The "Dark" side of Christmas

I’ve really been enjoying my advent readings this year. The first week was full of amazement as I read the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus. I was so moved about God’s zeal and preparation for the event.

The second week was fun as I read about the actual events of the birth of Jesus. Again I was moved by God’s plan – sending John the Baptist to prepare people, having Magi travel to see Jesus, having angels inform lowly shepherds that Jesus was born. I know the story but each time I read it I’m moved.

And then came this week. The reading guide I’m using jumps to the last weeks of Jesus’ life. Now suddenly the story of Jesus isn’t about a baby in a manger. But it’s about a man of suffering. The Lord Jesus who has come to give His life for His friends. For his loved ones. It’s so easy during Christmas to forget about what is coming. Even in reading Psalm 22, which is all about suffering, it was easy to see the last verses of celebrate why Jesus came - to set us free. But the pain of the cross is always in the background of the Christmas story.

The Baby Jesus did come to set us free. He came because he loves us. He came so we might have life and have it abundantly. But He also come to die for our sins. This is the "dark" side of Christmas. It's still good news - Jesus came to give His life, but as we look at the Baby we mustn't forget what's next.

The Gospel (good news) is that Jesus loves us and he came for us as a baby. That’s Christmas. But let’s not forget the rest of the story. Let’s not forget the background of the cross that waits for our Baby Lord Savior.

The Right to Become a Child of God

Read John 1:1-18

When I became a true follower of Jesus it was a three step precess. It all happened within a years time right in the middle of my college education. Step one happened when a friend got me to consider and even believe that there was a God. Before that I would have said I was an atheist. Step two happened about 6 months later when I prayed to become a Christian – primarily because I wanted to avoid hell.

Step three happened when I fell in love with Jesus. It was then when I decided to follow Jesus, to be devoted to him. I was in a Bible study with one man, my Navigator campus minister, and he convinced me to come to the bigger fellowship meeting. At that meet a student shared that he had become a “child of God”. I wanted to know what that was. I had believed in the message of Jesus and according to the diagram I was given I got to go to heaven and not to hell. But this student was a child of God. I asked my leader what that was and he directed me to John 1 and 1 John 3:1.

The way the Navigators did Bible study back then is that we were given a booklet with Bible passages in it and we would fill out the book on our own and then get together to share our answers. I remember vividly the night I filled out this study – the night I realized that I had become a child of God. I even remember the date (And I don’t remember many dates, but this one is funny)- April 1^st, I am a fool for Jesus! (For my international friends, April 1^st is “April Fools Day”). The house I was living in in Arcata California had a living room with a wall full of windows facing the street. My roommate and I were both pretty poor at the time and we had no drapes and no furniture except for a roll top desk that I had brought from home and a very large piece of driftwood that we had found on the beach and we used for seating. The Bible study had lots of passages but two stood out. John 1:12-13 and 1^st John 3:1. Read these passages – they are all about being a child of God.

As I read these passages I realized that there is something better than avoiding hell. I can be a child of God. Instead of just joining a religion I was adopted. All the passages in the Bible about God loving me now came alive (see John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 4:9-10) . Jesus didn’t just come to save me from hell. He came to adopt me. He came to help me have a new relationship – a relation ship with Him– a relationship with God. Now comes the embarrassing part. I realized that I didn’t just join a club – a religion, but that I now had a relationship with God. I was a child of God. As I realized this I became full of Joy and I began dancing around my living room – In front of the big window, and I was singing the few Christians songs I knew. Very few people, including my wife, have seen me dance. I don’t dance. But that night anyone who was outside on Dorthy Court in Arcata California, cold have seen my dancing like a fool in my living room. That night I discovered that I was a child of God. It is amazing that Jesus came to help us become children of God.

The Maker of Time Became Flesh . . .

Read Luke 2:1-20

I saw this poem in a church bulletin many years ago. Whenever I read the Christmas story I think of this poem with all of it’s amazing contrasts. Enjoy.

The Christmas Sermon of St. Augustine

When the maker of time, the Word of the Father, became flesh,

He gave us His day of birth in time.

Today Christ is born.

And He, without whose bidding no day runs it’s course,

In His incarnation reserved one day for Himself.

God Became man.

For He, Himself, with the Father, precedes all spans of time,

But on this day, issuing from His mother, He stepped into the tide of years.

Glory to God!

Man’s Maker was made man, that He, Ruler of the stars,

Might nurse at His mother’s breast,

That the Bread might be hungry, the Fountain thirst,

The Light sleep, the Way be tired from the journey.

Glory to God, Wonderful circumstance.

The Word was made flesh that the Truth might be accused by false witnesses,

The judge of the living and the dead by judged by a mortal judge.

Justice be sentenced by the unjust, the Teacher be beaten with whips,

The Vine be crowned with thorns, the Foundation be suspended on wood!

