Responding to Jesus

January 6, 2019

A man had recently bought a new hearing aid. He was with a friend and could not stop raving about how wonderful the new hearing aid was. His friend said, “O that’s great! What kind is it?” The man responded, “Oh, about 4:30!” It was the wrong response to the question. When we ask a question we usually expect to receive an appropriate response, one that makes sense and is reasonable. But that doesn’t always happen.

This morning we are looking at the story of the magi in Mt.2:1-12. It is an interesting story that involves political intrigue and calls for an appropriate response not just from the people involved in the story, but from us who are reading the story. In the story the magi come to see Jesus the Christ child. As we read the story I want to raise a question: What is your response to Jesus?

I. GOD IS DRAWING THE WORLD TO JESUS. Mt.2:1-2

In v.1-2 we read, “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, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When you stop to think about it, this is pretty amazing. How did these wise men, or magi, from the east come to the conclusion that what they saw in the sky had something to do with the birth of a Jewish king?

The magi were basically students of astrology, dream interpretation, and magic. They were not Jewish and they were probably not kings as the Christmas carol says. They may have been from Persia or Babylon. We know that there was a sizable Jewish population in Babylon. It is possible that they would have had access to the Jewish Scriptures. Interestingly enough, there is a verse in Numbers which may have helped them draw the conclusion that what they saw in the sky had something to do with the birth of a Jewish king.

In Num.22 we are introduced to a sketchy prophet named Balaam. Balaam was hired by Balak, the king of Moab to pronounce a curse on the nation of Israel. God would not let Balaam do that. Instead Balaam pronounced blessings on Israel. In Num.24:17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth." This verse had long been linked to the coming Messiah. It seems plausible to me that these magi were familiar with this messianic prophecy and when they saw this unique star in the sky, they concluded that the prophecy of Num.24 had come to fruition. Amazingly they were compelled to make the long journey to Israel in order to worship the newborn king.

I find this to be astounding. In Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus we saw how the angel appeared to the shepherds, announcing the birth of Jesus. They were Jewish and Jesus came to his own people, the Jews. However when we looked at the story of Simeon and Anna last week we saw how Simeon identified Jesus as a light of revelation to the Gentiles.

Do you remember the promise that God made to Abraham in Gen.12? God said that through Abraham all the nations would be blessed. From Abraham came the Jewish nation, but the Jewish nation was not a blessing to the Gentiles. The Jews looked down on the Gentiles. But now Jesus is born, a descendant of Abraham, in the line of David. Jesus is the one who brings blessing to the Gentiles.

Astrology is always condemned in Scripture. Christians are not to be dabbling in astrology or the occult. But look at this. God uses the astrological studies of these pagan astrologers to draw them to Jesus.

This is why I say that God is drawing the world to Jesus. In the case of the magi, God used an event of astronomy and a small passage of scripture to get their attention. In the case of Jewish agnostic and novelist, Andrew Klavan, it was a character from a seafaring adventure novel written by Patrick O’Brian. In that novel the character said a prayer before going to sleep. As Klavan read that, he thought, “Well, if he can pray, so can I.” He writes, “I laid the book aside and whispered a three-word prayer in gratitude for the contentment I’d found, and for the work and people I loved: “Thank you, God.” He didn’t believe in God. But as he continued to thank God, God heard his prayer and not long after Klavan embraced Jesus.

Or I think about the testimony of Nicole Cliffe, who came from a deeply atheistic home and was a committed atheist herself. One day when her daughter was in trouble Nicole, out of the blue, whispered, “Be with me.” She did not know why she said that. Sometime later she happened to read John Ortberg’s obituary of Dallas Willard for some reason and found herself weeping. In fact, she found herself weeping much of the time. She read some Christian books and wept. Until one day she realized that she believed in God and was a Christian. She writes, “I was crying constantly while thinking about Jesus because I had begun to believe that Jesus really was who he said he was, but for some reason, that idea had honestly not occurred to me. But then it did, as though it always had been true.”

God is drawing the world to Jesus and he uses many different ways to get the world’s attention. If you are not a follower of Christ, he is drawing you to come to Jesus.

II. THE WORLD IS ANTAGONISTIC TO JESUS. Mt.2:3-8

The magi came to the capital city of Jerusalem. That is where one would expect to find the king of the Jews. They began asking around, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” Of course the people didn’t know what they were talking about, but somehow word filtered up to King Herod. Herod was not Jewish but his ancestors had converted to Judaism and Herod was raised as a Jew. Through political maneuvering he was appointed king of Judea by the Roman senate in 40 BC.

Herod was a very able administrator. He brought peace into the region. He is known for his building projects (He rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem). He effectively provided famine relief. But Herod also imposed heavy taxes on the people. He was jealous and ruthless as a king. He loved power. As he grew older he became ill and paranoid to the point of cruelty and fits of anger. He had his wife and two of his sons killed. It is thought that Herod died around 4 BC, at around the age of 77. Jesus was born around 5 BC. So you see that when Jesus was born Herod was already paranoid about any threat to his throne.

Look at v.3-8. “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel." Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."

When Herod heard that some magi from the east were inquiring about a king of the Jews who had been born, it says that he was greatly troubled and all Jerusalem with him. If Herod was troubled, everyone was troubled! Obviously Herod knew enough about Judaism to suspect that the magi were talking about the long awaited Messiah. So Herod called for the chief priests and scribes. The scribes were men who not only copied the Old Testament, but they studied it and served as lawyers. Herod asked where the Christ was to be born. They responded by quoting a verse from Mic.5, which prophesied that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

Taking every precaution, Herod secretly summoned the magi and asked them when the star had appeared. Herod was doing some political calculating. He sent the magi on their way to Bethlehem telling them to bring him word as to where this king could be found so that he could also go and worship the king.

Obviously, Herod had no intention of worshiping Jesus. As we move further into the story we see that in fact Herod was intending to kill baby Jesus. When you stop and think about it, Herod could have joined the magi on their trip to Bethlehem. But all he was concerned about was holding on to his power.

And then think about the Chief Priests and the scribes. They knew the scripture. They knew where the Messiah was to be born. One would think that the presence of the magi, looking for the king of the Jews, might have peaked their interest. But no! They were not particularly interested in a Jewish king, because they had their own seats of power and influence. They were apathetic. Thirty years later many of these men would seek to have Jesus crucified. Herod and these Jewish leaders had the same opportunity as the magi. But they were not interested. And Herod was seeking to kill Jesus.

