Shepherds Out in the Field

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:8-20 ESV). Though the citizens of Bethlehem, including, apparently, Joseph’s relatives didn’t think enough of Jesus to do him honor at his birth or even to give the family a decent place to stay, there were those who acknowledged his true worth. Some knew from the start who he really was. In ancient society shepherds were outcasts, but God chose to send heavenly messengers to lowly shepherds in the hills outside Bethlehem with the astounding news of the Lord’s birth. Maybe he knew that they just might be unsophisticated enough to believe it. I love the proclamation of the angel: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. There is no ambiguity about this proclamation. This was no ordinary child born to ordinary people in an ordinary time. This child was the Savior! It shouldn’t surprise us that these common men, watching their flock at night, left everything to go and see this wonder. So, the shepherds decided to head into Bethlehem and check out this rather fantastic story. And, when they came to town, they saw that it was just as they had been told, sign and all. And so, naturally, they glorified God and told everyone within earshot the incredible news of the Savior’s birth. They certainly were not going to let their routine or schedule keep them from seeing for themselves this incredible miracle. They had been told stories of such a birth at their mother’s knee. They had heard of the coming of Messiah from their earliest religious education. They might have even wondered aloud as they sat in the lonely nights around a campfire with their flock about Messiah. Now they had the chance to see Him! We have that chance today. We see him through the Scripture, the empty tomb, the community of faith; we can see Jesus in our hearts this Christmas. Will you take the time to do so? Don’t let your routine or the busy schedules of life keep you away. Take advantage of every opportunity to worship at the manger of our Savior.

Away in a Manger

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 ESV). "Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in the late nineteenth century and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain, it is one of the most popular carols. The two most-common musical settings are by William J. Kirkpatrick (1895) and James R. Murray (1887). Away in a Manger is usually the first carol that children are taught. Away in a Manger was originally published in 1885. The publication of Away in a Manger was in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created the misconception that the lyrics were actually written by Martin Luther himself. The real author is unknown. Here are some of those lyrics: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh. We read a lot about the retail economy during the Christmas season. We also hear a lot of complaints about all the commercialism. Isn’t Christmas really about love and peace and goodwill? Appealing as such things, the Bible doesn’t start with them when it tells the Christmas story. It starts with the headlines of the day: “A decree went out from Caesar Augustus.” Caesar decided he needed to update the empire’s tax rolls in order to deal with that perennial government problem, the budget deficit. Who could have imagined that all this effort was being superintended by God just to bring Mary to Bethlehem for the birth of her baby? And of all the millions of souls numbered in Caesar’s great census, surely none was as insignificant as this poor Jewish child. Augustus in the imperial purple in Rome and Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger are worlds apart. Yet today Augustus is only a name in a history book, while Jesus lives and reigns in the hearts of hundreds of millions and on the throne of the universe as well. When we think of the “little Lord Jesus” we must not forget about the Creator, Redeemer, and King of all sitting on His throne!

The Faith of Mary

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:35-38 ESV). The modern prejudice is that people in earlier times accepted stories of angels and supernatural births because they didn’t know any better. That has caused a tendency to believe that such things must be legendary. After all, in today’s modern world of technology and science, these things were surely a figment of one’s imagination. An angel could not have really appeared to Mary. Earlier in the text our reading is taken from, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced she would give birth. Her response when Gabriel says she will bear a child was, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Just because Mary didn’t know the theory of relativity doesn’t mean she didn’t know the facts of life. She explains simply that this was impossible. She had never been with a man. How could she possibly give birth? The angel explained it reasonably. God would do it miraculously. After that explanation we see the key thought. Mary simply answers, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me according to your word.” She could not have foreseen all the honors that would come to her eventually. But she could very well imagine the immediate repercussions of this news. After all, she now had to tell her betrothed, Joseph, this difficult news. How could she possibly explain to him? There was no reassurance from the angel that he would go to Joseph and explain to him what was happening. She had no idea how that would turn out. She did know that by Jewish law, she could be put to death. All she had to hold on to was the words of the angel. Then there was the shame for someone suspected of adultery in a conservative place like Nazareth. God was asking her to risk her marriage and her life. All of this for a child she had no real idea who he was to be and what he would do. But Mary said yes to God. Mary’s faith would cost her, but she was willing to pay the price. That’s what real faith is like. Faith stakes everything on the word of God, and accepts the consequences. Often, in the midst of trial and difficulty, we are called on to have that faith. These hard experiences of life are not mere lessons for us to learn; they are not equipping us for some future encounter with someone going through a similar experience. God brings us to weakness so that his strength is made perfect in our lives. When you find yourself there, remember Mary. Her faith is an example to all of us.

He Called His Name Jesus

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25 ESV). We have looked at the name “Immanuel” in an earlier devotional. Today we see the name “Jesus.” As I said earlier, Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning “The Lord (Yahweh) saves.” Jesus is the Savior. That is why he came, not just to be an example, or to teach; not to show God’s love in merely a general way, but to save. Jesus is the only Savior. In the ancient world most people believed that the heavens were populated by a whole host of spirits that barred the way to salvation. The only way to get past them was to acquire the secret knowledge of their names, and the passwords that could open the countless gates those spiritual forces guarded. Imagine how it must have felt to hear the news that there was only one name you needed to know in order to be saved (Acts 4:12). That really was gospel, or “good news.” Today the challenge is a bit different. Most people don’t believe there are many roadblocks on the way to heaven. They tend to think there aren’t any at all. People assume that everybody will be saved by calling on any name they choose, or even without calling at all. However, there is only one name, under heaven or in the earth that has the power to save. That name is Jesus. We may even go a bit further and say that it is not the name at all that saves. It is the work of the One who bears that name. When Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead he completed the work necessary for our entrance into eternal life and the presence of God. He secured heaven because of his sacrifice on our behalf. I find it interesting that we seem to concentrate so much of our time and energy at Christmas on the “stuff” of the holiday. There’s certainly nothing wrong with the festivity of this holiday. I enjoy the decorations, family, friends, gift giving (and receiving), all of it; however, most of all, I am awestruck with the wonder of the gift of God through his only begotten Son, Jesus!

