Christmas 2006
24 December, 2006 12/24/2006
Larry McWherter
The Glory of the Son
Back in 1995, while I was attending seminary, I was a member of the 939th Air Rescue Wing, a reserve unit with air refuel able, HH-60 Helicopters and KC-130 – Refueling Aircraft. You might remember seeing a Helicopter crash while trying to rescue climbers who had fallen into a crevasse. All over the news dramatic picture of the Helicopter rolling down the slope. As an intelligence officer I was sent to a conference on the subject of Combat Search and Rescue at Patrick AFB on the East Coast of Florida. The hotel I stayed in was located near the beach and whenever I get close to the coast I always have to go out of the car or wherever and at least get my feet in the water. It was about 10:30 PM I was awake and I decided to walk down to the water. As I was just getting to the beach I saw what looked initially to me to be a tremendously big flare rising off of the beach to the north – it was moving strangely slow as it rose and it seemed to illuminate the whole beach. I was in awe of what I was seeing…I am fascinated by anything that flys…I am also fascinated by light/fire…now flying light and fire...I’m in. It continued to rise far beyond a normal flare and continued on an arching trajectory up into space. Un-benownst to me at the time was the fact that I had just inadvertently witnessed a night satellite launch from Cape Canaveral some 20 miles to the north – powered by an Atlas II launch vehicle. It was a communications satellite being sent up to handle UHF and EHF needs of the Navy. It was truly incredible, like a star rising in the distance. Yet I understand that night shuttle launches are incredible…thundering spectacles of light and power…The prophet Isaiah looked down through time and foretold the coming of the light of the world.
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (NIV) 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
God has always been interested in us and He has always had messengers…
When Zechariah, the father of the John the Baptist witnessed his son’s birth his tongue was loosed he prophetically proclaimed…
Luke 1:76-77 (NIV) 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
Luke 1:78-79 (NIV) 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
The promise of Peace…but where and when?...Bethlehem
oIn the Midst of Darkness…God reveals in/by Light
Bethlehem is located about 6 miles south of Jerusalem – The prophet Micah had foretold this event…Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clansb of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose originsc are from of old,
from ancient times.d”
In the fullness of time the people of God should have been looking toward Bethlehem as a potential starting place for their Savior, their Messiah…most were not…instead God revealed it to humble shepherds in nearby fields.
Luke 2:8-9 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.
Shepherds were guarding their sheep at night. Now there were no lights in the city to foul the night sky – they would have a spectacular view of the stars in the sky…as a shepherd you would be well acquainted with the apparent movement of the stars…and you would be able to tell the time of night by their changing positions relative to the seasons…every night you would be in tune with the rhythms of the change from daylight to dusk into night and the calmness of the evening…half sleeping, half awake – lulled by the routine – attuned to the crickets…when all at once you were surrounded by dazzling blazing indescribable light all around…and amazingly you have begun to realize that there is a being present with you an angel of the Lord appearing and the glory of the Lord…the place was completely lit up and I’m sure that the air itself felt electrified…words that a shepherd would not choose – electricity was not yet invented…he would not compare it - if it were comparable to a satellite launch nor even a shuttle launch…no this site would rock the soul of the hardest New Yorker in times square – so overwhelming would the presence of the Lord’s glory be…it would out dazzle the heart of any gambler or showman in Las Vegas…the launch of the space shuttle at least 10 times more spectacular than the satellite I witnessed and could not hold a candle to the glory of the Lord. If they had been astronauts on the shuttle and had their vitals monitored…Houston we have a problem Heart and hair raising stuff…their pulse rates would be going off the charts, adrenaline would be flooding their systems…the Glory of the Lord
Doxa – Glory “Of an external appearance as luster, brightness, dazzling light: The glory of that light…Spoken especially of the celestial spender in which God sits enthroned and His divine effulgence, dazzling majesty, radiant glory as visible to mortals …the same glory will be manifested in the second coming
God’s Glory Manifest as light
o Appearing in the cloud…
o Appearing on the mountaintop (Sinai) – consuming fire…
o Moses asked to see the glory of God – Moses was only allowed to see God’s back – you cannot see me and live I will cover you with my hand and cause my glory to pass – Moses Glowed - light on his face – blazing light
o It fills the temple at times and the priests could not minister
o God’s glory is described as being above the glory of the sun and the moon and all of the heavens and covers the earth…sun is a star – the star in the east – at least associated with the Glory of God/King –
o announcing the birth of the King of the baby Jesus the baby
o The Almighty is the King of Glory
o The whole earth is filled with his glory
o Ezekiel – Brilliant light surrounding Him - like the appearance of a rainbow on a rainy day – Ezekiel, Isaiah, Paul and John those who have seen heavenly things cannot adequately describe the things they are allowed to speak of and we cannot handle some of the things that they have seen.
