Title: God Seeking the Lowly
Contents
♡♥♡ God is looking for the lowly / Luke 2:8-14
*** Introduction
Christmas is just three days away. Whether it is because of the passage of Christmas, whether it is because of age, or the environment of the world, this should not be the case, but the meaning and emotion of Christmas is gradually diminishing. Yesterday I was very offended by the Christmas carol that was playing in the store. It's definitely a song in the hymn, but the vulgar arrangement and the comedian's mischievous lyrics and singing methods sounded so vulgar. Even though it should be a Merry Christmas, my heart is broken and hurts for various reasons.
The world has made Christmas an X-mas, and has turned it into an 'unknown day' for their own enjoyment, regardless of the meaning of Christmas. Of course, the X in X-mas is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ. But the world has been made into a Christmas with no meaning, or a Christmas filled with speculation and pleasure, like the 'unknown X' in mathematics.
Even in the world, even us Christians, Christmas does not have much meaning. In a way, it is degenerating into an event that does not give as much meaning as your own birthday. In fact, the event of the incarnation of Jesus Christ in this world is the greatest event on earth that will never happen again, and it is an expression of God's supreme love for mankind. We must rediscover the meaning of this Christmas.
1. What is the true meaning of Christmas?
It was Christmas Eve in 1944, at the height of World War II. It was in a hut in the woods of Hurtgen, near the border between Germany and Belgium. A mother and a young child lived in this hut. They had fled here about ten days before Christmas, when German forces were conducting a desperate last-minute offensive.
Even on Christmas Eve, the battle was fierce. The sound of cannons shook the night forest and planes were constantly flying overhead. That very night a knock was heard on the door of the hut. The child's mother opened the door, and there were two weary Americans standing there supporting the wounded. My mother hid the American soldiers and let them in, knowing that they would die if they were discovered by the Germans. The mother asked her son to let the soldiers warm up, and then she caught a rooster and started making food. Not only that, he even took care of the wounded.
Then another knock was heard. When Mom opened the door, four German soldiers were standing there. The child was frightened. Because knowing that you were protecting the Americans would have killed you. At that moment, the child's mother greeted him with "froeliche Weihnachten" (Merry Christmas), and the German soldier replied "Froeliche Weihnachten". German soldiers said they were lost and made their way to the hut.
The child's mother said in a solemn voice: “There are three other guests right now, and they probably don’t think they’re friendly.” Then, in a firm voice, “Today is Christmas Eve. You can't shoot here." a German soldier asked. “Who is inside?” “This is the US Army.” There was a moment of tension. The child's mother said, "You are like my sons, and so are the people inside. An injured boy is battling death, and his two friends are just as lost and hungry as you are. Only tonight... Let's forget about killing each other this Christmas Eve." The German sergeant was silent for a moment, and the child's mother put their weapons on the pyre and let them in. Next, the child's mother went to the US military, told the designation of self-defense, and also got a gun and put it on a pile of firewood.
The child's mother prepared chairs so that the soldiers could rest comfortably, and continued to provide food. And encouraged them to talk to each other. As they ate and talked to each other all night, the soldiers took out each other's loaves of wine and bread and ate together. As this happened, the atmosphere that was like a thin ice sheet of hostility and suspicion began to slowly dissipate.
Christmas morning has arrived. But something really unexpected happened. A German sergeant showed a map to an American soldier and gave directions to avoid the German army. The enemy army, who had no choice but to kill each other, was reconciled over Christmas. They shook hands and scattered in the direction of their troops.
The coming of Jesus is for reconciliation. He became incarnate in order to achieve reconciliation with God to mankind, who became enemies of God because of sin. So, as in verse 14, the angels who announced the birth of the Messiah proclaimed peace. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased.” Let's look at 1 John 4:10. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son as a propitiation for our sins.” The Old Testament also prophesied the Messiah and called him “the Prince of Peace.”
As such, the true meaning of Christmas is ‘reconciliation’ and ‘reconciliation’. God has extended the hand of reconciliation to our lives. Through Jesus Christ, we have ended our enmity with God and achieved reconciliation. And I was able to call God ‘Father’. This is salvation and eternal life. What should we, who have received this great grace and love, do while thinking about Christmas? 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.
