A Night in Bethlehem
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
What do you normally do in the evenings? Working? Catching up on k-drama? Calling your family and friends back home? What came to your mind last Tuesday evening when the president of Korea suddenly declared martial law? Whatever we do in the evenings, we usually do not expect anything unusual to happen. So when the president of this country declared martial law out of the blue, some of us could have been shocked. Others might have felt surreal. Still others might have felt indifferent. Whatever was our response, that evening will never be remembered as just another evening anymore.
More than 2000 years ago, on an ordinary night, everyone was minding their own business as usual. King Herod was enjoying his palace life as usual, while the shepherds were tending their sheep. Suddenly, Herod was interrupted by the arrival of three wise men from the East, while the shepherds were shocked by the appearance of angels. It was no longer a silent night.
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,
As we looked at the accounts of what happened at Bethlehem in Matthew and Luke, it is amazing to see who received the news of Jesus’s birth. In Matthew, we have three wise men from the East guided by a star. In ancient times, it was common to have astrologist who would read the stars for signs from the gods. They were highly valued in ancient societies and some of them even served in the courts of kings. God wanted the world to know that the promised Messiah was coming, so much so that He communicated to the pagan astrologists in a manner they could understand. Through these foreign, pagan wise men, King Herod who was king over the Jews would get to hear about Jesus.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
In Luke, we see an angel appearing to the shepherds who were working in the night. They were the poor working class who were not held in high esteem. Being shepherds, they would not have the knowledge to read the stars, even if they saw the same star that the wise men saw. Nevertheless, God made his message known by sending an angel to announce to them the birth of Jesus. God did not want the poor working class to miss out on the good news. Isn’t it amazing? God made sure that Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, all be witness to the birth of Jesus. Jesus came for all people and God was eager for all people to know this.
Jesus came for all people
Jesus came for all people
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.”
The wise men who were skilled in reading the stars to know the fortune of nations, recognized that Jesus was the King of the Jews. It was extraordinary that they would travel all the way to worship Jesus. Israel was not even its own nation at that time. Why on earth did the wise men came to see Jesus? I think it implies that they were so impressed with this sign they saw that they were sure that Jesus would be greater than David and Solomon.
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.
In this declaration of the angel, we see that the birth of Jesus as the savior and Lord is a news of great joy for all people. To the lowly shepherds, God entrusted this news of great joy. This was truly a good news for people of all nations and status.
Jesus is the King and Savior
Jesus is the King and Savior
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.’ ”
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!”
In Matthew, we see that Jesus’s birth was predicted by the prophet Micah. Micah was a prophet who prophesied more than 700 years ago. In Luke, we see that the declaration of the birth of Jesus was followed by a heavenly choir celebrating the occasion. Now the story goes way beyond a night in Bethlehem. It was an occasion that was anticipated and celebrated across time and space.
Anticipated and celebrated across time and space
Anticipated and celebrated across time and space
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 when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
The wise men saw Jesus and their response was worship and adoration. The setting around them did not hinder them from recognizing the worth of Jesus. They gave him the reverence fit for a newborn king. The shepherds saw Jesus and went around to tell everyone they knew about Jesus. I think they must have been filled with joy to realize that all that the angel said was true. Even though they saw a baby, they realized that he was truly the savior of the world.
Jesus is worthy to be worshiped and declared
Jesus is worthy to be worshiped and declared
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, let’s celebrate and worship with the awareness that our celebration is a part of something that transcends time and space.
Let’s also prepare our hearts to declare His name to all people in 2025!
Glory to God in the Highest!
Glory to God in the Highest!
