Redemption Through Crisis - A Christmas Story
Notes
Transcript
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Redemption through Crisis
We have known this passage of scripture as the Christmas story.
We picture the perfect nativity scene (describe).
We may have our own concept of the Christmas story but if we go back to the Biblical account we can only say that the whole story is an orchestration of God.
God out of His love for mankind, set up the events around the birth of Jesus. He was like the director of the whole event.
Just around the time when Mary was in the late term of her pregnancy, Joseph had to take her from their home in Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. TO register for the census.
You would think that with Mary about to deliver the baby Jesus anytime that they would just stay where they are at and just prepare for the birth. Nowadays the dad would have a duffle bag filled with every item from the baby birth checklist that when the time comes. Off we go to the hospital.
But not with Mary and Joseph.
With the baby about to come out at anytime, they left the comfort of their house. They traveled to Bethlehem and do you know how far that was? 90 miles. That may seem nothing with our cars nowadays.
But Joseph and Mary had to travel on foot. Of course we see pictures of Mary riding a donkey but nowhere do we find that in scripture, they most likely walked several days all the way to Bethlehem.
They had to cross the Judean desert -
Aside from the distance and the grueling walk.. with its crazy weather patterns, I also have to mention the wild animals (wild boar), I have to mention the danger from bandits — what about provision, they have to make sure they keep their limited supply of water and bread for the whole trip.
In the middle of all that, Mary can give birth at anytime.
When they finally arrived at Bethlehem, tired from the long journey. They arrive at an overcrowded situation with no place to stay. “There was no place for them in the inn”.
So tired from the very long, arduous and dangerous journey and about to give birth, arriving at their destination with no place to stay. Can you imagine Mary’s mood at this time?
GREAT PLANNING JOSEPH! that’s if she still wanted to be just nice and sarcastic.. I won’t blame her if she just wanted to strangle Joseph at the point.
Seriously, have you wondered about this? What was Joseph thinking? It is possible that the repercussions from the Roman government was so serious if he did not comply to the census that he could not take the risk.
Sure it is a fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
It is easy to assume that since it is God directing the events around the first Christmas, that God would make the circumstances of Jesus’ birth seamless and easy for Joseph and Mary.
But God didn’t. He allowed them to go through a crisis.
Truth Number 1: God shows up through our human experiences.
Even through the crises of our lives. This is what is so unique and special about our God, He identifies with our human experience.
Other religions fabricate glorious stories surrounding the birth of their prophets. Mohammed..
But the Lord shows up in our humble human experiences, in our weaknesses, challenges and in our struggles.
Don’t we pray for the Lord to make things easy for us, to remove us from any negative circumstances, to just clear the way for us to walk right through.
But God sometimes allows us to go through struggles and even some crises.
Don’t count God out in the middle of your crisis. He can show up in the direst of situations.
God’s light shines brightest in the midst of darkness.
Your crisis is an opportunity for redemption.
Jesus was born in a manger which was actually a feeding trough for animals.
The irony of Christmas was that - In the middle of our humanity, our humble state and even crisis, the Redeemer of the whole world laid wrapped in swaddling cloths.
Truth # 2: Redemption is God entering into our humanity.
Through Redemption, God...
Turns the mundane into the glorious.
God turned the dullness of that manger most likely a cave for animals...
God turned the mundane job of shepherds watching their flock by night into a glorious appearance of the heavenly hosts bringing great news of great joy.. unto you..is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.
Through Redemption, God...
Turns our weakness into worship.
They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
Affirmation for Mary of God’s faithfulness. - Treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.. quiet worship.
Through Redemption, God...
Turns crisis into victory.
Joseph and Mary’s joy when the baby Jesus was born. Swaddling cloths...
The shepherds returned. And this was what they did.
They glorified and praised God for all that they have heard and seen.. and note: as it had been told them.
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Truth #3:
Redemption is God being glorified through our peace with Him.
We were once separated from God, we were once His enemies. But through Jesus, we have been joined with Him and have become His people.
Through Redemption, God...
Turns the mundane into the glorious.
Turns our weakness into worship.
Turns crisis into victory.
Last Truth: Redemption is a Person (match it with God’s redemption)
His Name is Jesus.
In our Cri-sis, Christ is..
Our glory.
Our Lord.
Our Victory.
Amen.