by coming to Jesus and announcing about it to others (verse 17)
a. They hurried
b. They visited with Jesus
c. They explained to others about the content of the Angel’s message to them
5. How is your response going to be to the Savior?
Take Away:
Respond to the restorative work of God through Jesus the Saviour