In Jesus Holy Name December 24, 2024
Text: Luke 2:8-12 Redeemer
“Whose DNA is in the Manger?”
We live in the age of Robotics, the self-driving car, a space ship that can launch and return to its launching pad by computer technology. This is the age of Genetic Engineering, Information Technology, Nono Technology. They are all coming together under A I. Artificial Intelligence. A I is a collection of technologies that allow computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Every time I get into an airplane, I know it is controlled by computers that are so complex and interconnected that no human could program them. A I acts as a co-pilot to analyze vast amounts of data in real time to optimize flight paths, monitor systems, adjust controls based on weather conditions and alert pilots to potential risks. Even the truck I drive gets better gas milage if the computer controls the speed. So I let A I use cruise control.
Even A I creators who build A I can’t tell you how it works. Sam Bowman, NYU professor and runs the A I lab at the University said: “We built it, we trained it, but we don’t know what it is doing.”
Do you know the history of “Apple” Computer and why the popular logo is an “apple with a bite out of it”? Steve Jobs was playing with the idea that technology, his technology would be the “savor of the world”, the “redemption of the fall”, “second coming of Jesus Christ.” (Lenoard Sweet Len Talk #204 Faith in the age of AI Dec. 2024)
Of course we all enjoy the benefits of “Apple” phones and “Apple computers. Technology makes life and business more efficient. A I technology is not the “savior of the world”, nor can A I offer redemption for our broken commandments. In reality Steve Jobs knew technology would not provide “redemption of the fall” nor the “2nd coming of Jesus”. Why? Because he sold the first “apple” computer for $666.66.
A I may remain a mystery but we accept the benefits. We have come together this evening to celebrate the mystery of the incarnation. The “incarnation” is the mystery that the Creator of the Universe took upon Himself human DNA, in the child born in Bethlehem, named Jesus, order to become the Savior whose life, death and resurrection restores the harmony and peace our soul desires. In the Gospel of John we find this explanation of Christmas. “The Word, The Logos, The Intelligent Designer became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” His first shelter was a stable in Bethlehem.
J.I. Packer, Christian Theologian writes: “The Almighty (God) appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.”
Martin Luther wrote:
“Ah, Lord, though you created all,
How weak You are, so poor and small
That You should choose to lay your head
Where lowly cattle lately fed.”
Christmas is the celebration of the “incarnation”, the Creator of the Universe through Mary gave to Himself DNA so that we might know Him that God loves us. He chose a manger in Bethlehem for the shepherds visit and share the good news of this holy child birth. God became one of us. He took upon himself flesh and bone to save us from our broken commandments and broken ethics, because we can not save ourselves.
We human beings realize that our broken ethics and broken commandments are like a train that has jumped off the tracks. We have been derailed by our own sinful, selfish choices. From the beginning of creation, after Adam and Eve broke God’s one command, He set a plan in motion to rescue us from eternal death.
As Christians we believe something extraordinary with that one particular baby, born in one particular place, Bethlehem, to a particular set of parents, Mary and Joseph. That baby—and no other baby—was God, the Creator of the Universe. He wrapped Himself in the spirals of DNA strands and solved our greatest problem, alienation from our Creator.
We not only believe truth of the incarnation, We have staked our lives upon it.
As human beings, our heart longs for peace and harmony. We seek peace with our Creator because we know we have broken ethics, broken commandments and these realities keep us alienated from one another and our Creator.
Reconciliation is what we want. Reconciliation means friendship is restored. The infant placed in the cradle, who was given the name Jesus. He is the same person who worked miracles, cured the lame, walked on water and raised the dead back to life. At 33 years of age the religious and political powers arrested Him and crucified Him on the cross. His nail pierced hands and his death paid the price for our reconciliation. He restores our lost friendship with our Creator.
The Bible tells us that the wrath of God against sin was placed on Jesus at the cross. He became our substitute. When Jesus died on the cross God transferred all of our broken commandments, to Jesus on the wooden cross. He died and was buried, but three days later, He rose from the dead.
If Jesus is still in the tomb, then we are still in our sins. Without Easter, Good Friday isn’t good. And Christmas could never be enjoyed.
When Jesus came into this world, the world paid little attention to the Child who was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed into a manger. Like today, too many people were wrapped up in their own affairs to notice what God was doing, that doesn't mean the spiritual realm didn't take notice. The night of His birth both heaven and hell recognized that God was doing something which He had never done before and He would never do again. He was giving His Eternal Spirit human DNA in the life of His Son to save the souls of sinners.
In our present culture, the wooden manger is as dangerous as a wooden cross. It is dangerous because you can’t put one on government property (or in almost any public place) these days. Someone is almost certainly to be offended. But the real problem with the wooden manger in which the holy child was placed is that it challenges the hearts of men and women to believe the mystery that Creator of the Universe chose to be born in Bethlehem.
The cosmic battle between God and Satan over the control of the human heart is on display in the public square where there is no room for the wooden manger surrounded by statues of Mary, Joseph, cows, sheep and donkeys.
God wants us to be set free from the fear of death. He wants us to be in heaven for all eternity. That’s why he came to Bethlehem. His love for us is not based on what we do; His love is based on who He is. God is love. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours but for the sins of the whole world.” “We have been justified by faith in His death and resurrection.” (Romans 5)
Christmas is simply the celebration of God’s love displayed in the manger. The manger is the place where He began his life on earth. If you accept the mystery of God, visible in the manger; if you accept what Jesus did for you on the cross; if you accept his resurrection from the grave then your eternal destiny will be secure and your heart will experience peace.
You do not have to understand how A I works to experience its benefits. You do not have to understand the mystery of the incarnation, God’s very DNA on display in a manger in Bethlehem to receive His benefits of forgiveness and eternal life, but you must accept the benefits by faith.
May the celebration of Christmas this year be the beginning of your hope and salvation. May the joy of the season truly fill your home and lives with the assurance of God’s presence in the “child of Christmas”, who brings forgiveness and the gift of eternal life to all who believe.
