Culver Community Church
Pastor Chris Sweeney
Sermon Notes
December 15, 2019
Christmas Sneaks Up On Us!
I am amazed that we are already in the month of December, having just celebrated Thanksgiving and, in God’s perfect timing, we have just finished the wonderful book of Galatians, so it is time to turn our minds to the celebration of our Lord’s birth! Whether you call it Christmas, Advent or a shopping opportunity/nightmare (I hope not the last one!) – this is when people from all over this world (the vast majority of languages, countries and cultures in some way recognize ‘Christmas’) – they, no we try our best to put on love, hope, joy, peace and goodwill toward each other. Why this one time of year? Why not all year long or every day? Well, we all know the answer to at least that question - even in putting on our very best efforts, we fail and fall short. We may act better but we certainly cannot make that total transformation! So why this time of year? There are many holidays or seasons on the calendar that we celebrate – New Years (how long did last year’s resolutions last?), Valentines’ Day (Love conquers all – until we fall out of that loving feeling!), maybe Ground Hog Day (that should have sufficiently lowered expectations so that we can meet them!) – so many holidays and options! Only in America, can we celebrate how thankful we are – only to go out and push and shove to get more stuff! Well, it is during the darkest time of our year that we have chosen to celebrate the entrance of God’s perfect Light into our world.
Many have said that Christmas is not scriptural and shockingly, this is true – at least for our traditional celebrations and for the date of Christ’s birth (1/365 odds). That being said, the story of Christ’s Advent or ‘coming’ (really first coming – He is coming again soon!) is found in every part of scripture – from Genesis to Revelation. Christ’s birth is the single most important event in all of creation! It is the central point to our faith, a singularly spectacular miracle which no one, not one scholar or theologian can even begin to comprehend! The Christmas story is the story of God, the Almighty stepping into His own creation in order to walk among us – to show us who He is and to offer Himself on the cross of Calvary, so that we can be redeemed from our brokenness and have a relationship with Him! How can this be?!? How is it that God the Creator can come into His creation – it would be like the painter stepping into the painting - not a self-portrait, or some representation but the actual living, breathing, thinking, feeling, moving artist on the canvas! The entire awesome power, knowledge, nature – the totality of God, somehow squeezed into one tiny cell, in the womb of a young girl in Nazareth, a despised town in Galilee of Judea. Scripture (the Old Testament) had given us clues, signs, symbolism and types - but no one understood or expected Christmas so long ago. Today, if we’re not careful Christmas will sneak up on us too!
The thing about Christmas is that we never quite seem prepared for its arrival! How many of you are already done with invitations, preparations, Christmas cards, gift purchasing (and wrapping) and all the other things that come this time of year? Typically, when I ask a question like that, there are one or two who will raise their hands – either because they are the over-achieving type or because they are not planning to do anything at all! However, I want you to take one thought home with you today – The best things about Christmas are not the things we expect! Those gifts under the tree – the ones we know about, the ones we expect - - - they are not the terrifically exciting ones! The routine holiday dinners, often with the same attendees and even the same conversations – that’s not very exciting! However, the unexpected gift – the one you never thought you’d get and maybe the one you never even knew you wanted - - - that brings excitement and dare I say - - - joy! When we do for someone else this time of year, someone who is not expecting a gift, someone who maybe would never think to give a gift in exchange – that brings joy! A lot of the rapture of Christmas comes from not knowing or understanding! And I hope and pray that you and I will open our eyes from the routine, the expected and the required in order to truly bless and bring Christmas joy this year!
In Jesus’ day, there was a widespread hope and yearning for the coming of the Messiah and a gross misunderstanding of the purpose and mission of the Messiah. Some believed the messiah would be a restorative figure who would return the Jews to their previous position of power and influence during the Davidic/Solomon reigns. This was particularly appealing since by in large the Jews had been an invaded and subject people for much of their recent history. Others viewed the messiah in more apocalyptic terms, as someone who would annihilate the entire present world in order to build a new, more just world upon its ruins. Little did they understand that this would never work because you can’t have a better world if you bring the same sinful people from the old one! There were those who thought the messiah would be a king and those who thought he’d be a (high) priest who would correct the corruption and false worship occurring in the Temple. So many expectations - - - but Jesus was still a complete surprise!
