December 15, 2024
Evening Service

The greatest love story ever told is unfolding and only two couples are aware of it.  Zacharias was the first to know as Gabriel announced to him the part he and his wife Elizabeth would play.  Gabriel then also came to Mary and Joseph was informed through a dream.  God is about to give an undeserved gift to the people He created.  He is sending His Son to become one them with the purpose of saving them from their sins and restoring the sin broken relationship between the Creator and the creation.  Our love story continues with the fulfilling of a prophecy from Micah that the child would be born in Bethlehem (5:2).

Luke 2:1-7 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  (2)  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  (3)  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  (4)  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, (5) to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  (6)  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to 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.

            God chooses a humble beginning for His love story to be fulfilled, a stable in a small community with an ordinary couple.  You have to read between the lines of these few verses to understand the effort needed for this long journey and the stress that had to come with it (The Nativity Story movie).  A journey that is then culminated by finding no place to stay upon arrival.  Mary must deliver our Lord with only Joseph at her side in a dark, dirty and unfamiliar place of God’s choosing.

 God’s called do not get an “easy” button to push, at times it will take great effort to walk the path He has prepared for you; but we take great comfort in knowing He will never leave us or forsake us no matter how hard the journey He is leading us through.  A journey in which the truly blessed are the ones who are willing to yield themselves to God for His glory.  God now chooses to share the news to another set of ordinary people, the shepherds in their fields.  Shepherds were considered to be on the low end of society by most people, but again God follows suit and chooses those who are first will be last and the last shall be first.  This is my personal favorite part of the Christmas story.

 

Luke 2:8-20 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  (9)  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  (10)  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  (11)  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  (12)  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a 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, goodwill toward men!"  (15)  So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."  (16)  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

 

 

 (17)  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  (18)  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  (19)  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  (20)  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

            Can you imagine the great range of emotions that occurred with these humble men receiving this announcement?  I could see them all right after the angels leave them and the darkness returns looking at each other and saying “Did that really happen?”  They left immediately and came with great haste bringing their gifts of affirmation for Mary and Joseph and gifts of praise to the Savior in the manger.  We again see God qualifying the called to fulfill His will and bring affirmation to Mary and Joseph that this indeed was the Messiah and to spread the news to the world.  God used these men to confirm to Mary and Joseph that they were not alone, but He was also allowing others in on who the Baby in the manger really was.  Matthew now tells us of another set of visitors.

 

Mat 2:1-12 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, (2) saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."  (3)  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  (4)  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  (5)  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: (6) 'BUT YOU, BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDAH, ARE NOT THE LEAST AMONG THE RULERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.' "  (7)  Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  (8)  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."  (9)  When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  (10)  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  (11)  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  (12)  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

            Here again there is much to be read between the lines as the full story of these wise men is not disclosed to us.  These three (we only assume that) are the first of the affluent society that are given the “good tidings of great joy.”  God shows no partiality to anyone based on their income or social status; He looks at the heart and draws near to those who truly seek Him.  We have no record that an angel spoke to them until the end with a dream.  He rewarded these men because they truly sought after Him believing the scriptures enough to be moved into action and taking this long journey of faith.  These men brought gifts that were fitting for the King of kings.  Gold is a symbol of deity and glory and speaks of the shining perfection and purity of His Divine Person.  Frankincense is an ointment or perfume that suggests the fragrance of a life of sinless perfection.  Myrrh is a bitter herb that prophecies of the suffering that lies ahead for this Child of God.

 This love story is all about the giving of gifts.  Gabriel brought to all the gift of “good tidings of great joy” The shepherds brought their gift of affirmation to Mary and Joseph and their gift of praise to God. These wise men brought tangible gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to honor and proclaim the coming of the King.  But the greatest gift of all was the Child in the manger which was given to me and to you.  “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”  Jesus was given to us from God to be our Savior, Restorer and Healer.  He was given to live a life of perfection to enable Him to become the sacrificial Lamb of God which would be offered for all of mankind’s sin; for my sin.  Jesus explained it like this:

 

Joh 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

            Paul called the coming of Jesus, the giver of life, “the gift of God” in Romans.

 

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus is our gift given from the very heart of a God who loves us enough to give us His best and most treasured belonging.  The angel told the shepherds that “there is born to you this day a Savior Christ the Lord;” it is a gift given for you. When you accept this gift, you to then in turn become a giver desiring to share this gift with others.  May you be given the opportunity to share this wonderful gift God has given to you with those around you this Christmas.  Love, hope, and peace all given to us through this wonderful love story and we each play a part in it.  Let sharing the love of Jesus with others around you be your focus in this season of giving and receiving; as you share the “good tidings of great joy given to all people.”