More...Christmas Wonder!

... and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2:18

Have you ever been amazed by anything?  I remember when our daughter was born. Seeing her beautiful face and 10 perfect fingers and 10 perfect toes seemed amazing to me. I didn’t question it, for babies have been born for centuries.  Yet it was still amazing that from my own body could come another completely intact and wonderful little human being who was completely her own person.

Sadly, today’s world culture often doesn’t stand in amazement for very long, if at all.  We resort to our knowledge of the world to explain away every day miracles. We prefer to not linger with incongruencies and that which defies explanation.  We miss the wonder of life itself often because of our need to know.I didn’t question it, for babies have been born for centuries. Yet it was still amazing that from my own body could come another completely intact and wonderful little human being who was completely her own person.

Today I’d like to take a look at the word thaumazō or “amazed,” as is found in our text today.  I like how the New King James Version interprets Luke 2:18 -  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”  Let’s place ourselves in the story, explore the wonder of it all and marvel as the shepherds and the people to whom they shared their amazement had.  Let’s learn to wonder and be amazed all over again.

It was certainly an ordinary night.  The sheep were grazing comfortably and the weather was agreeable for the season.  Just another night… Wait! What’s this? An angel? Whoa!! Suddenly the ragtag band of lowlife shepherds sprang to action.  Anything out of the ordinary was always cause for alarm because the sheep were so vulnerable. Just one misstep… But the sheep were fine.  And the angel was speaking, “Don’t be alarmed! I have great news to bring you tonight. It will bring you immense joy. It’s for all people everywhere but you must hear it first!”

It seemed so unlikely.  Nobody gave shepherds the time of day.  More often than not people would walk away to avoid them.  Nobody trusted shepherds with anything. But good news? For all people?

The angel continued.  “Today a Savior has been born in David’s city!  You will know you have found the right baby because it will be wrapped with strips of cloth and will be laid in a manger.”  Before the shepherds could even respond there were suddenly hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of angels who appeared with the original angel.  They all started speaking together. “Praise be to God who is above all! And may peace be with men of goodwill.”

Just as suddenly as thee angels had come, they were gone.  The shepherds continued to stare in astonishment until one of them suggested, “We should go to Bethlehem to find this baby just as Yahweh has told us.”  And they all knew where they were going. The angel had told them. Strips of cloth. Manger. Migdal Eder, the tower of the sheep. Another chimed in as they gathered the sheep, “What a strange place for a baby to be born!  The sacrificial lambs lambs are the ones born there and wrapped with strips of cloth to keep them from being damaged so they can be used in temple worship. But a baby? I’ve never heard of that before.”

The shepherds hurried as quickly as their sheep would allow.  Before long they reached Migdal Eder. And just as the angel had told them, they found a young couple inside, stretched out on the hay next to the manger where the holiest of lambs were born and laid.  In the manger was a beautiful, perfect child. The angel had told them the truth! The mother was so small, so young. She looked at the shepherds inquisitively. So they told of their experience. “There was this angel.  See? And he told us that we would find you here. And not only that but he told us your baby is the Savior! And then there were all these angels praising God because of your son. Could He be the Messiah we have waited for so long!”

The shepherds lingered for awhile.  When they finally departed back to their sheep they started talking wildly, “What does this mean?  A Savior?!”

“And born in the place of the sacrificial lambs!”  

“It doesn’t make sense.  But we were told by the angel and everything else he told us was true.”

“Have we seen Messiah?”

“Wow!  This is amazing!  Normally we aren’t told anything.  This is the best news ever!”

“Look!  Here’s comes the potter.  Let’s tell him about everything!”

The scenario played out again and again and again.  Everywhere the shepherds went they chattered about their amazing adventure.  And to a person, everyone marveled. There were so many incongruencies. But sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.  And so they entered in and wondered at everything the shepherds related to them, caught fully in astonishment.

Does the Christmas story still astonish you?  Or has it become too familiar? Allow yourself to enter into the shepherds story.  Be amazed! And find More of God in Christmas this year!

More...Christmas Hope

The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

a light has dawned

on those living in the land of darkness.

You have enlarged the nation

and increased its joy.

The people have rejoiced before You

as they rejoice at harvest time

and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.

For You have shattered their oppressive yoke

and the rod on their shoulders,

the staff of their oppressor,

just as You did on the day of Midian.