Now that was then and this is now. What do Herod and the Jewish leaders have to do with us? Nothing and everything. Their hostility and apathy concerning Jesus is actually the default attitude towards Jesus that is always prevalent in the world. “Jesus may be an interesting person, but I am also an interesting person and I have my own life to live and so I am not interested in investigating Jesus. I don’t feel any need for Jesus. My life is full.” Maybe so. But if you are like most people (like Herod and those Jewish leaders), you also know that there are attitudes, actions, behaviors, thoughts in your life that are way out of line. There is a hostility to any god that would make a claim upon your life. That is why Herod sought to kill Jesus and that is why the chief priest crucified Jesus. The world will not have God and his son sitting on any throne of their lives. You may be a wonderful person, but as wonderful as you are, you are lacking the one King who can fill your life with wonder, joy, and eternal living in the kingdom of God. The world is antagonistic to Jesus.

III. SOME JOYFULLY WORSHIP JESUS AS KING. Mt.2:9-12

Look at those verses: “After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

The magi were overjoyed when they saw the star which led them to Bethlehem. By this time Mary and Joseph had secured a house to live in. The magi enter the house. When they see the Christ child with Mary it says they fell down and worshiped him. I don’t imagine that they worshiped Jesus with full knowledge as to his identity. Could Mary have shared the story with them? Why not? But we don’t know. The impression that I get is one of humble recognition that they are in the presence of a king. In England when an heir to the throne is born, people rejoice. But they don’t fall down in worship. The heir usually receives the best upbringing one could ever have. That was not Jesus’ experience. And yet the magi worshiped him.

Not only did they worship Jesus, but they gave him expensive gifts fit for a king. Gold, frankincense, which is used as incense or as an oil, and myrrh, which was a spice or perfume often used in embalming.

In those days when gifts were given some kind of return was expected. We don’t read of any reciprocal gift given to the magi. But I would like to suggest that in their worship and giving of gifts they were blessed with something for more important. They had met the King of kings and worshiped him. And when God warned them in a dream to not return to Herod, they obeyed and returned home by another route.

I may be reading more into these verses than is warranted. It doesn’t tell us what the magi experienced. But I am more interested in your experience with God and his Son, Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that God has been drawing you to Jesus through various ways and thoughts and people in your life. When you think about Jesus and the claims he made about himself, and his death on the cross for our sins and his resurrection from the dead, have you ever heard of such a thing? Is there any other religion that has such claims and promises to give eternal living with God in his kingdom? The very uniqueness of Jesus should give you pause. Your life in this world is filled with opportunity to enter into a relationship with God through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. Will you bow in surrender, faith and worship?

Before us is the Lord’s Supper. Of course, it is all about Jesus and the salvation and life that Jesus offers to all who believe or put their confidence in him. When we come to the table to eat and drink, we confess to one another that our life is in Christ. Christ is our life. And because he is our life we are strengthened and encouraged by our participation at his table. What is your response to Jesus? Is he your Savior, Lord, and King? Amen

Advent Living

December 30, 2018

The Advent season officially ends with the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. But I would like to extend this time of advent for at least another week or so. Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus. We celebrate his coming or advent into this world. After Jesus was born and the shepherds returned to their fields, life for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus began. As far as we know they took up temporary residence in Bethlehem. That’s about all we know.

Today we want to consider the story of Simeon and Anna and how they met Jesus. Their experience sheds light on our experience of living in this world as we wait for the second advent of Jesus. So let me say that the advent of Jesus shapes the believer’s daily life.

I. WE ARE WAITING WITH ANTICIPATION. Lk.2:22-32

Mary and Joseph were devout worshipers of God, and sought to live in obedience to the Law of God. According to Lev.12:2-4 if a woman gave birth to a son, she was to stay at home for 33 days. After that time she would go to the sanctuary to make an offering for her purification. A burnt offering and a sin offering were brought to the sanctuary. If the family could not afford a lamb they could bring two turtledoves or pigeons. We see from v.24 that Mary and Joseph were of humble means and brought two birds to the temple in Jerusalem. And this is where we are introduced to Simeon. From every indication Simeon was an old man.

In v.25-32 we read, “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

We don’t know much about Simeon, but what we know is significant. He was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. And he was waiting in anticipation. Waiting is not something most people do very well. You know how it can be in the grocery store when the lines are long and the cashier has a problem. We must wait and it’s not uncommon for people to express their impatience in various ways. There’s the shifting from one leg to the other, the rolling eyes and heavy sighing. Younger people in particular struggle to wait. It’s not much easier for older people, but older people have had plenty of opportunity to learn how to deal with waiting.

Simeon was waiting. What was he waiting for? It says he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. What is the consolation of Israel? Was Israel is distress? Indeed! Israel had been in distress for many years. As you remember in 586 BC, Babylon destroyed the first temple built by Solomon and many Jews were exiled to Babylon. When the exiles returned they rebuilt the temple. The rebuilding of the temple began what is known as the second temple period. This period runs from 516 BC until 70 AD when Rome again destroyed the temple. During the second temple period a number of Jewish writings expressed much concern about the fact that Israel had turned away from God and his Law. Because of this, Israel was in distress. Israel was ruled by foreign powers. This distress is referred to in Is.9:2, where we read about “the people walking in darkness.” But the prophet, Isaiah, also speaks of a time when God would bring consolation. In Is.40:1-2 we read, “Comfort, comfort [or console] my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.” These verses speak of a time when God would bring consolation. In Luke’s gospel, the consolation is found in the person of Jesus. Simeon was waiting for the Messiah, the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die until he actually saw the consolation of Israel.

One day, Simeon had an urging to get to the temple. He went and it was the very same day that Mary and Joseph brought one month old Jesus to the temple. He met them and took Jesus in his arms. He recognized that Jesus is the consolation of Israel and he breaks out into a hymn of blessing to God. “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” It’s as if Simeon had been standing watch for the entire nation, looking for the Messiah. It was as if this was his role, to wait and watch. And now he was holding Jesus. His work was finished. He could die in peace.

In the season of Advent we don’t just look at the first coming of Jesus. We are mindful of the fact that there is going to be a second coming of Jesus. Jesus is the consolation of the world. But who is watching? Who is waiting today for his coming? In Lk.21 Jesus speaks about how things will be just before his second coming. He says in v.28, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Peter also writes of this time. In 2Pt.3:13-14, it says, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” We have a number of senior saints with us this morning and as they have grown older, like Simeon, they find themselves waiting, anticipating the coming of the Lord. Actually it is a ministry of waiting. It is a ministry that calls all of us to look up, to wait with great anticipation. The senior saints know what is important. It is Jesus. Are you waiting with anticipation for Jesus?

