A Broken And Lowly Christmas
“God is not ashamed of the lowliness of human beings. God marches right in. He chooses people as his instruments and performs his wonders where one would least expect them. God is near to lowliness; he loves the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded, the weak and broken.”
Zechariah lost his doubtful voice and found something worthy to say.
“His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
’Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because HE HAS COME to his people and REDEEMED them.’”
Elizabeth’s empty womb carried a child prophet full of the Holy Spirit.
“He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 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.”
Mary’s unplanned pregnancy was ridiculed and yet all generations call her blessed.
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me BLESSED, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”
Joseph fathered a child that was not his own but was his very own Savior.
“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. ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE from their sins.’
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means “God with us”).”
Ordinary shepherds that watched sheep night after night saw the Lamb of God.
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ”
Simeon’s dying wish was granted as he held Salvation in his very arms
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your SALVATION, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
A woman prophet named Anna worshiped, fasted, and prayed for decades never leaving the temple.
“Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Magi followed signs and prophesies to bring kingly treasures to the Messiah that would serve him in his death.
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
Jesus’ infant life was threatened by King Herod but the kingdom of this world had no power over him.
“And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”
“And then, just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God. Our eyes are at fault, that is all. God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment. No evil can befall us; whatever men may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is secretly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives.”