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Several years ago it seemed as though we were overrun with films
focusing on encounters with extra-terrestrial lifeforms. Films such
as Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Cocoon, Star Trek-the
Movie, E.T., and Starman all tried to depict what it would be like
to interact with beings from another world. The basic theme of this
type of movie seemed to be this: beings of superior intellect and
capabilities visit the earth, look with sadness on the sorrowful
state of human affairs and offer help, or at least advice, on how
to put things back together and start living in harmony with one
another. Despite all the attention (and dollars) these movies attract,
the story they have to tell is a mere fairy tale compared to the
close encounter that God sent to earth nearly two thousand years
ago.
It is truly remarkable to think about. Heaven is as
extra-terrestrial as you can get. And the Being that came from Heaven
and took on the form of a man was not just another life-form from
another planet but the Creator of the planets Himself! (John 1)
What culture shock Jesus must have experienced, to have left the
atmosphere of Heaven--filled with the presence and love of God the
Father and the Holy Spirit--and enter the atmosphere of this
world--filled with the sounds of angry citizens crowded into their
home-towns to be taxed; breathing the air permeated with the smell
of livestock in the manger. What a way for the King of the Universe
to enter the world--but this was the way He chose.
The passage of Scripture which describes His entrance is a familiar
one, but one which conveys amazing truth. This story forms the hub
of civilization; it restarted our calendar nineteen hundred and
ninety years ago. In Luke chapter 2 it says this: "in those days
Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of
the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place
while Quirinius was governing Syria.) And everyone went to his own
town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth
in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he
belonged to the house and the line of David. He went there to register
with Mary who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting
a child. While they were there the time had come for the baby to
be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped
him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room
for them in the inn."
When this event took place, the significant details of this
night were swallowed up by the insignificant. What seemed to be
of utmost importance was trivial compared to the reality of what
God was introducing in His dealings with mankind.As the people gathered
around tables in their homes, in the inns or around campfires out
in the fields grumbling about the inconvenience and expense of
traveling great distances just to be counted and taxed by this Roman
emperor and his official, Quirinius, the greatest event of history
to date was happening in a cattle stall nearby. History would be
forever changed by this seemingly insignificant newborn baby lying
in a manger. 1 Corinthians says it well, "God chose the foolish
things of this world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things
of the world to shame the strong, He chose the lowly things of this
world and the despised things and the things that are not, to nullify
the things that are, that no one may boast before him." This truly
describes the events surrounding Jesus' birth. We look back today
and see the birth of the Saviour of the world. But on the night
it took place the people of Israel had their eyes focused on Rome,
upon the emperor, and upon the census.
Caesar Augustus, the supreme ruler of the known world, and
Quirinius, his local official, were the stars of the story. Caesar
had given himself the name "Augustus" which means "divine one" or
"one whose origin is of the gods" and he expected the people to
treat him as such. As his local representative, Quirinius' name
was on the lips of all the people. The census and the tax they imposed
were the 'big events' that filled their conversation. They were
upset with the idea that they no longer had control over their own
government. They were angry over having to pay unfair taxes. This
was the important news of the day. If Bethlehem would have had a
news-paper in that day these events would have captured the headlines.
And what would have received one line way over on page 18 D under
"Births/Deaths"? "Son of carpenter born in manger." With everything
else going on, who really cared about another baby being born in
a cattle stall? And yet this event would ultimately effect their
lives and would completely eclipse everything that they now believed
was so critically important.
Today the year 1990 marks one thousand nine hundred and ninety
years from what event? From the year the census was taken? From
the year Quirinius carried out the proclamation to enforce a tax?
No, these events are insignificant today. 1990 marks the day a little
peasant baby was born in Bethlehem.
It's easy for us to look back and smugly say to ourselves, "How
foolish; to be so busy with the things of this world that one would
miss an event as wonderful as the birth of the Messiah. Anyone who
could read Scripture should have seen that Jesus' birth was foretold,
down to the time and place, but they were so concerned with money
and with the busyness impossed on them by the system of the day
that they didn't take time to notice."
And yet this is exactly what happens to us to one degree or
another every year around this same time. The significant get's
swallowed up by the insignificant. Every year we hear reminders,
"Don't forget the true meaning of Christmas...don't forget Jesus."
And we nod our heads, "Oh yeah, OK", as we plunge on into the night,
through the malls, the crafts fairs, the department stores----all
the while (just as in Jesus' day) complaining about the amount of
money we feel forced to pay and the busyness imposed upon us by
the system.
I want to make an appeal for a change, for a refocusing of our
attention onto the significance of this time of year. I'm not saying,
"Destroy your Christmas tree, throw away your colored lights, burn
your Perry Como Christmas albums and just say 'bah, humbug' to the
whole thing." I'm saying focus your attention this year on the things
that are significant, beggining with your relationship with God.
Jesus Christ, the son of God, truly did come to earth nearly
2000 years ago to save people from their sins and the first step
in refocusing your attention on this event is realizing that this
news is for you. Notice verses 8-10 of the story in Luke 2:
"...And there were shepherds out in the field nearby keeping watch
over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them...
and said, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people." The news of Jesus' birth is not
just for some to believe in but for *all people*. Sadly, many take
the position that only if your life is at a dead end is a belief
in Christ a viable option. They believe that only a burned out drug
addict or a convict in prison or someone at the end of their rope
financially needs a savior. They miss out on the most joyful life
possible on earth (as well as eternal life with God) because they
think that only people who need a crutch believe in Jesus Christ.
But the angels announced that this news of great joy was for all
people.
