Let’s have an Interactive Study - well, as much as is possible in the blog situation. However, I am sure many of you will think of ideas as you read these thoughts - please let us know your ideas and then I can incorporate them into my thoughts about the Christmas story - the real story.
Luke 2 The Birth of Jesus
A few years ago I heard a speaker at a Christmas banquet speak on the topic of the “responses to His birth”. Even though it was late in the evening before he was given the chance to speak and he was given only a few minutes, it was amazing how many points he made on this subject. Since I did not realize the nature of his message, it did not cross my mind to take notes. But ever since then, I have often thought about this topic at this season and when I hear or read the Christmas story.
So, let us consider some of the reactions or responses to the birth of the baby - some of them from my memory of this speaker’s message and some of thoughts that have come to me this week as I re-read the Christmas story.
In the story, there are many “players”; the village innkeeper, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, angels, Herod, the Wisemen, and Simeon. There are others in the story but these are some to consider. Unfortunately, we can see ourselves in some of their responses and wish we could in the others.
Probably the one we would most NOT want to the same response would be the innkeeper. No Room. Too Busy. What a response! Let’s pray that none of us become so busy making money and our way in the world, that we do not have room for Him.
Then there is Joseph. Whole books could be written about his response to the birth of Jesus. Probably they have been but I have not read any. Even from the appearing of the angel to him, he made all the right responses. He was sensitive to God’s guidance and obeyed God. And in the process, he, as a wonderful speaker Peggy Kennedy put it, “protected the promise of God.” He had such strong beliefs, he was prepared to do what was right even though it would cause pain, both to him and to his family. We do not hear of Joseph after Jesus was 12 years old, but up to then, the whole plan of salvation wrought by our Saviour would have been so different if Joseph had not responded the way he did.
So much depended on Mary’s response. Mary had many reactions to the news of being the mother of Jesus and to His birth. Of course, there was the puzzlement and fright because she would not have been able to understand what was happening. But she humbly made herself available to God. So much could be said about Mary’s response. In Luke 1:38, she says “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.” As pointed out in the LAP Bible notes, “A person’s character is revealed by his or her response to the unexpected”. (p. 1471) Would our response be - “Yes” - to the Lord, whatever you desire for me?
We all know the story of the shepherds. Pretty ordinary job and probably pretty ordinary night on the hillside, until . . . suddenly an angel appeared - of course, their first reaction would have been fright!! Their response, however, after the excitement, was one of “let’s go and worship”. After going and finding Mary and Joseph and the baby, they went back to their job, praising God because they had seen Him!!
The angels played a great part that wonderful night! They spread the news and sang and praised God. Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward men.” Imagine what the shepherds saw! The angels response was one of praise.
And then there was Herod. He reacted with fear to the birth of Jesus. He was so fearful, he killed all the boys under two years of age in an obsessive attempt to kill Jesus, the newborn King. (LAP Bible notes) But he only hurt himself, no one could stop God’s plans - to provide a Saviour for the world.
The Wisemen did what wisemen would do! When they got the news, they sought for Him. They came, and brought gifts. We, too, can have the same response as them, we can come . . . and give the gift of ourselves to Him. That was God’s plan, as prophesied by the prophet, Isaiah, and repeated in Matthew 1:21, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” I pray that I will be as wise as these wisemen, that I will recognize Him as King, and that I will come and worship Him by giving Him all of me, even as Romans 12:1 to “present (my body) a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
And Simeon saw Jesus as a gift from God. Simeon was a righteous man who was devout and the Holy Spirit was upon Him. Luke 2:26, “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, he recognized Jesus as “your salvation”. (vs. 30) He took Jesus in his arms and sang a song of praise.
This blog will never be done. We could go on and on with all those who have known or seen Jesus over the centuries and could investigate their responses to Him. However, the only response we truly have to concern ourselves with is our own response to Jesus. May it be the one that God wants - to first of all recognize who He is, and then to come and bow down in worship to Him.
I am hoping this will create lots of thought - we can write a second blog as a compilation of your comments - so be generous with your ideas.
Blessings on all of you this wonderful season of the year, one that recognizes Him as our King!!
Submitted by Naida
Luke 2 The Birth of Jesus
A few years ago I heard a speaker at a Christmas banquet speak on the topic of the “responses to His birth”. Even though it was late in the evening before he was given the chance to speak and he was given only a few minutes, it was amazing how many points he made on this subject. Since I did not realize the nature of his message, it did not cross my mind to take notes. But ever since then, I have often thought about this topic at this season and when I hear or read the Christmas story.
So, let us consider some of the reactions or responses to the birth of the baby - some of them from my memory of this speaker’s message and some of thoughts that have come to me this week as I re-read the Christmas story.
