LUKE 2:1-7
CHRISTMAS’ LESSONS
I. ANTICIPATIONS: *
A. Aliens.
B. Adolescents.
C. Aged.
III. ANGELS: **
A. Adaptability.
B. Amount.
C. A cappella.
III. APPRENTICESHIPS : ***
A. Acceptance.
B. Adversity.
C. Attainment.
Besides the birth of the Baby Jesus, what other things does the Christmas story teach us? In fact, there are many things that this marvelous story instructs us if we only take the time to listen to it as it is described in the Holy Word. There are some valuable lessons to be learned as we study the CHRISTMAS LESSONS. There are three things I see here that are good lessons for all of us to learn if we just take the time to learn them.
The first Christmas Lesson I note is that which pertains to the Anticipations of the time when the Baby Jesus was born. The second Christmas Lesson I note has to do with Angles themselves. Finally, the third Christmas Lesson I see has to do with Apprenticeships.
* ANTICIPATIONS: What was the world actually awaiting when the Christ Child was born.? It is apparent from reading the leading thinkers of that time that the knowledge acquired up to the point of the birth of Jesus, was not meeting the needs of man.
If we look closely at the Roman world at the time of the coming of the Christ Child, one can begin to see that the philosophies of the time were empty and vain-unable to satisfy the cravings of man’s heart. From near to far, it appears there was a growing Anticipation that something spectacular was about to take place and this would satisfy the cravings of man‘s heart for peace and happiness-enter the Magi.
These Aliens, non-Israelites, living afar from Israel, were studying the stars and were faithfully looking for an omen that would assure them that something good had happened somewhere. Daily they read the universe, seeking the Hand of God Anticipating that something good was about to happen. They were typical of other Aliens who were Anticipating something unusual to occur at any moment for the betterment of mankind.
From the Aliens and their Anticipation of something good to take place one can see that even the Adolescents were also looking for something good to happen-witness the case of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She was one Adolescent mentioned in the Scriptures but she was not the only Adolescent to be waiting for something good to happen.
From the Adolescents to the Aged, they too were also Anticipating something good to happen-the case in point is of Simeon and Anna just two people of advanced years but they represent many other Aged Israelites who were anticipating the coming of the Messiah. These people prove a valuable Christmas lesson of Anticipation of something great was about to happen in this world, and they were not mistaken.
** ANGELS: Another Christmas Lesson can be seen and learned from the Angles themselves as they announced the good news about the Birth of Jesus.
One of the important lessons learned about the Angles at Christmas time is their Adaptability. They are seen in various instances in the entire Christmas Story. One angle comes to tell Mary about her being the chosen one. One angle tells Joseph to move away from Israel and then returns to tell him to move home again. Yet, even though they came they appear to be Adaptable to any circumstances in which they are placed by God. They appear in daylight, in dreams and then in the night time. They are seen, they speak and are heard, they move silently, quickly and effortlessly. They come and go in a flash and they do not reveal their names-just their missions. They are very adaptable and this is a valuable Christmas Lesson for all of we who follow the Lord. These same angles never die but they are obedient to God and do come to the aid of His children when directed regardless of the time of day or night.
These angles did not, do not, recognize man’s boundary lines of countries and places. They cross all boundaries, speak in the language of the listener, and they are not bound by time as they appear in all hours of the day and night. They seem to be comforting and reassuring to the listeners. They do not appear to startle anyone but their very presence is reassuring and of great strength.
Another Christmas Lesson about these Angles has to do with their Amount. They appear as one before and after the birth of Jesus speaking to this one and then to that one. However, at the Birth of Jesus, the Bible says that there were many. The Amount of them is never given but the Bible says that the sky was filled full of them and they were everywhere-in the air, on the land, close to Heaven and others were far away. This un-numbered host is still active today serving the God of the universe filling the expanse of the sky doing the bidding of God. Surely the Bible is correct, “There be more for us than against us.”
Another Christmas Lesson learned from the Angels is that they must have sang at the birth of Jesus A Cappella. The Bible says that they spoke in a chorus and that had to be heavenly music. These voices were never marred by the stain of sin. These voices were pure, sweet and pleasant to listen to as they sang the sweet and marvelous massage about the birth of Jesus. These voices were never strained do to illness, infection or operations upon the vocal chords-they wee just pure and perfect. These voices did not need microphones, or musical instruments to help them-no their pure, unadulterated voices sang and sang and sang.
