“A Rags to Riches Christmas”- Heb.2:10-3:1
Thomas Waterfield was born in Springtown Camp, in Derry, Northern Ireland. After the war there was an intense housing shortage in the area. Shanty apartments were incredibly dangerous. The people of the area decided to leave the slum and squat at Springtown camp, a former American base consisting of nothing more than rows of tin quonset huts. There was no running water, heat or electric.
It became home to hundreds of the poorest families. But on the inside the huts were dark, cold, grim, damp, smelly - everything that you wouldn't want a home to be. Mice, Rats and lice abounded."It had a big impact on people's health. People had serious ache's, pains and chest infections. Tuberculosis was common. There were deaths too. "A dozen in a hut would have been a luxury. There were huts that held 19 people. News reports from the time told of the feeling of drift and rejection and the sense of desolation. Fear plagued the residents as no one knew where their next meal would come from or if they might freeze to death during the night. "One lady described it to me as 'hell on earth.’ Because of politics and the Catholic, Protestant tensions, these poor folk experienced severe discrimination that would make finding employment nearly impossible. This was the world Thomas Waterfield was born into. A world of poverty, disease, hunger and discrimination. His mother, like many mothers, was desperate to find a way out.
Into that ‘hell’ entered Jane Russell. You younger folks may not know her but she was one of Hollywood’s most celebrated sex symbols of the 1940s. She starred in such movies as ‘The Outlaw’ and “Gentlemen prefer Blondes’ opposite Marilyn Monroe. What few people knew, though she admitted many failures, was she was also a born-again Christian who hosted Bible studies in her home. She also could not have children. She had publicly expressed a desire to adopt an Irish son. Thomas’ mother heard that news and contacted Jane. In a move that caused great controversy as well as legal action, Jane and Thomas’ mother circumvented adoption laws and Thomas was given to Jane for adoption at an arranged meeting place. His mother, fighting her tears said, “This means a new life for him.” Later in life, a friend of Thomas’ mother met Thomas out in Arizona and said;
“In them days, there was nothing here for you to do…your mother didn’t give you away because she didn’t want you, she gave you away because she loved you.”
The adoption moved Thomas to a world apart, steeped in glamour caused Thomas to acknowledge he was “blessed.” Years later, One friend of his mother, tells Thomas, “Your life was like a fairytale to us.” And Thomas replied; “It feels like a fairytale to me!”
Can you imagine what the changes were like for Thomas! From abject poverty to a lifestyle of the rich and famous!
Well, a very similar story is our story, in a spiritual sense. There is a magnificent story of adoption in Scripture that involves every believer. The resulting benefits are even grander than any adoption done here on earth.
Christmas is not the beginning of our adoption story, but it starts the visible unfolding of the process. Our adoption story actually begins before time in the mind of God. Eph.1:4-6 states;
“ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
That was the time-less plan. In Gal.4:4-5 we see the unfolding;
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
Anyone who has been involved in an adoption knows there is a mountain of legal red tape to wade through. Christmas marks the beginning of Jesus’ handling the legal aspects of our adoption. At “the set time” he came “under the law” to “redeem those under the law.” With this in mind we turn to our text.
“ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
God’s design from eternity was to bring many sons and daughters to glory, to adopt them as His very own. Just savor that thought for a moment. Our redemption is part of God’s plan of adopting us. Nineteenth century preacher Robert A. Webb expressed his thoughts this way;
“The Bible does reveal God as “Father” of His people and proclaims Christians to be children of God; and in the evangelical system, adoption has ever been pointed to as one of the most attractive and inspiring features of the gospel. The conception of God as Father is the most charming and transporting thought that ever enters the bosom of man; and the related idea of himself as the son of God is the most soothing and satisfying thought that a sinner ever finds himself indulging concerning himself.”
To bring many to glory was the plan. But in order to accomplish that, Jesus must come to transact the adoption. It was necessary that the “author” or “pioneer” of our salvation should suffer, made perfect or complete through that suffering. For the life, death and resurrection of Christ was necessary to complete the legal transaction of removing us from one “family” and placing us in another “family.” Col.1:12-14 states;
“and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
By grace through faith in Christ we are removed from one family, the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom, we can say, family, of the Son he loves only because His son secured our redemption and we have forgiveness of sins. Because this is true we can marvel at the next statement V.11;
“11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”
“The one who makes people holy” is understood to be Jesus. Hey.13:12 notes;
:…Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.”
“Those who are made holy” mean every believer. Hey.10:10 reads;
“…we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Because of Jesus gracious work on our behalf believers are now “of the same family!” It literally reads, ‘The one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are “of one” meaning God. They are one in The family of God! Because of this exalted position, “Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” What an outstanding statement! Believer, look what your adoption has accomplished-Jesus is your brother! And all the blessings that are his, become ours!
Next follows some quotes from the Old Testament which should be read coming from Christ in the midst of His children as expression of His solidarity with us.
