Anticipation (part 5) - welcoming contrast

We have seen throughout this advent series how the Old Testament prophet Micah and the New Testament evangelist John the Baptist prepare God’s people for the coming salvation delivered from God. One of the features we have seen repeatedly in these Bible passages has been the sharp contrast between and world that seems to has lost its way, and a covenant God who continues to reach out to his people in unexpected ways.

As we arrive today, then, at this Christmas celebration on the Messiah’s birth, I think part of our embrace of the Christmas miracle of Jesus is a welcoming embrace of the contrast we see in these stories. The contrast reminds us that we still live in a world that needs a Messiah. It is a world with people who continue to struggle with feeling lost; but it is also still a world into which the hope of Christmas can be a vibrant and abiding contrast for God’s people. And just like those days long ago in the Bible, God’s salvation still shows up in unexpected ways.

Micah 7:14–20 (NIV)

Micah 7:14–20 NIV

14 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago. 15 “As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders.” 16 Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power. They will put their hands over their mouths and their ears will become deaf. 17 They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of their dens; they will turn in fear to the Lord our God and will be afraid of you. 18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. 19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. 20 You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.

John 1:29–34 (NIV)

John 1:29–34 NIV

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

In today’s message I want us to recognize what it means for us to be people who welcome the contrast that comes along with the birth of Jesus into the world. In particular, it would be good for us to consider within the Christmas story a few examples of how people respond to the birth of Jesus once they come to realize the unexpected nature of God’s salvation. Let’s start here today with Micah to set the frame.

verses 15, 16, and 17 — people who ignore the salvation of God

Our passage begins with Micah offering a prayer to God to be the shepherd of this people. Then we see Micah set up the contrast in the following verses. In verses 15, 16, and 17 we see the picture of people who ignore the salvation of God. These are people who press back against God, people who find it hard to accept the love and grace and forgiveness of God. These are people for whom a world of power and strength takes higher priority than a world of mercy and compassion. Micah says in a way that depicts such people being silenced and humbled.

not be silenced and humbled and ashamed by God’s overwhelming power and strength and might — it is God’s covenant faithfulness to care for his people like a shepherd cares for his flock

And notice especially the way Micah frames this contrast. Those people in the world who push back against God will not be silenced and humbled and ashamed by God’s overwhelming power and strength and might. That is not the way Micah is presenting God’s salvation in these verses. Rather, it is God’s covenant faithfulness to care for his people like a shepherd cares for his flock.

verses 18, 19, and 20 — God’s forgiveness and mercy and compassion

This is where we see the other side of the contrast. In verses 18, 19, and 20 we see this picture of God’s forgiveness and mercy and compassion. It is the God who is faithful to his people and shows love to his people—this is the way in which God will silence the nations and humble the proud. This is the way we see God’s Messiah arriving into the world at Christmas.

Here is what I want us to spend the rest of our time here today considering. I want us to note a few examples from the Christmas story of how people reacted and responded to this covenant love and faithfulness which is announced with the birth of Christ.

Let’s start with Mary and Joseph. This is what the Bible tells us about Joseph.

Matthew 1:18–25 (NIV)

Matthew 1:18–25 NIV

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Joseph — a response of simple obedience

In Joseph we see a response of simple obedience. I suppose it would be too much for us to assume that Joseph was perfectly obedient to all the ways of God in every moment of his life. After all, Joseph was born into a sinful world with a sinful nature just like the rest of us. It would be a mistake to take away from this passage that Joseph’s obedience in this instance somehow makes him perfect. But at the same time, we do see an example here in which Joseph responds to the giving of God’s Messiah with an act of obedience.

This is no small act of obedience either. This was an act of obedience on the part of Joseph which required swallowing his own pride by taking a wife who appears to everyone around as being disgraced. And it is an act of obedience on the part of Joseph which requires trust. Joseph is required to trust the message of the angel coming from God. He must trust God to be faithful to him and to Mary because of Joseph’s response of obedience.

This is what the Bible tells us about Mary.

Luke 1:46–55 (NIV)

Luke 1:46–55 NIV

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Luke 2:19 (NIV)

Luke 2:19 NIV

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Mary — a response of contemplative meditation

We see in Mary a response of meditation. By meditation, I mean that we see in Mary’s words some thoughtful reflection upon who God is and what God has done. Let me show by one example. Mary says in Luke 1:50 that God’s mercy extends from generation to generation. Mary is meditating upon who God is—that God is merciful. And then in verse 52 Mary says that God has lifted up the humble, and in verse 53 that God has filled the hungry. Mary is meditating upon what God has done—the ways in which God’s mercy shows up in his actions.

