Sermon Tone Analysis

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)

John 1:29–34 (NIV)

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)

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 2:19 (NIV)

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)

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)

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)

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 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.