Luke 2:17
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;
Here’s where I think Mary and Joseph might have had a difference of opinion. For Mary, this is amazing news. Who wouldn’t want to know that their child is incredibly special? But for Joseph things are murkier. Yes, this is a special child, but it’s technically not his child! Furthermore, he knows it!
Obviously it would appear that over time Joseph put such understandable misgivings aside. Or did he? We’ll never know.
With Christmas gatherings on the horizon, sometimes we encounter people who give us reason to cringe for one reason or another. Maybe they said something once that rubbed us the wrong way or maybe they just behave in a way that grates on our nerves. My only advice would be to take a cue from Joseph and act in such a way that, even if there is a grudge of some kind brewing, history doesn’t record it.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Finding Extraordinary in the Simple
Luke 2:12
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
I used to enjoy the old Indiana Jones Movies. I remember in one movie he had to choose the proper chalice among many. There were lots of really fancy ones on display, but the real chalice was the plain unadorned one. Just a simple cup, really.
The sign the angel promised to the shepherds was really plain. A child. Just wrapped up in ordinary cloth. Lying, of all places, in a manger.
Years ago my mom used to give me some of my Christmas presents in a brown paper bag stapled shut at the top with my name scribbled big letters with magic marker. She wasn’t being disrespectful. She had a lot on her plate and wrapping presents just wasn’t where she chose to spend her energy. But the gifts, well, the gifts were still precious. Both the gift itself and the gift of knowing who it came from.
The shepherds were about to discover as much and more.
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
I used to enjoy the old Indiana Jones Movies. I remember in one movie he had to choose the proper chalice among many. There were lots of really fancy ones on display, but the real chalice was the plain unadorned one. Just a simple cup, really.
The sign the angel promised to the shepherds was really plain. A child. Just wrapped up in ordinary cloth. Lying, of all places, in a manger.
Years ago my mom used to give me some of my Christmas presents in a brown paper bag stapled shut at the top with my name scribbled big letters with magic marker. She wasn’t being disrespectful. She had a lot on her plate and wrapping presents just wasn’t where she chose to spend her energy. But the gifts, well, the gifts were still precious. Both the gift itself and the gift of knowing who it came from.
The shepherds were about to discover as much and more.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Who Is Jesus?
Luke 2:11
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Who are you, really? Personally I wear several different hats. To my wife I’m a husband. To our children I am a father. To those who attend Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, I am a pastor. By the grace of God I am all three of these things and many more.
Jesus, according to the angel, was Savior, Messiah, and Lord. We all need saved from something, so we need a Savior. We are all drawn to someone who is truly anointed, and so knowing the Messiah (which means the anointed one) is as good as it gets. And for all our talk about wanting to be captain of our own ship and all the rest, well, truth be told, if there were simply someone else that we could trust truly had the world’s best interests at heart, well, we’d be glad to proclaim him or her Lord.
In Jesus the shepherds found their Savior, Messiah, and Lord. He was all that they could ever ask for. Born in their day, in their nearby town, and coming soon to a theater of life near you.
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Who are you, really? Personally I wear several different hats. To my wife I’m a husband. To our children I am a father. To those who attend Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, I am a pastor. By the grace of God I am all three of these things and many more.
Jesus, according to the angel, was Savior, Messiah, and Lord. We all need saved from something, so we need a Savior. We are all drawn to someone who is truly anointed, and so knowing the Messiah (which means the anointed one) is as good as it gets. And for all our talk about wanting to be captain of our own ship and all the rest, well, truth be told, if there were simply someone else that we could trust truly had the world’s best interests at heart, well, we’d be glad to proclaim him or her Lord.
In Jesus the shepherds found their Savior, Messiah, and Lord. He was all that they could ever ask for. Born in their day, in their nearby town, and coming soon to a theater of life near you.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Personal and Public Good News
Luke 2:10
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:
Recently I learned that my nephew is engaged. This is his personal good news of great joy. But even though the news is personal, it’s not private or exclusive. Last night Facebook was all awash with “likes” and congratulatory comments and happy pictures and all the rest related to the news of their engagement. Clearly it was news of great joy for lots of people, not just my nephew and his fiancé.
How sweet it was, according to Luke, for the shepherds to be among the first to know of the joyful news for all the people. Yes, the news was intended specifically for the shepherds. But it was also specifically intended for everyone else. Maybe even you. And like the angel said, there’s no need to be afraid. It’s good news of great joy!
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:
Recently I learned that my nephew is engaged. This is his personal good news of great joy. But even though the news is personal, it’s not private or exclusive. Last night Facebook was all awash with “likes” and congratulatory comments and happy pictures and all the rest related to the news of their engagement. Clearly it was news of great joy for lots of people, not just my nephew and his fiancé.
How sweet it was, according to Luke, for the shepherds to be among the first to know of the joyful news for all the people. Yes, the news was intended specifically for the shepherds. But it was also specifically intended for everyone else. Maybe even you. And like the angel said, there’s no need to be afraid. It’s good news of great joy!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Keeping Calm in spite of Circumstances
Luke 2:9
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
When I speak in terms of a calmer Christmas, I don’t mean to imply that it will be non-eventful. Scary stuff happens in this world. Yet when such things happen around this time of year it seems to catch us by surprise, as if such things should not be allowed to happen over the holidays.
When a custody battle is lost, a personal relationship breaks, a job ends, a challenging diagnosis is given, a pink slip issued, or the house burns down—we consider it insult added to injury if it happens over Christmas—as if it would have been any easier if had happened in, let’s say, January.
