"We're Glad You Came"
Luke 2:8-20
Introduction:
CONSIDER AGAIN CHRISTMAS
When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today.
When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have ever thought that the decorations would become as elaborate as they are today.
It is a long time since 1832, longer still from 353, longer still from that dark night brightened by a special star in which Jesus the king was born. Yet, as we approach December 25 again, it gives us yet another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all the excitement and elaborate decorations and expensive commercialization which surround Christmas today, to consider again the event of Christmas and the person whose birth we celebrate.
SOURCE: Brian L. Harbour, James W. Cox, The Minister's Manual: 1994, San Fransico: Harper Collins, 1993, p. 254. http://www.sermons.org/christmas5.html
The title of our choir presentation this year is "We're Glad You Came" and let me say that we are so thrilled to have you in this special service this morning at First Church. Our prayers have been for God to bless all those who come and we trust that that is the case with you today.
I've had a couple of months to think about this title and the thought came to me that not everyone was glad that Jesus came. As a matter of fact there were many who were sad Jesus came and the same is true today. Let's look at some folks who were sad that Jesus came...
First:
I. Those who were sad Jesus came
a. The rulers of the Jews
In Matthew chapter 2 we learn that King Herod was not glad that Jesus came. He was a Jew who was appointed by the Romans to govern his people.
Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
b. The religious establishment
In Matthew 12 and 26 we see the response of the scribes and the Pharisees to Jesus when he healed a man on the Sabbath...He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Matthew 26:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Mat 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
c. The Roman government
In Matthew 27 we see the response of the Roman authorities to Jesus. I can assure that Pilate was not glad to see Jesus. The Jews were a constant source of aggravation to him and he was not happy to have to deal with this case of an itinerant preacher. Pilate ultimately condemns Jesus and turns him over to be executed.
Matthew 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
II. Those who were glad Jesus came
In spite of the way that some people responded to the coming of Jesus many were in fact glad that he came. The hurting ones, the haunted ones, the habit enslaved ones were all glad that he came.
The Magi (Wisemen)
Matthew 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
The Shepherds
Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
When Jesus was 8 days old his parents brought him to the temple to be circumcised...while they were there they came into contact with two individuals:
Simeon:
Luke 2:27 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,
Anna:
Luke 2:36 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.
Ask Peter's mother-in-law if she was glad Jesus came and healed her of a fever?
Ask all the sick in Luke 4:40 if they are glad Jesus came, laid his hands on them and healed them of all their diseases?
Ask all those who were demon possessed and Jesus cast out the demons if they are glad Jesus came?
Ask the "man full of leprosy" that Jesus healed in Luke 5:12-13 if he is glad Jesus came?
Ask the man sick of the palsy that was let down through the roof that Jesus healed if he is glad that Jesus came?
Ask the centurion's servant in Luke 7:1-10 whom Jesus healed if he is glad Jesus came?
Ask the mother of a dead man, (her only son) that Jesus raised from the dead in Luke 7:14, if she is glad Jesus came?
Ask the women which "had a spirit of infirmity 18 years" who could not straighten up whom Jesus healed in Luke 13:10-17 if she is glad Jesus came?
Ask the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19 if they are glad Jesus came and healed them?
Ask the blind man in Luke 18:35-43 whose sight was restored if he is glad Jesus came?
Ask a little man in a sycamore tree named Zacchaeus if he is glad Jesus came in Luke 19:1-10
Ask Mary and Martha if they are glad Jesus came even though he was 4 days late?
Ask the thief on the cross who entered into paradise with Jesus if he is glad Jesus came?
Ask Paul and the other apostles if they are glad that Jesus came even though they almost all died as martyrs to the Christian faith.
Ask the unnamed millions who have embraced Christianity over the last 2000 years if they are glad that Jesus came?
Let's ask Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley, John Bunyan, John Newton, and a host of other notables if they are glad Jesus came?
Let's ask D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham if they are glad Jesus came?
Let's ask the millions who have embraced the Savior, had their sins forgiven, their names written in the Lambs book of life and given a new life here and now if they are glad Jesus came.
If we could we could ask the 4 Iraqi children who were beheaded by Isis because they would not renounce Jesus...are you glad Jesus came?
My question for all of us today is are you glad He came?
ILL - YOU HAVE TO STOOP
The announcement went first to the shepherds. They didn't ask God if he was sure he knew what he was doing. Had the angel gone to the theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries. Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching. Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars.
So he went to the shepherds. Men who didn't have a reputation to protect or an ax to grind or a ladder to climb. Men who didn't know enough to tell God that angels don't sing to sheep and that messiahs aren't found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough.
A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high alter in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by silver lamps.
You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor
recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can't go in standing up.
The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing
tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees.
So....
while the theologians were sleeping
and the elite were dreaming
and the successful were snoring,
the meek were kneeling.
They were kneeling before the One only the meek will see.
They were kneeling in front of Jesus.
SOURCE: Max L. Lucado
PRAISE HIM IN MY HEART
Praise God for Christmas.
Praise Him for the incarnation,
for the word made flesh.
I will not sing of shepherds
watching flocks on frosty nights,
or angel choristers.
I will not sing of a stable bare in Bethlehem,
or lowing oxen,
wise men trailing star with gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.
Tonight I will sing praise to the Father
who stood on heaven's threshold
and said farewell to his Son
as he stepped across the stars
to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
And I will sing praise to the infinite, eternal Son,
who became most finite, a baby
who would one day be executed for my crime.
Praise him in the heavens,
Praise him in the stable,
Praise him in my heart.
SOURCE: Joseph Bayly.