II. WE ARE FACING AN ONGOING STRUGGLE. Lk.2:34-35

In v.34-35 we read, “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

I guarantee that this scripture was not part of your Christmas celebration last Tuesday. I mean, what is Simeon even thinking here? He just finished calling Jesus the consolation of Israel, the light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for Israel, and now he is talking about rising and falling and a sword piecing the heart of the virgin mother. Really? What is that all about?

Clearly, Simeon is giving a prophecy concerning the future ministry of Jesus. Truth be told, the ministry of Jesus would bring division in Israel. Not everyone would embrace his claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God. Not everyone would embrace his message of salvation. When Jesus began his public ministry, he was well received by the people. But as he called people to follow him and as his teachings became more difficult, many could not abide his teaching, especially the Jewish religious leaders. There was increasing conflict until the Jewish leaders decided that Jesus had to go. The life and ministry of Jesus brought division because people were forced to make some kind of decision about Jesus.

It was even difficult for Mary. In Lk.2:41 we read about 12 year old Jesus in the temple and that incident caused great anxiety and fear for Joseph and Mary. They had lost Jesus because Jesus was busy being about his Father’s business. And then you remember the time when Jesus’ mother and brothers came to get him because they thought he was out of his mind.

Of course many of us think that this verse is a reference to the cross. At the cross Mary saw her son, Jesus, crucified. Talk about a sword piercing your heart!

Do you remember what Jesus said to his disciples in Jn.15:20-21? Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”

Those of us who are living between the first and second advents of Jesus experience the ongoing struggle that this world has with Jesus because we are Jesus’ ambassadors. Jesus is called the light of the world, and Jesus called his followers the light of the world. The world does not welcome the particular glow of this gospel light. Those of us who are Christians living in the United States have enjoyed many years of being welcomed, largely because Protestantism was influential when this country was started. But those days are passing as secularism continues to win the day and Christianity is pushed out onto the fringes of society. The political power and influence that we once enjoyed is waning.

Our goal as Christians, is not to hold onto political power. Our goal is to live like Jesus and graciously proclaim the gospel, that Christ is Lord and Savior. As we do this, we will enter into this struggle between light and darkness. The devil, the god of this world seeks to thwart the gospel at all costs. This means that followers of Christ will also experience various kinds of persecution as we represent and serve Jesus in this world.

III. WE ARE REJOICING IN KNOWING CHRIST. Lk.2:36-38

In v.36-38 we read, “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Here is another senior saint. Anna was quite old. We don’t know exactly how old she was, but she was at least 84. Some of you here today might be around that age. Anna was quite a woman. She is called a prophetess. After seven years of marriage her husband died and she chose to not remarry. Instead she devoted herself to the Lord. She was daily at the temple worshiping, fasting, and praying.

Seeing Mary, Joseph and Jesus, she immediately recognized and embraced Jesus as her Messiah and Lord. It doesn’t say that, but I am surmising this because she began to tell others who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Jesus was the one who would make everything right. One gets the impression that Anna’s joy was not just for a moment. This was a lasting joy and thanksgiving because Jesus is the Savior. Once you have met the Savior, in many ways, you have all that you need.

Now most of us know each other and while I may not know everyone here equally well, I believe that most of us have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the receiving of his resurrection life. Like Anna, we have come to realize that Jesus is the source of our salvation. He is the Lord and King of heaven and earth. Jesus is the one who gives his life for us and to us as we are trusting in him.

Anna could not contain her joy. Her joy was contagious. But contagious joy only lasts for so long. Eventually such joy settles deep into our hearts because our joy comes as a result of knowing Jesus. At 84 years old, I imagine that Anna had a few aches and pains. Aches and pains can dampen our joyful expressions. But the joy is still there.

As we wait for the second coming of Jesus, we have joy. And that joy is opportunity for ministry with the people of God. When I see that you have the joy of the Lord, I am encouraged. When you see that I have the joy of the Lord, hopefully that encourages you. We encourage each other. The time between the first and second comings of Jesus is lengthy. We grow weary. But Jesus has put his joy in us and we need to “encourage one another as long as it is called today, so that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We are rejoicing in knowing Christ.

How is it that Anna and Simeon could come into old age filled with peace and joy? Well, my hunch is that they had peace and joy because they had practiced living a life with God for many years. When they saw the Savior, Jesus Christ, their joy was fulfilled. Maybe you have known Christ for many years, but your joy has grown a little stale. Well, do not despair. Quiet yourself in the presence of the Lord and ask him to lead you into a deeper life with him. Let your heart be filled with anticipation as we wait for the second coming of Jesus. Amen

God's Greatest Gift

December 23, 2018

This past Tuesday I saw a stained glass window glowing in the sun at the church. It was various shades of purple and rose. It was beautiful. My first thought was, “I wish I could express the beauty of those colors in music.” But there is something intangible about the beauty of color and music.

In fact it seems to me that our lives are filled with experiences that point us to something deeper that we all long for. Whether you experience that longing in a Jane Austin novel, or in the soft beauty of a snowy day, or in the smell of cinnamon coming from the glow of a candle, all of us have deep longings that cannot be fully satisfied by anything in this world.

I believe this is because what we are longing for is something only God can satisfy. And if it is a longing that only God can satisfy, then this longing will not be fulfilled apart from God. Advent and Christmas are all about God fulfilling our deepest longings in Jesus Christ. God’s greatest gift to the world is Jesus Christ.

I. THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS IS GIVEN TO THE MOST UNLIKELY PEOPLE. Lk.2:8-9

Most of us have been over this scriptural ground so many times that we can almost quote the passages in our sleep. We are very familiar with the stories surrounding Jesus’ birth. We love these stories because they are about Jesus. But because they are so familiar we can easily take them for granted.

Imagine that the President of the United States is coming to Chicago. I am pretty sure that you and I would not be the first ones to hear about it. No secret service detail would knock on our door to inform us that the President is coming. That news would be given to the important people of Illinois and Chicago. What is more, you and I would never expect to receive such a message. It would never occur to us to be disappointed that we were overlooked in the announcement. We don’t travel in those circles.

So when we read v.8-9 it is important to consider who these shepherds are. To say that they were nobodies or were despised by society would not be accurate. Shepherds do not get a bum rap in the Bible. Israel’s kings are likened to shepherds and even the Messiah is likened to a shepherd. In Mic.5:4, referring to the coming Messiah we read, “And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.”

