We’ve been looking these last few Sundays at the coming of Christ from God’s perspective by viewing some of the Messianic prophecies of the major prophets.
We looked at how Isaiah saw the coming of Messiah as "God with us", and Jeremiah, who saw Jesus as, "The Lord Our Righteousness".
Ezekiel, another of God’s "seers", saw Christ as a tender branch cut from the very top of a tall cedar tree, then transplanted on a high mountain.
This takes a little more explaining than Isaiah or Jeremiah’s prophecy.
First, we need to consider the background of this prophecy about the coming of the Savior.
Ezekiel delivered his message to the Jews as they were being taken captive into the foreign country of Babylon. God was allowing this to happen because of their refusal to repent of their sin, primarily idolatry. It wasn’t a very joyous time. But God gives a promise of future deliverance to His people in the midst of this time of sorrow.
To get His message across He uses two very impressive natural objects: the tall cedar tree, which sometimes grew to a height of one hundred feet, and the high mountain.
These items were awe-inspiring and spoke of the grandeur of God’s creation. In the Old Testament they are associated both with the majesty of earthly kings and also God’s majesty.
Chapter 17 of Ezekiel begins with an allegorical reference to the king of Babylon taking the top branch from one of these tall cedars and transplanting in Babylon. This can easily be interpreted as the king of Judah being transplanted in Babylon. Against his will he’s dethroned and made a prisoner of war in a heathen country. This was a sign of great weakness and spiritual failure.
In order that the people of God not be given over to complete discouragement however, God lets them know of a coming king who would not be overtaken by any enemy.
He says in verse 22, "I myself am going to take a shoot from the very top cedar and plant it on a high mountain." He continues in verse 23, "I will raise up a king in Israel who will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar."
Furthermore He says in verse 23, "birds of every kind will nest in it."
God was here foretelling His plans for the coming of Christ. This is indeed a Messianic prophecy fulfilled in the Lord Jesus.
There are several implications of this prophecy but we will limit ourselves to considering just two for now.
Do we see what Ezekiel saw?
First, Ezekiel shows us that God takes the insignificant and gives it significance.
He was going to take a small, tender branch from the top of the tree and make it the most significant tree the world has ever seen. That is exactly what the coming of Christ into this world was like.
Jesus was born in a animal barn and cradled in a feeding trough in one of the most insigificant towns of the day. His earthly parents weren’t rich or famous. He was certainly a tender branch when He came into this world - yet He forever changed the course of history.
If we can see what Ezekiel saw we would see that what is insignificant to the world is often very significant to God and vice versa.
When we begin to see what Ezekiel saw we will adjust our perspective about what is important and what’s not.
Those of us who are Christ followers are consistently called upon to reshape our thinking and re-order our priorities according to God’s perspective.
The Christmas season should not only be a time to check our shopping list - its also a very good time to check our priorites. Do we view ourselves and others around us as God does? This is a vital question.
None of us should ever view our lives as insignificant. Our name may not be in neon lights or riveted across the headlines but we are each and every one valuable. We don’t have to enjoy celebrity status to be important.
Walt Disney was once asked, "How does it feel to be a celebrity?" This was his answer:
"It feels fine when it helps me get a good seat for a football game. But it never helped me make a good film, or a good shot in a polo game, or command the obedience of my daughter. It doesn’t even seem to keep fleas off our dogs - and if being a celebrity won’t give one an advantage over a couple of fleas, then I guess there can’t be much in being a celebrity after all."
Like Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus, we may not appear very significant to the world, but each and every one of us is important to God!
We think of the rich and powerful as being significant in our society. These people are significant to God of course, but not because they’re rich and powerful.
The poor and helpless are just as significant to God.
For instance, under Levitical law in the Old Testament, the people of God were commanded to leave some fruit in the vineyards when they harvested the grapes (Lev. 19:10), and to leave some grain when they harvested the wheat (Lev. 23:32). God didn’t want them to be wasteful, but He wanted them to intentionaly leave enough "for the poor and for the stranger".
