Intro:
How many will feel merry on this Christmas 2020 while we sing “We wish you a merry Christmas? Or even sing “Have yourself a merry little Christmas”? It seems that the word “merry” is a very common word during Christmas. You see the word “merry” means being “cheerful and lively” and it is characterized by festivity and rejoicing. We don’t say merry birthday to you, but happy birthday. Because the word “merry” pertains to a season of everyone is joyful and “celebrative” in nature like Christmas. But what happens when a supposed “merry” Christmas becomes wary, worry, and weary Christmas?
But how do we celebrate Christmas 2020 during a pandemic season instead of the holiday season? It will be 5 days to go before the big event and I remember 2 weeks ago, I preached about our right attitude towards God’s love in a pandemic world. But today God led me to have the right response towards our Christmas celebration in a pandemic season – and what should be our response? Our response should be…
Worship in a Pandemic Christmas
Matthew 2:1-12
If you remember the 1st attitude we should do on the sermon “how to celebrate Christmas love in a pandemic world”, we were exhorted that we should be a worshipper. Why worship in a pandemic Christmas? Well, we can see two people who responded correctly despite of the worst circumstances in their lives.
1. Job – Job 1
Here we can see that Job was a righteous man and God blessed him with wealth, health and a loving family. But 1 day, Satan came to God and asked God to allow trials, sufferings and persecutions to Job in order to test Job’s faithfulness to his faith to God. And God allowed it with a condition that Job will not die. And after that conversation,
V14 – The oxen and donkeys were all killed by the Sabeans including Job’s servants, only 1 left to report the matter to him
V16 – Fire from heaven strike and burned up the sheep and the servants, only 1 servant left to report the matter to him.
V17 – Camels were swept away by the Chaldeans raiding parties and killed the servants leaving 1 servant to report the matter to Job.
V18 – The worst of all, his sons and daughters were all killed while having a party after a strong wind strike the house where they were holding the event, leaving only 1 servant to report the incident to him.
To Job, this is similar to pandemic that we are living right now, as one by one all his belongings, wealth and even his own family were swept away by it.
But what was Job’s response after all of these? In v20-21 we will read…
“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.’”
After that incident, Satan asked God again to allow Job to have a pandemic like disease so his wife can despise him and even challenge him to curse God. But Job’s reply to worship God and not sin despite what happen was imminent.
Job 2:10 “He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”
2. David – 2 Samuel 12
After King David committed a sin of adultery with Bathsheba, their sin bore a son who was dying because of a pandemic-like disease as part of David’s consequence of sin. Yet David pleaded with God in v16 despite of his sin, and he even fasted and spent sleepless nights with the child. But then the child died during 7th day.
But what was the response of David? In v20 we will read…
“Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.”
He was even questioned by his servants by acting weird of instead of mourning for his dead son, he refreshed himself by eating and cleaning himself in v21. But look at David’s reply in v22-23
“He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
2 men with the same scenario, they were both strike by the sufferings of losing family member/s, loss of wealth and even health, yet they responded correctly. Despite of the worst thing, they worship God!
And even in this season of Christmas though it’s pandemic, we can be like Job and David together with the 3 Magi’s who responded well to God in worship. Let us read our text in Matthew 2:1-12
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah 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 shepherd my people Israel.’” 7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On 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, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
We need the atmosphere of worship in our Christmas celebration this year despite of the worst things happened to every one of us. But how? Let us take the examples of the 3 Magi as they knew…
What are the key factors of celebrating a Christmas worship in pandemic?
1. We need Christmas path
To celebrate Christmas with worship is that we need a sense of direction. In the past, when we wanted to feel the spirit of Christmas, we were all led to malls, parties, vacations, carnivals, movies etc. But today, with this pandemic, it all leads us to our own houses. We might have parties, but dinners and parties will be done virtually. But will that reduce the reason of celebrating Christmas especially by worshipping the birthday Celebrator? No! Look at the 3 Magi’s as they needed a path and a plan to worship Jesus. They needed the star of Bethlehem which led them to the true star of Christmas which is Jesus. In v1-2 we can read:
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
They knew that Messiah has come and their motivation in coming to Him is not to be an observer but to be worshippers. They knew that the true spirit of Christmas is to be with God to Whom Christmas started. He showed His presence strong through that star which led the Magi’s to Him. Without it, they can be lost as they journey through that light.