These angles never had a voice lesson unless it was given by the Master Singer. Their pitch, their tone, their range of sounds defies all of man’s efforts to produce the perfect musical voice. They did not/do not sing off key and their songs are written by the Master Song Writer of the Universe. One would never get tired of listening to these perfect voices as they sing out the praises of God day and night and the time they appeared at the Birth of Jesus, was just a warm-up for what is to come. Just over on the Celestial Shore, these voices still sing out the good news that the Christ Child came and still lives. When Jesus hung on the cross and then died, the angles must have been silent that time, but when He arose from the grave, the Heavenly Host burst forth in a song that that is still being sung even today in the City that needs no sun.
Someday, all the Blood bought, Blood washed saints of God will close their eyes in this sin cursed, sin polluted world of which we now call home as the millions of other saints have done over the millennia, and then open them to the sweetest music that we have ever heard as the angels sing the welcome home song to God’s elect. The Christmas Lesson that night so long ago is that the Angels sing and their songs are sweet.
*** APPRENTICESHIPS: What else is there to learn from the Christmas Lessons? We have looked at the Anticipation that the world had as it teetered on the brink of moral collapse. We have seen the Lessons taught us by the Angelic Host. Now, we can look at another Christmas Lesson: Life’s Apprenticeships. What do the Lessons of Christmas attempt to show us?
The first thing I note of the Christmas Lessons in Apprentices is the art of Acceptance. I do not have far to look to learn that there were two people who were madly in love with each other-Joseph and Mary-and they were waiting for that special day of their marriage. They had anticipated starting life out together-just the two of them when everything was turned upside down by the angelic visit to Mary. First Mary Accepted this new lot knowing full well what dangers lurked in the shadows of her future; possibly a divorce from Joseph, public ostracism for her and her Baby and the torments of being an un-wed mother. Yet, she accepted it. She was willing to put all of her dreams and desires aside in order to glorify God. Wow! What does that tell us? Are we willing to be good Apprentices and to learn to Accept this Christmas Lesson of being willing to put aside all of our plans and wishes so we can glorify God?
What about Joseph? He too had plans and wishes, yet he also Accepted the new circumstances and proceeded to marry Mary, knowing full well that his plans would never be fulfilled. Even after the birth of the Baby, he was told to shut down his shop, move his family to Egypt and then later to repeat the cycle of closing up shop in Egypt and then move back home. He Accepted it all with grace and dignity. Mary gave a lot in her Acceptance of the Lord’s call and so did Joseph. What are the Christmas Lessons here for us? One of these Lessons is to learn Acceptance of what ever God has for us and to take what ever comes our way with grace and dignity. Can we be good Apprentices and learn Acceptance of His plan for us with out chafing and moaning about circumstances, events , and reverses in our life?
Another Christmas Lesson to be learned from the Christmas story is that there are Adversities in life and we have to learn to deal with them. Again, talk to the earthly parents of Jesus about Adversity. Learn from them in how they dealt with it. They had more than their share of Adversity but they accepted it all: they were good Apprentices in the art of living in and in enduring Adversity
They traveled together on foot and donkey to pay their taxes and Mary was uncomfortable but they went anyways. They could not find any decent place to stay for one night or more but they stayed and endured until they were free to move about. Then when the Baby came along, they made a barn a nursery for their new Son. They entertained smelly, not too clean shepherds that first night of the Baby’s arrival when they were wore out from all which had happened to them in the past few days, yet, they endured it all for His sake.
Later, they journeyed back to Jerusalem for His dedication and then returned back to Bethlehem: Adversity. They soon learned that their Baby was to be killed by mad Herod and they were marked: Adversity. They fled to Egypt, a foreign country: Adversity. They returned home and did not go back to their original homes but turned and dwelt in Nazareth: Adversity. Yet, along the way of all their Adversity, they were blessed by the very presence of God in their home because they were Learning Christmas Lessons; they were good apprentices in dealing with Adversity. We too can learn these lesson from the Christmas story as we surrender all to follow Him. May we be good learners-good Apprentices in our walk with Him.
Finally, one great Christmas Lesson to learn is that through all of the things these two endured, they Attained much. They submerged their wills and plans and learned to Accept the way God had marked out for them. They endured great Adversities but they were good Apprentices and learned valuable lessons for His sake. And, by so being good Apprentices, they were able to Attain worthy and noble goals. May we be good Apprentices and learn to Accept what God has in store for us. May we learn to accept Adversities and in so doing we will Attain much for Him and for us.
Yes, the Christmas seasons has many Lessons for all of us: may we learn them well from the Anticipation of something good to be happening in our lives; to learn more about the Angels and how they can help us; and, may we be good Apprentices in living for Jesus regardless of what lies in our paths so we can Attain much for Him..
