Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2:1-20
The Birth of Jesus
(1) In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (2) (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) (3) And everyone went to his own town to register.
(4) So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. (5) He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (8) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
(13) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (15) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
(16) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (17) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, (18) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (19) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (20) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
This is the word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
If you are attending a worship service on this Christmas Eve, and “In Conclusion” of the nights service, after you light a candle and quietly leave singing, “Silent Night” in anticipation of Christmas morning. Will you leave and post on your favorite social media outlet, that you have been given the greatest gift of all. Jesus! The“Reason for the Season”. Telling all, that this Advent season, you have come to have “Faith over Fear” because you found Christ, or renewed your faith in him. Will you be like the shepherds who were tending their flocks, who hurried off to go and see? Who then after finding Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger, left telling , spreading the word what had been told them about this child. Praying that others, this Christmas will be amazed and believe, that God sent His son, Jesus so that all can have, Faith over Fear?
“In Conclusion”. What a funny way to title a message. Many will leave here their Christmas Eve service not knowing what it’s like to have Faith over Fear. Some will. They will be like Mary who treasured up all these things and pondered them in their hearts.
All to often, many are like a 6-year-old little girl who emerged from her Sunday school class with a toothless grin on her face and a piece of candy and a new pencil in her hands. “Guess what?” she said to Mom, “I was the best listener today. I won the prize!”
“That”s wonderful,” Mom replied. “How did you win?”
“Miss Lynda read a story about the baby Jesus then asked what Mary wrapped the baby Jesus in when she laid him in the manger.”
“Well, what did Mary wrap him in?”
“Swaddling clothes,” came the quick reply.
“What are swaddling clothes?” Mom asked.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, shrugging her shoulders. “I guess they’re what ducks wear.”
Sometimes we treat Christmas like that, we know the answers, we know the story but we don’t know the meaning. We’ve treasured up all that happens like Mary, but don’t take the time to ponder them.
What is it to treasure up and ponder? Ponder according to the dictionary is: to weigh in the mind, : to think about, : to reflect on.
To treasure up, is to have the wisdom, the understanding and knowledge of the truth.
Paul wrote in Colossians 1:25,26 what he pondered, what he treasured up. The truth of Jesus the Son of God. He wrote to them saying: ”I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God, in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints”.
I believe when David wrote Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;”. He was telling his readers ponder on and treasure up that which the Lord our God has already provided and promised.
In Psalm 46 were given a song to help us ponder: to weigh in our minds; to think about: to reflect on, and to treasure up the wisdom and understanding and knowledge we already have. “In Conclusion”of this Psalm, were reminded to: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress.
Zechariah also writes in chapter 2:13: “Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
So, “In Conclusion”, as you leave here. Then what? Do you have Christmas packages to deliver, before you arrive at home and finish your preparation‘s for Christmas Day? If you have children at home there’s their needs to attend to. Do you have stockings to hang and fill, maybe even presents that still need to be wrapped and placed under a tree? Maybe even some of you have Christmas guests to prepare for. Or maybe you have a meal to prepare. Still so much to do before the chaos of Christmas Day.
Christmas Day arrives and you have a time of exchanging gifts. There will be excitement from the children in anticipation of the next wonderful gift they are going to open. Did they even notice who the giver was? Gifts left for them by Santa? By Mom and Dad? Maybe from their aunts or uncles, grandparents or friends. Did they say thanks to the giver of the gift? Are they contented with what they received? Did you? Are you?
Like Joseph and Mary, many families travel Christmas Day from one place to the other, to open gifts and share a meal. Many times their kids will be like the shepherds, pestering mom and dad. Saying, “let’s go”, “and see”! We want to know what else we have been given this Christmas!
When you return home there still so much to do. The clean up. Finding a place to put all these new treasures. The assembly of toys and other items, trying to follow confusing instructions, if you can find them! You feel like a hurricane went through your house, and the only thing you want to do is scream, HELP!
Does Christmas Day leave you feeling like the disciples in the storm, fearing for their lives? They called on Jesus, and His response to the storm we find in the gospel of Mark 4:39.
‘He got up, rebuke the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.’
Oh, how I’ve longed for that kind of power over my children on Christmas Day. All to often I’ve found myself just happy to ride out the storm. How about you?
So “In Conclusion” of the day, amidst all the goings-on, do you need to heed to the words of the psalmist. “Be still and know that I am God”
“In Conclusion” of the day are you feeling tired, washed out, used up? Or are you like Mary who at the end of all the hubbub of those days, took the time to treasure up all these things and pondered them in her heart?
“In Conclusion” of your Christmas Eve service, after you light a candle and quietly leave singing, “Silent Night” in anticipation of Christmas morning. Will you leave and post on your favorite social media outlet, that you have been given the greatest gift of all. Jesus! The“Reason for the Season”.
Telling all, that this Advent season, you have come to have “Faith over Fear” because you found Christ, or renewed your faith in him. Will you be like the shepherds who were tending their flocks, who hurried off to go and see? Who then after finding Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger, left telling , spreading the word what had been told them about this child.
Will you be praying that others, this Christmas will be amazed and believe, that God sent His son, Jesus so that all can have, Faith over Fear?
My advice to you this Christmas Eve is: “In Conclusion” of each and every day, ponder and treasure up all that God has provided.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;” (Psalm 37:7).
In His Service,
Pastor Joe
Merry Christmas!