March 15
Num 22:21-23:30 | PS 58:1-11 | Prov 11:12-13 | Luke 1:57-80
How do you approach a story so familiar as the birth of Jesus, with fresh eyes? For if you can't and won't more likely than not your familiarity will cause you to blow through these passages and glean very little out of them. For those who are fans of the Chosen ( I am one), many might have missed their first episode. Though season one, episode one begins with the saga about Mary Magdalene, their pilot episode surrounded the story of the birth of Jesus, and in particular it focused on one lowly shepherd. The significance of this should not be missed. Shepherds were often deemed outcasts of society and were lowly regarded. They spent most of their time alone or in small groups outside of the towns. This episode features one particular shepherd who even lower than the others was lame, which caused him to be slow physically, and made it difficult to be effective as a shepherd to the flock. Though disregarded by the world, he sought after God whenever he could. He had a kind and beautiful heart which was missed by those around him, but he has a chance encounter with Mary and Joseph, and then is given the opportunity to be one of the first eyewitnesses to the arrival of our Savior. In the birth story, we should not miss, that all the central characters were not members of the Who's Who in society. They were all meek and humble. They did not come to this story full of themselves, but empty and in a position to be filed. Likewise with us, we bring nothing to the table. We can only see Him, truly see Him, when we realize it is all about Him, and not about ourselves.
Notice Mary's words in her song of praise in Luke 1:46-51, "Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones." Did Mary feel she deserved this honor? No, she was in awe that God could use her. In Zechariah's prayer, we also see him lift up God's mercy in the story, as we read in Luke 1:76-79, "“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” We are then introduced to the first eyewitnesses of the birth of the Savior in the world, the shepherds, in Luke 2:8-20, followed by the next encounters by two elderly and unassuming, but godly individuals: Simeon and Anna, in Luke 2:25-40.
None of this should surprise us. Not because we know the story, but because of who our Savior is. His carries two names: Jesus and Immanuel. One, Immanuel, is prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, and recorded in Matthew 1:23, and describes who He is, "God With Us". The other, Jesus, is mentioned in Matthew 1:21, and describes His mission, "God is Salvation". That is who He is. But, who are we? Because He came for the lowly and the humble. This mission never changes throughout His ministry. Unless we come into His story emptied of pride, of self, and in realization that He does not need us, that we, in fact, need Him, then we have no part in this story. He doesn't need our gifts or talents, He simply desires our hearts. Are you willing to empty yourselves and give Him your heart? Perhaps for the first time? If so, then repent of those sins that keep you from entering into this relationship and accept His payment and His Lordship. But, also to be effective, empty yourself daily and humble yourself before Him. This is your most important relationship and He asks for so little.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: