Seasonal Simplicities

SEASONAL SIMPLICITIES

Introduction: I went to buy a stereo the other day and found myself looking at a contraption that I really didn’t understand. All over this country this Wednesday morning there will be fathers and grandfathers getting overly frustrated trying to put together new toys. Seasonal problems. Seasonal to Christmas. This is never more magnified than this time of year. We too will have the same issues in our lives. One of the biggest problems we men have is that we put together things without looking at the directions. We make every attempt to do it without the necessary understanding of what it is we are looking at. We need to sometimes get a clear look at the problem and understand the directions.

We have always said that the issues of today are not one bit different than they were that first Christmas so many years ago on that faithful day that Mary gave birth to the child that would come to save a world from it’s sins. This year, this Christmas, it is my desire to look at the Christmas story and put it together.

Luke 2:1-20 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

To put together the Christmas story this year I want to look at the birth of Jesus as it was anounced to the Sheppard’s keeping watch over their flock by night.

I. Christmas is Positional/ God comes to the position we are in.

A. To understand the positional aspect of Christmas we must recognize the human side of Christ.

1. His parents were fully human

2. He was a Human Baby in Baby clothes

a. There was no doubt to the human side of Jesus.

b. He came in the lowest position

*He was vulnerable

*He was in the most humble position

3. He was fully God

Heb 4:15-16

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We understand the human position of Christ we must understand the human position of those who would hear the news first