STOP, AND TAKE IT ALL IN
Luke 2:19 (15-20)
S: Mystery
Th: We have reason to rejoice!
Pr: WE REJOICE IN A GOD WHO BLESSES US.
?: What? What did Mary think about?
KW: Incidents
TS: We will find in our study four incidents that would cause Mary to mull over her blessings.
The _____ incident was the…
I. ANNOUNCEMENT
II. ADVENTURE
III. ARRIVAL
IV. AUDIENCE
Version: ESV
RMBC 22 Dec 02 AM
INTRODUCTION:
ILL Notebook: Christmas (sure beats shopping)
It was a few days before Christmas on the Oregon coast. Two men whose families lived next door opted to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. An unexpected storm surprised the weekend sailors. Before long, the sea became angry, and the two had a difficult time keeping the sailboat under control. While heading toward the harbor, the craft hit a sandbar and grounded. Both men jumped overboard into the icy water and began to push and shove in an attempt to get the sailboat into deeper water. Knee-deep in mud and repeatedly bounced against the hull by the unfriendly waves, the one said enthusiastically to the other, “Sure beats Christmas shopping, doesn’t it?”
Well, I’m not a big fan of shopping, but…
Do you like to shop?
And most of you are done, right?
Because, knowing how this church has a reputation of being an on-time church, and that we always get things done ahead of time, I am sure that, as individuals, you already have all your gift shopping done.
Well, hopefully you have it done…
For now is the time to concentrate on the reason we gather this time of the year.
I think we all recognize that…
It is easy to lose perspective during Christmas.
In fact, it is a frustration to keep ourselves pointed in the right direction.
But this has been our goal this month…
TRANSITION:
During this advent season, our theme has been…
1. We have reason to rejoice.
We do have reason.
We have good news to celebrate.
For example…
1.1 We rejoice in a God who answers.
A few weeks ago, we considered the story of Zechariah.
God answered his old prayers of having a son.
And God answered the prayers he offered in the temple, asking for God’s intervention with the Messiah.
Zechariah discovered that God does hear and does answer, for He is the on-time, in-time and right-time God.
And…
1.2 We rejoice in a God who surprises.
Two weeks ago, we studied Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement.
The angel told her that she was going to become pregnant without the aid of a man.
To say the least, this was surprising news.
But though this news was unexpected, Mary discovered that God’s surprises are worth having and living.
Last week, we examined the proposition…
1.3 We rejoice in a God who brings peace.
We examined the angels’ announcement to the shepherds.
The shepherds were privileged to be the first to hear the news that the Messiah had come.
And they learned that it was the Messiah’s purpose to establish peace between God and mankind.
This includes us.
So it is something we are to rejoice in.
Today, we give consideration to Mary’s response to all that has happened to her in a nine month span.
And we learn this…
2. WE REJOICE IN A GOD WHO BLESSES US.
The blessings of God surround us.
And if there is any time of the year that we should understand this, this is the time.
God is involved in our lives.
God intervenes in our lives.
God favors us.
Christmas is the time to stop, and take it all in.
If we don’t, we are doing Christmas wrong.
No doubt, there is a lot of things to think about this time of year.
We think about decorations and the gifts we have to buy.
We think about travels and arrangements.
We think about food, dinners and parties.
We think about programs and cantatas.
But, do we give any thought to Christmas like Mary did?
You see…
3. Mary had a lot to think about (Luke 2:19).
After the visit from the shepherds had ended, the biblical text tells us:
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
The idea that we find in the text is that she was carefully storing away all these events.
She was putting them all together in her heart, mulling them over, figuring our their meaning.
So I wonder, what did Mary think about?
Well…
4. We will find in our study four incidents that would cause Mary to mull over her blessings.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first incident was the ANNOUNCEMENT.
1. Did you ever think about what it would be like to be visited by God’s messenger?
We know that being confronted by an angel is a terrifying experience.
This is why they always start out their messages with, “Don’t be afraid!”
Just to have an angel come to you, though, is a humbling experience.
To find out and live in the realization that God has you in mind is the type of experience that would bring you to your knees.
So…
2. Did you ever think about what it would be like to be chosen for a special, but very difficult task?
Mary was living in the midst of biological impossibilities.
This alone gave Mary plenty to think about.
For the reputation of having a child outside the bond of marriage was going to follow her.
And though the message comes from God, and the cause is His intervention, who is going to believe you?
A virgin having a baby? Ri-i-i-i-ght!
Savior of the world? Ri-i-i-i-ght!
Prophesied deliverer? Ri-i-i-i-ght!
The silly girl is out her mind.
But Mary agrees to it, “Let it be as you say.”
Max Lucado, in his book, God Came Near, explains to us all why Mary had plenty to mull over…
The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.
God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.
Mary had a lot to think about.
II. The second incident was the ADVENTURE.
1. Did you ever think about what it would be like to be compelled to take a trip when you are in your ninth month of pregnancy?
God moves in interesting ways.
The Messiah had to be born in Bethlehem, but Joseph and Mary were living in Nazareth.
So God prepares the way by having Rome do a census.
