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Readings: Isaiah 9:6-8; Luke 2:10-12
Love Under the Microscope
1. The inadequacy of vision
2. A microscope improves vision
3. It can be applied to understanding as well as seeing
4. Example: Viewing Luke 2:11 under a microscope reveals
more than meets the eye -- what is revealed is a special kind of place, a
special kind of love, and a special kind of person, a Savior.
A Savior
1. In English, the verse contains 19 words. Under the
microscope we can see that:
2. All words revolve around one word as planets around the
sun. That pivotal word is "Savior."
3. Were angels required to announce the birth of a Mother
Theresa or Princess Di? A Herbert Hoover or a Mahatma Ghandi or a Martin
Luther King? No, sir! Only for the titanic tidings of a Savior, one who
might rescue all humanity from sin, death, disease, and hell, would the
heavenly host be required!
4. And the other 18 words merely modify the brightness of
their Son. But they, in that reflection, tell us all about the Savior:
They Tell Us Who the Savior Was to Be -
"Messiah" and "Yahweh
"
1. "Messiah," the Messiah, the
long-predicted, Elohim
-appointed, Elohim
-anointed fulfiller of the covenants of
Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, and the prophets Isaiah, Micah, Daniel, and
John the Baptist.
2. "kyrios," NT synonym
for YHWH. This Messiah
is Yahweh
Elohim
himself. "Hail th'incarnate
deity!"
They Tell Us How the Savior Was to Come - "is
born"
1. How can a Messiah
save if no feelings like those he aims
to rescue? But Messiah
is born!
2. How can a Yahweh
bless if no common experience with those
he aims to bless? But Yahweh
is born!
3. And the birth of the Savior
(a) makes motherhood a holy thing;
(b) sets womanhood in an honored place;
(c) gives humanity and human ways dignity, bound up with
Elohim
's own dignity; and
(d) proves the real manhood of Messiah
, spanning the deep
gulf of sin, space, time and possibility. He is born!
They Tell Us Where the Savior Was to Be Born -
"In the City of David"
1. This is where Jacob's dear Rachel died giving birth
2. Where gentle Ruth gleaned & herself became a wife
3. Where King David was born -- where he learned to play
the harp, sing psalms, and toss stones.
4. Bethlehem -- to the prophets, perhaps a wretched place;
yet Bethlehem is blessed today throughout the entire earth, by saints and
sinners alike, as the birthplace of a King.
They Tell Us To Whom the Savior Came - "for unto
you"
1. He came to the poorest of the poor - shepherds -
despised by all - the least of brethren. And he came by way of angels to
shepherds to show that nobody is to be excluded from his salvation or
fellowship.
2. And today he still comes unto you and unto me; he lives
with us; he helps guide us; he comforts us.
A true story: A Christian lady was concerned about her apathetic
husband. During the holidays, all he did was sit in the basement, eat
popcorn, and watch sports. She's get on him constantly, but it didn't
do any good. Prayer didn't work, either. Finally she retorted,
"What would 'Jesus' have to do with you?" and stomped up the
basement stairs.
That night she had a dream. Jesus came to the house and told the
sister he'd heard her prayer, and had come to see her husband. The
lady was beside herself with joy, and pointed Jesus to the basement
door. She waited upstairs for an hour, imagining Jesus severely
dealing with her husband, and how he would soon be a new man.
After another half hour, she couldn't wait any longer, and she sneaked
down the basement steps to see what was going on. There was her
husband in the same old chair. There was the television, blaring the
football game. And there was Jesus in the other chair, with the
popcorn bowl on his lap, rooting for the underdog.
Though horrified in the dream, the lady awoke laughing and laughed
all day. The dream was for her, and taught her how she might go about
reaching her husband!
He's with us every step of the way, even in front of the television,
"leading us into paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
And the words also instruct us as to how we should feel at his coming.
The conjunction "for" connects us with the previous verse:
"Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of a great joy...." The
sheep of his hand exist not in fear of his judgment, but in joy of his
providence. He came once to die, but he is returning soon to reign!
And that's what the prophecy we read from Isaiah is all about. He was
born, yes; for
Yahweh
sent a Word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
But like MacArthur, Jesus will return. And when he does,
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called The Prince of Peace. Of his government there shall be no end,
established with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever.
How will that happen? The prophet continues,
The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will make it happen.
It could be today!
The Words Tell Us When the Savior First Came - "This Day"
1. Today! Such incredible news for expectant lowly Bedouin shepherds.
They left their sheep to tell everyone of the blessed event until we
ourselves have heard the news!
2. Though ever so enlightening, the news is yet so condemning for us
today, who like to hear the old, old story time and again, but who still
can't or won't "noise it abroad."
3. For one day soon that we call "today" he will emblazon the
skies, and this time,
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and
they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail
because of him. (Rev 1:7)
Invitation to Watch
You've met the child. Every one of the 19 words in our verse have
magnified him and extolled his virtue. Today, have you received him as
your Savior? Have you been filled with his Holy Spirit? Does your faith in
him reflect your actions?
If so, you're ready to meet the coming King
with joy. Trade in your microscope for a telescope, for he is just over
the farthest cloud. Despite all the hubbub of Christmas, Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) will
not be returning to the earth this Christmas or any other until he returns in
the great cloud of witnesses accompanying Yahshua Tviot. You'll see them both
then.
We think of our final hymn as a Christmas carol, but it really is a
song about his second coming in power. (It is "Joy to the
World.")
May each heart find peace and joy in believing the glad message of his
Yahshua's birth. And as we sing, it is my hope each will receive an added
blessing and assurance as we consider his soon coming. (#392)
Jackson Snyder,
1/3/93
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