““I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again he says,
“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”
Not only does Christ declare the praises of the Father with us, identifying with us, that identification must be complete. Therefore we read;
“ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[e] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
In order to rescue his children, Christ must follow in their exact footprints making right all they made wrong. He must put on flesh and blood, and enter the battle equipped as we are “fully human in every way.” And so at Christmas we celebrate his glorious incarnation, his taking on human flesh to become like us!
Christ was born to die. Since sin required punishment, which meant death, “the only way the Son could accomplish atonement was to die, and the only way to die was to become human. Hence, He was born a Savior.
There was an eternal purpose in his death and it required overcoming our ancient for-the devil. The devil seeks to kill and destroy. He uses death to terrorize humanity. Though the ultimate power over death rests with our Sovereign God, Satan uses it. But Jesus breaks that fear and its power and frees believers so that they no longer fear death but recognize it as but a transition from this life to a glory-filled life in the presence of Christ. No man is truly free to live life who is a slave to the fear of death, but he who is free of such fear finds freedom to live life fully. This is why so many Christians take the risks inherent in bringing the Good News to others. Missionaries and martyrs who having been freed from the fear of death have given their very lives in service to Christ.
Dwight L. Moody shouted;
““Death may be the King of terrors... but Jesus is the King of kings!”
And Milton wrote;
““Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity.”
When Thomas Waterfield was adopted by Jane Russell and brought to America, all his fears vanished. He would never fear not having food or clothing or heat and running water ever again.
Jesus does this for us. He does not remove death, but He removes our fears about death and life after death. The closer we walk with Jesus, the more intimate our relationship, the further our fears are driven away. Missionary, Elizabeth Elliott, tells the story of one journey into the South American jungle. Her and her guide followed a primitive trail which suddenly dropped into a ravine. The only way over was a fallen tree. Her guide dimly crossed over. However, Elizabeth was was fearful and hesitated. Her guide noticing her hesitation came back, held out his hand, grasped hers, and led her safely across. The guide’s confidence, as well as demonstrated ability, gave her the needed confidence to proceed. Jesus does this for us. In Jn.14:2-4 Jesus reassures his disciples;
““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Jesus does this, not for angels, but the children of promise, the offspring of Abraham and no one else! He doesn’t adopt everyone! Paul writes in Rom.8:15-16;
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
With the Spirit of God within the fear of death is displaced because we have received our adoption papers! One of the most tense times for orphans comes after all has been agreed upon and they await the final exchange. When the new family finally arrives, making good on their promises and the child is physically welcomed into the family. God does not want us to be tense. He has confirmed through the Holy Spirit who Himself testifies to our spirit “that we are God’s children!”
Having finished his atoning work on our behalf, Christ ascended back to glory and now remains our faithful High priest who continually intercedes on our behalf against every accusation the devil brings. As we read in Her.10:19-23;
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
As adopted children of God we can now, through Christ, draw near to God. In the Old Testament only the High Priest could draw near to God and enter the Holy of Holies and that but once a year. Now, through Christ, believers have the privilege to approach God at any time! And God, who always receives His Son, will always receive us, His children. Whenever Satan seeks to undo our adoption and lay claim to us, Christ points to our adoption papers signed in his own blood and says-“They are mine!” Nothing can separate us from the love God in Christ Jesus, neither life nor death.
Since we are adopted by God we are entitled to a complete legal inheritance. In 1 Pet.3-6 it states;
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
One of the interesting things discovered about the young children at Springtown Camp was that they considered the Camp home. Although they lived in squalor, not having known or been exposed to any other life, they accepted it as normal. This is exactly what sin does to countless millions. It limits us into accepting this life, corrupted so by sin that we don’t recognize the squalor but think it normal. Our calling, our adoption is not to this life, but to a grander, magnificent life in glory! Peter pleads with us to remember, “we are aliens and strangers or pilgrims in this world,” it is not our final destination.
1 Cor.2:9 has us looking forward. It promises;
“as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
Thomas Waterfield could not imagine the changes he would experience through his adoption and moving from the poverty of Springtown Camp to the affluence of Hollywood. Christian, neither can we imagine what magnificent blessings await us as adopted children of God. In his final volume of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle, that great Christ figure, Aslan the Lion, has brought the children to His country, the real Narnia. The children are afraid he has come to send them back to England. But he assures them they will never leave him. He says;
“ There was a real railway accident,” said Aslan softly. “Your father and mother and all of you are-as you used to call it in the shadowlands-dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is over: this is the morning.”
And as he spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can say most truly that they lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and title page; now at last they were beginning Chapter one of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read; which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
Such will be the experience of every adopted child of God. Never again will we experience sorrow, tears or pain but rather unimaginable joy in the presence of Christ and The Father.
It will all seem like a fairytale-but it will all be real, the ultimate reality for we will be like Him, Christ Jesus our Lord! So, this Christmas, remember who has adopted you and to whom you belong!
“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.”
