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Christmas Message "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder." (Isa.9:6). On the "traditional" Christmas morning it is natural that thoughts should be about Jesus, born a baby, but born to be King. At other times in the year one thinks of Jesus and considers the aspects of his life which took him to the Cross, the Tomb, and finally to Heaven, but at this time thoughts are on his birth, and in particular the beautiful narrative of the Gospel in Luke 2 which records the manner of his birth. Let thoughts be directed to the events that led up to this, the greatest of all birthdays, and to the events and happenings that immediately followed. Looking at the story, what is the first thing that strikes us? It is surely that Mary had this necessity of journeying to pay taxes thrust upon her, when she was so near to having her baby. In most homes the ‘mother‑to‑be’ is fussed over and she is forbidden to do anything energetic, she has to have plenty of rest and generally prepare herself as well as possible for the forthcoming event. Fathers no doubt take over the necessary chores; children have it impressed upon them that they have to be good. Grandmas and Grandads are usually in attendance to offer advice and speculative comment, and generally everyone tries to keep the ‘mother‑to‑be’ cool, calm and collected. One may ask—why of all times should it be, that now, at this very time, Mary had to go, with Joseph her husband, to the city of David, Bethlehem? The answer is that it was God’s will, for had it not been foretold in Micah 5:2. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." A vital principle needs to be remembered, that all prophecy has to be fulfilled. The hand of God was leading them on. He who overrules the purposes of Emperors and Kings, of statesmen and Parliaments, for the accomplishment of his designs (though they know them not), He who hardened the heart of Pharaoh, called Cyrus King of Persia like a slave to his foot, (Isa.41:2) made the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar his servant, was using Augustus, through his decree for taxes to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, to fulfil the prophecy recorded in Micah. Mary neither argued nor grumbled; she just packed her bags and accompanied Joseph her husband to Bethlehem, the city of David, because being of the lineage of David this was where he had to pay the taxes. One can imagine her ordeal, for there were no modern comforts in those days, no motors, ambulances or buses. She would no doubt ride on an animal’s back and there would be personal possessions to look after, money for the taxes, the things she had no doubt prepared in readiness for the arrival of her baby, and among these things were no doubt the swaddling clothes. The distance between Nazareth in Galilee and Bethlehem in Judah is some sixty‑eight miles as the crow flies, but on the way they had to pass Mt. Ebal, Mt. Gerizim and the Mt. of Olives, and so it seems safe to assume that by the time they had followed the winding path, they would have trekked some 80 or 90 miles. And this was not the end of things; another ordeal awaited her, because there was no room for them at the inn. Imagine for a moment how tired and weary Mary must have felt after such a long journey and then to be confronted with "no room at the inn." Imagine how we would feel in similar circumstances, and a birth imminent; we would no doubt be at "panic stations," feeling hot under the collar and exceedingly bothered for the comfort of the mother and the safety and well being of the child. But the Gospel bears no mention of Mary being worked up and anxious; we are merely informed that she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. What an example of trust, of humility, of confidence in her God! There are other considerations we must have on this Christmas morning. First of all, the baby Jesus. Had it not been uttered by the mouths of the holy prophets since the world began, that He would come to be the Deliverer, the counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Government to be upon his shoulder, and of the increase of his Government and Peace to be no end. A Prince indeed! And yet He was born in such a humble manner and in such humble surroundings. All know the excitement that takes place when a royal birth is in the offing. The press are full of the events leading up to the great day, speculation is rife as to whether it will be a girl or a boy child, a Prince or a Princess, what they will be in line for succession to the throne, what they will be called. Television, Radio and Social media all take up the theme and the whole event is at the forefront of people’s minds and is the talking point of the day. They are born to live in a Palace, with everything they need for comfort and security; yet here is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords being born in a stable, in a manager, with little light by which to see, and with the smell of animals and sweat in the atmosphere. This again teaches humility, but what of Jesus, did He mind? There is absolutely no doubt, He laid there without a care in the world, a very happy, loveable little baby. The Bible teaches us to be humble, and in both Mary and Jesus, there is the perfect example. No wonder Jesus could