At the other end of the extreme are those who feel that they
are too lowly to have a relationship with God. They feel that He
is interested only in those people they see driving off to church
in their 'Sunday best'; the ones who seem to have their "acts
together"; the ones who never seem to have a problem or a care.
They feel as though they're different from others because of their
background, their upbringing, their position in life and so they
give up, saying, "Why bother? God's not interested in me either."
But God laid this belief squarely to rest when He chose those who
would be the first to hear the "good news". It's interesting to
notice who He selected. He could have sent His angels to those at
the top, to Caesar Augustus and his men, or to the religious leaders,
the pharisees and the scribes, or the financial leaders, the tax
gatherers and the other authorities, but He chose those that were
considered to be at the bottom of the social ladder of the day---
shepherds.
Our manger scenes depict clean, upright, noble shepherds who
we figure were probably pretty well liked by their fellow citizens.
This is not the case. Shepherds were considered the "uneducated
class" and most were considered to be thieves and robbers--smelly
men who did boring, mindless work. They were looked down upon by
the rest of society...the perfect candidates to reveal the most
important news of all time to, right? Right! That is, if you're
trying to make sure that everyone understands that this is for all
people, from the least on up. God honored them first with the good
news so that we could all understand that God has not reserved
salvation for a certain type or class of individual but for all
people.
Next, in refocusing our lives, we need to understand that this
is news of *great joy.* Verse 10: "but the angel said to them..'I
bring you good news of great joy...today in the town of David a
savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, Christ the Lord.'
Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel,
praising God saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth,
peace to men on whom his favor rests." Why is it some people view
Jesus as someone who wants to take away their fun, to bring an end
to enjoyment of life as they know it? They miss the fact that Jesus
came to bring ultimate fulfillment to mankind; to reunite us with
the God who loves and cares for us. He came to bring the joy to
us that we can never experience while separated from God. To be
accepted by God, because of the incredible price that Jesus paid
for us, is good news indeed, and to those who know Him it brings
great joy.
The last step in refocusing our lives on Christ is simply to
acknowledge Him. For some that means that initial step of receiving
Him as Savior. You've heard about Him for a long time but have never
really received Him for foregivness of your sin and allowed Him
to make you a new creation. Start there. God sent His Son Jesus
to bring you the ultimate Christmas gift ever--eternal life. God
gave to the world His best, His all. To say to God that you're
good enough without Him states. in effect, that Jesus' coming in
the form of a man and dying for your sins was unneccessary. Don't
just hear the good news of foregiveness and acceptance by God and
do nothing about it. Follow the example of the shepherds who, after
they heard the message of the Messiah didn't sit back down and say,
"My, what an interesting message". They got up and went and *found
Jesus*. Go to Him. He's ready to receive you.
And to those who already know Him my advice is the same. During
this Christmas season, don't allow the distractions around you to
keep you from experiencing what's truly significant. Go and find
Jesus. He's here. The understanding of who He is and what He's done
for each of us is truly good news of great joy.
By Skip Heitzig
Carlos
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| Ok, Karen,
Now you've got me smiling, which is typical of what you do. ;-)
I truly don't know the parameters defining ancient socio-economic
classes. I, personally, find even the modern ones woefully inadequate.
This much is known from the accounts in Matthew and Luke:
Jesus, the Messiah, was not born in the midst of opulence and comfort.
Herod, according to Matthew, recognized the threat immediately. In Luke,
the birth of the Savior was announced not to royalty, not to the rich and
influential, but to common shepherds.
In this time of great and hopeful anticipation, may you and others
be touched by the strange and wonderful story of the everlasting Light
(John 1:9).
High intensity love,
Richard
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| No, it is only Christmas.
"Oh, you mean the birthday of Jesus, the son of a great Moricha.
He was probably born in a big palace, and he must have died the death of an
exceptionally brave warrior."
No, he was born in a stable, his crib a simple manger, and he
died on a scaffold between two criminals.
"Why such a big to-do about someone who was born in such a lowly
manner and who died in such a shameful way?"
His secret was his life, his teachings, and his spirit that led
men and women to the Great God. He loved everyone, even the despised,
poor, outcasts, and even the prostitutes and vilest of all sinners.
"What a pity he is not around today! We need someone like that
in our world."
But that is not the end of the story. He was killed but he didn't
stay in the grave. He has many loyal warriors who continue to remember him
and do his work. That is why they make so much over Christmas, his
birthday.
"Do you mean that all 'civilized' people we meet are warriors for
this Jesus?"
The old man could only shake his head.
By that time the bus was coming in. The two Indians concentrated
on selling their wares. A passenger about the age of Jesua's son
suddenly pointed at the Indian boy and yelled for all to hear:
"Look, mommy. He's an Indian but he is dressed like I am!"
That hurt! His father had tried to tell him how to dress so the
white man would not make fun of him and call him a savage. Now they
think it's ridiculous to see an Indian who tries to copy their dress.
The old Jesua stared in silent amazement at the scene he couldn't
explain to his son.
A thousand thoughts were running through the head of the 12-year-old
Indian boy.
Are all these people really warriors of the great son of Nhandjara?
Why do they pay so much attention to his birthday and yet miss his message
of love?
By this time traffic had slakened at the bus station. The plastic-
covered sticks were still unsold.
It was Christmas Eve, a time of great excitement and celebration.
But for the Indian boy it was a time for perplexing questions about the
real nature of the One whose birth was being celebrated.
It was a time for pondering how the followers of Jesus could have
drifted so far away from his original message of love, peace, and
compassion.
For old Jesua, it was just another lousy day for the fake bow-and-
arrow business.
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The foregoing was written by Scilla Franco, bishop of The Methodist Church
in Brazil from 1987 until his death in 1989. It is based on an actual
occurance.
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