A Christmas Carol: W2 - WED
The promise in the flesh Luke 2: 1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
The incarnation. The day when God took on human flesh.
And here in the first line of this birth account, we have a foretaste of the battle that will unfold before us. Mary was told the child would sit on the throne of his ancestor David, and that his kingdom would never end. However, he is born during a time when another kingdom reigns. That kingdom was a strong and mighty earthly power unlike any the world had ever seen; the Roman empire.
So likely, the story to unfold is not all rose pedals and butterfly kisses. There will be strife, turmoil, conflict, but interestingly, the worst of it won’t come from those outside the Israelite faith, like the Roman empire. No. The biggest conflict will come from inside the faith community. It will come from those who want to hoard power, not give it away. Those who want to be served, not serve others. Those who want to hold onto their lives, their wealth, their power, and their resources, instead of lay it all down to follow Jesus and him alone.
But that part of the story is the part many do not understand yet, or see. For now, in this present moment, it is simply a day of celebration. A day they had wanted 100’s of years to come to fruition. And while Mary and Joseph held the fragile baby in their hands, the angels did what they do in the presence of God; they worshipped and invited the shepherds to do the same.
I don’t know what my life will hold tomorrow. I don’t know what news I may receive, what things may change, what shoes may drop, but I have learned a valuable lesson in life that I need regular reminding of; when I don’t know what to do, I’m invited to worship. When my life appears to be falling down all around me, I’m invited to lift up my eyes to heaven.
I have a picture on my phone that reminds me of this. It is a picture I took during a memorial service for a student who had been killed while riding her bike one day at the school where I served as chaplain. It was a horrible accident that took the light of a beautiful girl far too soon. But amidst the pain, amidst the heartache, amidst unspeakable grief, as I looked out over the congregation I saw that just a few feet away from the girl’s casket, was her mom, holding her hands up in worship, as the girl’s friends led the congregation in her favorite praise songs.
So friends, worship isn’t just an invitation, it’s a privilege and a reminder that in this world we will have trouble but we can take heart, because God has overcome this world.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
The incarnation. The day when God took on human flesh.
And here in the first line of this birth account, we have a foretaste of the battle that will unfold before us. Mary was told the child would sit on the throne of his ancestor David, and that his kingdom would never end. However, he is born during a time when another kingdom reigns. That kingdom was a strong and mighty earthly power unlike any the world had ever seen; the Roman empire.
So likely, the story to unfold is not all rose pedals and butterfly kisses. There will be strife, turmoil, conflict, but interestingly, the worst of it won’t come from those outside the Israelite faith, like the Roman empire. No. The biggest conflict will come from inside the faith community. It will come from those who want to hoard power, not give it away. Those who want to be served, not serve others. Those who want to hold onto their lives, their wealth, their power, and their resources, instead of lay it all down to follow Jesus and him alone.
But that part of the story is the part many do not understand yet, or see. For now, in this present moment, it is simply a day of celebration. A day they had wanted 100’s of years to come to fruition. And while Mary and Joseph held the fragile baby in their hands, the angels did what they do in the presence of God; they worshipped and invited the shepherds to do the same.
I don’t know what my life will hold tomorrow. I don’t know what news I may receive, what things may change, what shoes may drop, but I have learned a valuable lesson in life that I need regular reminding of; when I don’t know what to do, I’m invited to worship. When my life appears to be falling down all around me, I’m invited to lift up my eyes to heaven.
I have a picture on my phone that reminds me of this. It is a picture I took during a memorial service for a student who had been killed while riding her bike one day at the school where I served as chaplain. It was a horrible accident that took the light of a beautiful girl far too soon. But amidst the pain, amidst the heartache, amidst unspeakable grief, as I looked out over the congregation I saw that just a few feet away from the girl’s casket, was her mom, holding her hands up in worship, as the girl’s friends led the congregation in her favorite praise songs.
So friends, worship isn’t just an invitation, it’s a privilege and a reminder that in this world we will have trouble but we can take heart, because God has overcome this world.
- What is some of the best news you’ve ever received?
- When is it hardest for you to worship?
- What has been one of your favorite and most memorable worship experiences and what was it about that moment that made it so?
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