Title: Happy Christmas
Contents
Luke 1:26-38
This morning is celebrated as a Sunday to celebrate Christmas. People all over the world rejoice on this day, but there is one condition for this joy to be true joy. it's this christmas news
The fact is that you always go to the lower place. Too weak, too low, too low, too
Christmas is coming to an unsightly place. So, the joy of Christmas is, in a word, 'blissful joy'.
It can be said that
Among the Gospels, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke deal with Christmas in detail, but the first message of Christmas cannot be delivered to high-ranking people. People who think they've accomplished something on this earth, people who think they're wealthy, people who brag about being quite tall, deserve something! For those who think, this Christmas message is not delivered.
Think about what kind of people it was passed on. First, it is handed down to Joseph and Mary, who live in the rural village of Nazareth in Galilee. And it is passed on to the Gentile Magi. Shepherds in the fields are passed on to the shepherds. And it is passed on to Shimei, an old man who is on his way to Jerusalem, but no one pays attention, and Anna, the grandmother of Papa, who has been widowed for 84 years.
It is God's intentional will that the birth of Jesus Christ will come to a low and humble place. In Luke 2, just before the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem according to the decree of Caesar Augustus. Why Bethlehem? It is because of two conditions. Jesus must be born in David's town. Because you must come as a descendant of David. Another is that Jesus had to be born in a very small place, as shown in the book of Micah. This is so that the news of the Christmas of God's grace can be delivered to a small and low place. What evidence is there that God has decided to make the baby Jesus a lower birth? It was lying in a horse manger.
When I was young, I heard a lot of stories about the baby Jesus lying in a manger, so I thought the manger was okay. Jesus cannot find an inn in Bethlehem. To be honest, I don't go on a long-distance trip when it's the last month to have a baby. However, the census edict of Emperor Caesar was so abstract that I had to travel even in the last month. A mother has arrived in Bethlehem, and her stomach is starting to hurt to come out, but she cannot find a room. I don't have a room to give birth to. Is there anything frustrating and absurd like this? Could it be that I couldn't get a room by accident? Was it because Joseph was incompetent? no. As soon as Jesus was born, he lay in a manger, a manger. He lies so low that he is not even treated like a person. How did you accidentally get into the manger bed? no.
God has a purpose to show us something big and make us realize it in the great event of salvation called the Christmas of Jesus. The news of the birth of Jesus is unique among the many peoples in Israel, and is transmitted to shepherds in the fields. Did the angels accidentally meet the shepherds and tell them the news? no. I have a message I want to convey. This will be a sign to you, and you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger! (Luke 2:12)
In verse 26 of today's text, the place where God sent Gabriel was a town called Nazareth in Galilee. In Isaiah 9, Galilee is “a land despised”. But there lives a descendant of David named Joseph. This person is a royal descendant according to the genealogy. However, as a descendant of David, even though he is a royal descendant, Joseph, a humble bachelor living in the village of Nazareth in Galilee, has no pride as a royal descendant. In short, it is the descendant of the fallen king. The tidings of Christmas come to the lowest places.
In today's text, Gabriel appears only to Mary, but in Matthew 1, Gabriel also appears to Joseph. It comes to Joseph in a dream. Gabriel is an angel who also appears to Daniel and communicates God's revelation. The message Joseph heard from Gabriel was shocking. Think about it. There will be someone who will be king in our area, which is also amazing. A king comes out of our town, which is more surprising, but we have a king in our house to succeed the glorious throne of David! A king will be born in our house! See verse 32. First, your son will be king, second, God will place his son on the throne of David, and the glory of King David will be restored, and third, the dynasty will be eternal. How excited was Joseph? My son will be a descendant of David, the Messiah. The news is so unbearable that I am speechless. It's terribly embarrassing.
Because for the people of Israel at that time, ‘the descendants of David come as king’ meant that the glorious ‘Kingdom of David’ that was a thousand years ago would be recreated. As in the days of David, the time is coming when the great history of conquering the whole country, eating and drinking becomes common, a spiritual revival serving God only, the whole society will be filled with fairness and justice, and all the nations will bow their knees to Israel. It is the time when the 'Son of David' will come, and the long-awaited idea of the Messiah is to believe that He is the Messiah. But Gabriel's message that Joseph heard was, 'You are giving birth to a son, and your son will do all these things. This is not just about having a son. Joseph would not have been able to bear this upon hearing this.
