Luke 2:1-20 Christmas Day

December 25, 2011; Christmas Day; Texts: Isaiah 62:10-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-20; Title: The Impossibility of it All!  Rev. Tim Beck

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone to his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

                      Caesar Augustus, the world ruler who brought the Roman Peace. He was one of the finest dictators the world has ever known. Stability, commerce, and relative safety were trademarks of the empire. Naturally, he needed more money. So the world was to report and be counted. Today’s census is different. We stay in our homes and resent the door knocking intrusion. Back then, the census meant massive displacements of people. Velvet gloved Caesar claimed the wealth of nations. His glove steered the world’s most powerful army. That kind of peace has a cost, and a big head. Augustus Caesar claimed to be a god among men, and soon the Caesars demanded the worship befitting an incarnate Lord. That’s the way of pride.

          But he wasn’t the real incarnate God, the true King, the perfect peace, the peace giver of whom angels sang to shepherds, “Good will toward men and peace on earth!” King Jesus did not send soldiers into your city. Rather, his legal father, a descendent of King David, had to go to David’s city to be taxed, to Bethlehem. Joseph, of the house and lineage of David, a descendant of the rightful King of Israel, was a mere carpenter. And who was his betrothed? Mary too was of David’s lineage and 9 months pregnant. She didn’t have to go with Joseph to enroll. But everyone in Nazareth could count.  They knew Joseph wasn’t around 9 months ago. And this young woman, what a wild story she told! She was still a virgin! An angel appeared to her. Joseph would not be in Nazareth to protect her reputation. They took the hard journey together. And they believed what the angel said about the child Mary bore.

          How often did they ponder the Scriptures while making the difficult trip to Bethlehem?  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2) Joseph and Mary believed God’s messenger, although hardly grasping the impossibility of it all, God born of a virgin! But from a virgin’s womb came the cure of our despair. The wonderful counselor, Mighty God, showed up to bring light into darkness. He showed up in a stable. Only the Living God could do such an impossible thing. With God, nothing is impossible. He even became a baby. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

          Mary’s son was wrapped not in the purple gown of royalty but in the rags of the poor. Caesar had indoor plumbing, not to mention countless courtiers and slaves. As for God’s Son, how did Mary clean him up? She had no running water, only straw… because of the census, her friends and relatives were elsewhere, except Joseph. Yet that birth pointed to these promises: Thou art my beloved Son, today I have begotten thee (Psalm 2:7).  And, therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

          The invisible God made Himself visible to dwell with us as Immanuel, meaning God with us. This is how He veiled His unapproachable glory, His unknowable being. As God-made-man, He took within his whole person of God and man all our        infirmities, all our sins. Perhaps that’s why God didn’t choose a sanitary place to be born. He did chose to come(s) to the aid of Israel his servant, to remember his mercy, just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever. (Lk 1:54-55)  Amazing grace, Caesar’s Lord, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace arrives unannounced, except to a handful of field shepherds. How fortunate for our rebellious race that He did not come with in proud majesty with heavenly glory and judgment. His first advent did not demand we bend the knee and shout, “Hail Caesar!” Instead, our race shouted out “Hail, King of the Jews!” mocking and spitting. Perhaps that’s why He chose to be born in a fly-filled stable, bound in linen strips as if He was already in funeral clothes.  Thus God hid in human flesh.

          And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. What wonder, what hope shouted out in the middle of no where! God born of a virgin, God wrapped in diapers fulfills His word. He is a promise keeper. Angels sing of this world changing event, but not to the great ones. They sing to the least, to shepherds thought unworthy of good will. To field shepherds outside the life of the people, on them the light shined! Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee (Isaiah 60:1) Out of nowhere and to no-ones angel choirs sing of undeserved mercy. The Lord of hosts must enjoy doing the impossible and the unlikely. He reveals glory in the inglorious and to the least. Caesar Augustus is ignorant of heaven’s magnificent revelation. But the shepherds see into eternity. And they fear. They feel terror in the presence of the holy, a fear Caesar wished he could create. But unexpectedly, God’s messengers say “Fear not.” Do not fear what is impossible not to fear! Do not fear what can destroy those of doubtful, unclean eyes.  Do not fear the glory of God. Why? God’s unapproachable holiness is manifest in sacrificial humility, in love bound with linen strips before it is bound on a wooden beam.

          This too is hard to comprehend, as fullness of grace is foreign to Caesar, or to Shepherds who are known to eat their lambs. But the Lamb of God replaces fear with great joy, excessive joy, incomprehensible joy for all people. Not only does He fulfill promises that are impossible (like a virgin birthing the Divine Son). He does the incomprehensible: The God who is with us - is for us.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, among men who are the objects of His good pleasure. The Lord conquers what no Caesar can. Even now he destroyed death, conquered the devil, and cleanses our soiled hearts by lowly mercy.

          See the condescending conqueror lying in a manger. The impossible is upon us. The Living, Holy, God announces favor toward rebels. And we receive grace for the angels sang to isolated shepherds so that they might run to the coos of a baby wrapped in linen rags, their redeemer. This is how the Lord works. He does the impossible in the most unlikely ways. He declared grace, favor, mercy, forgiveness to sinners, to you. He gives you grace upon grace, doing the impossible for you and in you. Merry Christ-mass 

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Amen.)