Mary responds to God’s salvation with an inward expression of worship. It is an expression of worship that fills her heart. She intentionally fills her heart with worship by filling her head with thoughts of God’s praiseworthy attributes and memory of God’s loving actions taken on behalf of his people.

This is what the Bible tell us about the angels.

Luke 2:9–14 (NIV)

Luke 2:9–14 NIV

9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

angels — a response of singing in one voice

We see in the angels a response of singing. One of the reasons that songs are such an excellent expression of our worship is because singing is an expression of worship which can be shared with many people in unison. It is an expression of worship that we lift up simultaneously altogether with others. Songs let us do that.

The angels may each individually have words of worship and praise and adoration to God. But when an opportunity arises for all of their voices to come together as one voice in worship and praise and adoration, the heavens are filled to overflowing with the sounds of their worship. Singing in worship to God is not necessarily about the musical talents of those who are singing; it is about the unity of heart that we all lift up words of praise and adoration together.

The Bible tells us that the shepherds.

Luke 2:16–20 (NIV)

Luke 2:16–20 NIV

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

shepherds — a response of praise

We see in the shepherds’ response an example of praise. This praise is a little different than singing because it is an individual response. If I go out to eat dinner at an amazing restaurant with great food and courteous service, I would be inclined to tell other people about the fantastic experience I had. When you experience something amazing, you share that experience as a way of giving high praise. This is a helpful way of understanding the shepherds’ response. They cannot help sharing about their experience with others. You get the feel from this passage that it is an automatic overflow. They cannot stop themselves from praising God in this moment.

Praise is a response that sometimes feels like a dam bursting forth; it is an expression of worship which cannot be stopped. Praise cannot be hidden; it shows up on people’s faces. It makes us ask things like, “what’s gotten into you?” People can just tell when praise fills your heart because you can’t cover it up. That’s the response we see from the shepherds at Christmas.

The Bible tells us about the magi.

Matthew 2:9–12 (NIV)

Matthew 2:9–12 NIV

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

magi — a response of generosity

We see in the magi’s response an example of giving. Their act of worship in response to God’s salvation is an overflow of generosity. One of the most prominent of our Christmas traditions is the exchanging of gifts. It is a response at Christmas which reminds us that we have been blessed. And it is from this blessing that we overflow in generosity to others—we share gifts.

Every Sunday when we gather for worship, we include an opportunity to give an offering to God as part of our worship. An overflow of generosity is an expression which affirms that we are people who have been blessed by God; and God’s blessing is a blessing that is meant to share.

And let me finish by circling us back to John the Baptist.

John 1:32–34 (NIV)

John 1:32–34 NIV

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

John the Baptist — a response of witnessing testimony

We see in John’s response an example of witness (or testimony). John the Baptist seemed to be getting quite a following of his own. In today’s world he might be known as an influencer. His Instagram posts had plenty of likes. His TikTok videos had millions of views. John the Baptist had some fame and notoriety. But he uses his position of influence to turn the attention away from himself and his own rather popular ministry of baptism, and instead point people to Jesus. His act of worship takes shape as a witness; John wants his own actions to allow people to see Jesus.

A testimony that counts as an act of worship always puts God at the center of the action. Because this is the way we help people to see that God is still active in the world around us. when we see examples of his grace and provision in our own lives, giving an expression of that blessing which puts God at the center of the action helps other people see Jesus. That is what John does in his New Testament ministry.

what will your response to Jesus be this Christmas day?

What will your response to Jesus be this Christmas day? Like Micah, we are confronted with the contrast of God’s salvation coming in unexpected ways. Is there a response of obedience you can give like Joseph? Is there a response of contemplative meditation you can give like Mary? Is there a response of joining others in one voice like the angels? Is there a response of praise you can give like the shepherds? Is there a response of generosity you can give like magi? Is there a response of witnessing testimony you can give like John the Baptist?

The Old Testament prophets prepared the way for God’s coming Messiah. And everyone who encountered the incarnation of Jesus responded to God in some way. The Messiah who takes away the sin of the world has come to us. Let your life respond to God’s perfect gift.