[The following is a manuscript of my sermon delivered on Sunday morning, the 25th of December, 2016, Christmas morning. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Last night at our Christmas Eve service, I read of the birth of our Lord Jesus as told by the Apostle Luke. I’d like to read the same passage this morning, this time from the New King James Version. And I’d like to read it again because it is a story we should not forget or take for granted or, worse, think of as not being entirely true. I’d like to read it again because we need a constant reminder of how the long-awaited Messiah entered this world to live among men. We need to remember how He wants us to live.
Listen and follow along as I read from the Gospel account of the Apostle Luke, chapter 2, verses 1 through 20…
Listen and follow along as I read from the Gospel account of the Apostle Luke, chapter 2, verses 1 through 20…
1 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 cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 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 cloths, 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.
--Luke 2:1-20 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, You showed just how much You love Your creation – mankind in particular – by giving us Your own Son. He could have come as a conquering hero, but instead was born into humble surroundings and lived a humble life, serving us with His very last breath. Help us, Father, understand what it means to be humble. Speak Your message directly into our hearts that we might better hear Your word. In the glorious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Do you remember in the movie, “The Lion King”, when Simba was born and his father, Mufasa, held him up for all the jungle animals to see and cheer? Throughout history and still today, when royalty gives birth it’s a huge event.
When King Edward the 7th was born, the news was greeted with a 41-gun salute, a tradition that continues in England. When Prince Charles was born the water in Trafalgar Square’s fountains was colored blue. Some 3,000 people were waiting outside Buckingham Palace for the news, and struck up a chorus of “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow”. And millions of people eagerly sat glued to their TV sets as Prince George was born to Prince William and Kate Middleton. Yes, the progression of royalty is often big news.
This is the day we celebrate the birth of a King! The Messiah promised so long ago has now come to earth in all His glory! When the Christ was born, the whole world stopped what it was doing and raised a great cheer!
Except it didn’t really happen that way, did it. Bells didn’t ring across the land. There was no huge celebration, no great fanfare, no 41-gun salutes.
The only witnesses were a few animals and the tired parents. Some nearby shepherds, watching over their sheep in the night, did receive the news, and it came from none other than an angel of the Lord God, accompanied by a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying… “Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, peace - goodwill toward men.”
No, this news of the birth of a King did not rattle the world and its nations. Instead, a gentle peace and serenity settled upon the earth on that good night. If only that peace had endured, if only mankind still held goodwill toward one another.
Throughout our history, royal births have been magnificent affairs. The birth of our Lord and Savior could not have been in lowlier circumstances. His parents were forced along with many others to travel a long distance over harsh terrain just to be counted and taxed. When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary’s time to deliver her baby came, but there were no rooms available for them, nowhere for her to comfortably bring her Son into the world. A crude stable had to suffice, complete, I’m sure, with all the animal smells and waste. They had no crib, so they had to lay their little One on a bed of hay in the manger used to feed the cattle.
These simple, lowly, humble surroundings served as the birthplace for the only begotten Son of God Almighty, the Creator of all there is, the Sovereign Ruler of all the universe. Humble beginnings that set the stage for a life lived. Jesus was always humble, and He taught us to be humble also, warning that we were in for a fall if we did otherwise. Listen to the word of our Lord Jesus as recorded in the Gospel account of the Apostle Matthew, chapter 23, verses 11 and 12…
Do you remember in the movie, “The Lion King”, when Simba was born and his father, Mufasa, held him up for all the jungle animals to see and cheer? Throughout history and still today, when royalty gives birth it’s a huge event.
When King Edward the 7th was born, the news was greeted with a 41-gun salute, a tradition that continues in England. When Prince Charles was born the water in Trafalgar Square’s fountains was colored blue. Some 3,000 people were waiting outside Buckingham Palace for the news, and struck up a chorus of “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow”. And millions of people eagerly sat glued to their TV sets as Prince George was born to Prince William and Kate Middleton. Yes, the progression of royalty is often big news.
This is the day we celebrate the birth of a King! The Messiah promised so long ago has now come to earth in all His glory! When the Christ was born, the whole world stopped what it was doing and raised a great cheer!
Except it didn’t really happen that way, did it. Bells didn’t ring across the land. There was no huge celebration, no great fanfare, no 41-gun salutes.
