CHRISTmas: A Series of Unlikely Events!
Intro:
John Lennon once said of his group the Beetles that “We are more popular than Jesus”. While it may be true that the Beetles were or even are more popular than Jesus, what is not true is that the Beetles were not nor are better known than Jesus.
It is this time of year, more than any other, that we realize this to be the case. With carols being sung, plays being performed, nativities being set up, poems being written and sermons being preached it is not hard to see the truth: it is not about Santa Clause or presents or trees or wreaths or food, fellowships or even family. Jesus Christ is the ONLY reason for this season! And, it all started through a series of unlikely events.
Standing in reverence to the reading of the Word of God this morning as we turn to:
Luke 2:8-14 and verse 34
1. An Unlikely People-Shepherds (Vs. 8-10)
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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.” –Luke 2:8-10
Glory came down so that heaven could fill my soul! This is the day that heaven touched earth, sin encountered grace, evil was overrun with love and the darkness of sin was penetrated with His glorious, redeeming light! This, indeed, was, is, and always we be good news! And this marvelous announcement, the hope of humanity, was made to…drumroll please…lowly shepherds!
Not to the:
• Religious: You would think that an announcement of such spiritual magnitude and religious significance would be made to those who were busy keeping the law, keeping clean and considered by all to be righteous. Yet the announcement was made to shepherds. Shepherds who were far from any of these things, in fact, they were considered to be at the lowest of all social orders: filthy, smelly, illiterate, uneducated and even dishonest, so much so that they were not allowed to even testify in a court of law! And, they were considered to be at the lowest of all spiritual orders: unclean, not allowed to come to church or participate in the religious rites and ceremonies and even had a Rabbinic Ban placed on them.
• Rulers: Likewise, you would think that such an announcement would be made to the rulers of the world: the kings of the nations, the princes of the lands and the generals of the greatest militaries. Yet the announcement was made to shepherds. Shepherds who could only claim authority over dumb, disobedient and distracted sheep.
No, this most eternally significant announcement was not made to the religious or to the rulers of that day.
But to the:
• Regulars:
Jesus Christ came not to those that “had it all figured out” but to “seek and save that which was lost”! The announcement of His coming was to the downtrodden, despised and different, folks like us! (Dennis Morehart in Game Stop “I have found my people”) Oh you may think you have more in common with the religious or the rulers, but I have found my people among the shepherds: downtrodden, despised and different, very lost and very happy that He came for me! I praise God today that THE SHEPHERD came to this dumb, disobedient and distracted sheep.
Unlikely people indeed.
2. An Unlikely Place-Bethlehem (Vs. 11)
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”–Luke 2:11
God comes down in human form, the creator of the world, and chooses the city of David, Bethlehem, to be the birthplace of His Son, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Why is this an unlikely place? As much as the shepherds were the most unlikely people to make the announcement of our Saviors birth, Bethlehem was an unlikely place for Him to be born. Bethlehem did not house the richest ruler, hold the largest library, or contain the greatest military force. Bethlehem was but a small speck of dust on the map and not a place one would visit let alone claim to be from. The prophet Micah said of this unlikely place of Bethlehem, “…you remain least among the clans of Judah…”
Our Lord was not born:
• In a Mansion: You would think that a King would be born in the biggest mansion in the greatest town where His birth would be heralded from the rooftops and celebrated among the royalty.
• Surrounded by Military Might: You would think that a King would be born protected by the nation’s best and strongest military force. That elite troops would ensure His safety and that only the select and elect would dare approach Him.
Oh, but not our Lord, our King, He was born in a:
• Mundane Town: He chose a mundane, routine, common, average town to communicate to all that He was for all. His birth could be celebrated by the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, the greatest and the least and He did not need a military power to protect Him as He was, is and always will be the ultimate power. And as He lay there as a baby he communicated to all that He is approachable, not just to a certain select or elect but to all.
3. An Unlikely Potentate-A Baby (Vs. 12)
“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”–Luke 2:12
Ok, so a king can be announced to an unlikely people and come from an unlikely place, I mean look at David, Israel’s first king who was a lowly shepherd born in Bethlehem, hmmm. I mean God is famous for taking the seemingly most unusable, rejected and unqualified people and showing the world what He can do! But this?! The God of the universe, the creator of all, the One with all power and authority has come to planet earth and you will find Him as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger?!
