The dark side of christmas

{Matthew 2:13-23}

(Rev. Charles Han)

This is a fitting passage for the day after christmas. I'll explain later why I think so as we move back to our normal lives...

Consider all the popular pictures we have of christmas. Magi, manger, donkey... But we don't bring up this portion of christmas, the slaughter of the innocents. Herod killing children to preserve his power.

For some of us, holidays are a break. But for others, it brings our problems into the forefront... Relationships, family, illness. This passage speaks to the messiness of our lives. This is the passage speaking to you.

There are three prophecies being spoken of during this passage. This should remind the reader of the story of Israel.

Jesus is the true israel.

What does that mean? Hosea 11 is noted. Reading hosea... we get a picture of Israel turning away from God. God does all this...and all He gets is rebellion. Israel is the rebellious, faithless, teenage son of God. Jesus came to be the faithful son that we could not be. He was the one who walked as we should have...so we could be with God. That is the christmas story. As we consider our regrets and things we did and didn't do, we can stand before God because our Jesus has walked for us...it was credited to us.

He came to be the Savior for the sufferer.

Joseph was afraid for their lives. Running from Herod. Jeremiah 31 is referenced by Matthew. This speaks of the death of Rachel and the exile of Israel. Rachel is considered the mother of israel... When israel went into exile, the nation was no more...that is why rachel weeps...because israel is no more. In the midst of tragedy and loss, christ came into our lives. Emmanuel, what does that mean? It means God came into our grief and loss. He felt our pains and walked with us. This is our God. One who bears suffering with us. The incarnation tells us that God knows everything we go through. He is not distant. He will wipe away every tear.... This is not some sort of nice sentiment. God will wipe away each and every tear from our lives as one who knows our pains and sufferings intimately... And draws close to console us. For those who suffer, he will console those who are now inconsolable.

The Savior for the insignificant

Jesus and his family wanted to go back to bethlehem. But instead they settle in Galilee. This is the boonies, the sticks... Nazareth. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?, jonathan asks. Jesus did not grow up in a privileged class. He grew up in a lowly place. Kensington. That "Nazarean sect" was how early christians were ridiculed. Jesus came from an insignificant background to show us who He came for. Isiah 53....

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The Joy of the Newborn King

[Matthew 2:1-12]

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
"'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

[Rev. Dwight Yoo]

Jesus brings joy to all who recognize Him as King

The wise men, also known as the magi, probably came from the arabian peninsula. There is alot of mystery about them. They were learned men. They practiced astrology, not astronomy. This was widely practiced during these times. Jews generally looked down on this practice. But God used this pagan practice to bring the wise men to Jesus. Of course, the wise men went looking for him in Jerusalem. Where else would you look for someone important and influential? But they don't find him there... Herod has no idea. So Herod asks his advisors, they tell him about prophesies of the messiah. So the wise men go to Bethlehem. And they bring expensive gifts to Jesus and worship Him.

Matthew wrote this in such a way as to bring to light all the ironies. Out of everyone, the wise men should not be the first to seek out Jesus. The priests who know these prophesies... they don't seek him. Instead, these pagans who have such limited knowledge of this messiah... they go out in search of him. And they are seeking him out because of something they discovered through astrology. Stranger and stranger. Herod and the rest of Jerusalem were troubled. This messiah that has been prophesied for years... brings them trouble. Instead, these pagans come and worship Jesus. They "rejoiced with exceeding joy." They experienced joy just solely because they know that Jesus was this history-changing person, this king of the Jews. They acknowledged Jesus as the hope of the world.

Not only this, but Jesus also seeked out the outsiders. His attraction to those who were outside extended to his ministry. He spent his time with uneducated fishermen, tax collectors (thugs), and prostitutes. All these outsiders can find joy in Jesus because of who He is. King of Kings... hope of the world. It doesn't require knowledge of prophesies or extensive bible knowledge.