Now think from Mary's point of view. In verses 26-27, when referring to Mary, the text emphasizes the virgin. When she first hears about the birth of a son, Mary is not surprised in front of Gabriel, but she is astonished. In verse 30, Mary was obviously afraid. Why are you scared? Mary is a virgin and must bear a son. Not only is it ineligible, it's such a strange and creepy story! There are no conditions to have a baby. This isn't something we can afford.
In verse 34, Mary says: “How could this be?” This is beyond disappointment, it is absurd news. There can't be. In my opinion, that's impossible. Then, what did the angel say? Verse 35. “Yes, not for you, you are impossible, but God does, how? The Holy Spirit will come upon you. And the power of the Most High God will overshadow you!
Verse 37, when Mary heard this, she believed in the power of God. “I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word!” Everyone, this is the first reaction of the two men, Joseph and Mary, when they heard the news of Christmas. It's absurd, it's so amazing, it's sad, it's impossible. I am glad that the Savior has come! This is true, but it's not just happy, it's just that something so shocking happened to them. The essence of the Christmas news is that it is something that I cannot receive, but it has come to us.
Think of Mary's conception of Jesus. What is happening? God is entering the body of a man named Mary, a country virgin. Do you know what Solomon prayed to God after he built the temple? Even the heavens and the heavens of the heavens will not tolerate you. How much more will this house that I have built! what do you mean? It is impossible for a God who is greater than heaven and earth to live in the temple we built, but the Lord said that he would dwell here, so we are all in vain!
To give the gift of salvation to the lowly, lowly, weak and poor This is good news. It's not something to be happy about just talking about it. It was such a joy that crossed the joy of being sad, of being moved by his humiliation, of his lowliness and of being poor, of being embarrassed and feeling embarrassed when a very precious person visited my messy room. It should be the joy of Christmas.
Let's read verses 37-38 together. For nothing is impossible for the word of God! Maria refused many times saying she couldn't be, I said no, she couldn't afford it. It's not out of hate, not in the guise of humility, but because it's the truth. He could not afford to have God come and dwell in him. He thought it was beyond his ability. Is Maria wrong? It's never wrong.
How did God enter Mary's body? How can someone greater than King David be born to Joseph the carpenter of Nazareth in Galilee? In fact, when Joseph first found out that Mary was pregnant, he tried to break the marriage quietly. I thought Maria was cheating. Joseph was afraid. Maria was scared too. The fear here is the wonderful fear of what God is doing in one's life. I don't understand it, it just made me tremble
But Gabriel persuades Joseph. Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife! Gabriel convinces Mary. Let's look at verse 35. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you! You can't do it by your own strength, so you just have to accept it with faith. Ladies and gentlemen, the news of Christmas is not something you hear with your ears. It's not something you can understand with your head. A deeper voice is heard within us.
The Lord whispers in our hearts. I want to live in you! The God who made the heavens and the earth, the Lord who is greater than the whole world, is knocking at our door. I came to this earth for you! In yesterday's Philippians GT text, it is God who works in you. I've spent a long time Christmas with no regrets. Until high school and college, I had a very secular Christmas. Santa Claus and Carol, Rudolph Nose and White Christmas, don't cry! Silverbell, these are the things I enjoyed Christmas. But one fundamental message must not be missed. It is the joy of Joseph and Mary serving our Lord who has entered into me.
Let's read verse 38 and close our sermon. Mary hears that it is absurd to have God in her humble body, but that God is pleased to do so, and she receives it by faith. I am your servant, let it be done to me according to your word We must have the indescribable precious confession of Mary who accepted the Lord with trembling. I hope that we can give the most precious thing to our Lord who looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. It is to worship our Lord with sorrow.
Mary could not have forgotten that God was in her womb. God lives in me! I believed this. God lives in you and me. The King of kings is still at work in us. Let's be in good shape even in the midst of joy. We hope that this Christmas will be filled with joy throughout our lives.