Luke 2.1-20. Isa 9.2-7. Christmas Day. St Lens 9.30 (with thanks to Jude Simpson’s poem Angels)
God likes paperwork
Do you see how God moves Caesar to make sure the prophecy is fulfilled- so that Jesus is born in Bethlehem.
Angels: Don’t be afraid: 2 reasons
1st Reason to be afraid: Caesar rules the world no wonder he thinks he’s god- But God moved Caesar – these rulers of the world they come and go. Don’t be afraid. Hold onto God.
2nd Reason: the Angels: cute in Art but in reality big and powerful and not to be messed about with.
There’s a poet called Jude Simpson – she wrote a poem about angels. Its got a bit in it that goes:
“I’m a flaming massive towering missive-bringer, Christmas tidings ringer, heraldinger, solo or session singer, six foot four span winger,
I’m fearsome, awesome, falldown on the floor-some,
joy I can bring or lives I can shorten.
So when you draw me make me Northern, like Anthony Gormley with giant proportions, …
I am a ‘a fire starting, trumpet blasting messenger, a child namer, bush flamer, blesser,
I bring warnings of trouble and pleas for protection,
reasons to smile and news of unusual conceptions,
as well as a few resurrections. I always get a dramatic reception:
shaking with terror or quaking in boots, bursting with joy or speechless, mute – but no one in the bible ever went – Aren’t you cute! …
I am mighty, I am frighty, in light I’m arrayed, …
there’s a reason my catchphrase is “Don’t be afraid””
Don’t be afraid because a Saviour, Messiah, Lord has been born to you – the gift that is God with Us – Immanuel.
Shepherds: they move from being Bored to Terrified to Curious to Glorifying!
They are the Salt of the Earth, hardworking, Night Shift, they are the ones working in the Pubs right now, petrol stations, NHS, and Care Homes. You will know quite a few shepherds.
It is Curiosity that led them to the Baby Jesus – if you find yourself Curious then ask about an Alpha.
It’s quite likely that these Shepherds are from Beit Sahour, I went there back in the summer, its just 20min walk from Bethlehem, their job was to breed pure lambs for the Temple sacrifice, each lamb would be carefully wrapped up and initially placed in a manger so as to give it a safe strong start in life.
So, when these shepherds see Jesus wrapped up and lying in the manger, they understand that this is the Saviour, the Messiah, the Lord – or as John put it: the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. This is an awesome moment for them.
Note – for them nothing has changed and yet Everything has changed as they go back to their next shift. They are still on minimum wage, under an oppressive government.
But Everything has changed – they will never see life, themselves, each other, in the same way again.
Because they will now carry with them the knowledge that God has come, that God is with them.
They have encountered Jesus in worship – and even though they haven’t seen a miracle, heard the sermon on the mount, yet they know that their lives, the world, will never be the same again. They will carry God with them through the rest of their lives.
If you want more of Jesus then O Come let us adore Him!
The Angels say: Don’t be afraid
The Shepherds say: Let us go and see
And Mary. Mary – she treasures and she ponders – why? This is all feeding into her faith, this is all giving her the strength that she’s going to need for the tough times to come.
So far, Mary has had a conversation with the Angel Gabriel, she’s got excited and burst into song with Cousin Elizabeth who is also carrying a miracle baby. Joseph has had a miraculous dream.
But then its all gone quiet.
And now as she sits beside this manger, gazing on her son. Actually having the shepherds show up at this moment is pretty fantastic, hearing that the angels have sung to them, that’s fabulous.
Mary is storing this up and letting it all feed into her faith.
We are generally not good at this. We forget too quickly those moments when God has helped us, heard us,
we forget when God has been there for others and encouraged them,
But a little bit of pondering and you can see how that is also good for you and your faith even if you were not the one to hear the angels sing.
So Mary treasurers those moments where she has encountered God’s love,
and she ponders on those testimonies of others who have been encouraged by God.
It will all feed into her faith and hope and love.
She doesn’t know it at this point but she will need it next year.
Take a moment to remember the blessings of God this last year. Keep a diary of the ones you will see this next week- Reflect over each day to see who and how you were encouraged.
It might be that you will need that this next year.
If you’re curious then be like the Shepherds – Lets Go and See – and come to our Alpha course
And remember the Angels – Don’t be Afraid.
Don’t be afraid of Paper work, don’t be afraid of Caesar,
And Don’t think that Angels are cute.
Let me close with Jude Simpson’s closing line – “I am mighty, I am frighty, in light I’m arrayed, … there’s a reason my catchphrase is “Don’t be afraid”” AMEN.