NIV Isaiah 9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder….
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
God has blessed us greatly, so much so that it is often difficult for us to realize that we walk in darkness apart from God and his salvation. But yet that is what Scripture, God's Word to a lost mankind, reveals to us. We, sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, have inherited from our first parents the stain of depravity, the plague of original sin, which leaves us in darkness, separated from our righteous Creator. Left to ourselves we would sit in darkness forever, never seeking to come into the light. But the God of lovingkindness has sought us out with his light, the Light no darkness can overcome. His Light, Jesus Christ, scatters the darkness and illumines His church.
Tonight I invite you to listen closely to His Word, read and proclaimed, and attend to the Gospel teaching embedded within the beautiful Christmas hymns we will sing. Through His Word, through His teachings the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ calls to each of us.
NIV Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
Each of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, begin teaching us about Jesus by first teaching us about John the Baptist. Months before Jesus began to preach and teach, years before his death and resurrection changed the course of human history, John the Baptist prepared the way for him. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." "Prepare the way for the Lord." John's was a message of repentance, of turning away from our sin and turning to the Kingdom of heaven revealed in Jesus Christ. This repentance is not just a once in a lifetime event, but a daily life of turning to Jesus for light and salvation. I was just telling another pastor a few days ago that I don't think we pastors do a good enough job teaching our people about this message. You see there are two ways to say "repent" in the Greek language of the New Testament. One way would imply that repentance is a one-time event. The other way, the way it is said here in our text, could be translated "continuously repent" or "repent and keep on repenting your whole life." Whatever our secret sins are, be they neglecting God's word or neglecting our neighbor, we are called to a life of regular repentance, to a realization of our need of a constant savior. "Let us all our hearts prepare for Christ to come and enter there." We sing.
NIV Micah 5: 2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
God chooses the least of the world to bring his great message. While today we sing songs about Bethlehem and the world knows its name, it was not an important or influential place. It was akin to the King of the world being born in one of our smaller surrounding neighbor cities, like Milford or Grandview Plaza or Ogden or Navarre. But God doesn't choose earthly ways of wisdom and power to bring his message of life and light to the world. God chooses the humble, humble cities, humble individuals to reveal himself, to reveal his Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ.
Luke 3: 23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,
38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
In our American culture we look at these Biblical genealogies and ask "why?" Why did the Gospel writers use so much ink and space to record these lists of names? Wouldn't we have been better served if they had used the same precious handwritten space to record another teaching of Jesus, or another miracle, or another story about his childhood? For us, another story or another teaching might have been helpful. But God didn't write his word for only 20th and 21st Century Americans, as much as we would like to think so. No, God wrote his word for all people, at all times, Jews and Gentiles, Americans, Asians, Africans, Europeans, Australians, and island dwellers.
Some American missionaries spent years learning the language and culture of a tribal group in Africa. This tribe worshipped spirits in the trees and spirits of their dead ancestors. To them, everything was spiritualized, but they were open to listening to the spiritual teachings of these missionaries. The missionaries then began to teach the people about Jesus, the Son of God, and translating God's Word into their language. The missionaries were selective, choosing the parts of God's Word that they themselves found most important in communicating that this Jesus was truly spiritual and holy. But the missionaries made little headway in bringing the tribespeople to faith. The tribe could see few important differences in their own spiritual beliefs and the missionaries' emphases. Then one day the missionaries translated Jesus' genealogy, seemingly insignificant to their own faith, and shared it with a tribal leader. He was surprised and said to them: You mean this Jesus you've been telling us about was truly human, with human ancestors, but was also the Son of God?" This insight was critical in the Holy Spirit's work in bringing this tribe to faith in Jesus Christ. A part of Scripture that we might consider something to skip over might be the critical treasure that deepens our own trust in Jesus Christ, or our ability to share his message with others. This genealogy was critical in teaching these people that Christ was God incarnate, God come in human flesh. Through this genealogy these people learned of Christ as their Savior.
NIV Luke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Even Caesar Augustus obeys God. Perhaps the most influential leader the world had ever known to that time chooses to issue a census that, unbeknownst to him, will fulfill ancient Hebrew prophecy about the most influential person who would ever live.
The next hymn, "What Child is This?" to the tune of Greensleeves is one of my favorites. Its haunting melody intensifies the question that all humans must ask about Jesus "What child is this?" It requests the same response as when Jesus asked his disciples "Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?" Peter blurted out: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." We spend our lifetimes repeating Peter's confession. This child, by his very presence here on earth, is God's silent Word pleading for all mankind. This child, as the hymn teaches and Luke proclaims later in his book, will have nails and spear pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, Hail the Word made flesh, this babe the son of Mary.
Luke 2: 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Angels are popular today. There are books written about angels, movies and TV shows depicting angels. The TV shows generally portray them as cute, thoughtful women, appearing in a generic human form. The old movie "It's a Wonderful Life" portrays the angel as a bumbling older man. Luke portrays them very differently here. "An angel appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and (the shepherds) were sore afraid." The angel comes in glory not to frighten them, but to bring the greatest good news of all time: "The Savior, Christ the Lord has been born TO YOU." Note that: The angel does not say simply Christ the Lord has been born. He has been born TO YOU.
"Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel." Doing what? "Praising God" specifically saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." The Light of the world has been revealed, the Light no darkness can overcome. That Light scatters the darkness and illumines the Church. Peace between God and man is about to be made. The Son of God lays his glory by, born that we may no more die. Born to raise each child of earth, Born to give us second birth. For those things we can praise with the glorious, frightening angels: "Glory to the newborn king."
Luke 2: 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
70 years ago a boy was in a Christmas program in a little country church to our south. He was given one verse to memorize, to recite for the program, his parents and grandparents (But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart). But he was excited, nervous about his opportunity. He wasn't very good at memorizing and reciting. He had worked hard to be ready. It came his turn. In his anxiety, he froze. He couldn't think of the first few words. The director of the program was down and to his left, pointing and telling him quietly "It's your turn." The boy continued frozen. The director decided to start him out. "But Mary treasured…" Oh yes the boy thought, I remember it now "But Mary treasured up all these things and pounded them into her head."
What gets you excited? What do you ponder in your heart? What has God pounded into your head? What do you, like the shepherds, hurry off to tell others about? For years we got excited as children at our opportunities to tell the Christmas story in our church's Christmas program, sometimes so scared that we froze. But God continues to give us opportunities to tell the Christmas story, the Good Friday story, and the Easter story of Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man who came. He was born that we no more may die, born to give us second birth. Let us praise him along side the angels with joy.