Christmas is for the Outsiders

Introduction (5m)

What are your priorities this Christmas?

What comes to mind first? Trees, decorations, food, drink, shopping, family, friends, carolling, Christmas films, Christmas TV, etc.

This year examining our priorities. If Christian, know Jesus is the reason for the season. Mission drift. Are God’s priorities still our priorities?

The Focus of Many of our Christmas Priorities: Others

Ever noticed? Gifts, cards, meals, carols, etc. all focused on bringing joy to others.

Others are God’s priority too

TSA exists because William and Catherine Booth understood that

One story that emphasises that:

Christmas Eve 1910.

By now, WB an invalid. Eyesight failing him. In such bad health unlikely to attend Salvation Army Congress in London.

Someone suggested General Booth send a telegram or a message to be read at the opening of the Congress. WB agreed.

Funds limited, telegrams charged by the word, so to ensure as much money as possible would still go to help the needy, WB decided to send only a short message.

He searched his mind and reviewed his years of ministry, seeking a message that would summarise his life, the mission of the Army and encourage the soldiers to continue on.

When the thousands of delegates met, the moderator announced that General Booth would not be able to be present because of failing health and eyesight.

Gloom and pessimism swept across the floor of the Congress.

A little light dispelled some of the darkness when the moderator announced that General Booth had sent a message to be read with the opening of the first session.

He opened the message and began to read the following:

Dear Delegates of the Salvation Army Convention: OTHERS! Signed, General Booth.

Explanation (5m)

The Story of the Magi shows us that God’s Priority is Others

Matthew 2:1–2 NLT

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

Outsiders. Not a term of endearment! Socially and religiously suspect. Not Jews.

In OT - Persian priestly caste who advised king, but then came to mean learned men and priests specialising in astrology and interpretation of dreams.

Enemies of Daniel - depicted as selfish, incompetent, brutal pagans.

Luke uses the word to describe Bar-Jesus and Elymas, the sorcerers who plagued Barnabas and Saul at Paphos.

Sorcery just one of their interests and Jews and Christians would keep their distance.

They were foreigners. Outsiders. Certainly no one Messiah would have anything to do with.

Which is why Matthew’s message would be so shocking to his original audience

Message: Messiah had come for the many - for the outsiders - not just for the people of Israel. The outsiders would come from East and West and sit down in Kingdom of God.

Echoes angels to shepherds

Luke 2:10–11 (NLT)

but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

Kingdom of heaven wide enough to accept Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, establishment, crowd, black, white, gay, straight, asylum seekers, Tories, Socialists, young, old, righteous, sinner. It is for the whosoever.

Jesus is for you.

This message does not always sit well with the insiders who sometimes fall into the trap of thinking Jesus has come only for people like them

Maybe insiders already thinking through that list and picking off people they don’t think Jesus is for.

The religious leaders in Matthew’s story did

Matthew 2:4–5 NLT

He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

They knew where Messiah was to be born. Sent the outsiders to go and look for him. But did not go with them to worship him. They failed to act on what Scriptures told them.

The outsiders go off to worship Jesus. The insiders do nothing. Not even curious. Indifferent. In fact, whole of Jerusalem knew about the foreigners and their tall story about a star, but not one of them went to Bethlehem to look.

The outsiders worship Jesus

Matthew 2:11 NLT

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Offer expensive gifts. Bowed down. Worshipped him. Outsiders were the ones open to God’s purposes. They were the ones eager to be receptive to Jesus and the message of salvation proclaimed by his coming.

God’s Kingdom would be for the outsiders as much as the insiders.

Application (5m)

This message of the Kingdom of God being for the whosoever is why we focus on others, not just at Christmas, but through the year

Want to ensure we don’t hold the truth in our hands but fail to get the message.

Salvation is for anyone who is open to receive it

More often than not that means the outsiders, the marginalised, those on the fringe.

Jesus was born in a manger. The religious shunned him. The outsiders - foreign sorcerers, dirty shepherds, lowly fisherman were the ones who worshipped him. His standards was a cross, not a sword. He came not with an iron fist, but with tender love.

Who do you know who needs to hear this message this Christmas?

Maybe it’s you.

Maybe it’s a family member/friend/neighbour/schoolmate/co-worker/someone listening to our carols/someone putting what they can in our buckets/in the supermarket queue/begging for money on street/CFL/Emp+/Winter Assistance/food and toys.

Take the opportunity this Christmas to remind them why we celebrate: Jesus is for them. God has them at the top of his priority list.

Next Steps

Video: In the Face of a Child

Video: In the Face of a Child | 5:00

All the stars sang together on that first Christmas day,

And the stars are still singing.

Can you hear what they say?

Angels join in the chorus, maybe ten million strong,

Can you make out the meaning and the sense of their song?

God is hidden no more, he has spoken his mind;

Wrapped the gift of his love in the stuff of mankind.

Now his nature is known.

God is love undefiled.

And his love is revealed in the face of a child.

Shepherds too come to wonder, moved to tears by the scene

Of a child in a manger.

What on earth can it mean?

And the wise come to worship; go away with great joy,

Have they learned a new lesson from this new little boy?

Words: John Gowans; Music: John Larsson

© 1993 Salvationist Publishing & Supplies Limited