Greetings of the seasons in the sweet name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am grateful to God for giving me this wonderful opportunity. Christmas is not a message about Santa Claus, Christmas Tree, Star, Mary, Joseph or Manger neither it's a topic to discuss about it's date or the hot topic to debate in television. It's about God sending his Son Jesus Christ for you and me in fact for the whole world.
For that let us turn our Bibles to Luke's Gospel 2:8 - 20
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” 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, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Luke 2:8?-?20
The central portion of this passage is, of course, the angels’ message and song, the former of which proclaims the transcendent fact of the Incarnation, and the latter hymns its blessed results. But, subsidiary to these, the silent vision which preceded them and the visit to Bethlehem which followed are to be noted. Taken together, they cast varying gleams on the great fact of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Many times we emphasis more about the shepherds or Magis but it's all about Jesus.
It's about hope, not discouragement, it's about the well being not about fear, it's about the salvation not about the condemnation, it's about the good news not about the dreadful news.
1) Message of Do not be afraid
The angel speaks by the side of the shepherds, not from above. His gentle encouragement ‘Fear not!’ not only soothes their present terror but has a wider meaning. The dread of the Unseen, which lies coiled like a sleeping snake in all hearts, is utterly taken away by the Incarnation. All messages from that realm are thenceforward ‘tidings of great joy,’ and love and desire may pass into it, as all men shall one day pass, and both enterings may be peaceful and confident. Nothing harmful can come out of the darkness, from which Jesus has come, into which He has passed, and which He fills.
The fear is certain, apparent and understandable. But the encouragement is not to be afraid. They were terrified by the sudden great light, moreover, they were also in very chaotic situations, as they were under the Romans and Herodians. Therefore the message of the Christmas 'Do not be afraid' for I bring good tidings of 'great joy for all the people. What is it that you are afraid of, fear of sickness, debt, broken relationship, court problem, career, unemployment anything, the message is simple crystal clear for us the Saviour Jesus Christ is born who redeems us from all our unrighteousness from all our problems?
There are around 365 verses which mention Not to be afraid and there are 365 days in a year, take one pill of Not to be afraid each day in stead of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C. These are good for physical healings but to remove the fear from within take yourself each day the promise of God of Not to be afraid. He's the King to be ruled, he will rule without any partiality. He's the Saviour to be born, he will save you from all your problems. This Christmas let all your problems be cast on Jesus, he will give you rest.
To Mary angel said not to be afraid, to Joseph God said not to be afraid, today this Christmas season God is telling you not to be afraid.
2) Life of simplicity message
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12
There wer so many titles given to Jesus even before he was born. Like Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6, Government will be upon his shoulders, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, he was not an ordinary child to be born.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.”
Luke 1:32?-?33
He was God in the form of a human child.
But the angel told shepherds a sign to identify him, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, as his titles were not his birth was, he was not born in a Palace, not in an inn, not in a good hygienic place, born in a wayside and was kept in the manger. Today he's calling us to renounce worldly pleasure, to live a life of simplicity. He was a Saviour, Christ the Lord, King to rule the kingdom of David but had a very simple and forgettable birthday. In the name of celebration today we borrow money and celebrate Christmas and end up in debts, as our saviour master was, let us also be simple.
-Jesus washed his disciples' feet so told us to be in the zealous of washing one another's feet. 'Rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
John 13:4?-?5?, ?12?-?15
-Jesus did not have proper place and time to sleep ''And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Luke 9:58
- Just before his crucifixion, Pharisees had to pay a bribe to identify Jesus Christ, like today, as some pictures show Jesus face shining and had light shining from behind if Jesus had light shining from the back of his head, then Pharisees would not have to pay the bribe. Jesus came like an ordinary Child, lived an ordinary life and died the ordinary death. This season, let us embrace the lifestyle of simplicity.
3) It is a message to witness
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Luke 2:16?-?18?, ?20
Shepherds just didn't believe whatever they were told by the Angel, they made haste to go and see to themselves, and when they had seen the baby, they rejoiced greatly and informed all their villagers, This is the first sign of a believer in Christ Jesus if you have experienced him you don't keep it within you, you share, bear witness to all. If you are afraid and scared of testifying Jesus, think twice to call yourself a believer of Jesus Christ.
This Christmas if Jesus is born in your heart, let us show, and bear witness of what we have experienced. God expects us to bear witness to his birth, life, crucifixion, death and resurrection.
Let this Christmas be a different Christmas in our lives.
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https://youtu.be/M4F4h6Wo6E4