Happy Birthday, Maggie!

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46 ESV). This year I am privileged to write another “birthday devotional” from our family. Maggie Lynn was born last year on this day and is now one year old! Happy Birthday, Maggie! In virtually every language, Greek (the origin of the name), Hebrew, Scottish, English, and American English, Maggie is best interpreted as “the Pearl of Light.” She certainly lives up to her name! While Mary and I have not been able to spend as much time with her because of our being in Tennessee and she being with David and Becca in Texas, we FaceTime. She has a way of lighting up the screen when she smiles and “talks” to us. The meaning of her name brought me to our reading today for some encouragement and inspiration. Perhaps we should begin with how pearls are made. A tiny bit of sand finds its way into an oyster and it begins to work the stone covering it with calcium and other minerals that it becomes a beautiful, smooth, shiny pearl. Pearls are very valuable and completely unique. No two are alike. They are certainly priceless and precious to the one who finds them. It is interesting that the only way to obtain a pearl is through the death of the oyster. Those who gather the oysters must take them from their natural habitat, break open their protect shell, and kill them. Jesus tells us our reading today of a merchant looking for fine pearls, and how this is similar to finding the Kingdom of Heaven. When you find the Kingdom of Heaven, your salvation is like a precious pearl. There is nothing more valuable than security for your eternal life. Just as in the parable when the merchant found just one pearl, he sold all he had to purchase it. Likewise, when you discover the Kingdom, it is worth everything you have to give up because you gain eternity with the Lord. The greater news for us is that Jesus produced the “pearl.” Even if we could have found this pearl, we could not have bought it. Only Jesus could do that; and he did. His death on the cross secured the pearl of eternal life for all men. I can now see pearls in a different light. Maggie has given me even more appreciation for these wonderful jewels. Happy Birthday, Maggie!

Immanuel

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25 ESV). China was the scene of one of the most intensive missionary efforts in history. And then with the victory of Mao and the communists in 1949, all the Christian missionaries were expelled. The small Chinese church became the object of intense persecution: many Christians were killed or imprisoned, some went underground, and some fell away. Chinese believers were effectively cut off from the rest of the church. For many years almost the only contact they had was through radio broadcasts of the gospel sent out faithfully by several Christian organizations. And we could not even be sure people were listening; there was no way for anyone to respond. During the time of harshest persecution, a letter was received by some Christians in the West from representatives of the Chinese church. Reading it, you could understand why the Communist authorities had allowed it to be sent. It went something like this: We are good Communists here. We don’t need your western religion. We don’t agree with your Christianity anymore. Please leave us alone. But below the signature was a P.S., just a single word: Immanuel. And that one word changed everything. This one word does change everything. Immanuel is a Hebrew word meaning "God is with us." Originally the name of the Christ-child came from the prophet Isaiah (cf. Isaiah 7:14). Matthew quotes from this passage in our reading today. This name only appears three times in the Bible, Isaiah 7:14; 8:8; and Matthew 1:23. The question must be asked, however, “Why did they call Him Jesus?” We need to understand the meaning of that name as well for that answer. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy because he was fully man yet still fully God. He came to live in Israel with his people, as Isaiah had foretold. And, the name “Jesus,” which is Yeshua in Hebrew, means "the LORD is salvation." Do you see it? In Jesus, God becoming man, not only was God physically with us, he was also eternally with us in his divinity. He was God with us! That is the great declaration of the message and meaning of the birth of Jesus. That is good news!

The Firstborn Son - Pt 3

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:18-23 ESV). The Messiah was born just as God had promised. God made possible in His birth what was humanly impossible: our salvation. This was all according to His promise. Follow the generations of Christ in the Old Testament. He was sent out of the line of Abraham and David. He came. Our text tells us exactly how Jesus was born so that we might see the fulfillment of the promise of Messiah. The birth of Jesus was the one who has come to save His people from their sins. But, more importantly, it was the birth of Christ. That is the Greek word for the Hebrew name Messiah. The Messiah had been promised for centuries. His line can be traced clearly throughout the Scripture. And now He has come, just as God had promised He would. And our Savior, whose birth we celebrate this season, is strong to save. God has made our salvation possible in Him. Here is Immanuel: God with us! Can you imagine what Joseph and Mary must have felt? Can you for a moment put yourself in their place? I find that awfully difficult. If I could, I think it would cause me great sorrow. All the dreams and hopes of our children were not to apply to their firstborn. He was to grow to manhood despised and rejected by the people he came to help. He was born to die the most ignomious and painful death ever devised by man. All of this was to done for others. I have seen the following explanation of the birth of Jesus many times. The author is unknown. The message is timeless in the simple declaration of the truth of the Incarnation: If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. This Christmas season let us each commit to celebrate the coming of Messiah!