That Strength might be made weak, that He who was well might be wounded,

That Life might die.

Alleluia!

Glory to God in the highest!

Mary's song

There really is so little to say about this morning’s passage. I believe it is so beautiful that it stands by itself. Mary visits Elizabeth and becomes so moved she breaks into song. She sings to glorify God’s name. She has a couple lines to sing about her condition but she is so overwhelmed about God that she sings about Him. Look how many lines begin with “He has”. Look at all the things God has done. It’s beautiful.

Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

*********

Here is one of my favorite modern songs based on Mary's song. John Michael Talbot is a Christian artist who as he grew in his faith become a monk but continued to compose and perform his music. His community lives in Eureka Springs Arkansas, not far from here. Enjoy his song.

Advent: Let it be.

Read Luke 1:26-38

What an amazing passage. Yesterday we saw the angel go to the elderly priest with a message about his miracle and special baby. Today the angel goes to a young virgin about her miracle and special baby. Most scholars I read believe that Mary was a young teenager, the age women get pledged to be married back then. And to the young woman the angel tells her she is going to have a baby. And again this baby will be a special baby – he will be the Son of the Most high God. He will sit on David’s throne – very common language for a Jewish woman to know that he will be the long awaited for Messiah. His kingdom will last forever. (We know this language from our readings in Isaiah.)

The teenage Mary’s response is what is so amazing. First she asks “How will this be?” This is not the question of doubt that Zechariah the priest poses. Zechariah asks “How will I know this is true” Mary asks “How will this happen since I am a virgin.” Zechariah’s asks for proof, Mary asks for an explanation of the process. For a young teenager this certainly seems like a good question. She is saying “okay this is happening but I don’t understand how.”

But her last response is even better. “I am the Lord’s servant, May it be to me according to your word.” Mary knows her status before God. God is Lord. Mary is His servant. She will submit to Him. Of course what she is agreeing to is a wonderful privilege. She is highly favored. She will be the mother of the one Isaiah prophesied about. She will be the mother of the Messiah. She will be called blessed for all generations.

God’s zealous (Isaiah 9.7) plan to redeem mankind is being set into motion. The forerunner of Jesus has been announced. Now the mother of the Messiah knows the plan. He is coming. He is coming soon.

Advent: Missing the point

Read Luke 1:1-25

It’s fascinating to me. Zechariah is told at least three amazing things:

1. 1. He and his elderly wife are going to have a baby boy.
2. 2. His son is going to bring people back to the Lord.
3. 3. His son is going to prepare people for the Messiah – meaning the Messiah is coming soon!

Zechariah seems to hear only one of these – you are going to have a baby. Instead of saying “Wow the Messiah is coming.” Which really is the big news, he focuses on the long odds pregnancy of his wife.

The Messiah coming is the big news, and yet he misses it. I wonder how often we do that.

Advent: All the Ends of the Earth!!

Read Psalm 22:22-31

Last night our group, ISCA, sponsored “International Christmas Fest”. For me it was a moving night. We had performers from all over the world presenting a variety of acts – All because of Jesus. We had two great children’s choirs: One from China and one from Korea. We had poetry from Nigeria, music from Peru, some student from Cameroon performed for us what Christmas is like in Cameroon. We had memories of Christmas from China, Macedonia, Rwanda, and Eritrea. We had a dance group from American and the University of Arkansas Inspirational Singers sang. As I sat in the back watching all of this I kept thinking of Psalm 22:27-28:

All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

for dominion belongs to the Lord

and he rules over the nations.

All the ends of the earth were at University Baptist Church remembering and proclaiming the story of Jesus!

Most of Psalm 22 is painful to read. It reminds us of what Jesus had to go through on the cross. But in verse 22 the tone changes and begins to remind us of the global impact that the birth of Jesus has on the people of the earth. Jesus was born to set his people free. Jesus went through the pain of the cross to bring forgiveness to us all. He did this for all people and all generations.

Look at verse 30-31. He had done it!

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:14

Jesus' Psalm

Read Psalm 22:1-8

Jesus knew what was ahead for Him. I guess we don’t know when He knew but He knew. It’s clear in His years of ministry that He knew because He kept telling His disciples that He must suffer and die. As a young Jewish person I wonder how often He had His daily Bible reading time in Psalm 22. Psalms are thought of as songs of praise. But for a person who knows the cross is ahead for Him what did He think of Psalm 22. Psalms were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Yet Psalm 22 so accurately describes what happened to Jesus. When He was on the cross dying He quoted the first line of Psalm 22. Was He using scripture memory to comfort Himself? Or was He acknowledging this Psalm was always about Him.

For the next three days we will read a part of Psalm 22. As you read it think about what Jesus thought every time He read this Psalm. Think about what this baby savior had ahead of Him.