But even though shepherds are not to be despised, they are nowhere close to being ranked among the beautiful people of society. Sheep must be constantly attended to and you have to make up your mind that you are going to have dirty hands and clothes. You are going to spend a lot of time outdoors and you won’t be getting rich any time soon. As a shepherd boy, I don’t imagine David was dreaming about being Israel’s next king. And I doubt that any king after David was dreaming of being a shepherd. A shepherd’s dream for a better life was just that, a dream. So when the angel appeared to these shepherds it would have seemed out of place. They were probably wondering why on earth an angel would appear to them.

And of course, that is exactly the question Luke wants us to think about. In Pro.3:34, we read that the Lord gives favor to the humble. In 1Pt.5:5 it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." These shepherds represent the lowly and humble of society. In Lk.2:1-7 the passage begins with Caesar Augustus and takes us to the lowly stable which houses Jesus, who is the center of power. From the stable the birth announcement goes to the lowly of society. It’s not that those on the lower ends of society are more worthy of the gospel news. We are all sinners. But the reality is that those who are lowly seem to be more receptive to the gospel news. In Mt.21 Jesus points out that it is the tax collectors and prostitutes who were going into the kingdom of God ahead of the Chief Priests and Pharisees because they heard and believed. The lowly are more apt to understand their need for a savior. And throughout scripture, God seems to take delight in turning worldly assessments of power and greatness on their heads.

Regardless of your status in this world, the question is do you recognize your need for Jesus, the Savior? “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” No one enters into life in the kingdom of God on the basis of their status in society. But a person of lowly social status is a picture of the kind of person who is most receptive to Jesus. The shepherds had little and yet they received the greatest news ever given.

II. THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS IS GIVEN TO BRING DELIVERANCE. Lk.2:10-14

An inscription in stone going back to 9 BC, uses the term "gospel" in referring to Caesar Augustus. It refers to the birthday of Caesar Augustus as the beginning of an era, the beginning of the gospel announcing his kingdom that heralded peace and salvation for his people. The inscription says that Augustus was sent as a savior, that he might end war and arrange all things. He is referred to as a god who was the beginning of the good news for the world.

Now listen to Luke’s account in v.10-14. "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!"

Four words stand out. Jesus is called a “Savior.” The word means, deliverer. It refers to someone who brings deliverance from enemies, disease, sickness, and peril. In Ps.107 we read about people who experienced various kinds of peril and who cried out to God, who delivered them. Jesus is a savior.

And then we see the title, “Christ,” or “Messiah.” The word refers to God’s anointed king. The nation of Israel was looking for the Messiah whose coming had been prophesied so many years ago. The Messiah would reign on David’s throne forever, putting all things right.

This Christ is called, the “Lord.” Lord is a term of respect. In Lk.1, Luke uses the word, Lord, to refer to God. I don’t imagine the shepherds thought that the baby was God, but certainly as we move through Luke’s gospel we come to see that, in fact, Jesus is God in the flesh. By putting these terms together the angel is announcing the birth of Israel’s Messiah sent by God to bring salvation.

The fourth word is found in v.14. It is the word, “peace.” Being sent by God, means that Jesus brings the peace of God. In other words, this is not the peace given by the world. This is the peace given by God. In Is.26:1-4 we read, “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” This is the peace that Jesus brings. Since this peace comes from God, in order to enter into it, one must be at peace with God.

How much the shepherds understood is not known. What they saw and heard was astounding to them. God was announcing something unbelievable. But there was the multitude of angels in full voice praising God. “Glory to God in the highest.” The shepherds were all ears and wanted this peace.

When Augustus was born he had no standing. His rise to power involved a great deal of political intrigue and warfare. He did bring an era of peace that lasted some 200 years. But peace came at a stiff price because it was often maintained through the brutal use of power and violence. That is the kind of peace the world gives. The peace of this world must be enforced and protected with treaties, armies, and weapons.

Unlike Augustus, Jesus was born a king. Jesus would also usher in an era of peace. But the peace that Jesus gives is not like the peace of this world. Jesus did not bring peace using weapons and armies. Jesus’ way of bringing peace is established for us by his birth in the lowly stable. His humble birth was lived out in his humble life of bringing deliverance from sin, sickness, death, and the power of the devil. His humble life was sacrificed on the cross of humiliation and shame, dying the death of a slave. But he was raised in power and great glory. As John tells us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

In Jn.14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The peace that Jesus gives is first of all peace with God through the forgiveness of our sins and the receiving of his eternal resurrection living in his kingdom. If we are living in the kingdom of God even as we live on this earth, we can enter into and experience God’s peace even in this world of trouble.

III. THE GOOD NEWS OF DELIVERANCE IS RECEIVED BY FAITH. Lk.2:15-21

When the angels went back into heaven, what happened? We read, “…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.” They believed the angel’s message. Because the angel spoke about an actual birth of a baby who was lying in a manger, they could easily check it out. And they did. They decided to see for themselves. After all, the angel said, “Unto you is born this day.” This birth announcement was not just for all, but for them. And it is for you.

There was the baby, lying in a feeding trough for animals! It doesn’t seem that they were at the manger very long. The next verse says that, “…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.” Meanwhile, v.19 says that, “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

This is interesting. The shepherds heard the gospel and they immediately went to check it out. My sense is that they fully believed Jesus is the Messiah. In v.20 we read that, “the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Not only are the shepherds praising God for sending the Messiah, but they are bearing the good news about Jesus to others. The shepherds believed.

What about the others? Did they believe? It says that they wondered or marveled or were amazed at what the shepherds said. This word, “wondered” appears numerous times in Luke. People were often amazed, or filled with wonder about Jesus but they didn’t necessarily believe in Jesus. In Lk.20 the chief priests tried to trap Jesus. It says in v.26, “And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.” It’s the same word. The chief priests didn’t believe in Jesus. Perhaps some of these people who heard the shepherds believed but there is no way of knowing.

What is faith? Faith is ongoing confidence and trust. In the case of the shepherds they exercised faith in the angel’s message. But when they went to the stable they transferred their faith to Jesus. Faith is a commitment of belief and action. The people who heard the shepherds were amazed but we don’t sense that they acted on their amazement. It doesn’t say that they went to see Jesus.

