A Very Chesed Christmas
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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 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.
Christmas is to be a time of joy; a time of celebration; a time of tradition; family, friends, parties, gifts, decorations, lights; a warm bright season in the long dark days of winter. It is arguably the most popular religious holiday on the calendar. But, today, it brings with it a clash of competing world views, a clash of the Holy and the, arguably, profane…
It is religious, but has become incredibly commercial.
It speaks peace and rest but is noted for stress and busyness.
It celebrates the incarnation of God but the god so often worshiped is the god of self, or the god of kids, or the god of keeping up with the Joneses.
It heralds love but causes so many to feel cold and distant and alone and abandoned (in addition to stressed and busy).
Why is this so? One obvious reason is the world, which wants nothing to do with Jesus, makes its own counterfeit Christmas with its own narratives of giving and joy.
But, I think, a subtler reason is maybe, just maybe, we have lost sight of the Love that is at the heart of the Christmas narrative. And maybe, just maybe, we have this struggle because of how we use the term love in our culture.
There is probably no more abused word in the English language than “love.” Why do I say that? I love fishing; I love the Philadelphia Eagles (or Packers, or Bears or Vikings); I love raw chocolate chip cookie dough; I love my truck; I love my job; I love my brother Russ; I love my parents; I love my children; I love my wife; I love Jesus.
The word love is ambiguous in the English language.
This ambiguity causes difficulties when translating Hebrew and Greek into English because those languages have multiple words for “love,” each with a particular meaning.
The most frequent noun form of the word love in the OT is – as you might have guessed by the title of today’s sermon – CHESED. Now, for you grammar geeks, while Hesed is a noun, as we will see, it acts like a verb.
Hesed is a word that gives English translators fits. There is not a 1:1 equivalency between the Hebrew and English. It is difficult, if not impossible, to fully convey its meaning of Hesed in English. So, throughout the OT you will find it translated many different ways. I reviewed every way it was translated by the ESV, NIV, KJV and NET bibles and here is what I found: It was translated
Love · Unfailing Love · Steadfast Love · Covenant of Love · Lovingkindness · Kindness · Great Kindness · Marvelous Kindness · Loyalty · Merciful · Faithfully · Favor · Devotion · Fidelity · Goodness
Hesed is a covenantal, relational term – it only applies to those who are in a relationship – parent/child, siblings, other family and friends; it represents a type of loyalty or fidelity or devotion that leads to or is related to concrete actions. Here’s what I mean by that: unfailingness, steadfastness, kindness, loyalty, mercy, faithfulness, devotion - these are all active character traits, they are not passive, they are all actions. So, going back to my grammar friends – it is a noun that plays like a verb.
In 1 John 4:16 we learn that God is love. While John, writing in the NT, did not have the word Hesed to use in this verse (he used agape), I believe the concept of Hesed is what John had in mind. I also believe it is what Paul had in mind when he wrote 1 Cor 13.
This Hesed love of God is at the heart of the Christmas story; but the story of Christmas did not arise in a vacuum – the story of Jesus’ incarnation, God with us, Emmanuel, is a natural outworking of the character of God as observed and told through the stories and narratives, of the OT.
When we keep the Nativity story in this greater context, I believe we are far less likely to lose sight of the “reason for the season.” This isn’t just a nice heartwarming story about a baby born to a teenage mother in a humble setting that makes for a Hallmark moment. My goal today is to introduce you to a little bit of that greater context as found in the OT, and, for each OT narrative, I will also give a NT reference so we can see how these themes and narratives are all tied together in this babe born in a manger, Emmanuel, our God, King Jesus.