The fact that so many of us think that such things shouldn’t happen over Christmas reveals just how far removed we are from the very first Christmas. But if we have the courage to enter back into the story, we can see a more realistic and less idealistic picture.
Scripture says that the shepherds were “terrified” when the angel of the Lord stood before them. In the Gospel of Matthew’s version of this story, every child under the age of 2 was to be killed by order of Herod with the hopes that Jesus would be among them. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus had to flee for their lives. It doesn’t sound like a very calm Christmas, does it? And, of course, we just read a couple days ago that Mary and Joseph had to settle for manger in shed because there was no room for them in the inn. It was a VERY eventful Christmas for them and not particularly calm at all.
In a few days we’ll learn how the terrified shepherds eventually got their courage back. But for now, let us be content to know that the calmer way to Christmas has more to do with one’s mindset than one’s circumstances. If we get nothing else out of Christmas, let us at least remember that the whole point of Christmas is not an absence of drama but, rather the presence of Jesus in the midst of it all.
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
When I speak in terms of a calmer Christmas, I don’t mean to imply that it will be non-eventful. Scary stuff happens in this world. Yet when such things happen around this time of year it seems to catch us by surprise, as if such things should not be allowed to happen over the holidays.
When a custody battle is lost, a personal relationship breaks, a job ends, a challenging diagnosis is given, a pink slip issued, or the house burns down—we consider it insult added to injury if it happens over Christmas—as if it would have been any easier if had happened in, let’s say, January.
The fact that so many of us think that such things shouldn’t happen over Christmas reveals just how far removed we are from the very first Christmas. But if we have the courage to enter back into the story, we can see a more realistic and less idealistic picture.
Scripture says that the shepherds were “terrified” when the angel of the Lord stood before them. In the Gospel of Matthew’s version of this story, every child under the age of 2 was to be killed by order of Herod with the hopes that Jesus would be among them. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus had to flee for their lives. It doesn’t sound like a very calm Christmas, does it? And, of course, we just read a couple days ago that Mary and Joseph had to settle for manger in shed because there was no room for them in the inn. It was a VERY eventful Christmas for them and not particularly calm at all.
In a few days we’ll learn how the terrified shepherds eventually got their courage back. But for now, let us be content to know that the calmer way to Christmas has more to do with one’s mindset than one’s circumstances. If we get nothing else out of Christmas, let us at least remember that the whole point of Christmas is not an absence of drama but, rather the presence of Jesus in the midst of it all.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Calmer Way to Christmas for December 8th
Luke 2:8
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
While most of the world sleeps, some people are still up. In our culture police cruise the streets, paramedics await a call, convenience store workers exchange goods for cash, and shift-workers take their turn. There are also those who wish they could sleep, but for some reason are still up—or up again.
And then it happens…something out of the ordinary occurs that only a few will see.
I remember being at a family gathering late into the night one summer. We were at my uncle’s house when all of a sudden we noticed a peculiar red glow in the Southeastern sky. Strange. We got in our cars. We had to go see. It was a fire. An old barn had caught—or more likely been set—on fire. We alone were there to see it—and to call the fire department and such—all because we were still up.
Somebody always is—just like the shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock by night.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
While most of the world sleeps, some people are still up. In our culture police cruise the streets, paramedics await a call, convenience store workers exchange goods for cash, and shift-workers take their turn. There are also those who wish they could sleep, but for some reason are still up—or up again.
And then it happens…something out of the ordinary occurs that only a few will see.
I remember being at a family gathering late into the night one summer. We were at my uncle’s house when all of a sudden we noticed a peculiar red glow in the Southeastern sky. Strange. We got in our cars. We had to go see. It was a fire. An old barn had caught—or more likely been set—on fire. We alone were there to see it—and to call the fire department and such—all because we were still up.
Somebody always is—just like the shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock by night.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Calmer Way to Christmas Devotion #7
Luke 2:7
"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."
You’ve probably heard stories of your own birth. In my case I was the last of six children. When mom realized that it was time to head to the hospital, she sent my older sisters to the barn to tell my Dad. Mom, of course, had been through this routine several times before and therefore had tried to hold off as long as she could. Dad, of course, had also been through this routine several times before and figured there was no real rush. I’m told that’s why he went ahead and milked three more cows. All I can say is that I’m glad I wasn’t in the car—well, in a way I guess I was—to hear what mom said to dad when she found out the reason for his delay. That couldn’t have been pretty…
But then again, I wonder what kind of chilly reception Joseph got years earlier when he broke the news to Mary that there was no room in the inn and a stable and a manger would have to do.
Nevertheless, we all made it, we look back now and laugh, we realize all that we were upset about or irritated about didn’t matter that much. God did what God was gonna do and the world has never been the same since.
Thanks, and have a great day.
"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."
You’ve probably heard stories of your own birth. In my case I was the last of six children. When mom realized that it was time to head to the hospital, she sent my older sisters to the barn to tell my Dad. Mom, of course, had been through this routine several times before and therefore had tried to hold off as long as she could. Dad, of course, had also been through this routine several times before and figured there was no real rush. I’m told that’s why he went ahead and milked three more cows. All I can say is that I’m glad I wasn’t in the car—well, in a way I guess I was—to hear what mom said to dad when she found out the reason for his delay. That couldn’t have been pretty…
But then again, I wonder what kind of chilly reception Joseph got years earlier when he broke the news to Mary that there was no room in the inn and a stable and a manger would have to do.
Nevertheless, we all made it, we look back now and laugh, we realize all that we were upset about or irritated about didn’t matter that much. God did what God was gonna do and the world has never been the same since.
Thanks, and have a great day.
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