The cost of needing a savior

Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12

In our readings so far it’s been all good. We have a child savior who is coming to lead us. He will bring us peace and his government will be wonderful. He will forgive our sins and bring us closer to God. The lion will lie down with the lamb and life will be so different.

But today we discover that there is a cost to this great story. Since mankind first turned it’s back on God (see Genesis 3), God has had a problem. God loves humans. He created us not just as a “science project” but he created us “for” fellowship with Himself (see Colossians 1:16). When God created mankind He said it was Very Good. God is love and He so loved the world he created. But mankind rejected God. We said “This is good but we’ve got a better idea.” And we went our own way (see Isaiah 53:6 from our passage today). God not only is Love but God is Holy and Just. Love may want to turn a blind eye on disobedience but Holiness and Justice demand that a price must be paid.

Anyone who has been a victim or has had a close friend be a victim of a crime knows the intense frustration when Justice doesn’t happen. So often as humans we say “That isn’t fair” when a person gets away with crime. Fact is that happens in human justice. But God IS just. God IS holy. It cannot happen within him to let injustice happen. So a price must be paid for our turning away.

Not only must a price be paid but the solution must be just. So not just any person can pay the price. The solution must be perfect. God really has quite a conundrum. His love compels him to seek after mankind. His Justice and Holiness demands a perfect solution.

The answer is God himself must enter into history and must pay the price. He must suffer and pay the price that justice demands for disobedience. “By His wounds we are healed” (Look at Isaiah 53:4-5). Now reread Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and notice all God had to go through for us. All that this baby savior has to look forward to so that he can save us.

But don’t forget to notice Isaiah 53:11. This is the fruit. After He has suffered He will see life and be satisfied. The needs of Justice will be met and He will see life! Jesus will bear our iniquities. He will pay the price and in the end it will be good.

So as we celebrate Christmas and as we sing of this beautiful baby, let’s not forget the price the baby will have to pay. Let’s not forget the reason the baby had to pay this price. Let us celebrate but let us also stand in awe of the suffering servant who has come to pay the price.

Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you baby Jesus.

Advent: See and Lift Up Your Voice

Read Isaiah 40:1-11

I remember many years ago when I was living in Bakersfield California Michael Dukakis, the governor of Massachusetts who was running for President, came to Bakersfield for a campaign stop. He was beginning a train ride up the San Joaquin valley. I went because I thought it would be fun to see a presidential stop. I don’t remember at all what was said but I remember vividly how it was staged. They had blocked off a street and the train caboose was backed up right to the middle of the street. When we arrived there was a rope across the street about 100 years away from the train and I thought it was too bad we couldn’t get closer. But then just as the candidate was ready to step out and speak the rope was dropped and the crowd surged forward to get a better view. A friend told me later that they do that so the crowd gets excited and so that the TV crews get a picture of an excited, moving crowd. Even though I was in the middle of the crowd I had a great view of the candidate. After it was over there were people in the crowd passing out flyers with important facts about Governor Dukakis and they were telling us to go home and tell our friends. We had a great view and now we were to go tell our friends.

Isaiah 40 begins with comforting words about comfort coming for the people who have been struggling. Verse 2 proclaims that their hard service is completed, their sins have been paid for. Great news – but the question is how? Where?

Verse 3 begins the answer. Prepare the way for the Lord. This verse is quoted in the New Testament in talking about the ministry of John the Baptist. It’s a great image. When a king comes through he would send out advance teams of people to make sure the road was ready for the king and so that the people could get a good view of the king. John the Baptist’s job was to get people ready to receive the king Jesus. In Isaiah the goal is clear – look at verse 5: The glory of the Lord will be revealed and all the people will see it!

“Seeing” is so key to this passage. Look at verse 5, 9 and 10. (in Verse 9 the word “here” is the same Hebrew word used in verse 10 for “See”.) See you Lord comes with power. See his reward is with Him. As we approach Christmas, the coming of our Lord Jesus, look for how he comes to provide comfort. Look at the good news of a Savior who is coming to save us all from our sins. To save us all from our “hard service”. Jesus comes to save and we must see Him.

But this passage doesn’t just tell us to see the good news. Look at verse 9: Go on top of a mountain and lift up your voice! Lift it up with a shout! Don’t be afraid but lift up your voice and proclaim the Good News of the savior Jesus coming. Lift up the great message of sins being forgiving. Lift up the message of comfort. For all of us who have seen Jesus and chosen to follow him we have a mission- lift up your voice and proclaim the real reason for Christmas – the coming of the savior is brings forgiveness and comfort. He will comfort us like a shepherd. He will lead us like a shepherd.

So go, see Jesus this Christmas and then make it easy for others to see Jesus and proclaim to all around the great message of comfort. It’s an amazing message that this world needs to hear.