Jesus said once in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
So, the Magi’s followed that light and found that Light of the life in their heart. The result is to come to Him to worship. More so, we are also called the light of this world as we get our light from Him.
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
So if we follow that light, we get the life that God wants us to have not only during a pandemic Christmas but every day of our lives as well. And if we have that light, we become the light that needed to be seen, to be felt, and to be experienced by others as we have the light of God. By then if we shed our light, we shed a kind of Christmas worship we needed even in pandemic.
Illustration:
The little village of Rattenberg is the smallest town in Austria, and getting smaller each year. The town has lost 20 percent of its population in the past two decades, and as of 2005 had only 440 residents. The reason? Darkness. Rattenberg is nestled behind Rat Mountain a 3,000-foot obstruction that blocks out the sun from November to February. But thanks to some clever new technology, the town's situation is about to get a little brighter.
An Austrian company called Bartenbach Lichtlabor came up with a plan to bring sunshine into the darkness by installing 30 heliostat mirrors onto the mountainside. The mirrors would grab light from reflectors on the sunny-side of the mountain and shine it back into the town.
The project was not cheap $2.4 million but if successful, it would bring hope to the 60 other communities scattered throughout the Alps that endure the winter darkness each year. Markus Peskoller, Lichtlabor's director, has also committed to paying for the $600,000 cost of planning the project because of its potential for other markets. "I am sure we will soon help other mountain villages see the light," he said.
Christmas worship is about letting God’s light shine to those who need this light, especially this pandemic where people left hungry, hopeless, with no sense of direction. He is the light, the path that we all needed this Christmas in order to celebrate it truthfully.
Are we willing to follow the light of God this Christmas? Are we willing to be a light of this world that cannot be hidden, but be felt by others? Then be a Christmas path for others to follow so everyone can worship God. It’s not about the old Christmas carol, but it’s all about Him! It’s the kind of worship that will direct ourselves to Him and not to other Christmas character the world knows.
Look at the Magi’s as they asked “Where is the One who has been born king of the Jews?” Why do they need to put an emphasis to the title “King of the Jews”? It’s because they knew that this King will bring peace to every Jew on that time, which leads us to our second point…
2. We need a Christmas peace
Why do the Jews need peace? We all know that Israel was colonized by the Romans and recent in recent years, the Jews were captured by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Israel at that time were hungry for independence from their captors. And to know that a Messiah was born is to bring independence to them and bring lasting peace to all of the Jews.
Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
As we notice on this prophecy of Isaiah, all the attributes of God were mentioned by him even the coming of a child that was born and that government will be upon Him. When we say government, it means the whole responsibility, accountability to implement harmony among the people, including peace was upon Him, that is why the last attribute says “Prince of Peace”.
The Jews knew that their Messiah will be a Savior from their captors, they knew Him as a political icon to save the whole Israel.
But what God is telling them is that their Messiah is not just a political icon but more of a Spiritual Savior for because of Him, they will not only be saved from their Roman captors but from their sins as well.
Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Jim the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Jesus our Lord was born at Christmas to bring peace to all men by bringing independence to all who are bound by sin and sufferings and by forgiving the sins of mankind. Because of Him, we are reconciled with God, which bring us lasting peace.
Romans 5:10-11
“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
The spirit of reconciliation during Christmas started when Jesus was born and died on the cross to give us a long and lasting reconciliation with God which bring us peace not only to all men but most especially to God.
It’s not enough to have a Christmas peace where people try to forget their differences because of the season, but after that, fighting, misunderstanding will continue. What we need is His peace and reconciliation with God…
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus came to this world to have a genuine peace and not the kind of peace the world has. Especially on this pandemic, many people were afraid to come on Christmas because of the virus, but little we don’t know that the virus of worry, weariness, and wandering are prevalent nowadays.
