211: Lights of Christmas; Fear; Luke 2.8-20

Intro

We love to talk about Christmas, but we move past the incredible beauty and purpose of Christmas.

This morning, I’d like take you to a small piece of farmland outside of town, away from the brick and stone.

Young immigrant woman.

If God cared about her, it was in the past.

But Christmas was coming…Boaz…lineage

God had a plan, its greater than she thought, and she was included.

Great-grandson

The young son, out in the cold

If God cared about him, maybe his circumstance would be different.

But God…Protection…

God had a plan, it is greater than David thought, and he’s included.

Simple shepherds

Simple guys. Rascals? Probably represent humble? Unable to go to the Temple

If God cared about them...

Text

God had a plan, it’s greater than they thought, and they were included.

Text

Luke 2:8–10 NIV

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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.

Shepherds

Angel - suddenly appears. The Greek indicates the angel moves toward them.

The glory of the Lord glowed around them. What in the world?

Cloud and light. The OT word is Shekinah. Contrasts against the night sky.

This is the palpable presence of God himself.

Fear - the inevitable effect of being somewhere you don’t belong or deserve to be. “They feared with mega fear.”

It’s easy to understand. We realize we don’t belong there...

Don’t miss the incredible fact that Christmas is not about man’s achievement. This isn’t about us trying harder, or doing better, or creating world peace.

Here is the great difference between Christianity and religion. Religion is about man’s attempt to please a god. Christmas is about God becoming a man so He can do what we cannot. Religion builds fear, shame, and guilt. Christianity, Christmas, is about the incredible love of God that drives him to come to us to take away the fear, shame, and guilt we have created. Inclusive?????

The angel says, “Don’t be afraid.” God is doing this. He wishes to interact with the creation he loves.

Good news that will result in mega joy. How?

Luke 2.11

Luke 2:11–14 NIV

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.”

Today, in the Town of David. This has been God’s plan all along. The angel gives three particular titles that let us in on what God is doing? This is the only place in the NT where this combination appears.

Savior - a deliverer. Think in military terms. The shepherds would have been accustomed to hearing about Caesar as savior but now the true Savior has arrived.

Think of the struggles and messes of our lives.

Messiah - Christ. The anointed one. This is the one through whom God will act. He is the one through whom all of God’s redemptive work will occur. All of the work of heaven will occur through the person and work of Jesus.

How does God intend to work in your life? Through Jesus.

Lord - as Luke progresses, the term will clearly come to refer to the absolute sovereignty and divine relationship that Jesus possesses as the one who brings salvation.

Think about it, if you’re one of these poor shepherds. Heaven has just announced that THE deliverer from heaven, the one through whom all God’s redemptive action will happen. The sovereign Lord himself is here.

as Luke progresses, the term will clearly come to refer to the absolute sovereignty and divine relationship that Jesus possesses as the one who brings salvation.

God has a plan, it’s greater than they think, and their part of it.

But the angel says the oddest thing. They’ll find him wrapped in strips of cloth laying in a manger? 3x the manger is mentioned.

While there may be other babies wrapped in strips of cloth, only one would be laying in a manger!

Pic of Manger - explain

Pic of home - explain

We tend to think of there not being room. That’s not the case. Americans think of personal space.

This child is outside in a manger because this child is rejected.

This is not the only time Mary will see her son wrapped in strips of cloth and lying on a stone slab.

He was rejected so we could be accepted.

He was humbled so we could be lifted up.

He was shamed to remove ours.

He was exposed to the cold so we could feel the warmth of God’s presence.

He felt the conflict, so we could experience the peace of God himself.

The angels said,

God had a plan, Christmas, it’s greater than you think, and you get to be part of it.

Suddenly, the angel isn’t alone. The heavenly version of the Navy Seals’ show choir erupts in praise!

Suddenly, the angel isn’t alone. The heavenly version of the Navy Seals’ show choir erupts in praise!

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Luke 2:15–20 NIV

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 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.

Duh

Can you imagine the oddity of the scene?

Mary and Joseph are dealing with the harsh reality that their child is scandalous. Joseph a fool? Mary not welcome inside.

Tense moments! Shepherds? A Manger? This is the worst possible scenario.

The shepherds leave praising! Guys who When you understand Christmas, it’s not something you want to keep to yourself!

Luke focuses our attention on Mary and the Shepherds.

Shepherds - the outsiders, excluded from worship, are brought close to create

Mary - humble and obedient, is given a wonderful reminder from God that he has a plan, it’s greater than what she thought, and Mary got to be part of it.

I don’t know what you’ve got going on or what scars, pain, shame, or struggles you carry. Christmas reminds us that God has a plan, it’s greater than you think, and he intends for you to be involved.

Three ways from the text to be involved and a closing thought:

Maybe its

Worship

Spread the Word

Romans 10:17 NIV

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Treasuring Christ in your heart.

There is one condition that we see throughout Scripture; humility. If you realize your great need, Christmas is for you.

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