The Christmas Story
from Luke Chapter 2

In Irish, and English

 

Caibidil 2

 

    1 Agus tárla ann sna láethibh sin, go ndeachuidh áithne ó Shéasar Augustus, an domhan uile do mheas,

2 (Ag so an céudmheas do rinneadh an tan do bhi Sirénius na úachdarán ar Shíria.)

3 Agus do chúadar eile dhá meas, gach áon fá leith dhá chathruigh féin,

4 Agus do chúaidh Ióseph mar an gcéudna súas ón Ghalilé, as an gcathraigh Nasarét, go tír Iúdaighe, go cathruigh Dhaibhi, dá ngoirthear Bétleem; do bhrígh go raibh sé do thigh agus do shliochd Dháibhí:

5 Ionnus go measfuigh é maille ré Muire do bhi ar na ceangal ris mar mhnáoi, ar mbeith dhi torrach.

6 ¶ Agns tárla, ar mbeith dhóibh ann sin, go dtangadar laéthe a hionbhuidhsean.

 

7 Agus rug sí mac a céudduine cloinne, agus do chuir sí giobuil cheangail na thimcheall, agus do chuir sí na luighe a mainséur é; do bhrígh nach raibh ait aca sa tigh ósda.

8 ¶ Agus do bhádar áodhairidhe sa dúithche sin na gcomhnuidhe a muigh, agns ag déanamh faire oidhche ar a dtréd.

9 Agus, féuch, do sheas aingeal an Tighearna láimh léo, agus do shoillsigh ghlóir an Tighearna na dtimcheall: agus do ghabh eagla mhór íad.

10 Agus a dubhairt an taingeal riú, Na bíodh eagla oruibh: óir, feuch, a táim ag soisgéulughadh dhíbh gáirdeachus mór, noch bhías do gach uile phobal.

11 Oír rugadh an Slánuightheoir dháoibh a niu, (éadhon Críosd an Tighearna,) a gcathruigh Dháibhí.

12 Agus ag so comhartha dhíbh; Do ghéubhtháoi an leanabh ceanguilte a ngiobluibh, na luighe a mainnséur.

13 Agus do bhí go hobann cuideachda mhór do shlúagh neamhdha a bhfochair an aingil ag moladh Dé, agus ag rádh,

14 Glóir do Dhía ann sna hárduibh, agus síodhcháin ar an dtalamh, deaghthoil do na dáoinibh.

15 ¶ Agus tárla, mar do imthigheadar na haingil úatha ar neamh, go ndubhradar na háodhairidhe ré chéile, Imthigheam anois don Bhetléem, agus féucham an ní so do rinneadh, noch do fhoillsigh an Tighearna dhúinn.

16 Agus tangadar go deithneasach, agus fuaradar Muire agus Ióseph, agus an náoidhe na luighe a mainnséur.

17 Agus an tráth do chonncadar sin, do aithriseadar an ní a dubhradh riú a dtimcheall an leinibhsin.

18 Agus na huile dháoine da gcúalidh so do ghabh iongantus íad fá na neitheibh a dubhradar na háodhairidhe ríu.

19 Achd do thaisgidh Muire na bríath­rasa uile, dá mbreathnughadh ann a croidhe.

20 Agus do fhilleadar na háodhairidhe, ag tabhairt glóire agus ag moladh Dé tré gach ní da gcúaladar agus da bhfacadar, mar a dubhradh riú.

21 ¶ Agus an tan do coimhlíonadh ochd lá chum an leinibh do thimcheallgherradh, tugadh' IOSA mar ainm air, éadhon an tainm do ghoir an taingeal de suil do gheineadh a mbroinn é.

