NYUBF | New York UBF

2010 Christmas (IV)

THIS WILL BE A SIGN TO YOU
(A Baby in a Manger)

Luke 2:1-20
Key Verse: 2:12

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

In the Scripture we often find that God gives His people certain signs so that they may be aware of what He will do in the future and believe that He is with them. For example, after the flood in Noah’s time, God had set the rainbow in the clouds as the sign of the covenant between Him and all life on the earth. Most of us are familiar with the sign of Jonah which symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day. What about the signs of the end of the age? When we see those signs, we must be warned and encouraged, knowing that our redemption is drawing near. These are all important signs we need to consider. But one of the greatest signs in the Bible is the sign of Immanuel, which means “God with us.” It was given around eight hundred years prior to the birth of Christ through the Prophet Isaiah. At that time, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was being attacked by the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Aram. Ahaz King of Judah and the people of Judah were badly shaken. God sent his Prophet Isaiah to encourage Ahaz to have faith in God. God even offered to give him a sign from heaven to show that He was with them. But Ahaz secretly planned to ask help from super power nations instead of depending on God Almighty. So the Prophet Isaiah got angry with Ahaz and said to him, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isa 7:13-14) It was a totally unexpected sign. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” But today’s passage is closely linked to the prophecy of Isaiah. At the time of the birth of Jesus, the angel appeared to the shepherds and announced that the Savior has been born in Bethlehem. They were also told in verse 12 reads, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Let’s think about why the baby Jesus in the manger is so important and what it means to us today.

Look at verses 1-3. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.” We live in a democratic country. The principle of democracy is “by the people, for the people, and of the people.” But Rome wasn’t run by the principle of a democracy. At the time of Jesus’ birth, Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome. In fact, Caesar Augustus was the mightiest and richest man of his time. He actually worked hard and established a solid political and financial infrastructure in his empire, which enabled it to prosper for years, promising world peace through prosperity and strong military power. But Rome didn’t give peace or prosperity to the people of the world. When Caesar Augustus issued the decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, it was to collect head tax and to account for the number of available fighting men for the draft. And everyone had to obey it.

Look at verses 4-5. “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” In these verses, Luke narrates how Joseph and Mary came to Bethlehem. At that time, Mary was expecting a child. So traveling a long distance was not safe for her. But Joseph and Mary had no choice. We are not sure if Joseph and Mary were even aware of Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem as the birth place of the Messiah (Mic 5:2) or if they planned to move to Bethlehem to have their child. It was most likely that they would have stayed in Nazareth because it was too dangerous for Mary to travel. However, what brought them to Bethlehem was Caesar’s decree of a census and the Scripture was fulfilled. In fact, Caesar’s decree unwittingly served God’s will by bringing this couple to Bethlehem. Here, we see God’s invisible hand on all human affairs.

Look at verses 6-7. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because they was no room for them in the inn.” Apparently, when Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, it was so full of travelers that it was hard for anyone to find a room. According to Luke’s comment, it was because there was no room for them in the inn that the new born baby Jesus was placed in a manger. It may be true, as some people say, that it was because of people’s indifference and cold heart that Jesus had to be born in a manger. However, we can also see it in a different way. Someone actually offered them a place to deliver their child. We don’t even know who offered it. But that small demonstration of generosity was a huge contribution to this desperate couple. Otherwise, Mary would have delivered the child on the street. I am sure that Joseph and Mary were very grateful for the person who offered them a place at the crucial time. We can almost be sure that Joseph and Mary struggled very hard to follow God’s leading during every step of their journey. Even though the journey was difficult, they still felt safe because they believed that God was with them. The birth of the Holy Son of God was possible because of this young couple who dared to trust and obey. As she delivered the baby Jesus, the cattle in the stable might have sung a lullaby chorus, “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus a sleep on the hay.” This baby Jesus was born in order to bring a kingdom- a very beautiful kingdom on earth – that is very different from the kingdoms of this world.

To whom was the news of Jesus’ birth first announced? Look at verse 8. There were several shepherds in the area nearby Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks at night. The news of the birth of Christ was first announced not to the Jewish religious leaders of the time but to humble shepherds who had to work hard day and night in order to make ends meet. Probably, they are the ones who were oppressed the most in their nation. They were poor and greatly despised by their fellow citizens. But God showed them His special favor by sending His angel to share the good news about the birth of the Savior.

