Through the Eyes of Christmas Pt 2
Through the Eyes of Angels
Luke 1:26-38
In our celebration of Advent we come now today to the story of the Angels of Advent. Four times during the Advent story Angels play a decisive part in the narrative of Messiah¡¦s coming. First with Zacharias, then Mary, then Joseph, then finally the Shepherds. Four completely different stories ¡V with completely different people ¡V and completely different problems yet the message is strikingly similar. Let¡¦s take a look this morning at Advent through the eyes of Angels.
Read Luke 1:26-38. I read this passage in particular because it demonstrates fully the similarity of the events with each of the five people visited.
1) In all four instances the Angels saw ¡V Fear and Uncertainty in Men ¡V
„Y Zacharias ¡V was in the temple when the angel appeared to him. He had prayed long for a child but his wife Elizabeth was barren. While he stood in the Holy of Holies an angel appeared to him and he was troubled and fear gripped him. But it wasn¡¦t just the presence of the Angel that made him afraid ¡V the angel had a message that a son would be born to him ¡V listen to his response. ¡§How shall I know for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.¡¨ Face to face with the messenger of God ¡V Zacharias still fears that his hopes might get dashed again. Not quite willing to trust. We want certainties in life and often they are hard to find.
„Y Mary ¡V the angel appears to Mary and says ¡§Hail favored one! The Lord is with you.¡¨ But it says her heart was greatly troubled trying to figure out what that meant. Being singled out by God can be a difficult thing. Somehow we would like to go unnoticed ¡V just blend in and be the average Jo. You see if we are singled out maybe God will ask of us more than we are able to give. John Ortberg wrote this ¡§many people in churches these days want some comfort associated with Spirituality, but they don¡¦t want the risk and challenge that goes along with actually following Jesus.¡¨ Often like sheep we find comfort in the jostling bodies of the crowd and fear comes when we are called on to stand out among the crowd.
„Y Joseph ¡V To Joseph the angel appeared in a dream ¡V Joseph¡¦s fear came from a life turned upside down. Events running out of control. He was betrothed to the most beautiful woman in the world ¡V his dreams were becoming a reality. He would settle down in his carpentry business ¡V build a home and a family ¡V pass his business on to his children and all would be well with the world. Until Mary came to him one day and said ¡V ¡§Honey sit down.¡¨ You know all bad news starts that way. I¡¦m with child ¡V but really I havn¡¦t been seeing anyone else. God has done this ¡V I am still a virgin. Joseph¡¦s world came crashing down around him. The angel found a man sleeping who thought his world had come to an end. Afraid that his dreams were forever shattered. Some of you know what that feels like today. All your dreams and plans have gone up in smoke. It¡¦s a fearful place to live.
„Y Shepherds ¡V The angels appeared to the shepherds and turned their world upside down. Their quiet pasture field was turned into an Angelic Disco as the host of heaven celebrated the birth of the Messiah. Surrounded by a host of angels these quiet unassuming men were told that they would be the first to see the Messiah who had been born for all men. The world must have been spinning for these guys. In a moment they went from relaxing with sheep to making a dash for Bethlehem. Fear often comes when our plans are interrupted or our course uncertain. Surely these shepherds were a bit dazed and confused.
In each of the stories fear and uncertainty filled the lives of the people involved. Their stories are like all human stories a complex interaction between faith and fear. I want you to see however these same stories again through the eyes of angels. Because the angles also saw in each story¡K
2) The Security and Power of God ¡V Having come on a mission from God ¡V the deliver a message that speaks to the heart of the fear that is in all men¡¦s hearts. On Each occasion the Angel says ¡V Don¡¦t Be Afraid! Boy that¡¦s easier said than done isn¡¦t it? When you are looking for certainties in an uncertain life like Zacharias. When you are called out of the crowd for something special like Mary. When your life seems out of control like Joseph. When your world is spinning a little to fast and furious like the shepherds. It¡¦s easier to say Don¡¦t be afraid than to actually not be afraid. But the angels tell each one why and the message is the same. It¡¦s the same for each person in the Advent story ¡V and it¡¦s the same for you and I today.
„Y Don¡¦t be afraid because God has a plan ¡V for each one God had a plan and the angel was coming only to set the plan in motion. The world does not go on without God. He is not as the Deist portray Him ¡V some cosmic God who set the world in motion and then forgot about it like a Christmas toy by New Years. God has a plan.
„Y You are part of the Plan - Friends you were created for a purpose. There is a reason that you are here. Psalm 139:16 says Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. God has a plan ¡V You are a unique unrepeatable miracle of God. No one else is or ever will be like you and God has a plan for your life. Come fair weather or foul ¡V God has a plan and you are a part of that plan. The plan is far bigger than you but it needs you to be complete. The angel came to Zacharias and said ¡§Hey Zach you¡¦re part of the plan, to Mary and Joseph and said ¡§Hey you¡¦re part of the plan, to the shepherds and said ¡§Hey you¡¦re part of the plan.¡¨ He comes to us today and says whatever your facing ¡V whatever fear is in your life ¡V You¡¦re part of the plan.
„Y You and others will be blessed by the plan ¡V Mary the message said ¡§You will concieve, You will bear a son, you will call His name Jesus. But He will be great, and will be called the son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; - You see the whole world will be blessed by your part in the story. The truth is that if you will participate. If you will say as Mary did ¡V ¡§despite my fears be it done to me according to Your word¡¨ you and those around you will be blessed by the plan that God has for your life. Your life impacts all the lives around you for good or for ill. If you will follow the plans of God ¡V all around you will be blessed in the story.
The stories of these people did not end when the angel appeared to them ¡V their stories were only just beginning.
„« Zacharias still faced 9 months of silence as he was mute until John was born.
„« Mary ¡V faced telling Joseph ¡V 9 months of pregnancy and a life of expectant wondering about her new born son.
„« Joseph ¡V faced an 80 mile trek with his pregnant wife, delivering his child in a barn because there was no room in which to stay, and being surrogate father to God¡¦s own Son.
„« The Shepherds ¡V faced a transformed and changed life
But each faced the future ¡V with the sure and certain knowledge that God was with them