o Isaiah – The Lord’s glory will be revealed
o Mount of transfiguration – clear light
o Pitch black – 2nd coming
And here we have as an annunciation service with the angels speaking to plain and unimportant – even despised shepherds…the message is clear God’s glory coming in the form of a man – baby Jesus
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Relax it’s not the end…it’s the beginning…there will be great joy…yesterday I took Hailey to the DMV she was taking her drivers test…she was really anxious…she is really a very good driver…but she had talked with five of her friends who had failed on the first attempt…as she got out of the car she stepped out of the vehicle on to the pavement in the parking lot right into a pile of dog poop… a worrisome sign or an interesting distracter…the look on her faced spke volumes …she persevered and passed the test….her face was beaming with joy
Luke 2:11-12 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” …check it out
oThe Birth of the Child/ the Christ/Messiah/Annointed One – A sign/gift to you – a Savior
o Heralded by an Angel wrapped in the Glory of God
o Heralded by a Star and Wise men from the east
Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV)The Visit of the Magi
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magia from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east(when it rose)b and have come to worship him.” “His Star”
o Magi came “in the fullness of time” from the east…coming of a king
o Appearance of the star “Kept asking – where is he born King of the Jews” they had seen his astere – kochav – shine or blaze forth anything that blazes – Numbers 24:17 – “ A star (Kochav) will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel”…a blazing forth, a shining one, coming of a star – none other than the Glory of God incarnate a star
o FuturerMatthew 24:30…then shall appear the sign of the Son of man…coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (the kochav – blazing forth) the shekinah Glory of God himself the sun in its strength…blazing- dazzling glory in the heavens
§ Genuine Star – Conjunction of Jupiter/Saturn – (Kepler)
§ Erratic Comet or Low hanging meteor
§ Luke 2:9 – Glory of the Lord surrounding them – sore afraid
o Heralded by a righteous Jew looking for the consolation of Israel…The “Glory” of Israel
Luke 2:25-32 (NIV) 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him and so when the child arrived he recognized HIM. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
Luke 2:25-32 (NIV) 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismissc your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Prepared in the sight of all people – to reveal a pathway to God for the Gentiles and for Glory to God’s people …the King has come down in the form of a man…Blown circuits…Ok a baby wrapped in clothes…peace…be still my heart/soul…Houston problem seems to be abating…their pulses are stabilizing…
oGod’s Favor Come to Rest and the disappearance of Darkness/Curse
Luke 2:13-14 (NIV) 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
when suddenly all heaven breaks loose…the bright glory…rainbow colored….whatever, now resolves into a great company of angels – and we aren’t talking sweet little, cupid looking cherubs, nowhere in scripture is that picture painted of an angel - angels are large luminous creatures that do battle and carry messages they evoke shock and awe in those they approach and make visible and – on many occasions they precede their messages to men with “Don’t be afraid”. Men either fear or worship them…uh Houston, we have a problem again… Manheim Steamroller – a power orchestra, carols on steroids…had nothing on the angels in look, stage show or sound. The angels were just reflecting the glory God had delivered…listen…listen think of the most awestruck you have ever been and multiply that many times over…that’s how awesome God is…the word “awesome” should be reserved for God alone…I’m guessing that this went on for some time because if were me I would be numbstruck is that a word? Struck with numbness…my brain would be on tilt…You mouth is moving and I think you’re making a sound but the neurons just took a vacation and there is no auditory input that makes any sense to me. The’d be on their fiftieth “God is sooo Good” before I would be able to focus.
oListen, Listen, here’s what he ws saying …God’s Favor can rest upon you in the gift of this child (King of Kings) repeat,
You can go with God’s Peace – Darkness has to flee before the glory of the Lord and where His favor rests…so does His glory…the Baby Jesus is the sign of the Lord’s favor – accompanied by His Glory – his incredible light. Jesus doesn’t belong in some display in the mall or the airport…that might be good…He belongs in your heart. Jesus was heralded in power by the angels the wise men supernaturally were able to discern the light of God’s glory…His star.and to those waiting for the consolation of Israel, the consolation of their homes, the consolationof our country, the consolation of our planet…hear me… Jesus is a sign that we can have peace with God a sign of His favor accompanied by His Glory…I ask you as we sit on the eve of the celebration of His birth…where does His favor rest today? His favor rests…it alights on those ready to receive it. I guarantee that His glory shines brighter than an Atlas II, brighter than the rockets on the space shuttle, brighter than the angels who are heralds of his Glory and it rests in the hearts of those who are ready to receive the gift of peace with God. Have you received that Gift? Does His glory rest with you? Is your tree adorned with a star? Or maybe angel – have you joined the wise men?
Luke 2:15 (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.”
Uh…maybe we out to check this thing out…I mean God sent the angels all this way and that light show must have drained some power from Him…maybe we ought to just see about this?
Listen this glory I’ve been talking about is far from a myth from the past/an event that has little to do with us enlightened Americans hanging out in the 21st century…the earth continues on it’s path of destruction…it’s going to hell in a hand basket. Where is the peace? Wrapped up in that baby. As Simeon rightly declared, he’d seen God’s salvation…he’d seen the lamb of God come to take away the sin of the world…he’d seen Jesus – God’s Gift – God’s son - who would grow up to become the God/Man who would open up his arms, take on all of the sin (yours and mine – all sin for all time- once for all) of the world and die on the cross. It is the removal of the affront, our sinful rebellion toward God that brings us peace and that is accomplished only through Jesus…Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace and good will toward men…peace and good will toward you and your loved ones…halleluiah…halleluiah…Glory to God in the Highest!...listen it’s not done…it’s not over…Jesus is coming again with the same sign of His glory…the Bible tells us that earth will be remade in Glory
Revelation 21:10-11 (NIV) 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
Revelation 21:23-24 (NIV) 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
Why only wise men in the east and the shepherds and a few Jews? – why not you?
Acts 2:21 (NIV) 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
o Take a Poinsettia
o It would be our pleasurefor you to join us this evening at the Ministry center for our Christmas Gathering – 7:00PM
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b Or rulers
c Hebrew goings out
d Or from days of eternity
a Traditionally Wise Men
b Or star when it rose
c Or promised, / now dismiss