For those of us who feel like we are on the inside... What does this story tell us? Those priests who know all this biblical knowledge and all these prophesies. They have this set of expectations. What about this son of a carpenter? And why does he hang out with sinners? Openly sinful people. Prostitutes... Isn't he supposed to overthrow the Roman government? Isn't he here to free his people? What kind of messiah is this? Aren't we apt to find that Jesus doesn't fit into the expectations we have of Him? "I pray and pray... and my life is still a mess." Jesus disturbs and troubles us. So what then? Stop trying to be KING! Our lives are not supposed to be the way we want them. Our lives are supposed to be the way God wants them. This is how it works to serve a King. We may not understand why He does things, but we can say that He is King, even in strange circumstances.

Jesus reverses the world's values

These wise men are learned, cultured, and well off. And they come... and find the king of kings in a manger. Mangers are not a barn. They are this lower section of the house, where the animals were kept and fed. This is where Jesus came into the world. This is a humble place. Herod, the king, was so troubled because this "king of the Jews" was a threat to his throne... to his power. Jesus doesn't chase after power. He humbled himself. He wins by dying. Who does that?! Jesus does not come to us in the likes of Brad Pitt (handsome, famous character) but he was completely forgettable. We would not notice him in a crowd. But Jesus valued other things. Consider the sermon on the mount. Jesus told us that the greatest in heaven would be the servant of all. The world's values will kill you. Being famous. Being rich. Being good-looking. Our careers taking off... The values of the world are wrong. Don't judge yourself by the world's standards. If we want to find life, we need to follow Christ. Loving others. Serving others. Quietly serving in the background. In the eyes of God, that is greatness. This is what living hope and joy looks like.

Jesus is the joy of the world

The fact that foreigners are the first to bow down and worship him. This is evidence that this is not a message for a small people group, a small sect. This is a global world-wide plan for joy. He uses the weak, the foolish. He just needs people who have a heart of a servant. Not someone who is powerful. Not someone who is rich. Not even someone who is capable. He needs those who are willing to serve. May we be that people.

Like Father Like Son

[Matthew 1:18-25]

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel"

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

When the angel of God told Joseph to take Mary as his wife. God was asking for Joseph's reputation and status. for life. People then could not just move away. They grew up and died in the same village/city. There were only two possible reputations that Mary and Joseph would have. First would be that they were fornicators. Joseph and Mary had sex before marriage, which was unheard of in those days among those people. Secondly, Mary had sex with another man while she was betrothed to Joseph and Joseph was a fool to marry her. When God called Joseph to throw away his life, it was no small thing. Even into the adult years of Jesus' life, this reputation would still hang over the whole family. People would come up to Jesus and accuse him of being a bastard.

This is the same call that God makes to every Christian. We are called to follow God at the cost of our lives. Our reputations. our goals/dreams/desires. To pick up our cross and follow God. This is not a call only for missionaries. Or only for pastors. When Joseph was told to marry Mary, verse 25 tells us how he reacted: "When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded..." He quietly and faithfully obeyed. No complaints are voiced. Just quiet obedience. Joseph is foreshadowing for Jesus. Jesus also went to the cross at the cost of his life. Like a lamb before her shearers.

Joseph is called a "just man." What does being just mean? Before the visit of the angel, Joseph was resolved to quietly divorce Mary. Why? He had just found out that Mary obviously had been unfaithful. But consider that he could have had Mary stoned to death for adultery. He could have divorced her publicly to shame her. Consider that justice is different here. It is not the form of justice we see often. It is not retribution. It is not an eye for an eye. It is not a stiff application of law. The same punishment for all. But rather it is compassion for the weak and broken.

"He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope." - Matthew 12:19-21

This is the heart of Joseph. Not justice in terms of only punishing those who have done wrong. But avoiding shaming and causing additional suffering for those who have sinned against us. It is justice that is compassionate as well. It covers over our shame. We are called to be gracious even when we have been sinned against.

Application

We are called to sacrifice anything and everything, if God calls us to it.
If we are honest, this is impossible without God.

We are called to pay the cost of sin... there will be costs to our family, our finances, and our time and energy. Honestly, this is also impossible w/o God.

What then?

This only points us again to our constant need for the Gospel in our lives. We are continually seek the presence of God, the God who is with us. We are called to die to ourselves. To remember our immediate and immense need for Christ. The one who has already come and who dwells with us.