What does it mean to have faith in Jesus? It means to commit oneself to Jesus, trusting him for life and forgiveness of sins. He is the savior. Faith involves living in accordance with what you believe. Mary is a picture of the ongoing nature of faith. Mary treasured and pondered in her heart. That is how faith stays vibrant. We regularly bring before our minds the truth about Jesus Christ who was born, lived, died for our sin, and rose again. We immerse ourselves in the life and teachings of Jesus. We place our hope for life and eternity in Christ.

In two days it will be Christmas. Gifts will be exchanged and opened. There will be smiles of joy and maybe a few disappointments. The thing you were longing for will have to wait for another year. But your deepest longing and need is for Jesus Christ. And you can have Jesus right now. Jesus Christ is God’s greatest gift to all who will have him. Call upon Jesus in faith to save you from your sins and the emptiness of this world’s broken dreams. Amen

The Most Significant Person in the World

December 16, 2018

Do you know who the most interesting man in the world is? Well supposedly he is the man who doesn’t drink beer very often, but when he does, he drinks dos Equis. The actor who played the most interesting man in the world was Jonathan Goldsmith, an American actor who appeared in various T.V. shows, like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Knight Rider, etc.

Is there a most interesting man in the world? Actually there is. But you won’t find him on television or in the movies. And he doesn’t drink dos Equis. The most interesting man in the world is generally dismissed by the world and yet this is the one man who should never be overlooked. His name is Jesus. And this morning I want to ask, “Have you met Jesus, the most significant person alive today?”

I. DAILY LIFE IS SHAPED BY WORLD EVENTS. Lk.2:1-3

At the beginning of Luke’s gospel in Lk.1:3 he tells us that his goal is to write an orderly account. Then in 1:5, we read, “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah.” Luke gives a historical context for his gospel. This is important because our faith is grounded in the historical person of Jesus who actually lived, died, and rose again. In Lk.2:1-2, we find a similar historical reference. It says, “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.” What I want us to attend to is the way in which Luke frames the birth of Jesus.

His narrative begins with a reference to Caesar Augustus. Augustus, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, was the first Roman Emperor. He controlled Rome from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. The Pax Romana (Roman Peace) was brought about by his governmental initiatives. It should be noted that this peace was often maintained through violence. He established an extensive system of roads. He institutionalized Rome’s first police force and fire fighting force. He also initiated public revenue reforms. He expanded the tax base of Rome by implementing consistent, direct taxation throughout the empire. Here’s a quote: “The measures of taxation in the reign of Augustus were determined by population census, with fixed quotas for each province.” Luke refers to one of those censuses. Caesar Augustus had pretty much unlimited power. His word was obeyed. When Luke says the “whole world” he is referring to the whole world of the Roman Empire. “All went to be registered, each to his own town.” Even though Augustus was 2,500 miles away from Israel, his word put people on the move with no regard for convenience.

There are many ways in which world events shape our lives. And when I use the phrase, “world events,” I’m referring to events that happen outside of our family and home life. Whether it be through governmental power, scientific discovery, political movements, national protests, social unrest, economic decline or prosperity, national epidemics, natural disasters, military conflicts, or even local acts of violence that take place seemingly every day, all of these events shape our lives, some in positive ways and others in negative ways.

And then there is the undercurrent of social change that is always occurring. Sometimes society is conservative or takes a specific religious veneer. Other times we see a more secular, non-religious movement in society. One generation rebels against the previous generation and it feels as if society is coming untethered from its moorings. If the economy is good we feel that the world is treating us well. If the economy is not good, the sky is falling.

We talk about making our way in the world, leaving our mark on the world, leaving the world a better place than how we found it. We also talk about how this old world is getting us down. We say, “Stop the world, I want to get off.” It’s as if the world has power over our lives. And in fact, it does have power over our lives. This world as a system does not embrace the way of God and his Son, Jesus. In 1Jn.2:15-17 we read, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires.” Sometimes we hate this world, but more often than not we love the world, for it seems to have so much to offer. When we love the world it leads us into idolatry and sin. Our daily life is shaped by world events. But let’s narrow our horizon by looking at v.4-5. In v.4-5 we see that…

II. PERSONAL IDENTITY IS ESTABLISHED BY FAMILY OF ORIGIN. Lk.2:4-5

In Lk.2:4-5 we read, “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.”

Both Matthew and Luke emphasize the fact that Jesus is of the royal line of Israel’s greatest king, David. The angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would assume the throne of his father, David. Joseph could trace his lineage back to David.

It is interesting to note that nowhere in the Bible except here, is Bethlehem referred to as the city of David. The city of David is usually identified as Jerusalem. In 1Sam.20:6, Bethlehem is called “his city,” referring to David. And in Jn.7:42 we read, “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" Being in the lineage of David, Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem to be registered.

These verses raise the idea of family of origin. Since there was no room for Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, we conclude that Joseph did not have immediate family there. Nevertheless, Bethlehem and the lineage of David helped to define Joseph’s personal identity. We can all relate. If you told me that you grew up in Allentown, PA, we would immediately have a number things in common. We would share the same home town. But for Joseph it was not so much Bethlehem that defined him. Rather it was his ancestry. He was of the tribe of Judah and a descendant of David. His family heritage claimed Bethlehem as home. The fact that Joseph was known as a righteous man would indicate that his immediate family had a very positive impact on his personal identity.

We all have a personal identity that is established through our family of origin. We share various genetic traits with our family of origin. We have learned certain traditions and ways of doing things through our family. Some families are very close, enjoying frequent family gatherings. Some families have a great deal of pride. That pride may be found in wealth, accomplishment, or various forms of service to society.

Of course other families are not close. There may be little sense of family pride and unity. If a family struggles in poverty or if that family is filled with strife and disorder, this will shape our personal identity in negative ways.

Sometimes those who come from “good” families are actually carrying family secrets that compromise the public persona of the family. Sometimes family members feel that they are not able to live up to the family name. They feel that they have failed their family. The pressure to succeed is too much. And sometimes those who come from dysfunctional families are able to rise above all the negativity and find great success. When I meet with engaged couples for premarital counseling, we discuss family of origin issues in detail because our way of relating to those closest to us is deeply engrained by our family. Our family shapes who we are.

In the Old Testament we read about how the sins of the fathers are often visited upon the children to the third and fourth generation. We read about how various Jewish kings walked in the way of their fathers. Sin does not just lurk in our own hearts; it often lodges in families. Perhaps there are addictions. Perhaps there is a constant underlying anger. Or maybe the family is filled with fear and anxiety, or the pride of perfectionism pervades all that is done at home. It all shapes our personal identity. I point this out to show that as wonderful as family can be, when sinners live together sin often thrives and multiplies.