When approaching the OT, it can be easy to miss the interconnectedness of all these seemingly unrelated and diverse writings, but, they are anything but unrelated. The OT is an incredibly sophisticated piece of literature that includes intertwining stories and poems and writings and histories collected over about 1500 years. Each of them stand alone in their own right, but they often foreshadow or present a typology of a person or character trait or a prophecy that, when combined, tell their own story – the story of God’s faithfulness toward us. As Dr. Tim Mackie says, the authors of scripture are Bible Ninjas who stealthily layer this cohesive beautiful complex narrative into these seemingly unrelated writings. (spoiler - the Ninjas had a little help called divine inspiration) God’s nature, His Hesed love, is at the heart of this narrative…
Hesed Creates
Hesed Creates
The Prologue
So, where does this story start? Like all good stories, it starts “In the beginning…” there was nothing, but God.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Creation was born out of God’s Hesed nature; His steadfast, unfailing, good, faithful, loyal, covenantal love. Remember Hesed is active; It is as if creation just “boiled” out of God’s Hesed nature – He didn’t have to do it, but by His nature He couldn’t not do it. And, because of His nature, the creation was good and beautiful and perfect and teeming with life.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Hesed Loves
Hesed Loves
The Garden
And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Chapter #1 of our story starts Eden – this perfect place made by God, where the Divine and mankind cohabitate – they live together – stop and think on that one for a minute – imagine what it was like to live with God.
Like a good parent, God provided shelter, food, care, companionship, guidance, teaching, opportunities for growth, and, most importantly, love.
We see in the garden that God’s Hesed is freely given.
Even at the fall, God promises, in Hesed, to Rescue, Redeem, Restore, and ultimately, Reconcile us to Him.
It is so easy to focus on the fall, about what Adam and Eve did wrong, about the serpent and punishment – because those things are dramatic, they are attention grabbers just like a good movie plot. But, what is even more amazing, is what God doesn’t do – He doesn’t lash out in anger or wrath, He doesn’t wipe Adam and Eve out and start over. In patience and kindness, like a good parent, He lets us suffer the consequences of our decisions. But, like a good parent, He doesn’t let us wallow there forever. Because Hesed love is God’s nature, His love was not dependent upon Adam and Eve being perfect. Hesed loves.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The point to remember here is – God loves you, and He embodies that love in that babe in Bethlehem.
Hesed Rescues
Hesed Rescues
The Story of Joseph
Chapter #2 of our journey today has us jumping forward to the story of Joseph. By way of a little background, Joseph was the oldest son of Jacob and Rachel [Bethlehem] – of 12 brothers (the patriarchs of Israel), Joseph was second to youngest, but he was most loved by their father Jacob. He received a special gift – a special coat – a coat of many colors – that made his brothers jealous. But Joseph also had dreams – two dreams (one of stars, one of grain sheaves) that specifically portrayed his older brothers bowing down to him. These dreams put his brothers over the edge and they decided to kill Joseph.
His brother Ruben rescued him from murder, but he was sold into slavery in Egypt – Potiphar’s house and the brothers lied and told their father that a wild animal killed Joseph. In Egypt Potiphar’s wife took a liking to the strapping young lad and put her moves on him, he, being a gentlemen rebuffed her and ran. She screamed and told a lie that Joseph had put the moves on her – this landed Joseph in prison. While in prison we get this little piece of text:
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Through a series of events and another couple dreams, Joseph became second in command over all of Egypt. A famine struck and then Josephs family came to him (not knowing it was him) begging for help – bowing before him. And, Joseph rescued his family – this is how the Israelites ended up in Egypt.
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Maybe, like Joseph, you have had a tough go of things through no fault of your own. Maybe it is hard to see the good when you are standing in the valley. If that is you, remember There is hope because God’s Hesed rescues.
Hesed Redeems
Hesed Redeems
The Exodus
Chapter #3 of our story has us staying with Joseph’s family. After their rescue, Joseph’s family, otherwise known as the Israelites or Hebrews, hung out in Egypt for about 400 years. Their numbers increased greatly and Egypt’s Pharoah came to view them as a threat. So, the were enslaved. They cried out to God and God responded.
When you are a slave, you can’t just run away to freedom – if you do you will always be looking over your shoulder because you haven’t actually been freed, you’ve just escaped. In order to be freed, a price must be paid for you and your owner must decree your freedom – in other words, you must be redeemed. This is where the story of the plagues and the Passover come into play. If you remember, for the Passover, a lamb without spot or blemish was sacrificed and its blood was painted on the doorposts of the Hebrew homes, so they were protected from the plague of the death of the firstborn.
