This morning, we’re celebrating one of the greatest gifts that we’ve ever been given; Jesus! We’re recalling the reality of when God wrapped Himself in flesh and was born here among us.
The power of God wrapped in weakness, the perfection of holiness wrapped in temptation, the light of the world surrounded by darkness, the foundation of creation wrapped in fragile flesh, grace and truth surrounded by sin and deceit, Heaven literally invading Earth!
The birth of Jesus was long awaited and anticipated and yet completely unexpected when and how it happened. The Messiah, the mighty King in the linage of David upon whose shoulders all government would rest, coming to save God’s people had been prophesied about.
After speaking through the prophet Malachi, God is seemingly silent for 400 years between the Old and New Covenants. Then, everything suddenly and radically changes! God steps into the scene in a hugely significant yet simple way!
The dominion of sin and death were about to be shattered! The work of the devil was about to be destroyed! The Kingdom of God was about to transform the lives of those on earth! What joy! What peace! What zeal!
All beginning with the humble birth of a baby…
Isaiah 9:2-7
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
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 warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
After all of this bold language about shattering yokes and ending war that causes great rejoicing, we would expect that the cause of it all would be this great warrior and leader that God raises up like Samson. Instead, the cause of this is that:
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
A humble baby boy dependent on others for everything. However, there is something obviously very different and unique about this child. After all:
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 greatness 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’s strength through humility; His all-surpassing power in fragile jars of clay. Although working through a baby boy, it is the zeal of the Lord that would accomplish this miraculous feat!
The timing of Jesus’ birth, which fulfilled this prophecy, was perfect. During the 400 years of silence, God was allowing the Roman Empire to conquer nations connecting much of the Eastern world. This created an infrastructure allowing people to more safely and peacefully travel. This created an opportunity for news about Jesus and His ministry to spread quickly and for people to travel freely. It also allowed the gospel to spread more quickly after His death and resurrection.
The Roman government over Israel allowed God’s people to worship and live out their faith so long as it didn’t cause the Romans any trouble. Of course, friction and conflict rose over time between allegiance to the Roman rule and their beliefs and God’s people’s allegiance to the Lord first and foremost.
In fact, God used the recent Roman rule over Israel to fulfill one of His prophetic words. Although Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, they had to go to Bethlehem to register in the Roman census. Thus, Jesus was born in Bethlehem and not in Nazareth.
King Herod’s jealousy and threat from this newborn king caused the genocide of all boys two years and under leading the fulfillment of the prophetic word that Jesus was called out to Egypt as Joseph fled there with Mary and Jesus until Herod had passed away.
All of the darkness in the world around them could not even begin to snuff out the great light that this baby boy was and the great joy that He would bring to all people on the earth!
Luke 2:1-20
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 their 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 guest room available for them.
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 that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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.
Whatever we may face in our lifetime, there is no need for fear! There is always good news that releases great joy! Jesus has been born! The Messiah, our Savior, Emmanuel, God with Us is alive!
Like Mary, let’s choose to ponder that in our hearts instead of filling our lives with worry and fear and anxiety! Like the shepherds, let’s explore this great salvation and tell everyone all about it!
Jesus is the light of the world. In Him, there is no darkness at all. Now, through His Presence dwelling within us, we are the light of the world. We are the ones who bring a living hope to people as we lead them to Jesus. We have the best news that anyone could ever receive to share!
The Holy Spirit, the fire of God, burns brightly within us no matter what our circumstances are. Therefore, we always have access to hope, joy, peace, comfort, strength, healing; absolutely any good thing from God’s Kingdom that we may ever need.
All of this is made possible because God wrapped Himself in flesh and was born among us. Born without sin, lived without sin, paid the cost of our sin on the cross, raising again to life, and freely offering us salvation to any and all who will simply place their faith in Him. Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us and God for us!
May God’s joy fill your life and be your strength no matter what you might be going through!
May God’s peace that surpasses all understanding give you rest!
May God’s Presence comfort you and bring you hope!
May God’s fire keep your faith burning brightly that you might be a light in this ever darkening world!
Merry Christmas!