The Presence Of Christ Come
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 25th December’s service and hymns are below.
_________________________________
Our verses are:
Luk 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Luk 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Luk 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Luk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Luk 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Luk 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luk 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luk 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luk 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Luk 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Luk 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Luk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
Luk 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luk 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
The Presence Of Christ Come
Luke tells us Mary ‘brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn’. With these simple words the presence of the infant Christ in the world is recorded. The conditions of the Saviour’s birth were basic and humble, yet angels rejoiced to see it and the heavenly host sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men’.
For our sakes He became poor
The grim conditions of Jesus’ birth suggest neither Joseph nor Mary had relatives in Bethlehem, there was no house to go to, no friends waiting to receive them. Since so little notice is taken of them, it probably implies relative poverty and meanness. Had they been wealthy, or prominent, they would have been cared for and room made for them; especially since Mary, little more than a girl herself, was about to give birth to her first child. It was heartless to consign her to a stable in this condition.
In the cause of the poor and needy
We learn Mary personally swaddled her new-born baby. There was no midwife, no helper, no support. We can only admire her strength. Far from home and isolated Mary, ‘brought forth her firstborn son: and … called his name JESUS’. It is as though the poverty of Christ’s birth was designed to depict the nature of His coming. Our Lord Jesus laid aside all glory to identify with His poor, needy people. Though He is God and equal with God, yet He ‘made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men’.
‘Behold’
Nor was angelic help provided for the young mother, no easing of distress, or supply of comfort to Mary and her baby. What God’s angels did was gladly announce the birth of the Messiah. ‘Behold’ excites attention and emphasises the wonderful peace and joy being revealed to God’s people who ‘looked for redemption in Israel’. It would be thirty years before the Lord would begin His ministry but on this night an announcement to a group of shepherds was appropriate.
A chosen audience
It is very suitable that the first notice of Christ’s birth was given not to chief priests and learned men at Jerusalem, but to common, and otherwise unremarkable men whom God is pleased to choose and call. God hides His ways from the wise and prudent, to their confusion, while the wonder of His ways, and the glory of His grace is revealed to the poor and the despised. Of such is the kingdom of heaven, to such the gospel is savingly preached, and by such it was carried to the ends of the earth.
The Word made flesh
Perhaps it was Gabriel who met the shepherds, but the miracle was in the message, not the messenger. He said, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’ John says, ‘And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth’.
Our suitable substitute
The coming of the Lord Jesus, and the presence of the Lord Jesus in flesh on earth, is the heart of the gospel message of salvation by grace. By becoming a man the Lord Jesus ably represented men as their suitable Substitute. Being God He was fit to fulfil all righteousness by bearing an infinite weight of judgment in His human soul. The birth of Christ was not good tidings to every individual: Herod and the priests and Pharisees of Jerusalem did not welcome such news then, or ever. But to all for whom Christ came, and all who were given to Him in covenant mercy there is joy in beholding, ‘God with us’.
Something to think about
In tomorrow’s service we shall consider the good news or ‘tidings’ of Christ’s coming, the great joy of Christ’s presence, and the saving hope of Christ’s sacrifice. We shall consider this in the context of the angel’s words, ‘Fear not’, ‘unto you’ and ‘is born a Saviour’ and we shall ask the Lord that we, like Mary the mother of our Lord, might keep all these things and ponder them in our heart.
Amen
Our hymns are below.
Hymn 1
Gadsby selection 38
Jesus precious. 1 Pet. 2. 4, 7; Phil. 3. 8; Ps. 45. 17
P. Doddridge C.M.
1
Jesus, I love thy charming name;
’Tis music in my ear;
Fain would I sound it out so loud,
That earth and heaven might hear.
2
Yes, thou art precious to my soul,
My transport and my trust;
Jewels to thee are gaudy toys,
And gold is sordid dust.
3
O may thy name upon my heart
Shed a rich fragrance there;
The noblest balm of all my wounds,
The cordial of my care.
4
I’ll speak the honours of thy name
With my last labouring breath;
And, dying, clasp thee in my arms,
The Antidote of death!
Hymn 2
Gadsby selection 776
Christ’s Nativity. Luke 2. 7-14; Matt. 1. 21; 2. 11
J. Hart 8.7.
1
Let us all, with grateful praises,
Celebrate the happy day,
When the lovely, loving Jesus
First partook of human clay;
When the heavenly host, assembled,
Gazed with wonder from the sky;
Angels joyed, and devils trembled,
Neither fully knowing why.
2
Long had Satan reigned imperious,
Till the woman’s promised Seed,
Born a babe, by birth mysterious,
Came to bruise the serpent’s head.
Crush, dear Babe, his power within us,
Break our chains, and set us free;
Pull down all the bars between us,
Till we fly and cleave to thee.
3
Shepherds on their flocks attending,
Shepherds, that in night-time watched,
Saw the messenger descending,
From the court of heaven dispatched.
Beams of glory decked his mission,
Bursting through the veil of night;
Fear possessed them at the vision;
Sinners tremble at the light.
4
Dove-like meekness graced his visage;
Joy and love shone round his head;
Soon he cheered them with his message;
Comfort flowed from all he said:
“Fear not, favourites of the Almighty!
Joyful news to you I bring;
You have now, in David’s city,
Born a Saviour, Christ the King.
5
“Go and find the royal stranger
By these signs: A Babe you’ll see,
Weak and lying in a manger,
Wrapped and swaddled; that is he.”
Straight a host of angels glorious
Round the heavenly herald throng,
Uttering in harmonious chorus,
Airs divine; and this the song:
6
“Glory first to God be given
In the highest heights, and then
Peace on earth, proclaimed by heaven –
Peace and great goodwill to men!”
Thus they sang with rapture, kindling
In the shepherds’ hearts a flame,
Joy and wonder sweetly mingling;
All believers feel the same.
7
Lo, sweet Babe, we fall before thee;
Jesus, thee we all adore;
To thee, kingdom, power, and glory
Be ascribed for evermore.
Glory to our God be given
In the highest heights, and then
Peace on earth brought down from heaven –
Peace and great goodwill to men.
The Lord Jesus Christ was announced by the angel with these words, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’ The gospel takes away our fear. It brings good tidings of great joy because our Saviour, Christ the Lord, is born.
25 December 2022