The blood of a perfect lamb covered the Hebrews and protected them from God’s wrath. The Hebrews were redeemed from death and slavery by sacrifice. Remember when I talked about typology – that sacrificed lamb was pointing to Jesus, the perfect sacrifice whose shed blood covers our sins and redeems us from slavery to sin.
“You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;
you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
After the Israelites were led through the sea, the narrative gives us a beautiful song of Moses where he sings, “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.”
waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Maybe you feel like you are unsavable – that if God knows what I’ve done there is no hope for me. If that is you, remember no one is beyond God’s reach because His Hesed love redeems.
Hesed Restores
Hesed Restores
Chapter #4 of our story has us going to an unlikely place – to the story of Ruth. If you are not familiar with the story of Ruth, please go read it this Christmas. It is 4 short chapters sandwiched between the books of Judges and 1 Samuel. This story is a goldmine of foreshadowing and typology. The story starts with a man named Elimelek during a time of famine. Due to the famine, Elimelek has to leave Israel with his wife Naomi and their two sons – they go to a foreign country, his sons marry two foreign women – Kilion marries Orpah and Mahlon marries Ruth. Neither have children. Elimelek and his sons all die. All three women are widowed. Naomi decides to go back to Israel; Orpah stays with her people and her gods, but Ruth, in loyalty, leaves her people and her gods, and goes with Naomi. They arrive at the time of the barley harvest in Elimelek’s hometown.
The women are poor, destitute and in many respects, without hope. Naomi changes her name to Mara, which means Bitter. Desperate for food, Ruth goes out to a “random” field to glean some barley for her and Naomi to eat. (At that time, the law of God required that farmers let the poor follow the harvesters and pick up anything that was missed – that is what gleaning is). This “random” field was owned by Boaz, a close relative of Elimelek. He provides Ruth with food and water and extra grain – Boaz RESCUES Ruth and Naomi from starvation.
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!”
The story continues and, because they are so poor, Naomi seeks to sell Elimelek’s land for money. The law required that the closest male relative to Elimelek had an obligation to purchase the land (keeping it in the family), but in this case, it wasn’t just the land, it was also Ruth because she hadn’t had any children with Mahlon.
The story never names the closest relative, but Boaz confronts him before the elders at the city gate. (Boaz was the second closest male relative.) He relinquished his right to purchase the land (because of Ruth). That left Boaz as the closest male relative – otherwise known as a Guardian or Kinsmen Redeemer – and Boaz REDEEMS Ruth and buys the land. Boaz RESCUED, REDEEMED and RESTORED Ruth. Out of their marriage was born Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. And where does this story occur? In BETHLEHEM.
Never forget the power of God’s Hesed which RESCUES, REDEEMS and RESTORES.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
In reference to suffering trials, Peter says, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
So where does that leave the final chapter of our story today? It leaves us with:
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.
In our Rescue Story, Joseph was the firstborn of Jacob and Rachel, Jesus is the firstborn of Mary (and Joseph); In our Redemption Story, the Hebrews in the Exodus were like an “infant Israel” (think “out of Egypt I have called my son) and they were wrapped in God’s protection and carried to the wilderness, Jesus is wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a humble manger; and, in our Restoration Story, Ruth left her home for a humble beginning in Bethlehem, Jesus, God with us, left His home and had His humble beginning in Bethlehem, where there was no room for him in the Inn.
So, maybe today you are walking in the valley and things seem dark, maybe you are in bondage to something or feel like you are unsavable, or, maybe you feel like you are a stranger struggling to find your place; there is HOPE and His name is Jesus, born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, God with us; the greatest display of God’s Hesed love – a love that RESCUES, a love that REDEEMS, a love the RESTORES, a Love that was born in a manger in Bethlehem. Trust in Him and find your peace today.
Additional scripture for study of God’s Hesed love:
Ex 34:6; Num 14:18; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Micah 6:8, 7:18; Ps 86:15, 89:2, 94:17-18, 103:8; 119:88; and Is 54:10