Now given that our daily life is shaped by world events, and given that our personal identity is established by our family of origin, let me go on to say that…

III. ETERNAL LIVING WITH GOD IS GIVEN BY JESUS ALONE. Lk.2:6-7

The world shapes our daily life and often betrays us. We may think we have the world on a string. But it won’t be long before our life is tied up in knots if we are depending upon this world. And truth be told, this world will never bring you into a life with God.

Family may be wonderful in establishing our personal identity, but every family is flawed. And no family lasts forever. Death and disagreement often separate families. And while your family may be religious, religion does not bring us into a life with God. However when we look at v.6-7 we are given hope.

In v.6-7 we read, “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.”

This passage is shaped in an interesting way. We begin with what seems to be the center of worldly power and privilege in the throne room of Caesar Augustus. Then our focus narrows to the little town of Bethlehem and the reality of family heritage and pride. Worldly power and family are both significant in shaping our lives. But Luke focuses our attention on a stable and a manger. A stable? A manger? What are they? They are the birthplace of Jesus. If you want to find the real center of power you must go to the throne room of the stable. If you want to find a forever family of love and joy, you must look into the manger.

In Ps.2:1-3, we read, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." Those verses are quoted in Acts 4:25-27 referring to how Herod, Pontus Pilate and the Jewish leaders conspired against Jesus. But in Ps.2:6-7 God says, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” In the New Testament those verses are applied to Jesus. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the center of power.

In Jn.1:11-13 we read, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” As wonderful as our family heritage might be, only Jesus can bring us into the forever family of God. His death on the cross for our sin and his resurrection from the dead enables us to receive his forgiveness and life. Through faith and allegiance to Jesus our personal identity begins to become like his. Jesus is the Son of God who gives eternal living in the kingdom of God for all who receive him. Through Jesus we are adopted into the family of God.

The birth narrative of Jesus in Luke is pretty sparse of detail. It reads quickly and leaves looking into the manger at the Christ child. It is a picture of humility. The whole life and ministry of Jesus was one of humility, love and sacrifice for you and me. Those who would be part of God’s family must come humbly in faith to Jesus. Amen

Living In the Light of Jesus

December 9, 2018

Those who play the game of Chess know the danger of having a singular focus. There you are. It’s your move. You see a way to put your opponent’s king in check. So you boldly make your move. Before you know it your opponent brings his knight from seemingly out of nowhere to capture your queen. Oh! If you had only stopped to gain a better perspective of the board you might have kept your queen.

Perspective is critical in Chess. But it is even more critical for life in this world. There is never a time when we don’t have some kind of perspective on life. The question is do we have a big enough perspective to be able to correctly discern our circumstances.

This morning we are looking at the experience of Joseph in his relationship with Mary. Joseph’s perspective was correct as far as it went. But it was incomplete. And frankly, that is the case for all of us when it comes to discerning the circumstances of life in this world. So from Mt.1:18-25 let me say that believers are learning to view their circumstances in light of Jesus Christ.

I. DISAPPOINTMENT IS NEVER FAR AWAY. Mt.1:18-19

When I was just out of college I got a job working in a hospital psych unit outside of Detroit. During my two years there I had a co-worker who was a joy to work with. I left that job to go to seminary. Angie and I were married and I completely lost track of my co-worker and could only remember her first name. It has been almost 40 years since I last saw her. Recently I happened to find an old address book and found her full name. I found her on Facebook and we reconnected. However, I was saddened to learn that her husband (whom I had met) died in 2017. And now she is dealing with cancer. That is just one example of a deep disappointment in life. All of us experience these kinds of disappointments. Look at the disappointment in v.18-19. “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.”

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant the angel came to Mary. Mary then went to visit Elizabeth. We don’t know when Mary became pregnant. There were no pregnancy tests so I imagine Mary was not immediately aware that she was pregnant. However when she came to Elizabeth’s door, the baby in Elizabeth leapt in her womb and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit “exclaimed, with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Because Mary may not have been aware of when she became pregnant I am surmising that she said nothing to Joseph. When it began to become obvious that Mary was pregnant, Joseph learned of the pregnancy. What a disappointment for Joseph! Think about it. His impending marriage to Mary is something that may have been arranged for some years. Husbands were usually ten or more years older than their wives. In that culture when two people were engaged to be married it was legally binding. Any kind of sexual unfaithfulness was adultery.

One can only imagine what Joseph was thinking. The Mary he knew was humble and trustworthy. But how do you argue with a pregnancy? Women do not just turn up pregnant! What other explanation could there be but that she had been unfaithful? The fact that Mary was pregnant had significant ramifications for Joseph. If Joseph married Mary, everyone would assume that he was also guilty of immorality. Joseph was known for being a righteous and just man because he was a righteous and just man. What should he do?

He came to the conclusion that he should divorce Mary. But he would divorce Mary quietly so as to not expose Mary to public shame. Not only was Joseph righteous and just, he was merciful and kind.

That was Joseph’s disappointing situation. You may be facing a completely different kind of disappointment. Your life has not unfolded the way you envisioned it. Maybe there has been a divorce or an untimely death. Perhaps your health has betrayed you. Your work has not been fulfilling. Maybe a sense of personal failure or family betrayal has burdened your life. This world is a fallen, broken world, and so disappointment is never far away from any of us. Disappointment can certainly lead to disillusionment in life. Perhaps you are living with disappointment on this second Sunday in Advent.

And if that is the case, let me offer you some hope. For in this weary world of disappointment…

II. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS TRANSFORMS OUR PERSPECTIVE. Mt.1:20-23

In v.20-23 we read, “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).”

It should be noted that the presence of angels was no more common then than it is now. People were not regularly seeing angels in person or in their sleep. In scripture every time an angel appears there is fear. That’s why angels are always saying, “Fear not.” It would probably be no different if we saw an angel. But when the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, the angel said, “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” In Joseph’s mind, the dream was clearly from God. I imagine Joseph waking up and saying, “Oh, Mary wasn’t lying after all. This pregnancy is the work of God.” Perhaps Joseph recognized the Old Testament passage from Isaiah about a virgin bearing a son who would be called Immanuel.”

But I wonder what Joseph thought about the rest of the angel’s message: “you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." In Luke’s account the angel tells Mary that Jesus would have the throne of his father, David, and would reign forever. In Mt.1:1-17, Matthew calls our attention to the fact that Jesus is of the royal line of David by giving us a genealogical record beginning with Abraham. Matthew traces the descendants of Abraham through David, down to Joseph and finally to Jesus. Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father, but he was Jesus’ legal father, making Jesus a legal descendant of the line of David.

