unlikely witnesses…

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:8-20, NRSV)

The shepherds were out in the fields with their sheep and the angels call them to come and see the birth of the Messiah!

The Messiah should have been born in a castle, in a royal palace, but He was born in a pen for animals.

He should have had dignitaries and important people at His birth, but God send shepherds!

Shepherds were not able to make a statement in court and have it hold up. They were liars and cheats. They could not be trusted. Yet these are the ones, the angels herald to come and be the witness of the birth of the King of Kings!

We need to be humble and know that we are like the lowly shepherds. Called to witness the King of Kings and take Him to those who walk in the dark.

It’s not about the manger, it is the whole story, of Jesus born to this world, made alive in the flesh to show us how to live. To show us how to make Him known to this world.

Be a shepherd, a lowly servant, and herald the message of the birth of the King!

light has shined!

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time on-wards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:2-7, NRSV)

Have you ever walked through a dark room…

It is scary (especially if you have children…)…

You could walk into something, step on something…

But the littlest light makes all the difference in the darkness…

And here we have the best light of all!

Into a dark world the light of the savior has come.

He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…

He has come to give us life and to show us how to live.

So let us shout from the mountain top that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is born!

scattered…

And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ (Luke 1:46b-55, NRSV)

This is a song about what will happen?

Mary sings this before the birth of Jesus. She is telling us that once this event happens, the proud will be scattered, the powerful will be brought down, and the lowly will be lifted up.

The thoughts of the hearts of the proud will be their undoing. The powerful will be taken off of their power places. They will no longer hold the status that they do, and those who are seen as unworthy will be lifted to a place they have not been before…

This is what the kingdom of God will be like. Those who do things for their own gain will be shown for what they are, those who yield power for their gain will not be able to any more, and those who are held low, will be lifted to the place they should be.

Are you ready for the Advent of our God?

Emmanuel…

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:10-16, NRSV)

Now this prophecy from Isaiah is one we read as Christians as a for-telling of Jesus’ birth…

There is a few issues with this…

One is that according to this reading Isaiah is telling Ahaz, that the siege on his city will be over when this young woman, who is with child, gives birth and that child is able to eats curds and honey. If this is about Jesus, then Isaiah is telling Ahaz, to hold on about 700 years and the siege will be over…

Is that good news?

Does the fact that this prophecy is probably pointing to a different woman than Mary and the birth of Jesus mean that this text is not about Jesus?

How many times is a prophecy to happen before it is no longer a prophecy?

Jesus came to us from a young woman, just as the scripture for-told. And He came to bring peace, and to have us beat our swords into plows, and because of that we took up arms and had Him put to death…

He came to bring us peace, and we saw a different outcome.

So are you ready for Jesus to come as a baby?

But even more are you ready for the peace that He promised to come and for Him to come again to bring the Kingdom in fruition!