We can see this truth (The best things about Christmas are not the things we expect!) clearly and repeatedly in the Christmas story. In fact, every player (Earthly player) in this play was surprised by that first Christmas:
· Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t expect to have a baby in their old age.
Israel’s history is the very much like a roller coaster – alternating times of devotion to God marked by blessings, followed by neglect, rebellion and punishment. It is the dawn of the New Testament – Israel had been returned to their land, but were a conquered and subject people, longing for independence. The embers of hope and faith glow dimly in the hearts of those few who hold on to their national identity as God’s people and the promises He has given them but it has been four hundred years since the last recorded prophet of God spoke (Micah). The questions on the people’s hearts and minds are “Is God real?” and “Has He forgotten us?” God had not forgotten, He was not only about to act, to remind them that He exists – but above that, HE WAS ABOUT TO VISIT HIS PEOPLE fulfilling the words of
Malachi 3:1 NIV - "I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
In those wonderful words, we see God (the Almighty) promise that He will come to the temple! This would not be in Spirit as before, but in real human flesh! Imagine that, God gave the clues that He, Himself was coming into His creation! If you think about it it’s not that strange – God walked with Adam in the garden and the pagans told stories of their made-up gods coming to visit men But first, (I get carried away) – God’s messenger –
That is where Zechariah and Elizabeth come into our story. Luke’s gospel begins right there, at the beginning of the Christmas story – we are introduced to a man named Zechariah (also Zacharias), a priest, and his wife Elizabeth. They lived in the hill country of Judea and Zach (we’ll call him) would have served as a leader of the local synagogue, very much like a local pastor. Zach and Elizabeth were considered righteous before the Lord (not sinless, but faithful and devoted to God and His law). But there is a problem, they were both well along in years, and they had never had any children. Zach had been in the difficult place of representing God as priest and yet because Elizabeth was barren, he was looked upon as un-blessed by God! Then, unexpectedly one day when our man Zechariah was serving at the temple, God’s angel (no less than Gabriel, himself) appeared! This was very unexpected - - - he was just minding his own business, burning some incense to God when wham – Gabriel! “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13). What prayer? – Apparently, his lifelong prayer for favor with God, for his people and for a child. The angel goes on to tell Zach you will have a son, name him – John, which means God is gracious (the purpose of Jesus’ advent – to show grace!) This child will bring you, Elizabeth and many others great joy and will be great before the Lord. No wine for him – he’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit instead (even from the womb) and he will bring many back to God. He will go before the Lord to prepare the people in the spirit and power (ministry) of Elijah (fulfilling Malachi 4:5)! Zach’s son John will be the forerunner or advance man for God’s visit. Not only was John a surprise – but his message (from the Holy Spirit) of REPENTANCE was equally shocking! The last thing the Jews expected was that they needed to repent, but it was the most urgent need, the most wonderful surprise gift for all of us, especially to anyone who can believe and receive that repentance!
· Mary didn’t expect to be visited by an angel or become the mother of the Son of God.
Mary, a young woman (and virgin) was excitedly going along with her daily life – preparing to be married and to be responsible for her own home when wham – Gabriel! (Luke 1:27) This was not part of her plan! She was mapping her life out based on one day after another in the pattern she knew, that she saw in the other women in her family and village. She was a devout young girl (probably a young teen) and no doubt believed in the scriptures, she was waiting for God’s deliverer and king – the Messiah - - - but had no thought about being part of the story!