But in his dream, the angel emphasizes the fact that Jesus would save his people from their sins. We know that Israel was defeated and exiled because of their sins. They had turned away from God to worship idols. Idolatry always leads to sin.

After the Babylonian Exile was over, many Jews returned to Israel. But as I mentioned last week, even though the Jews were back in the land, from that point on they were ruled by foreign nations. From a biblical perspective they were still living in exile because of their sins. This is what idolatry and sin do. The brutal reality about idolatry and sin is that they separate us from God, the giver of life. Every person is living in exile because of their idolatry and sin. We are exiled from God and the fullness of life that comes from God.

But the angel said that Jesus will save his people from their sins. On the face of it we might say that “his people” refers to the Jews. Jesus is Jewish. But who are the people of Jesus? They are the ones who receive the salvation, the life he came to bring.

I wonder what Joseph was thinking when he heard the angel say, “they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).” “God with us!” Not, “God with us,” in a blazing pillar of fire like in the Old Testament. Not, “God with us,” as when he appeared on Mt. Sinai to give the law and the people trembled in fear. Not, “God with us,” in an overpowering display of his glory as when he inhabited the tabernacle in the Old Testament. But God with us in human form in the person of Jesus, born as a baby. God entered into the deep disappointment of this world and its sins in order to redeem us out of slavery to sin. In Jesus, God humbled himself taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, bearing the guilt and penalty of our sins.

Joseph woke up with a new perspective on his disappointment. He realized that the greatest disappointment of his life was, in fact, the work of God in bringing salvation for you and me. Paul writes, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” In Rm.8:32 Paul writes, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” What is your disappointment today? God has given us his son. What is your disappointment today? God had given us his son, Jesus, who entered into every kind of disappointment known to mankind. But as the old gospel song says, “There’s no disappointment in Jesus.” In fact every disappointment becomes God’s appointment for transformation in our lives as we look to Jesus, who saves us from our sins. But what of it? What actual difference does it make? In v.24-25 we see that…

III. A CHRIST-FORMED PERSPECTIVE SHAPES OUR DAILY LIVING. Mt.1:24-25

Look at v.24-25. “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.”

This is amazing. Joseph went to sleep with a firm resolve to divorce Mary. He woke up from his dream with a new resolve, to marry Mary. But there was still a big problem. He was going to marry Mary and everyone would conclude that he and Mary could not control themselves. They yielded to the temptation of immorality. Both of their reputations would be sullied. They talked a good game, but now we all know the truth about Mary and Joseph. It’s not a good way to enter into a marriage.

But Joseph knew the message was from God and so he was convinced that God would see them through. The gospel news given to Joseph shaped his behavior. He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife. But wait, the angel never said anything about abstaining from marital intimacy until Jesus was born. Joseph must have recognized that what God was doing through Mary was so important that he should do nothing that might in any way compromise God’s good work.

For Joseph, disappointment turned to hope. And hope brought about a change of behavior. Hope has a way of changing our perspective so that what once seemed overwhelmingly disappointing, is filled with potential in the hands of God. It is not just a feeling of hope that we are talking about. It is hope grounded in the word of God and the person of Jesus. God sent Jesus into the world to bring deliverance, salvation from the guilt and penalty of our sins. God sent Jesus into the world so that we might now receive Jesus’ eternal resurrection life. When we put our trust in Jesus, asking him to save us from our sins he gives us his new creation life and we begin living out his new life that is in us. In Jesus we become new creations. New creation is the goal.

What does it look like to live a new creation life? Well, since it is Jesus’ life in us, the life we live will look something like Jesus’ life. As we yield or surrender ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit will help us live out the character of Jesus in our conduct and conversation.

Joseph was not turning over a new leaf in his life. Joseph was entering into a new life of faith and trust in God. Joseph was stepping out of a dream into a new reality. He was going out on a limb because God gave him a good word concerning Jesus.

I am not suggesting to anyone this morning that they try a little harder to be a better person. I am suggesting that all of us need Jesus and all of us must surrender our lives in faith to Jesus. We call upon the name of the Lord to be saved and then we live in a posture of faith, surrender, allegiance, and obedience to Jesus.

In the game of Chess, it is important to learn to view the entire board so that you can discern your opponent’s capabilities and intentions against you. In life it is vital to learn to view our circumstances in light of Jesus Christ who is Immanuel, God with us. Those, who put their faith in Jesus and give him their surrendered allegiance receive as a gift, his eternal life in the kingdom of God. No matter how sad, how bleak our circumstances in this weary world, God in Christ is working all things together in such a way that we are increasingly conformed to the good and gracious way of Jesus. Give yourself to Jesus. Amen

"I Am the Lord's Servant"

December 2, 2018

Today marks the beginning of the season of Advent. There are four Sundays in Advent. Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ. In Advent we look backwards in history to the events surrounding the historical birth Jesus. But we also keep in mind the fact that there will be a second advent or coming of Jesus, when he returns to establish his kingdom in the new heaven and new earth. Jesus was born as God’s anointed Messiah or king. When Jesus comes again he will come as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

This morning we are thinking about Mary. In Luke 1:26-38 we are able to peer into the moment when Mary found out that she was going to give birth to the Messiah. From this passage I want to ask, Will you allow Jesus to rule in your life?

I. HEAR THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.

When we read this account of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary we do not come away thinking we have just heard the gospel. When we think of the gospel we generally focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus. But the gospel is the good news of forgiveness and life through the life and death of Jesus. Jesus’ atoning death cannot be separated from his miraculous birth. His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and second coming are all part of the gospel. When Gabriel came to Mary, he was bringing good news, which is what the word “gospel means.”

So let’s look at the good news found in this passage. As you know, Luke begins his gospel with the account of Gabriel coming to Zechariah, announcing that his wife, Elizabeth, who had been barren and who was well beyond childbearing age, would become pregnant. Their son was to be called John. We know him as John the Baptist.

When Elizabeth was in her 6th month of pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent to a young woman named Mary. Mary lived in Nazareth, presumably with her parents. She was engaged to a man named Joseph. We know very little about Mary. Nazareth was not a very important town. We are told that Mary was a virgin. We are also told that Mary was favored by the Lord. The Lord was with her. There is nothing that indicates the Lord showed favor to Mary because she was especially holy or righteous. There is no indication that Mary had done some extraordinary act of service or ministry to the Lord. She was just Mary, a young woman. And like many young women in Israel, she had hopes and dreams. She was going to be married. But now the angel Gabriel is in her room, saying that she is favored by God and, well, who wouldn’t be a little troubled?