The only witnesses were a few animals and the tired parents. Some nearby shepherds, watching over their sheep in the night, did receive the news, and it came from none other than an angel of the Lord God, accompanied by a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying… “Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, peace - goodwill toward men.”
No, this news of the birth of a King did not rattle the world and its nations. Instead, a gentle peace and serenity settled upon the earth on that good night. If only that peace had endured, if only mankind still held goodwill toward one another.
Throughout our history, royal births have been magnificent affairs. The birth of our Lord and Savior could not have been in lowlier circumstances. His parents were forced along with many others to travel a long distance over harsh terrain just to be counted and taxed. When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary’s time to deliver her baby came, but there were no rooms available for them, nowhere for her to comfortably bring her Son into the world. A crude stable had to suffice, complete, I’m sure, with all the animal smells and waste. They had no crib, so they had to lay their little One on a bed of hay in the manger used to feed the cattle.
These simple, lowly, humble surroundings served as the birthplace for the only begotten Son of God Almighty, the Creator of all there is, the Sovereign Ruler of all the universe. Humble beginnings that set the stage for a life lived. Jesus was always humble, and He taught us to be humble also, warning that we were in for a fall if we did otherwise. Listen to the word of our Lord Jesus as recorded in the Gospel account of the Apostle Matthew, chapter 23, verses 11 and 12…
11 “[But] He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
--Matthew 23:11-12 (NKJV)
If we want to be exalted, lifted up in the eyes of God, we will humble ourselves and serve Him. James, the half-brother of Jesus, encourages us to live as Jesus taught, as seen in the 4th chapter of his letter, verse 10, when he says…
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
--James 4:10 (NKJV)
The world says that the humble go unnoticed, and are mostly ignored. But look again at the day Jesus was born, the place where He lay down to sleep, those in attendance. From these so very humble beginnings, from these barely noticed ripples upon the pond of time, the entire course of humanity was altered.
Never in human history has one Man had such an impact over all of mankind. Ignoring the Bible for a moment and just looking at ancient historical texts, Pontius Pilate can be found mentioned four times, while the man Jesus of Nazareth is seen seven times. Based on that alone, who would the world consider the more important of the two?
But we can’t ignore the Bible can we. For without it - without Jesus - who would even remember the name Pontius Pilate, let alone anything he did?! Would anyone remember a simple carpenter named Joseph or his young wife Mary? Yet relatively few people in this world of billions have not at least heard of the name “Jesus”, even if they don’t know His story and what He truly means to them. Sadly, too many refuse to believe Him. And too few, even among His followers, live humbly as He taught we should.
From humble beginnings, everything changed. In humble surroundings, the King of kings was born to little fanfare, glorified by only a few. Yet some day, our King will return. This time it will be the coming of royalty. This time the whole earth will notice.
And after He conquers evil, then the angel’s proclamation will be fulfilled and peace and goodwill toward man will settle upon the earth. The Prince of Peace will take His rightful place upon His throne.
Jesus lived a humble life serving God, and He was lifted up - first at His resurrection and soon when He comes again to fulfill God’s plan. He calls us to live humbly as well, so that we will be lifted up with Him into the glory of God. And it all springs… from humble beginnings. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your ways are higher than our ways, Your thoughts higher than our thoughts. We think we need to be noticed, to stand out among others, to always strive to be first in all things. You tell us that the only thing that truly matters is to believe in Your Son and obey Your voice. Forgive us, please Father, when we fail to show humility. Forgive us when we think Jesus to be less important than some earthly king just because of the place and surroundings of His birth. Thank You for the great impact Jesus made for all of mankind. Thank You for loving us that much. Please help us share this with the world.
Hear us now, Father, as we reach out to You in the silence, praying directly from our hearts, asking for Your forgiveness, offering our repentance, our thanks, and our love…
Lord Jesus, You could not have been born into lowlier surroundings, nor could there be a more humble birth for a King. You entered this world as a helpless baby, but from that humble beginning You proved to be our Savior, bringing us salvation and eternal life with You and our Father God in heaven. You laid the pattern of humbleness in Your life and You call us to be humble as well, putting the needs of others ahead of our own, serving You by being a servant to them. Help us, please Lord, to humbly obey Your voice, to truly accept You as our Master and joyfully do everything You would have us do, that we might share with You in God’s glory.
This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
All post contents are the copyrighted property of Rev. Richard R. Moore;
No comments:
Post a Comment