22 ¶ Agus an tan do coimhlíonadh laéthe glanta Mhuire do réir reachda Mháoisi, rugadar léo go Hiarusaléim é, da thaisbéanadh don Tighearna;

 

23 (Mar a tá scriobhtha a reachd an Tighearna, Gach céudghein mhic thuismeas brú bíaidh sé náomhtha don Tighearna;)

24 Agus do thabhairt ofrála, do réir mar a dearthar a reachd an Tighearna, Cúpla turtair, nó dha gheirrceach coluim.

25 ¶ Agus, féuch, do bhí duine a Níarusaléim, dár bhainm Símeon; agus do bhí an fearso comhthrom diadha, agus a shúil ré comhfhurtachd Israel: agus do bhí an Spíorad Náomh ann,

 26 Agus do fhoillsigh an Spiorad Náomh dhó, nach bhfaicfeadh sé bás, nó go bhfhaicfeadh sé Criosd an Tighearna,

27 Agus táinic sé maille ré tréoir na Spioraide don teampoll: agus an tan thug a athair agus a mháthair an leanabh Iósa, do chum go ndéanaídis ar a shon do réir gnáthuighthe an dlighe,

28 Ann sin do ghabh seision chuige ann a uchd é, agus do mhol sé Día, agus a dubhairt sé,

29 A Thighearna, a nois leigeas tú dod shearbhfhoghantuidhe imtheachd a síodhchain, do réir tfhocail féin:

30 Oir do chonncadar mo shúile do shlánughadhsá,

31 Noch do ullmhuigh tú a bhfíadhnuisi na nuile phobal.

32 Solus do dhéunadh soillsi do na Cineadhachuibh, agus glóir do phobail féin Israél.

33 Agus do ghabh iongantus Ióseph agus a mháthairsion fá na neithibh a dubhhradh na thimcheall.

34 Agus do bheannuigh Símeon íad, agus a dubhairt sé ré Muire a mhathairsion, Féuch, a tá sé so ar na órdughadh do chum tuitme agus eiséirghe mhóráin a Nisraél; agus na chomhartha agá gcuirfithear na aghaidh;

35 (Agus fós, rachaidh cloidh éamh tré thanamsa mar an gcéudna,) do chum go nochdfuidhe smúaintighthe as mórán do chroidhibh.

36 ¶ Agus fós do bhí Anna, banfháidh, inghean Phánuel, do threibh Aser: do bhi aois mhór aiceso, tár éis seachd mblíadhna do chaitheamh dhi ag fear a ndiáigh a maighdeannis;

37 Agus ar mbeith na baintreabhuigh a dtinicheall cheithre mblíadhan agus cheithre tichid dhi, níor fhág sí an teampoll, achd ag déunamh seirbhísí do Dhía do ló agus doidhche le trosgadh agus lé húrnuighthe.

38 Agus táinic so do láthair ar an úair gcéudna agus dadmhuigh sí na thimcheall ré gach áon agá raibh súil ré fúasgladh an Iarusaléim.

39 ¶ Agus mar do chríochnuigheadar gach uile ni do réir reachda an Thighearna, do fhilleadar don Ghalilé, da gcathruigh féin Násarét.

40 Agus do fhás an macaomh, agus do neartuigheadh é a spioraid, agus do bhí sé lán deagna: agus do bhí grása Dé maille ris.

41 ¶ Agus do ghnáthuigheagh a athair agus a mháthair dul gach a blíadhna go Híarusaléim a sollamuin na cásg.

42 Agus ar mbeith dhá bhliadhan déug dho, do chuadar suas go Híarusaléim, do réir ghnáthuighthe na sollamna.

43 Agus are geríochnughadh na, láetheadh sin, an tan do fhilleadarsan, dfan anleanabh Iósa a Níarusaléim; gan fhios do Ióseph ná dhá mháthair.

 44 Agus, an tan do shaóileadar go raibh sé na gcuideachda, do shiobhladar asdar laoi; agus diarradar é a measg a ndaoine gaoil agus aitheanta.

45 Agus an tan nach bhfúaradar é, do fhilleadar arís go Híarusaléim, dhá iarruigh.

46 Agus tárla, trí lá dá éis sin, go bhfúaradar é ann sa teampoll, na shuidhe a measg na ndoctúireadh, ag éisdeachd ríú, agus ag cur cheasd ortha.

 

47 Agus do ghabh iongnadh gach uile dhuine dá gcúalaidh é fá na thuigsin agus fá na fhreagarthaibh.

48 Agus ar na fhaicsin dóibh, do ghabh úathbhás iad: agus a dubhairt a mháthair ris, A mhic, créd fá ndearna tú mar so rinn? Féuch, do bhí misi agus dathair lán do dhobhron dod lordaireachd.