In v.31 Gabriel announces that Mary would conceive in her womb and bear a son who was to be named Jesus. Jesus, or Yeshua, means “the Lord saves.” In v.32 Gabriel continues by saying, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Then in v.35 Gabriel adds, “the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”

What did Mary understand Gabriel to be saying? I do not think she would have understood Gabriel to be saying that Jesus would be God in the flesh. Rather I believe that Mary would have recognized that Gabriel was saying she would be the mother of the long awaited Messiah. Jesus would be a descendant of David who would ascend to David’s throne. In fact he would reign on David’s throne forever. Way back in 2Sam.7 God promised to establish David’s throne forever. But that promise seemed to have failed. After his son Solomon died, the nation of Israel split into 2 kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. In 722 B.C. the northern kingdom was defeated by Assyria. In 586 B.C. the southern kingdom was defeated by Babylon. Never again would there be a united Jewish nation under its own rule. There has not been a king on the throne since, roughly, 586 B.C.

But here was Gabriel telling Mary that she would be the mother of the next Jewish king who would reign forever. Jesus is the fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of Israel.

But let me trace out another Old Testament theme. When God called Abraham in Gen.12, he made some specific promises to Abraham. He promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation. He also said that all the families of the earth would be blessed through Abraham. The Jews are the descendants of Abraham and they were raised up to be a light of blessing to the nations, a testimony of God’s goodness. But that didn’t happen. Instead of showing the nations what it is like to worship and serve a loving and good God, Israel turned away from God and worshiped idols. Israel became like the pagan nations. But here was Gabriel telling Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah who would reign forever. And the Messiah would fulfill Israel’s calling. The Messiah would be the source of blessing, salvation to the nations. As we read the Old Testament prophets we learn that all the nations will worship the Messiah.

In Lk.1:46-55 Mary breaks out in poetry. Look at those verses, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

I want to say that Jesus is the King of all kings. He is the Lord or all lords. He was crucified, dead, and buried. He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father and is seated at the Father’s side, reigning until all things are put under his feet. He died for our sins and he rose that we might have his eternal life. He gives us his life that we may begin in this life to live in his kingdom, under his rule forever. Oh there is much more to the gospel story, but for now consider that Jesus is the promised Messiah, God’s anointed Savior and Deliverer. He is not just for the Jews. He has come for Jews and Gentiles. All the nations, all the world is blessed through Jesus, a descendant of Abraham and David. He is the light of the world. Hear the gospel message. Hear the good news. It is for you.

II. SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO JESUS.

Can you put yourself in Mary’s place? How would you have been feeling? What would you have been thinking? The only indication from the text is that Mary was troubled. “What? I am favored? The Lord is with me?” One gets the impression that Mary was certainly not full of herself. She saw no reason why Gabriel should have been sent to her. But there Gabriel was!

Gabriel tried to assure her that all was well. “Nothing to worry about!” Only there was something to worry about. Mary knew how babies come into being. It seems clear that Mary understood that this pregnancy was not going to come about in the normal way. She realized that Jesus was not going to be the son of Joseph. He was going to be the Son of God! So she asks the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” I imagine you and I would have been thinking the exact same thing. In v.35, Gabriel answered, “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.” This pregnancy was going to come about through an act of God, the Holy Spirit. And then Gabriel gave Mary a sign to verify the message. Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, who was barren has also conceived and is in her 6th month. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

What Mary said next is profound. In v.38, 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.” Mary was giving consent for God to use her in his great work of redemption. In Jesus Christ, God would take up residence in her body. God would live in her body, veiled in flesh. We know that when a woman is pregnant, her bodily resources are directed towards the nourishment and sustenance of the life growing in her. In giving her consent, Mary threw caution to the wind. What would people think if she turned up pregnant before even being married? Who would believe her story? And what about her hoped-for future with Joseph? Would he believe her?

It would seem to me that Mary’s self-identify was deeply shaped by her faith and trust in God. “I am the servant of the Lord.” Do you see yourself as the servant of the Lord? When are you the servant of the Lord? In what way are you the servant of the Lord? Mary had a heart of surrender to the Lord.

You might say that Mary was the first one to recognize Jesus as her Lord and King. By the way, the second person to recognize Jesus as her Lord and King was Elizabeth. Look at v.42-43. When Mary went to visit Elizabeth, Elizabeth exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

This past week I was reading Ex.40. In that chapter Moses sets up the tabernacle for the first time. It was quite a process. But once the tabernacle was set up and everything was in place, we read, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” God’s presence dwelt among his people, Israel. Moses couldn’t enter because the glory of the Lord was too much. But Mary’s heart was prepared as a fit tabernacle for the Lord. How was her heart prepared? She had a humble, surrendered heart.

Just as Mary surrendered her heart to Jesus, so can we. We yield our consent for God to dwell in us, through his Holy Spirit. We can even use Mary’s words as a prayer of surrender and dedication: “Lord, I am your servant. Use me as you wish.” Surrender your life to Jesus.

In 1998, Bill Gaither and Mark Lowry wrote a gospel song called, “Mary Was the First One to Carry the Gospel.” She carried Jesus in her body. She delivered Jesus to the world. Do you carry Jesus in you? Is he your Lord and King? Do you know Jesus? Have you ever entered into a life giving, sin forgiven relationship with him?

In a few moments we will gather to the Lord’s Table. It is at this table where we affirm in a very physical way that Jesus lives in us. Jesus nourishes us with his spiritual, eternal life. The bread and the juice do not give us this life. Jesus gives us his life. The bread and the juice are a symbol of his body and blood given in our behalf, for our sins. If you have never called upon Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to be your Savior and King, then I invite you to do that very thing in the quietness of your own heart.

When I asked Angie to marry me she said, “yes,” and we were married. After we were married I did not continue to ask her to marry me. We began living out the covenant that we entered into on our wedding day. When we call upon Jesus to save us we enter a covenant with God. It is a covenant of salvation and life in the kingdom of God. When I call upon the Lord by faith to save me, I then begin living out the covenant of salvation I have entered into with Jesus. I don’t keep asking Jesus to save me, rather I trust in the salvation he has given to me.

At the Lord’s Table we affirm and renew this covenant of salvation. We are encouraged by the Lord himself who is present with us. Let us come to the Lord’s Table. Amen.