*9:30am service only Introduce video by Pastor Tim then play video clip: A Very Special Baby

Transcription

1 *9:30am service only Introduce video by Pastor Tim then play video clip: A Very Special Baby 1 P age *10:45am service only Higher Reach Children s Program Children are a blessing from the Lord. Right? The Christmas story is not just a children s story, though. The Christmas story is full of adult issues, challenges, hardships, and tragedy. Joseph & Mary are forced to return to Bethlehem because the Roman empire and army that had conquered & was occupying their country wanted to count everyone in their hometown. This is not a peaceful time. In this climate of political fear the local king, King Herod kills all the baby boys in the region under 2 yrs-old in an effort to kill the baby some were claiming was to be the king of the Jews Imagine if that happened today. Like if the tyrant leader of N. Korea had all the boys under 2 executed in one of his cities. Imagine the outcry. The tragedy. In fact that s why Matthew tells the story in his gospel and he quotes an OT prophet Jeremiah who had said Matthew 2:18 A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. This is not just a sweet away in the manger story. Joseph and Mary have to flee to another country for their lives. They leave everyone and everything they ve ever known. And consider this one... Matthew tells us. Matthew 1:18-19 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

2 Mary and Joseph were engaged. They were not married. 2 P age Imagine what Mary went through when she started to show in her pregnancy? Imagine what people said when the word started to get around. Mary actually went to see her relative Elizabeth right after she heard from the angel. It seems like she might be going off to hide, But, Luke 1:56 says she only stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Imagine the injustice she had to endure from public opinion, gossip, slander. Some ultra religious people, might actually have wanted her punished? An engaged or betrothed woman found to be pregnant could have been killed according to the law Some people would have definitely shunned her. In their religion, if you only touch an immoral person, it could make you unclean to God. Imagine what she had to go to sleep with at night. People couldn t know what she knew. They certainly doubted her. They talked about her. They believed false things about her. They judged and condemned her and it was so unjust. How do you think she coped with it? She probably filled her mind with scripture and prayer. She probably forced herself to replace the negative thoughts from the judgment, with thoughts of God s favor and blessing. And God gave her a friend who had walked a mile in those shoes to help. Maybe that s why God had her go to visit Elizabeth. Elizabeth had just lived a near life-long lesson of how to deal with the unjust things other people think and say about you... in a similar issue. Look with me at a less known part of the Christmas story in Luke 1. The birth of John the Baptist, Jesus cousin, is foretold

3 3 P age Here s another one of those adult issues and challenges in the story. Luke 1 The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18 Zechariah asked the angel, How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years. 19 The angel said to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time. Here s a point I m not going to expand on, but I want to squeeze in here real quick. *Be careful when you ask God for a sign. You just might get one... and not like what it is... Zach says how can I be sure? Well he got sure. 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 The Lord has done this for me, she said. In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people. Why do you suppose she remained in seclusion for five months? v. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. Why do you think Elizabeth hid? She s older. To be pregnant at her age was a little embarrassing. Maybe because she s had had miscarriages. Maybe she s been through this before and she doesn t want to deal with the added pain if she miscarries? Maybe the disgrace she s lived with for so long has caused her to hide from people, period. She lived in a culture where not having children was not just a choice.

4 It was considered a judgment by God. It was seen as a punishment. 4 P age But Luke and God want us to know that that s not true. Do you know how we know that? Luke 1:6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord s commands and decrees blamelessly. She s childless why? Because God had a different plan for her life. (repeat) All those years she thought God didn t know, but God had a plan! If God has called you to singleness or to a marriage with no children, yours is no disgrace, it s His plan for you. When Jesus came upon a man born blind, in John ch 9, his disciple asked him who had sinned, this man or his parents? They were assuming that blindness was a punishment from God. Jesus said neither had sinned. This man had been born blind, so that God s glory could be revealed in him. And then Jesus healed him and people put their faith in Jesus. (blank) But sometimes we can t see why God allows things to happen to us. Sometimes we endure things that people say oh, you must deserve that. You must have done something and God is punishing you. You must be experiencing this or that and I can tell why. And they have no idea the truth behind what God is allowing and why. Elizabeth must not be righteous. God has not given her children. No, not at all. She was righteous. If you had tried to judge her by her circumstances, you d have been wrong. Elizabeth was favored by God.