Everyone has to go to his or her town of origin.
For Joseph and Mary, this was Bethlehem.
I am sure to them, this was hardly good news.
Who wants to take a 90 mile trip just to satisfy an emperor’s whim?
And who wants to do it when you are expecting a child?
And on top of that, they both probably walked.
They were probably too poor to afford a donkey (even though it is often pictured this way).
When they finally made it to Bethlehem, they would be absolutely exhausted.
What happens then?
No room.
2. Did you ever think about what it would be like to be rejected when you are about to give birth?
Can you imagine taking a trip to the hospital, get to the entrance, and they say, “Sorry, we are full”?
You can’t imagine that, can you?
But for Joseph and Mary, when they arrived, there was no place for them to go.
Labor had begun; the pains were beginning.
And for this couple, so far away from home, it had to seem like nothing was going right.
This was like one disaster after another.
They could do without these kinds of adventures.
Now we come to…
III. The third incident was the ARRIVAL.
1. Did you ever think about what it would be like to give birth in a stable?
We don’t know how they ended up in the stable.
We don’t know if it belonged to the inn or they found it some other way.
Nevertheless, the birthplace for Jesus was a place where animals were kept.
Whether it was a barn or a cave, we don’t know, though in that area the latter was more common.
Regardless, it would be smelly and damp.
And it is here, our Savior makes his way through the birth canal, and is born.
Max Lucado, again, gives us a description that we must give thought to…
He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.
Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.
I almost to hesitate to tell you, but the line “No crying he makes” has no biblical basis.
Jesus probably cried a lot, like most babies.
And did all the things that babies do.
Even the yucky, disgusting things…
Yet, at the same time…
2. Did you ever thing about what it would be like to be parents to the perfect child?
I have come across parents that think their children are perfect.
And I have known some children that acted like they were perfect.
But when Joseph and Mary gazed into the eyes of Jesus, they were looking at divine eyes.
And when they kissed him, they kissed the face of God.
There was much for Mary to think about, because though she bore this child, the baby did not belong to her.
She really belonged to Him!
Now comes…
IV. The fourth incident was the AUDIENCE.
1. Did you ever think about what it would be like to be visited by common ordinary shepherds?
Just a few miles away in Jerusalem was Herod’s magnificent temple.
So, doesn’t it seem that a king should have come?
Or how about the high priests and those that served in that temple?
Shouldn’t they have come?
After all, this is the King of kings.
But who comes?
The common, ordinary, and in the eyes of many, the unworthy.
Shepherds were viewed as unclean and unfit.
And they are the first visitors.
Mary had to think, why are they the first?
But I see it simply as this…
The uncommon comes to the common to identify with us.
And…
2. Did you ever think about what it would be like to hear that you are not alone?
Sometimes, we believe that we are facing what we are facing alone.
Mary and Joseph may have felt like that, but they soon found out that they were not alone.
They were not the only ones to know about their son.
God had provided for them spiritual companionship.
These shepherds know this baby is the Savior.
This is the Messiah, the Lord.
Mary has all the verification she needs.
The shepherds have the sign right.
Jesus was in the manger and who expects a baby to be in a manger?
This was no coincidence.
For Mary, she had to see that in the midst of all these crazy circumstances, that God was in it.
APPLICATION:
So, let me ask you…
1. Have you paused yet to ponder the extraordinary commonness of the birthday of your Savior, the King of kings and Lord of lords?
God (the extraordinary) came into the world (the common).
God came into the world to bless You with His Presence.
It is a blessing to you.
For where would you be right now if He had not come?
Think about it!
We all get caught up in the celebration of Christmas and all that surrounds it.
But soon, the lights and the trees are taken down.
And they will be forgotten about until next year.
Do we dare let that happen?
Do we dare let another Christmas come and go without thinking about what has happened?
Do we allow Christmas to go by without ever truly rejoicing in it and letting God change us through it.
ILL Notebook: Christmas (I didn’t recognize you)
At a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday, elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. Lady Diana’s failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest until she peered more closely at the magnificent diamonds and realized she was talking to Queen Elizabeth!
Overcome with embarrassment, Lady Diana curtsied and stammered, “Ma’am, oh, ma’am, I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t recognize you without your crown!”
We may have the same struggle.
If we don’t look close enough, we are going to miss Him.
We are going to miss the blessing.
You see, we should ever be so grateful that Jesus left the glory of heaven.
We cannot come up to His level.
So He comes down to ours.
2. Have you paused to ponder the extraordinary blessings God has given you?
We rejoice in a God who blesses us.
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Rejoice in the God who answers prayer…He is the on-time, in-time, right-time God, that works for your good and His glory; rejoice in Him today!
Rejoice in the God who surprises…For when He intervenes, it may catch us off guard, but in the end, it is always worth singing about.
Rejoice in the God who brings peace…He has come to bring peace to the world and He has come to do it through You; so be reconciled and know His favor, His good will, His peace.
Rejoice in the God who blesses…He has come to make them known; so treasure them because the Creator of life being created should make us pause about the wonders of His love.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
