For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scriptures readings proceeding the Message. Today's assigned readings are: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14 and Luke 2:1-20.
Let Us Pray... O Heavenly Father ... We come to you ... with hearts open ... open to your transforming love.
We come seeking your will for our lives... to be filled to overflowing ... with joy... and with the Peace that passes all understanding.
O' Come Holy Spirit ...kindle in us... Kindle in us the fire of your love.
And We ask this in the name of your son Jesus the Christ. ... O Come, O come Emanuel. Amen
A few years ago, ...while at the mall with his mother and grandpa, ...a four-year-old boy watched ... as children lined up excitedly... to see Santa Claus.
Having been taught as a toddler... that Christmas ...is when Christians ... celebrate the birth of God's Son ... with the innocence of a child, ...he asked his mom this question, ... "Where's the line to see Jesus?"
Overhearing Spencer's words ... his grandpa was so proud ...that his grandson understood the true meaning of Christmas ...at such a tender age.
Both his mother and grandfather......Becky Kelly and Steve Haut...were so struck by the profoundness of this little boy's question ... and the message inherent within it ......that they collaborated ...to write and record a song ...based on that experience.
The Title of the recording was appropriately titled: ...... Where's the Line to See Jesus?
Out of the mouths of babes ... often times come profound truths ...that many adults ...cannot understand. (Pause)
On that first Christmas morning ... there was a line to see Jesus ...shepherds and angels...... all gathered ...to see the newborn King ...lying in a manger. (Pause)
This past week ... as Christmas was approaching, ...impatient shoppers stood in lines at the checkout aisles.
And Children lined up to see Santa, ...but...as little Spencer so poignantly asked... "Where's the line ...to see Jesus?"
I am convinced that ... Consciously or subconsciously, ...most people, ...this time of the year ... are truly trying ...to catch a glimpse of God.
Christmas ...is that one time ...in the year ...when many make an extra effort... to find real meaning, ...to find real joy ...in their lives.
This is when ...many people ...make an effort ...to look into the heart of God.
"Maybe this is the year,"
Maybe this year ...I will find real joy and meaning to my life."
Maybe this year ...I will be able ......to finally understand." (Pause)
Beloved ... for a moment ... Imagine the world ...at the time of Jesus birth.
Imagine ...what Mary saw.
The world was very busy ... most people were traveling to their hometowns ...to register ...to be taxed ...by Caesar.
Mary ...was one of those people.
So much hustle and bustle...everyone ...so very busy.
There are so many travelers, ... that Mary and Joseph ...find no room ...at the Inn.
Mary gives birth to Jesus ...and lays him ...in a manger.
Yet ... most people ... really did not notice ... most people really ... did not care.
It's not that people ... are uninterested ...in God.
It's just that ...to most people, ...a poor couple having a baby ...has nothing to do with ...God.
Honestly ... The world has not changed ... all that much.
There is still the hustle ... and the bustle.
Everyone so very busy.
Does that mean that people aren't interested in God?
No... No matter how busy you are, ...deep down, ...there is a desire of every soul ...to look into the heart ...of God. (Long Pause)
Many ...leave the holidays ...a little down, ...a little disappointed, ...and they do not understand why.
Perhaps ...it's because they were looking for God, ...yet never found him ... at least in the places ...they were looking.
(This evening) ... Let us walk into Nazareth ...near the manger, ...and stand next to Mary, ...and see ... and take a moment to see ... what she sees.
So ... What does Mary see?
Well ... She sees a baby ... yet she sees ...so much more.
She sees in her mines eye ... she remembers ...the promises of God.
And as she recalls those promises ...and stares into the face of that child, ...she realizes... that she is staring... into the very heart of ...God himself.
And then the shepherds arrive ... and they tell her what the angels... said to them.
They crowd around the manger ... and gaze into the face of that child ... and as they do, ...they too realize ...that they are gazing ...into the heart of ...God.
And then the shepherds leave, ...and Scriptures tell us... Mary ponders ... all these things ... in her heart.
Everything her world needs ... is right there.
Everything that her hustling and busting neighbors and friends could ever ask for ...is lying right there ...in the manger.
The key to understanding God ... the key to understanding the meaning of life, ...the key to eternity ......is right there, ......lying in the manger.
Then something unexpected happens ... Mary lifts the baby out of the manger ...and hands him ...to you.
And there you stand, ...awkwardly... holding the Son of God ...in your arms.
And as you look down into his face, ... you too realize ...that you to are looking ...into the very heart of God.
In your arms ...you have ...what the world is ...longing for.