Luke 1:28-30 NIV - The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." {29} Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. {30} But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
Greatly troubled – I think that might have been an understatement! Angels just don’t drop by everyday! It had been four hundred years since even a human prophet dared to speak up for God, let alone an angel! Mary you have found favor with God! The Greek word for ‘favored’ here is from the same root as our word ‘grace’ (God’s grace is upon you!) She was surprised by Gabriel and his message – why should she, a humble Jewish girl have God’s favor? Gabriel goes on to tell of her impending conception, that the Child will be God’s own Son (including a bit of His mind-blowing destiny and character!) and of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (both a miraculous confirmation that he is speaking the truth and someone who can understand her newfound situation – somewhat!) In faith she submits to all that God has planned, not even knowing what it will mean for the world, for Israel, for her or for Joseph!
· Joseph didn’t expect his young bride to be to become pregnant – not yet, not without the wedding and not without him! Matthew 1:18 tells us that ‘before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.’
Somewhere on the other side of town Joseph was working hard as a carpenter, to prepare a home for his intended fiancé. No doubt thinking excitedly about the day he would take her to be his bride, beginning a family and the life they would share together. Totally clueless to what was going on! This was a world-altering surprise for Joseph and being a righteous man (who did not believe that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit) – he was struggling with putting her away quietly. He could not imagine going through with the wedding, but wanted to protect her from being stoned! It is in this midst of this struggle, that Joe falls asleep and is visited by an angel (probably Gabriel – he’s been busy lately!)
Matthew 1:20-21 NIV - "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. {21} She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.""
Joseph was obedient and took Mary to be his wife, un-expectantly (surprise) traveling back to his town of origin (Bethlehem) where she would deliver the Child. Not in the comfort of home but in a cave used as a stable! Surprisingly, the God of the universe, comes to us through the most humble of circumstances!
· The shepherds didn’t expect to see angels in their fields or be sent as newsboys to find and tell the tale! All of Bethlehem was surprised by these rowdy heralds! These simple, poor (lowest of the social pecking order) men were living out in the fields (somewhat homeless) with their sheep (stubborn, stinky sheep) when to their surprise the quiet dark night sky was split open!
Luke 2:9 NIV - An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
· The Magi didn’t expect to find the Savior of the world born in a manger in a poor little country village like Bethlehem – they went to Herod’s palace (Matthew 2:1)! It is obvious to them that if God were to send a great king, he would be sent to royalty, to comfort and to luxury!
· Herod didn’t expect to be disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him (Matthew 2:3) by news of the King of the Jews (hey, that’s my title!) by this great caravan of foreign dignitaries (surprising, but in a bad way!)
· Mary and Joseph didn’t expect to be stopped by Simeon and Anna the Prophetess when they simply took Jesus to be circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:36). That day they heard confirmation of their special child’s destiny!
· Joseph certainly did expect to have to pick up his new family and flee for their lives into Egypt (Matthew 2:13)! This is the King of the Jews for goodness sake!
· Jesus surprised his hometown synagogue when He read from Isaiah and declared "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21) – essentially saying ‘this is Me!’
· Jesus surprised His followers, especially Peter when He began “to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:32)
God surprised everyone that first Christmas. And Jesus continued to surprise! He was a Messiah who ate with sinners and hung out with common people, rather than the religious, rich or powerful of His day. He came not to be seated on a throne (He rejected their attempts to crown Him) or to live in a palace (He was an itinerate minister who had no home) but He did come to die on a cross for you and me! He turned the world upside down with His teachings when He said things like, the meek shall inherit the earth, the first shall be last and the last, first or love your enemies. Christmas/Christ is full of SURPRISES. Someday soon, Jesus is coming again … don’t let Him catch you by SURPRISE this time! When He comes or you close your eyes in death, don’t be SURPRISED by your final destination!
Jesus came 2000 year ago, as a babe in a manger, to be the king of your heart, the savior of your soul. He came to rule and reign in your life … and to bring you everlasting life … with Him … in Heaven. The best Christmas gift you can give Him, is to trust Him to save you … to repent of your sins … to give your life to Him. And … making Jesus a part of your life … it will be the best thing you have ever done. Make Jesus the central part of your Christmas this year! In the coming of the Christ child and in this season of Christmas, may you look for the unexpected. Because that is what Christmas is all about, God doing the unexpected and that is where you and I will find Jesus.