say, some thirty years later, "Blessed are the meek…Blessed are the merciful…Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matt.5:5,7,8) But in spite of all Mary’s humility, this event was not to pass unnoticed. She would never have gone round bragging that she had given birth to the Holy child, Jesus; she was no doubt content to give the child all the love she had. But God had other plans. Although Jesus made his entry on the stage of life so humbly and silently, although the citizens of Bethlehem dreamed not what had happened in their midst, although the Emperor at Rome knew not that his decree had influenced the nativity of a King who was yet to rule, not only over the Roman world, but over many a land where Roman eagles never flew, although the history of humankind went thundering forward next morning, quite unconscious of the event which had happened, yet it did not altogether escape notice. This was a great day, a day for rejoicing, and even now for rejoicing that this day took place. This was a day and an event that had to be made known. To whom did God choose to send his mighty angels to make it known? The humble, trusty shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. That which was unnoticed by kings and the great ones of this world was so absorbing a theme to the princes of Heaven that they burst the bounds of invisibility in which they shroud themselves in order to express their joy and explain the significance of the great event. Seeking the most worthy hearts to which they might communicate it, they found them in these simple trusting shepherds, living the life of contemplation and prayer, in the fields where Jacob had kept his flocks, where Boaz and Ruth had wedded, and where David the great Old Testament character had spent his youth. One can imagine in the stillness of the night, with the peaceful atmosphere and the stars shining overhead, the amazement of the shepherds when the angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. The good tidings to the humble‑hearted shepherds were that the long expected Saviour had been born this day, in the city of David, none other than Jesus Christ the Lord. None may forget the wonderful implied and outspoken promise that these good tidings of great joy shall be to all people. At this season of the year, many will refer to their experiences as being of great joy. Gifts and the giving and receiving of them all add to the occasion, but the greatest joy will be found by those, who in simple faith, receive this message and ask Jesus into their hearts and lives, as their Saviour. Recall the familiar words of the well‑known Christmas hymn ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ (3rd verse). "How silently, how silently, And as Jesus enters into our lives, is it not a fact that the words "I bring you good tidings of great joy" (Luke 2:10) have a much greater depth of meaning. It is as Jesus reveals himself to us, that we begin to know something of "God’s Peace on Earth" and experience a foretaste of his "good will toward men." (v.14) The wonder of it is, that that baby born in the stable at Bethlehem nearly two thousand years ago, can be born again in the "stable" of our hearts, and we are "born again" into the family of God, to receive his Spirit as sons and daughters, and to ultimately share his glory, if we remain faithful and make our calling and election sure. As we consider the wonder of the Christmas message, yet again, remember the wider application of the words of the Prophets and the Apostles, and rejoice that God has devised a wonderful plan of salvation for all mankind, in which plans it can be our privilege to share. At the First Advent of Jesus, Zacharias in Luke 1:68‑75 voiced the hopes of the Jewish race when he said "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as He spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." This hope of deliverance from the Roman oppressor was in evidence again when Jesus spoke to the disciples on the Emmaus road. (Luke 24:17‑27), Jesus, joining himself to them said "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?...And they said unto him ‘Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people...the chief priests and…rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we had trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel’...then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself." How then should we understand today the meaning of the prophetic words? The Apostle Peter provides the answer in Acts 3:13‑22. "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son, Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate...ye denied the Holy One and the Just…and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead…And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you." The time of the restitution of all things is the Second Advent of Christ, and it is at this time that the words of Isa.9:6‑7 and Luke 2:10‑11,14 will be fulfilled. "For...unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor,* The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." At this time, the good tidings of great joy shall be to all people. Then all will know the Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Then all will give "glory to God in the Highest" as there is on earth "Peace and Goodwill to all men." November/December ‘85 |