5 And in her pain and in the adversity of experiencing something that others judged her for, she had learned her lesson of how to cope with other people and trusting in God 5 P age So that when Mary came to her, she could help guide Mary. The texts say that Elizabeth had been pregnant for how long before Mary conceived? 6 months. The angel tells Mary that her relative Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant. And, the text tells us that Elizabeth hid her pregnancy for how long? 5 months. Elizabeth has been through this valley of public disgrace. Elizabeth has lived a life of insecurity and self doubt. Elizabeth had questioned why God would allow people to think and talk about her. And Elizabeth had just emerged from that into faith and freedom, 1 month before her close relative Mary was about to walk into that valley of false public disgrace Can you see that? Isn t God s timing awesome here? Imagine how Elizabeth s experience must have encouraged Mary. Imagine the strength and faith they must have shared. Imagine the bond they must have shared because they experienced the same struggles w/ people And the same faith in God. Do you have a friend who encourages you when you feel like the world is turning on you? Do you have a spiritual friend who gives you favor, gives you grace, when the world wants law? Do you have a friend who knows your secret pain? Do you have a friend you open your life up to? Do you have someone in Christ who you pray with? God gives Mary Elizabeth just when she needs her? The Bible says confess you sins to one another. That s not so we can condemn one another. That s so we can give grace to each other, so we can help each other cope.

6 6 P age Do you know where this idea comes out in the Christmas TV specials I ve been using to illustrate the real Christmas story? In Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Show Rudolph pics What was Rudolph s friend s name? Hermie. (voice) Hermie wants to be a dentist. And what bond did they share? They struggled with their identities and insecurities. They felt like outsiders. The world treated them unjustly. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is one big moral tale about the struggles we have with other people judging us and other people saying we are or are not good enough. Has anyone never heard the story in the classic T.V. special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Well let me tell it to you... You know dasher and dancer and prance and vixen... Who remembers what was Rudolph s girl friend s name? What was the name of the prospector? What was the bumble s one weakness? What was Rudolph s dad s name? What was the wrong with the car on the Island of misfit toys? What was wrong with the cowboy? Does anyone remember who the Reindeer games coach was? Comet. Do you remember how he even encouraged the other reindeer to shun Rudolf for being different? (With the voice) All right, all right yearlings, back to practice. Oh no, not you. You better go home with your folks. From now on gang, we won t let Rudolf join in any reindeer games, right? Are you good enough? In your eyes and in others eyes? Are you what others want you to be? Do other people criticize and condemn you and your life, but they don t know the whole story And they don t know God s plan for you?

7 It s the theme of the story because it s a theme of our lives. 7 P age (Blank) From the time we sing in little Christmas pageants at church and we want our parents to tell us how great we did even though we know we didn t do great really, but we wanted to. To the time we re very old and we re wondering if anyone cares, or if anyone thinks my life has value to anyone any more. Or if my life has meaning and God has still has a plan for me now? And ever relationship in between, we are looking for words of affirmation, and love, and acceptance, and... If that s you at all, all the time, or sometimes, or just with one relationship, or about one issue you re going through right now, I want to be your brother in Christ to encourage you today. I can t exactly say I want to be an Elizabeth to your Mary, But I can say, I want to be the Rudolph to your Hermie. I want to give you some words of affirmation and encouragement and acceptance. They all come from God. They all say who you are if you are a follower of Christ. They all say, you are not alone. Take out the yellow insert from the worship folder and look at all these things God says about who you are, if you are a follower of Jesus. Read some... Keep this. Look these verse up. Pray this list. For Mary and Elizabeth it didn t matter what other people said, What mattered was what who said? What God said! Let s pray.

8 8 P age Kate testimony Michael.