Jesus, Our Immanuel - He Become One of Us

[Matthew 1:20-23; John 1:14]

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

{Rev. Dan Whang}

On the show Glee, there was an episode called "The Great Cheese-sus." On that episode, the characters were all confronted with who God was and how they should live. Like a normal secular show, they decided on who God was for each of them and life went on. There is also a song by Joan Osbourne - What if God was one of us? ... But God did become one of us. He become "God with us".

When we look over the Matthew passage, it is pretty familiar. Joseph is told that Mary is pregnant and it is from God. He is also told this is the fulfillment of a prophecy.

What does the incarnation teach us?

God understands and knows us completely and perfectly.

The Christmas story tells us that God came and lived the human life. The God of the universe came as a helpless baby. Why didn't God just come as a 30 year old? The bible doesn't say much, but we can assume that Jesus was a baby... a toddler... a pre-teen, teen, young adult. God knows what it means to live as a human. He knew about betrayal, being outcast, being tempted, carrying burdens that no one knows about.

" God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.
The Omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.
God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.
God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.
God had come near.
He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.
No silk. No ivory. No hype. No party. No hoopla.
Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.
Angels watched as Mary changed God’s diaper. The universe watched with wonder as The Almighty learned to walk. Children played in the street with him. And had the synagogue leader in Nazareth known who was listening to his sermons…
Jesus may have had pimples. He may have been tone-deaf. Perhaps a girl down the street had a crush on him or vice versa. It could be that his knees were bony. One thing’s for sure: He was, while completely divine, completely human.
For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached.
To think of Jesus in such a light is—well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn’t it? It’s not something we like to do; it’s uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.
He’s easier to stomach that way. There is something about keeping him divine that keeps him distant, packaged, predictable.
But don’t do it. For heaven’s sake, don’t. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.
Listen to him.
“Love your neighbor” was spoken by a man whose neighbors tried to kill him.
The challenge to leave family for the gospel was issued by one who kissed his mother goodbye in the doorway.
“Pray for those who persecute you” came from the lips that would soon be begging God to forgive his murderers.
“I am with you always” are the words of a God who in one instant did the impossible to make it all possible for you and me.
It all happened in a moment. In one moment…a most remarkable moment. The Word became flesh." -- Max Lucado

God has made Himself knowable, understandable, and accessible to us.

Before Jesus, God always came in strange forms. God came as a smoking firepot. A burning bush. A pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. A thunderous earthquake. This was probably awesome and wondrous for people to behold. For years and centuries, this is what people thought about God. People probably found it difficult to relate to God. People were told to meet God at this one physical place, the tabernacle.

This is why Christmas is so amazing. The son of a carpenter, a blue collar worker. He is intimately more relate-able. Jesus was not just a good teacher, not just the best man, but He was God-man. He was the fullness of God. If you want to know God, all you have to do is open the bible and read about Jesus.

When tough times come, we are tempted to think God as hard and unfeeling. But we should look at Jesus. Jesus wept over Lazarus. God is not hard and unfeeling, He is sensitive. Jesus who stooped down and washed the feet of his friends who would soon desert Him. This not an uncaring God. Jesus is God in HD (High Definition). The clearest picture of God we can get.

How should respond to the incarnation?

Aggressively seek Jesus and behold Him everyday.

God has made Himself available to us. The people of the Old Testament wished to know God. But God has revealed Himself fully through Jesus.

The hardest part of the Christian life is not ministry, it's not the things we need to do. But the hardest part, is staying intimate with God. Cultivating and investing in our relationship with God.

Take away your community group. Take away ministry. Take away church friends. Would you still have a personal life with God? A life with God that people don't know about unless you tell them? Or is there just a spiritual silence? Because this is the substance of our faith. This is not meant as condemnation, I don't speak these words as one who has his life perfectly in line with this. I struggle with my TV and computer on at the same time. Are our hearts empty? Is our time with God strange and awkward?

What if we set our alarm clock earlier by 30 mins? Spend that time meeting with God.

Be the incarnation of Jesus to this lost and dying world

What opportunities does God give us to be incarnations of Jesus in our life? To be kind and loving to those around us?

How about being Christ-like during these holidays? Being the most courteous and kind driver and shopper during the craziness of this season? To do something selfless at a cost. To give someone else your parking spot. To smile at people in church. To love that one estranged family member at the family gathering. To serve during finals week.