“All things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, because in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, and to take away our sins He did not ascribe to them, but entrusted us with the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, and on behalf of Christ, as God is admonishing you through us, we implore you to be reconciled to God.”
That's right. We must first be reconciled to God. And as those who have received the ministry of reconciliation, we must preach the reconciliation that God has accomplished to the world and also fulfill that reconciliation.
2. The news of Christmas did not reach everyone.
The tidings of peace and reconciliation did not reach all mankind. In the text, the wonderful news was delivered to the shepherds who were tending their sheep in the fields. And before this, to the wise men of the East, who were Gentiles, He showed the sign of the birth of the Messiah. He also gave the great honor of seeing the baby Jesus to the godly people ‘Simeon’ and the prophetess ‘Anna’ who were waiting for God’s comfort. In this way, this amazing news was delivered and shown to people who were really unexpected. Why would you?
The hope of waiting for the Messiah was common among all Jews. Priests, Pharisees, scribes and lawyers, zealots, devotees, and common people, he was the Messiah all the Jews had longed for. In particular, the religious leaders of the time, such as priests, Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers, were well aware of the prophecies of the Messiah. However, the news of the birth of the Messiah was delivered to a small number of people who were ignorant, marginalized, not receiving the attention of the public, or who maintained their piety.
These few people were waiting for the comfort of God, not out of their own desires. They waited with a pure heart for the Messiah that God had promised. The Sermon on the Mount begins with a proclamation called the Beatitudes. You can see that the eight words about happiness are all about pure and pure hearts that are empty of their desires. The kingdom of God is open to the humble and pure. Revelation 19:8. “He gave him permission to put on a bright and clean linen linen, saying, ‘This is the right way of the saints.
Let's read verse 14 again. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.”
Those to whom the peace of God has been proclaimed are “those with whom he is pleased.” In the modern Bible, it is translated as “those with whom the Lord is pleased.” In other words, God's peace is limited. God's salvation is not for everyone, but it is given to those whom God is pleased with. It is understood and made known to those who are pleased with God and to whom peace has been proclaimed. No matter how much you hear or see, you do not understand because it has not been proclaimed to that person. You and I were given only through the Word, but you have made us understand and become known. That is, we are pleased with God. We should rejoice and be grateful for this alone.
3. What should we do this Christmas?
As I said before, we are people who have been reconciled to God because they are pleased. And I was given the office of reconciliation. The first thing to do is to check whether I am maintaining reconciliation with God. Reconciliation with God is total obedience to God's will, and communion with God is maintained through the Word and prayer. And the next thing is to check whether or not you are making peace with your close family, relatives, members, and neighbors. This is possible when you lower your mind.
Those to whom the Christmas peace was proclaimed were consistently faithful to their work. The shepherds were faithful to their job of keeping the sheep in the middle of the night. Simeon and Anna, too, did their utmost devotion and loyalty, even though everything was difficult due to their old age. The wise men of the East went that far away with the determination to meet a great man. If you set your heart on a high place that is away from worldly affairs or your place, you cannot be sincere or empty your mind. In addition, if you try to get out of the position you are assigned to, there will be not peace but deep conflict and pain. Let us also enjoy and fulfill the reconciliation accomplished by Jesus Christ by faithfully working in our places of life.
The peace and joy of Christmas are given to those who are poor in heart, who realize their worth and who are devoted. Moreover, the good news of God is delivered to those who live without losing hope in any situation, such as Simeon, Anna, and the shepherds. Just as the Americans and Germans, who had to kill each other, understood and reconciled on Christmas Day, the birth of Jesus has the power to reconcile even a relationship that cannot be reconciled and to gain life. Let's use this power to fulfill God's love.
Do you have any family members or neighbors who have become uncomfortable because of conflicts with you? Isn't there an invisible gap between the saints? Are there still sorrows left between wives and husbands, and between parents and children?
Let's break down the wall while thinking of the birth of Jesus for me. Like Jesus who came to the manger in the stable, if I empty my mind and humble myself, I can achieve reconciliation, peace, and joy. On Christmas in 2002, I pray that you can truly feel, practice, and enjoy this coming of the Lord.