For the trampling boot of battle

and the bloodied garments of war

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child will be born for us,

a son will be given to us,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

He will be named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.   Isaiah 9:2-6

The last decade or so has seen a shift in home decorating trends.  Decorating with words is now a thing. Perhaps you’ve noticed. During Christmas in particular we see words like “peace,” “joy,” “jolly” and “believe” plastered everywhere.  I too have succumb to this decorating trend. “Joy” hangs on my refrigerator year round as a reminder that “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)  A “Peace” ornament in white hangs from one of my cabinet doors to remind me “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.”  (Colossians 3:15)  “Cafe” sits on top of one of my cabinets just for fun.

There is one word that we sometimes see around, during the Christmas season in particular, that doesn’t seem to get quite as much press as the rest.  But it’s vitally important in our understanding of the Christmas story and finding More of God in our celebration this Christmas. That word is “Hope.”  The text I’ve chosen today focuses specifically on the hope that Christ brings us in His advent.

Isaiah prophesied during some dark days in Israel’s history.  There wasn’t much hope to be found in the circumstances of the people of Israel during those days.  Yet Isaiah has encountered God (see Isaiah 6) and though circumstances look bleak, he continues to abide in hope.  After he delivers a particularly disturbing prophecy, wreaking terror in its listeners (Isaiah 8), he writes:

“But in the future He (God) will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.”  (Isaiah 9:1b)

The word “honor” in this passage is the Hebrew word kabad and literally means to “make heavy, weighty, full of glory and honor.”  It’s not a flippant word. It’s serious and pregnant with hope for the listeners of the prophecy.  You see, the kabad that God will bring is really found several sentences later:

For a child will be born for us,

a son will be given to us,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

He will be named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

The effects of the child born to us will be seen as light (Isaiah 9:2), joy (Isaiah 9:3), freedom (Isaiah 9:3-4) and peace.  (Isaiah 9:5).  He will ultimately wear the crown of the kingdom of God perfectly, something the lineage of David was unable to do.

Jeremiah actually calls him the “Hope of Israel.”  (Jeremiah 14:8, 17:13)  He writes concerning Messiah, the Christ - the coming King:

A glorious throne set on high from the beginning

   is the place of our sanctuary.

O Lord, the hope of Israel,

   all who forsake you shall be put to shame;

those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth,

   for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.   Jeremiah 17:12-13

The Hope of Christmas is that there is a King who came and lived as a man, who gave up His life in exchange for ours and who now lives forever as the perfect King of eternity for us.  Only He is able to bring the light out of darkness, joy overflowing, freedom from sin and peace in the world and in our hearts. Only He is able to give us More of Himself.

Today I leave you with a song by Newsong - “The Christmas Hope.”

Her wish this Christmas

Was that Christmas would just pass her by

Nothing could reach her

Or answer her questions why

She feels so alone

And she wonders if all hope is gone

Hope is a candle

A light in the window

Showing the way for

A heart to come home

Hope is a Savior

Who was born in the manger

Sent down from Heaven

To rescue our hearts

Our Christmas hope

She never imagined

That for her there was hope to find

But isn't it amazing

How God brings a heart back to life

She's smiling now she's finding out

What Christmas hope is all about

Hope is a present

A gift freely given

To all who receive

And open their hearts

Hope is a promise

For a better tomorrow

In a world filled with sorrow

We always have hope

Our Christmas hope

Our Christmas hope

More...Christmas Repentance

Zechariah was startled and overwhelmed with fear. But the angel reassured him, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God is showing grace to you. For I have come to tell you that your prayer for a child has been answered. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son and you are to name him John. His birth will bring you much joy and gladness. Many will rejoice because of him. He will be one of the great ones in the sight of God. He will drink no wine or strong drink, but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even while still in his mother’s womb. And he will persuade many in Israel to convert and turn back to the Lord their God. He will go before the Lord as a forerunner, with the same power and anointing as Elijah the prophet.

Luke 1:12-17

Preparations are well underway at my house for Christmas.  The Christmas tree and decorations are up, Christmas music is blaring from our digital speaker and I’m baking cookies...lots of cookies!  Christmas will come whether or not I have finished the preparations. It always does. But my heart and household feel so much richer because the time has been taken to make those arrangements.  It builds anticipation and longing for all of us. This is so much like the real life Christmas story.

