Explore the Bible Series for Dec. 23
An unexpected gift for unsuspecting people
___ Luke 2:1-20
___By Pete Freeman
___First Baptist Church, The Woodlands
___A burglar stalked the neighborhood watching for homes left unguarded by people leaving for Christmas vacation. He watched as a family loaded their suitcases and gifts into their SUV and left for grandma's. He waited until dark and then approached the front door and rang the bell. There was no answer.
___The burglar neatly picked the lock and let himself in. He called into the dark, "Is anybody home?" He was stunned when he heard a voice reply: "I see you and Jesus does too." Terrified, the burglar called out, "Who's there?" Again the voice came back, "I see you, and Jesus does too."
___The burglar switched on his flashlight and aimed it in the direction of the mysterious voice. He was instantly relieved when his light revealed a caged parrot reciting the refrain, "I see you, and Jesus does too." The burglar laughed out
loud and switched on the lights. It was then that he saw sitting beneath the parrot's cage was a huge Rottweiler. About that time, the parrot hollered out, "Sic 'im, Jesus, Sic 'im!
___Can you imagine the surprise on that burglar's face? It was not what he expected to encounter. There's something of that flavor of surprise to the story of Christmas we find recorded in Luke 2:1-20.
___Note the words, "in the days of Caesar Augustus." What was the world like in the days of Caesar Augustus? Those were the days of the most marvelous peace the world up to that time had ever known. It was called the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome. It was a time of peace and prosperity. Into this world of external, superficial, materialistic and political peace enters the gift of God.
___Our world is really no different. While we bask in our false sense of peace of prosperity, possessions and commercial spirituality, God still offers his unexpected gift of grace.
___God sent his unexpected gift to an unsuspecting people. He sent it to shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks by night. Weren't shepherds respectable people? They look so nice and well-groomed in Christmas specials. After all, King David was a shepherd. Shepherds were the good guys in Jesus' day--not!
___In Jesus' day, the rabbis warned Jews against entering six professions; one was a shepherd. Why? Shepherds were not allowed to give testimony in court, and most never were allowed to go into the temple. The Willie Nelsons of that day would have sung: "Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be shepherds."
___What was God thinking? He chose to send out his best voices in heaven to sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" to people who couldn't even read music. What irony! The most regal gift ever given was not presented to kings in courts, priests in temples or aristocrats in villas. It was given to the outcasts, the throwbacks and the heathen of the day.
___Doesn't it make most of us Baptists feel a little uncomfortable to know that if all this took place for the first time right now that God would probably be delivering his message to someone else besides us religious respectables? He would be delivering it to the shepherds of this new millennium. You know the type--the poor, jobless, powerless, less-educated or the uncultured. God's gift was delivered that day not to the gated communities but to the projects and those on the other side of the tracks.
___In short, it was delivered to those without titles, degrees or 401Ks. He came to the poor in spirit, the humble and the sick. The same applies today. It is still an unexpected gift to unsuspecting and humble people who will receive it empty-handed but with joy and thanksgiving
___So here we are. God has just given the world a gift it didn't think it wanted or needed, and he presented the gift to a group of cultural outcasts. What else is there left to surprise us with? An unimpressive package. Luke 2:12-16 describes the package quite well.
___We are all attracted by extravagantly wrapped gifts with red bows and glimmering tinsel. Sometimes the wrapping means more to us than the gift inside. Well, the gift of the first Christmas was not wrapped the way the world expected. The Jews wanted a mighty warrior with a sword in one hand and a scepter in the other. They wanted a Rambo Redeemer who announced, "Gentiles beware." The Romans wanted a mighty economic warrior with a calculator in one hand and a politically correct statement in the other. They wanted a Relative Redeemer who announced, "Everyone's right." ?
___But instead, God sent an innocent, defenseless, vulnerable expression of peace! This unexpected package represents the kind of peace this gift brought; not a peace devoid of the reality of suffering, injustice and rejection. It was a peace the poor in spirit would receive.
___Unfortunately, because of the world's expectations, this gift of peace was unwelcomed! Luke 2:7 indicates there was "no room for them." This is still true today. Oh, we welcome the pomp and the circumstance of Christmas, but most are unwilling to welcome this Christ Child into our hearts.
___The unexpected gift the shepherds reported is still the same today. God loves each of us and wants us to experience peace and joy in our lives. Is there room in your inn for Jesus?
___Questions for discussion
___ Do you still find a sense of wonder when you consider God's gift to the world, or has it lost its luster?
___ Is there room for Christ in your Christmas?
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