Christmas Responses Series

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INTRODUCTION

How do you respond to the fact that God sent his son into the world? What is our response to the love shown by God this Christmas? We have come to another season of Joy; Christmas is around the corner and today I want to draw your attention to the very first Christmas responses. Today, we are going to take a look at how some people responded to the first Christmas message.

Today we are going to see some qualities God wants us to have to work on our behalf as responses this Christmas.

Mary and Joseph have been to Bethlehem for the census. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son, Jesus Christ. Mary and Joseph are full of joy to see the miracle of birth. Up in the throne room of God, it would have been a time of great rejoicing. The angels are contemplating the best way to announce this wonderful news. God said, “I think that we should send a messenger out at night into the fields to tell some shepherds about it.” The angels would have thought, “Shepherds, why not some others!” But that was God’s way of announcing Jesus’ birth.

SHEPHERD’S RESPONSE ON THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:8-15

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

When I hear about shepherds knowing about Jesus’ birth, it makes me feel good. If shepherds are important to God, then we too are important to God. God loves the common people, and God loves us! They gave a joyous response that first Christmas.

Now, I want to take your attention to a different scripture where another group of people heard the good news of Jesus’ birth.

WISE MEN RESPONSE ON THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

Matthew 2:1-2

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:9-11

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

The story of the wise men is also a story of love, worship, and adoration. They represent the aristocracy of the time – the rich, the educated, the learned, and the elite. They are valuable to God too. What a contrast, God loves the poor as much as he loves the rich. Jesus came for the entire mankind.

Now, let’s pay attention to the third group of people in the Christmas story.

HEROD’S RESPONSE ON THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

Matthew 2:3-8

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”