Why? Because the poor helpless strangers were significant to God.
This principle carries over into the New Testament. Consider James 2:5.
"Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?"
We should praise God for His willingness to help the helpless.
"How have you helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble! What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!" (Job 26:2-3)
Christ came into this world to prove our significance to God!
Listen to this holiday story that illustrates this truth.
"One December I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I cut back on nonessential obligations like extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas."
"My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he’d been memorizing songs for his school’s Winter Pageant."
"I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there’d be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then."
"Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song."
"Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as ’Christmas’, I didn’t expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer."
"So, when my son’s class rose to sing, ’Christmas Love’, I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row - center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing ’C is for Christmas’, a child would hold up the letter ’C’. Then, ’H is for Happy’, and so on, until each child, holding up his portion had presented the complete message, ’Christmas Love’."
"The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter ’M’ upside down - totally unaware her letter ’M’ appeared as a ’W’. The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her ’W’.
"Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood - the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why, even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities."
"For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
ChristWas Love!"
Christmas is indeed the story that Christ was love. He came to let us know that God loves each and every one of us. As individuals we are significant to God.
Secondly, Ezekiel saw that if we will take refuge in Christ we will find true shelter.
Once again, let’s reiterate what God said of the tree He plants, "Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches." (V.23)
This means that we may experience the promise of God’s watchful care as we go through life.
This past week there was an article in the paper about new state regulations concerning ratios for children per worker in child care programs. We may disagree with the numbers they have chosen but none of us can disagree with the fact that one adult can only watch so many children at the same time.
This principle doesn’t apply to God however. Since He is infinite, He can watch over everyone at the same time!
What does His care for us include?
There is nothing that concerns you that doesn’t also concern God. There is no problem, great or small, that He doesn’t want to help you overcome.
"Give ALL of your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. (1 Peter 5:7 NLT)
"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them: he delivers them from ALL their troubles. (Psalms 34:17 NIV)
Does He care if your pet hamster died? (No, I’m not trying to be frivolous.) If it matters to you it matters to God. Does He care if your roof leaks? If you’re back aches? If your child is having difficulty in school? Does He care if you had a family argument recently and feelings are still hurt?
Yes, He certainly cares about ALL of these issues and ALL the rest.
So the question for us is not, "Does God care?" The real question is, "Have we been crying out to God and asking Him to help us deal with our cares and have we been following His solutions?"
One group that needs to know God cares is the mother of small children, so consider this humorous story.
"The telephone rings, and the young mother answers. On the other end of the line a voice says, ’Honey, its mom. I called because I know that you’re busy with the three children, and I want to give you some help. I’m going to stop by to clean the house, take care of the baby, and prepare dinner for when the boys get home from school.’"
"I want you to get ready to go to my beautician, I paid her already, she is going to give you ’the works’. Your appointment is at 1:00."
"Give George a call at the office and tell him that you will meet him at that fancy restaraunt you both like so well and have dinner on me..."
"The young mother suddenly interupts and asks, ’George, who’s George?’"
"’Your husband,’ says the caller."
"’My husband’s name is Fred,’ she replies.
"Is this 555-3212?"
"No, this is 555-2212."
"’I’m sorry. I have the wrong number,’ says the now embarassed caller."
"After a pause, the young mother sheepishly asks, ’Does this mean that you’re not coming over?’"
Here’s a real call that’s being made. God is calling. He wants to come and help us carry our burdens. It’s not a mistake. He knows who we are, where we are, and what our needs are. And He cares.
It gets even better. He not only cares about what happens to us in this life, He also offers eternal refuge and shelter for all of us.
He invites us to come to Him.
"The Spirit and the bride say, ’Come!’ And let him who hears say, ’Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." (Rev. 22:17)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
The greatest Christmas gift ever given was the first one ever given - the gift of God’s one and only Son. When we accept this gift we find rest here and hereafter.