How many of us need peace in their hearts right now? How many need to recover from the worries of this world? Just like the Magi’s they were at peace, even when they visited the evil King Herod who had a false kind of worship to God. The next factor which is one of the most important ones…
3. We need a Christmas presence (not just presents)
As soon as the 3 Magi’s saw the start stopped to the place where Jesus was born, they were overjoyed.
“10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On 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, frankincense and myrrh.”
Why did they feel overjoyed? Because at last they saw the Messiah that they were waiting. According to Bible scholars, these Magi’s were trained to be astrologers and said to be taught by Zoroastrian (a group of astrologers from the time of Prophet Daniel). They studied the stars not for fortune telling, but for determining the coming of Messiah just as what the Old Testament prophesied. They knew that it will be in Bethlehem as mentioned in
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
To see the star that they were tracking for so many years paved a great joy in them that at last this is it. They can study the origin of Messiah by interviewing Mary and Joseph but instead, they worship Jesus by offering Him their gifts. The 3 wise men have their own gifts as their birthday presents to Jesus where Christmas giving originated.
But apart from the tradition of gift-giving every Christmas, His presence is all we need not just a Christmas presents.
Yes, we can have material things as expensive as grandiose as it could be, but there is nothing could compare to the gift that God gave to mankind which is Christ Jesus Himself. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
Illustration:
An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day. "The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other," she said.
When Christmas day came, the boy brought the teacher a seashell of lustrous beauty. "Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?" the teacher asked.
The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless
"Why ... why, it’s gorgeous ... wonderful, but you shouldn’t have gone all that way to get the gift for me."
His eyes brightening, the boy answered, "Long walk part of gift."
God came from heaven to a manger, from a manger to a cross, from a cross to the grave and from a grave back to heaven. And we ask, "Why all this trouble, God?" And God would say to us, "Long walk part of gift."
Christmas is the start of the “long walk part of gift” of God for mankind and we should be very grateful for God by doing it for us.
Are we still thanking God this Christmas, despite of all the tragedy of pandemic this year? The fact that we are still living and strong together with our loved-ones is already a blessing which we can be grateful upon. The Lord knows our heart right now if we come here today ready to worship the King of the Jews, the King of our Hearts, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the reason of the season, whether in pandemic Christmas such as this.
Conclusion:
This Christmas 2020, there are 3 kinds of worshippers:
1. True worshippers like the 3 Magi’s – do we have the right motivation to seek Jesus this pandemic Christmas 2020?
2. False worshippers like King Herod – do we have the wrong concept of Christmas in our hearts that if there are no parties, no reunions, no expensive gifts we will never have the true spirit of Christmas?
3. Informed worshippers like the chief priest and teachers of the law – or are we like an informed, seasonal worshipper who only come to Jesus every Christmas to hear its story and after the big day, we remained infomed about it without living the true story of Christmas?
Where are we on these 3 kinds of people? All we need is to experience the Christmas path, peace and presence.
Are we ready to worship in a pandemic Christmas? Do we have the best gifts to offer to the King?
Illustration:
In 1994, two Christian missionaries answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics in a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.
It was nearing Christmas and they decided to tell them the story of Christmas. It would be the first time these children had heard the story of the birth of Christ. They told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.
When the story was finished, they gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins that they had brought with them since no coloured paper was available in the city.
Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt which the missionaries had also brought with them.
It was all going smoothly until one of the missionaries sat down at a table to help a 6 year old boy named Misha. He had finished his manger. When the missionary looked at the little boy’s manger, she was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, she called for the translator to ask Misha why there were two babies in the manger.
Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, Misha began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.
Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending. He said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did.
"But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.'
"So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him--for always."
As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.
The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him--FOR ALWAYS.
Can we like Misha who would embrace Jesus to keep Him warm? Or maybe it’s the other way around, that Jesus would hug us tightly this Christmas because He knew we don’t have anything to share as a gift on His birthday. There is one way, why not go to the manger just like the 3 Magi’s and worship Jesus on this pandemic Christmas.
Let us sing I Bow my Knees…