49 Agus a dubhairt seision ríu, Créd fá rabhabhair dom lorgaireachdsa? An né nach raibh a fhios agaibh gur bhéigin damhsa bheith ag déanamh ghnódhaighthe Mathar?

50 Achd níor thuigeadarsan na briathra do labhair se ríu.

51 ¶ Agus do chuáidh sé léo síos, agus táinic sé go Násaret, agus do bhí sé umhal dóibh: agus do thaisgidh a mháthair na briathra so uile an a croidhe.

52 Agus dó bhí Iósa ag fás an eagna, agus a naóis, agus a ngean ag Día agus ag daóinibh.

Chapter 2

 

1 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

 

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 ¶ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.

 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21 ¶ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25 ¶ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

 

28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

 

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

 

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

 

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

 

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

 

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

41 ¶ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

 

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

 

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

 

50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

 

I.         Introduction<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

A.      How many of you know the Christmas Story? I mean, could tell it to someone who either:

 

1.        Had never heard

2.        Or, had it all mixed up

 

B.       It could be summarised simply this way

 

1.        The Birth (2:1-7)

2.        The Broadcast (2:8-33)

3.        The Bitter Pill (2:34,35)

 

C.       I intend on reminding you not only about the Christmas story, but trying to get you to stop and take it all in this Christmas – make it part of your memory

 

II.       Message

 

A.      The Birth (Luke 2:1-7)

 

1.        The Tug  (Luke 2:1-4)

 

a.       Here is how God gets 2 people INTO the will of God so that Jesus could be born in the right place as described in Micah 5:2

 

1)       Mary lived in Nazareth

2)       Joseph, her soon to be husband lives in Nazareth

3)       The Messiah has to be born in Bethlehem

4)       Bethlehem was both their birthplace

 

b.       God moves Ceasar to tax not just a section of his empire – No, he wants the WHOLE WORLD to be taxed

 

1)       Notice the taxation!

2)       There is nothing new under the sun

 

c.       Shows that God even uses megalomania for His purpose

d.       God motivates two nobodies (Joseph and Mary) down to Bethlehem

 

2.        The Timing (2:2; Num 24:17; Gal 4:4; Eccl 3:10) – didn’t just happen

 

a.       They say, Timing is everything - God is the one who settled that

b.       The birth of Jesus has to match the following events

 

1)       Has to be after the birth of the Messenger – John the Baptist

2)       Has to be when the whole world is under the Roman Empire

3)       Has to be when Israel is in her land

4)       Has to be while the Temple is built and standing

5)       Has to be 483 years from the decree to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, until the coming of the Messiah into the gates of the city of Jerusalem

6)       So, allowing for Jesus being 33 when He came into the city, His birth has to be 450 years after Artexerxes’ decree

 

c.       Do you see how that a lot of things had to be in place? Same is so true for God’s answer to your needs!

d.       Just remember two things:

 

1)       God knows already what you need and waits for you to realise what you need and ask Him for it

2)       God is already working on supplying your need, and just waiting on everything to be right

 

3.        The Troubles (2:5-7)

 

a.       Joseph and Mary have to travel 60 miles with Mary on the back of a donkey to get down to Bethlehem

b.       Mary was so near to her delivery time – VERY uncomfortable

c.       There was no room for them ANYWHERE in the village (normally about 300 people, but it had swelled to thousands

d.       They ended up in a barn with animals

e.       They were very poor – only two classes of people – rich and poor

f.        Mary had to have her baby in that barn, and had to place that baby in a feeding trough, a manger

 

1)       They probably thought it was awful to have to do that

2)       But God used it for His glory – He used it as a sign to everyone that HIS Son had come!

 

B.       The Broadcast (2:8-33) God got a lot of people to announce this miracle birth

 

1.        The Tidings (2:8-12)

 

a.       Tidings are breaking news stories

b.       Tidings went first to shepherds

 

1)       God likes shepherds best

2)       Notice all the shepherds in the Bible, and how great they were: Abel, David, many of the prophets, Jesus, Abraham

3)       Notice the Scriptures about shepherding (Psalm 23, and John 10)

 

c.       Tidings were first announced by someone called THE angel of the Lord – Jesus

d.       A Baby had been born (Isa 7:14; Isa 9:6,7)

 

1)       Glad tidings – good news

2)       Great joy – where is the joy today? Not in ANYTHING else, but in that BOY!