In the story, there are many “players”; the village innkeeper, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, angels, Herod, the Wisemen, and Simeon. There are others in the story but these are some to consider. Unfortunately, we can see ourselves in some of their responses and wish we could in the others.
Probably the one we would most NOT want to the same response would be the innkeeper. No Room. Too Busy. What a response! Let’s pray that none of us become so busy making money and our way in the world, that we do not have room for Him.
Then there is Joseph. Whole books could be written about his response to the birth of Jesus. Probably they have been but I have not read any. Even from the appearing of the angel to him, he made all the right responses. He was sensitive to God’s guidance and obeyed God. And in the process, he, as a wonderful speaker Peggy Kennedy put it, “protected the promise of God.” He had such strong beliefs, he was prepared to do what was right even though it would cause pain, both to him and to his family. We do not hear of Joseph after Jesus was 12 years old, but up to then, the whole plan of salvation wrought by our Saviour would have been so different if Joseph had not responded the way he did.
So much depended on Mary’s response. Mary had many reactions to the news of being the mother of Jesus and to His birth. Of course, there was the puzzlement and fright because she would not have been able to understand what was happening. But she humbly made herself available to God. So much could be said about Mary’s response. In Luke 1:38, she says “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.” As pointed out in the LAP Bible notes, “A person’s character is revealed by his or her response to the unexpected”. (p. 1471) Would our response be - “Yes” - to the Lord, whatever you desire for me?
We all know the story of the shepherds. Pretty ordinary job and probably pretty ordinary night on the hillside, until . . . suddenly an angel appeared - of course, their first reaction would have been fright!! Their response, however, after the excitement, was one of “let’s go and worship”. After going and finding Mary and Joseph and the baby, they went back to their job, praising God because they had seen Him!!
The angels played a great part that wonderful night! They spread the news and sang and praised God. Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward men.” Imagine what the shepherds saw! The angels response was one of praise.
And then there was Herod. He reacted with fear to the birth of Jesus. He was so fearful, he killed all the boys under two years of age in an obsessive attempt to kill Jesus, the newborn King. (LAP Bible notes) But he only hurt himself, no one could stop God’s plans - to provide a Saviour for the world.
The Wisemen did what wisemen would do! When they got the news, they sought for Him. They came, and brought gifts. We, too, can have the same response as them, we can come . . . and give the gift of ourselves to Him. That was God’s plan, as prophesied by the prophet, Isaiah, and repeated in Matthew 1:21, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” I pray that I will be as wise as these wisemen, that I will recognize Him as King, and that I will come and worship Him by giving Him all of me, even as Romans 12:1 to “present (my body) a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
And Simeon saw Jesus as a gift from God. Simeon was a righteous man who was devout and the Holy Spirit was upon Him. Luke 2:26, “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, he recognized Jesus as “your salvation”. (vs. 30) He took Jesus in his arms and sang a song of praise.
This blog will never be done. We could go on and on with all those who have known or seen Jesus over the centuries and could investigate their responses to Him. However, the only response we truly have to concern ourselves with is our own response to Jesus. May it be the one that God wants - to first of all recognize who He is, and then to come and bow down in worship to Him.
I am hoping this will create lots of thought - we can write a second blog as a compilation of your comments - so be generous with your ideas.
Blessings on all of you this wonderful season of the year, one that recognizes Him as our King!!
Submitted by Naida
posted by Randall | 2:37 p.m.
3 Comments:
Very interesting thoughts, Naida. I have never thought of the story from that perspective before. It really makes you get to know each of those people as individuals. Its hard to imagine what that night was like the night Jesus was born. How would I react? Not sure. Excited, surprised, disbelief? Probably a combination of all of them. Just like the Pastor said this morning......He is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, first and last. Oh what a joy it would be just to have a glimpse of Him! My response would be to bow down at His feet and sing of the mercies of the Lord!!
This reminds me of a sermon I heard from a preacher who just happens to be on our missionary council that Judy and I serve on. Although he had been pastor of one church 45 years I had never heard him preach before and he preached on Jesus' parable about the sower who went out to sow the seed and he gave the different responses to the recipient's of the seeds,i.e. those who represented the different types of ground...thorny, those by the wayside' rocky and so on and his question was; what is my response to the gospel?And that seems to be the same question you are asking Naida; What is my response to the preached WORD OF GOD? tHAT PASTOR'S MESSAGE STUCK WITH ME AS THIS BLOG WILL ALSO, i'M SURE.
I enjoyed reading your article, it is very thought provoking and keeps our conscious alive - because we can so often switch our response. Naida, please keep writing, may the Lord bless your contirbution. I read a number of times to digest it. Thanks
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