It had been four hundred years since anyone had heard the Voice of God.  A very long time...five generations...had come and gone. Nothing...until one day when an unsuspecting Zechariah drew the lot for temple service in the Holy of Holies.  He was going about his duties when suddenly an angel appeared to him. (Ever notice that’s how angels always appear...suddenly?) He’s overwhelmed and afraid. Keep in mind he’s in the Holy of Holies.  He’s already out of his comfort zone!

But the message was personal and reassuring.  “Don’t be afraid, Zach! You’re going to have a son!  You’ve waited forever and ever. You’ve prayed a long time.  And now God is ready to show you His grace by giving you a son.  And not just any son! This one is going to be special! He’s going to prepare the way for Messiah!!”  (paraphrase is mine)

God could have skipped this part.  He could have just announced to Mary and Joseph then later to the shepherds or magi.  But instead He chose to bless a couple in their old age, answer their prayer and assign a boy (who would grow to be John the Baptist) the job of preceding Messiah!  The angel was very specific. “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even while still in his mother’s womb. And he will persuade many in Israel to convert and turn back to the Lord their God.”  (Luke 1:15b-16a)  Zechariah’s son, John, moved by the Holy Spirit, would prepare Israel by turning back to God (repenting).  His ministry would be one of repentance.

Israel had turned her back on God.  Sure, the religious order of the day was quite meticulous when it came to religious traditions, but they were not necessarily God’s traditions.  And God wanted hearts right and ready to receive His Son when he appeared on the scene in ministry. John, himself, put it this way, “I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”  (John 1:31)

Preparation isn’t everything, but it’s so worthwhile and necessary!  Our hearts wander so easily. We don’t readily receive Jesus into each our days as our Papa God would like us to do.

Remember our friend, Zechariah.  He was given hope to hold onto while he awaited and prepared for the birth of his son.  The message of repentance was part of that hope. As we prepare for the holiday of Christmas, ask yourself this question:  where has my heart wandered and what do I need to repent of? Take some time. Meditate on it. Look for disconnect. Repent.  I guarantee you won’t be disappointed to turn back in wholehearted devotion to God this Christmas season and, indeed, every season!

More...Christmas Listening

Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: “Ask the Lord your

God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want -

as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”

But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”

Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough

to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well?  All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).   Isaiah 7:10-14

How well do you listen?  Do you listen well enough to follow through on what you hear?  “Wait,” you might say, “I thought I was reading a Christmas message?”  You are. A lot of listening happens in the Christmas story, actually. Mary listens and responds, “may it be done to me according to your word.”  (Luke 1:38)  Joseph listens and responds by taking Mary as his wife and ensures she will still be a virgin at the Baby’s birth even though by all appearances she has made a fool of him.  (Matthew 1:24-25)   The shepherds listen and after the angels leave them, they find the Baby and leave glorifying and praising God.  (Luke 2:16-20)  If any of these participants in the Christmas story had not listened well, they would have missed the wonders of what God had planned for them.

But the very first participant in the Christmas story didn’t listen well at all.  Perhaps you’ve never heard this part of the story. King Ahaz had frozen with fear.  His father, Uzziah, had died and he now found himself on the royal throne. And now, when the kings of Aram and Remaliah show up to do battle with him all he can do is quake with fear.  God, in His goodness shows up through the prophet Isaiah, saying, “Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands.”  (Isaiah 7:1-4)  You’d think that message would quell Ahaz’s fears.  After all, God is telling Him not to fear; He has it all under control.

Remember how I told you that Ahaz didn’t listen well?  Yep. You got it! That message didn’t stop his shaking.  So God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign. “I won’t do it!” Ahaz declares.  His fear is magnified with this request. He doesn’t want to put God to the test, or so he says.  He’s really just too afraid to ask.

“Okay,” God replies (my paraphrase), “but I’m going to give you one anyway.”  And God proceeds to tell him a little story. “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”  

“Okay, God.  That’s a pretty fantastic story.”  A virgin having a baby? Impossible.  But that’s the point. God is God over even the impossible.  The exclamation point for Ahaz is the name - Immanuel...God is with us.  If God is with us, the impossible becomes possible.  If God is with us, there is a way through the pain, the difficulties, the rejection. Add your own issue.  If God is with you, that issue isn’t impossible. God has it under control. But there is a catch.

Ah yes, you knew it was too good to be true..right?  Wrong! Remember our character, Ahaz? God asked him to ask.  He wants you to ask. Are you listening? He is with you.  Immanuel did come.  God is with us. And He wants us to ask.  So do it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!