While the rest of the world... hustles and bustles, there you are, ...in the quiet of the night ... looking into the face ...of this child, ...looking ...into the heart... of God himself. (Pause)
"Why would God do this," you ask.
And then you look outside the stable, ...and you see ...a shadow.
It is a bright night ...the stars are out ... one star seems to be shining especially bright ... you see a shadow, ...a shadow ...that looks like a cross.
You look at the child in your arms ... then you look again at the cross.
And then ...you understand.
That the day will come ... when, ...God would sink even lower than tonight; ... he would lower himself to suffer and die... on a cross.
You cannot help ...but feel sadness ... as you look into the face ...of this this child ... knowing what he will face.
Yet ... you also cannot help but rejoice, ...for you know the ending ...that this child ...will conquer death ... and will rise ...from the dead.
The baby you are holding ... the baby you are cradling in your arms would someday ...set the world free.
That He would set you ...free.
You hand the baby back ...to Mary.
But before you walk away, ...you take one last look.
You see God's love for you, ...his mercy, ...his wisdom ...his forgiveness.
God ...has touched you.
Beloved ... God ...has touched you ...this night. (Pause)
This year, ...just like every year ... millions of people, ...both children and adults, ...opened (will open) ...millions of gifts.
Some won't fit.
Some will be the wrong color.
Or as the newlywed wife said to her husband after receiving a unique looking dress ... Honey that dress... is just too precious ...to wear.
Yes ...many gifts will be returned, ...exchanged ...or kept in storage.
But there is one gift ...that meets everyone's need, ...one gift ...that never breaks ... one gift... that will never ...wear out.
A gift ...that is appropriate for a small child, ...a teenager, ...an adult, ...a senior citizen.
Boy ...or girl, ...man ...or woman.
Beloved ... The most valuable gift of all, ...is Jesus.
Christmas ...is a celebration of the fact... that "God so loved the world ...that he gave his one and only Son,
...that whoever believes in him ...shall not perish ...but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
As the apostle Paul said, ... "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).
When Mary touched the face of her newborn baby, ...she was touching ...the very heart of God.
When she held her precious child in her arms ... she was holding the greatest gift ...ever given...not just to her, ...but to all.
The greatest gift ...the world ...has ever received.
(As you give ...and receive gifts this Christmas ... let it be a reminder ...that):
Jesus ...has given us the greatest gift of all...he has given us... himself.
And Let us nair forget ...that one day ...we will all stand in line ...to see Jesus.
And as the songs states, ..."In the blink of an eye, ...at the sound of his trump, ...we'll all stand in line ...at his throne."
The Scriptures are clear...Hear Gods Word: BIBLE That one day ..." ... at the name of Jesus... every knee shall bow, ...in heaven ...and on earth ...and under the earth,... 11 and every tongue confess ...that Jesus Christ ...is Lord, ......" END (Philippians 2:10-11).
When we stand in that line before the throne of God, ...for those of us ...who have loved Jesus ... accepted him as savior ...and surrendered our lives to his lordship, ... it will be a glorious ... celebration.
Beloved ... Christ is the reason... not only for the Christmas season; ...He is the reason ...for Every season!
The Great Christian Hymn goes on to proclaim:
"Love divine, ...all loves excelling, ...Joy of heav'n ...to earth ...come down;
Fix in us ...Thy humble dwelling, ...All Thy faithful ...mercies crown.
Jesus, ...Thou art all compassion, ...Pure, ...unbounded ...love thou art;
Visit us ...with Thy salvation; ...Enter every ...trembling heart."
Beloved, ...Jesus... is in our midst ...at this very moment.
Remember his promise "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Pause) (Hebrews 13:5)
If you are looking for the line to see Jesus ...Well it is right here.
We see him ...as we come to the altar ... in the bread ...and the wine.
SLOW. These gifts, ...this bread and this wine ...are reminders of the day ...Jesus stepped out of eternity ......and into his mother's arms, ...the day when this fallen world ...began ...to fall in line ...to see Jesus.
Let us Pray:
Father ...you have given us the greatest of all gifts ...your son Jesus; ...The King of Kings, ...the Lord of Lords; ...the Bright Morning Star.
O' Father ...prepare our hearts, ...to receive your full empowering this day (night).
O' Holy Child of Bethlehem, ...descend to us we pray: ...cast out our sin ...and enter in ... be born in us ...this day.
Amen!!
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This Message is based on a Sermon by Scott Bayles Titled " Where's the line to see Jesus" and I commend it to you.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Message was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings Always. Jeff