He did not come in:
• Might: Jesus could have broken forth from the clouds as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, with all pomp and power with the command to bow and serve or be destroyed. Because He is the King of Kings!
• Majesty: Jesus could have descended from Glory, suspended in mid-air, arrayed in fine gold, as the rose of Sharon, with blinding light surrounding Him and an angelic choir presenting Him. Because He is the Lord of Lords!
But this is not how He chose to come. Instead He was born in a:
• Manger: A manger. Not in might or majesty. Not in a fancy crib or even a poor wooden makeshift one like we see in so many nativity scenes. The almighty, powerful, creator and sustainer of all. The Lord of Lord’s and King of King’s. The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last the bright and morning star, and the lily of the valley. God incarnate was placed in an animal feeding trough, so that He could say to you today, I know what troubles, trials, and temptations are. And, so that He could be the only One that can say “I know how you feel” so that He could be the only One you can turn to, count on and trust in.
4. An Unlikely Purpose-A Threefold Peace (Vs. 13-14)
“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.” –Luke 2:13-14
In a world that has cried for peace since Adam and Eve were pulled kicking and screaming from the Garden of Eden, peace is that one thing that seems so allusive. Countries wage wars to obtain it, leaders strike deals to maintain it, and militaries establish boundaries to control it. People take pills to achieve it, drink to forget why they wanted it all the while staying busy through their struggle to realize it. People look to politicians who promise it and governments who fight for it all the while ignoring the only One who is truly able to provide it.
In the midst of the shepherds the glory of the Lord appeared and an angel was thrust beside them. The first thing the angel said was “fear not”. As you find yourself overwhelmed with yesterday’s sin, today’s struggles and tomorrows success, please hear me, Jesus is still beside you, whispering in your ear and shouting in your heart, “Fear not”.
This promise is a very unlikely one as peace is something that seems impossible to achieve, yet since this peace of God is peace from God, we can count on it. In fact, it is a threefold peace:
• Peace with God: If peace is what you seek today, understand this: lasting, real, satisfying peace only comes from God, not drugs, alcohol, relationships, school or work. This is peace that does not wear off, cause guilt or give headaches. This is an inner peace that cannot be explained and passes understanding. A peace that takes over when the world around you is collapsing. A peace that can be described as a supernatural rest FROM God BECAUSE one is resting IN God.
• Peace with each other: Once you experience the gift of peace from God you are able, and commanded, to pass it on. (Psm. 133:1-start of CommUNITY)
• Peace with yourself: This gift of peace means that you no longer have to view yourself as damaged goods or junk but as God’s masterpiece, created in His image and likeness. As a child that is loved by the Father of love. To start living your life with your head held high, a spring in your step, a smile on your face, knowing the God of peace has given you a peace of God.
Three truths regarding this peace:
1. In order to obtain this peace from God you must be willing to give God all of the glory in and through your life. (Glory to God in the highest)
2. Realize this peace from God is not external but internal. (Wolves and thieves were still on the prowl, wars are still raging, cancer still comes, and loved ones still die: To understand that God does not always still your calamity, but is always willing to still His child.)
3. Understand that peace only comes to those in whom God is pleased. (You can’t live like hell and expect peace like a river.)
5. A Very Likely Predicament-Two Distinct Paths (Vs. 34)
“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed”-Luke 2:34
You see, as A.T. Robertson once said “Jesus is the great magnet. He draws some, and repels others”. There are those that will fall and others that will rise on the Gospel message. Yet it is not His will that any should perish or fall but that all would rise or be saved.
Billions of dollars have been spent and millions of folks are now in debt all over again just to be able to put that perfect gift under the tree. Gifts to your parents, your children, your family, your friends, your mailman, your pastor, your teachers. And, it’s not even their birthday that we are celebrating, it’s His. But, what do you give a God that has everything? The one thing that He does not have, nor can He, unless you give it to Him: your heart.
Today you have a very unique opportunity: today you can give Jesus Christ the only gift He wants on His birthday, you can present Him with you. This is the real meaning of Christmas and how we can ensure that Jesus really is the reason for the season.
In Closing, I want to share a poem about the true meaning of Christmas:
(Poem)
Invitation