3)       For YOU and all people has He been born

 

a)       The Saviour

b)       The Christ

c)       The Lord

 

e.       The Sign – look for a baby

 

1)       Not in a hospital

2)       Not in the palace

3)       Not in some warm and cosy home

4)       But in a MANGER in a BARN, STABLE

 

2.        The Tribute (2:13,14) – All glory goes to God – not to Mary, or Joseph

 

a.       All of the greatest of creation praises God – so should we

b.       Peace has come to earth – through this baby

c.       God’s good will toward men is proven by this baby

 

3.        The Treasure (2:15-16)

 

a.       Off goes the shepherds

b.       Searching for this baby like you would lost treasure on an island

c.       And just seeing THE BABY was priceless – why?

 

1)       Because all of God’s promises about a redeemer and Messiah were wrapped up in that Baby

2)       Because Jesus does this to people – He makes everything beautiful (just like looking at the Brazen Serpent, and looking unto God for salvation – remember the thief on the cross).

 

4.        The Talk of the Town (2:17,18,20)

 

a.       They repeated the good news

b.       That is OUR job – to just keep telling the wonderful story

c.       Notice that these were shepherds doing the talking

 

1)       Shepherds were the lowest of society – like sewage managers

2)       Shepherds had very little education

3)       But these shepherds had the TRUTH!

 

d.       The world keeps changing the story

 

1)       Into a fat snobby santa instead of a Saviour

2)       Into the miracle of a sleigh delivering thousands of tons of gifts at the speed of light, instead of the miracle of Gift of eternal life

3)       Into a time of GETTING instead of giving

4)       Into cribbing instead of a crib

5)       Into Mary not being a virgin but just a young women, no miracle

 

5.        The Tenderness (2:19) – in the midst of all that, Mary is just sitting and pondering and making a memory

 

a.       How tender is your Christmas time?

b.       How many memories have you made this year so far?

c.       Memories every person needs to make, or help make for others:

 

1)       Family together

2)       Children, especially babies

3)       Gifts and giving

4)       LOTS and lots of love

5)       The centre-piece of the Christmas story

6)       No other competition for your attention – no santa, or shopping

7)       Rest and joy and meditating on God’s goodness!

                                                                                              

6.        The Thankfulness (2:21-27)

 

a.       Eight days later, Mary, Joseph, and their new baby heads into Jerusalem for the Temple

b.       It was time to thank God for the gift of a baby – especially the Messiah – they were still numb to it all – how can you comprehend it all?

c.       Their only offering was a pair of two small turtle-doves

d.       It’s not the size of the gift that counts, but the joy with-which it is given

 

7.        The Triumph (2:28-34)

 

a.       Simeon understands completely what this birth means

b.       The Baby means:

 

1)       God’s salvation (2:30)

2)       God’s preparation (2:31)

3)       God’s light in this very dark world (2:32)

4)       God’s life changing, and even nation-changing power (2:34)

                                                                              

C.       The Bitter Pill (2:34,35) The Tears – The Cost of Christmas (2:34-35)

 

1.        To accomplish the transformation of individuals, even entire nations like Israel, God is going to have to pay a great price

2.        That price was:

 

a.       God humbling Himself and becoming a human

b.       God humbling the nation of Israel

c.       God dying as a Man on a cruel Cross

d.       Everything being broken, so that it may be made new again – including Mary’s heart!

 

III.     Conclusion

 

A.      So, This is the Christmas Story – in Summary

 

1.        There was This Tug on World Events

2.        There was God’s perfect Timing

3.        There were These Troubles that Joseph and Mary went through

4.        There were some Glad Tidings declared by angels

5.        And they gave Tribute and all the glory to God

6.        The Shepherds immediately went searching for the Treasure of the Baby

7.        The Talk of the Town turned to the birth of such a Baby

8.        Mary enjoyed and relished the Tenderness of all that was happening

9.        Both Joseph and Mary showed their Thankfulness

10.     Simeon and Anna shout in Triumph at just the sight of the Baby

11.     We are all reminded at the cost of Christmas – Tears

 

B.       Never forget the Christmas Story – it is the only reason for having Christmas

C.       Let’s keep it just the way it was meant to be