Look at verses 9-10. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” The angel said that he brought them good news of great joy. What could be good news for these poor shepherds? Definitely, a good and high paying job would be good news for them. Or the destruction of their enemy, Rome, would be good news to them. Perhaps, winning the lotto or canceling all of their credit-card debt might have been even better. But the angel said that the birth of the Savior is good news. And this good news is for all the people.

Then why is the birth of Jesus such good news of great joy for all the people? Well, some people may say, “I don’t need a Savior. I am perfectly fine!” or “I can save myself.” But it’s nothing but an illusion. Why? It’s because everyone needs a Savior. Every person needs a Savior – Romans, Jews, Greeks and non-Greeks, slaves and slave owners, adults and children, male and female, rich and poor, religious and non-religious, doctors, lawyers, professors, students, judges, police officers, soldiers, criminals. We need a Savior because we are all under the bondage of sin and of many kinds of problems. In fact, we will never be fully satisfied and happy unless we have been set free from this bondage – the bondage of sin, the bondage of legalism, the bondage of death, fear, lust, greed, anger, loneliness or the bondage of any kind. Good news is that the Savior who can set us free from bondage has been born to us.

But we know that not everyone responses to this good news with great joy. Especially, when people hear something that sounds too good to be true, they are suspicious. In fact, a lot of people are skeptical about organized religion. The good news of great joy for all people sounds a little exaggerated. It sounds too good to be true. So before making any serious commitment, we should investigate first.
Well, I did my own investigation. When I was in college, one of my best friends became a Christian. He told me that I was weary and tired and I needed to come to Jesus and find rest in him. At first, I felt so offended by the way he described my life although it was so true. So I told him, “Man, what are you talking about. I am not weary and tired. I am perfectly fine. Leave me alone!” Yet, the fact is that I was weary and tired. I just didn’t want to admit it. Even though many friends envied that my brother was one of the most famous and baseball player in Japan and Korea, it had nothing to do with my happiness. In fact, my life was a mess and in total confusion. I was overly sensitive. I needed a Savior who could save me from my emotional turmoil and the “I am too weak” mentality. I needed a Savior who could set me from the bondage of pride, my faulty thinking, ignorance, lust, and fear. I needed a Savior who could fill my empty heart. I needed a Savior who could bring new and true meaning to my life. Who could save me from my miserable reality? I thought that this was impossible. I already knew just going to church wouldn’t help because I grew up in the church. So I stayed away from Christians for a long period of time. But one day I was invited to study the Bible. Guess what? I thought I knew the Bible, but I didn’t. The word of God was so fresh and interesting to me. For a few months, all I did was eat, sleep and read the Bible. And I found out that Jesus Christ suffered and died to set me free through Bible study. When I accepted Jesus in my heart, I experienced something I had never experienced before. I began to experience freedom in my life. I shouted, “I am free!” And I have to confess that although my spiritual journey as a Christian during the last 35 years has not been easy, it has been a journey of continuous exploration and of new discoveries of the truth and the freedom in Christ – an exciting, liberating and fulfilling experience.

When the angel told the good news to the shepherds, he knew that it was hard for them to just believe. So he told them to do some homework by investigating the situation for themselves. He said to them in verse 11, “This will be sign to you: You will see a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” It was a surprise that the sign of God’s salvation should be found not in the Temple of Jerusalem but in the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. But they were surprised even more by the appearance of angels from heaven. Look at verses 13 and 14. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” According to these angels, the birth of Jesus is glory to God and peace to men. What does this mean? There is no peace between God and men because of our sins. Likewise, there is no peace among men in the world. People are against each other for many reasons, such as racial prejudice, differing ideologies, cultural differences, generational gaps, different traditions and religions, greed, selfishness, anger and pride. People just don’t seem to know how to get along. We need peace more than anything else. How is this possible? Even the Roman Empire could not bring peace on earth. No strong leadership, no world’s system or government has been able to bring peace on earth.

But the angels said that Jesus the Savior would bring peace to men on earth. And it has been prophesied in the Scriptures. For example, Isaiah 9:6 reads concerning the Messiah, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Also Zechariah 9:9 also prophesied, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” According to Zechariah, the humble king who rides on the donkey will be a king of peace. In fact, Jesus himself is our peace. Ephesians 2:14 reads, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” Through his sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus brought peace in our relationship with God, with one another and in us.

Look at verses 15-17. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. At first what they saw there might have been disappointing. Humanly speaking, they only saw a poor young couple with a poor baby in a cold stable. But what they really saw there is Immanuel – God with us. Probably, when they saw the baby in the manger, they felt deep and profound peace, which they had never experienced before. It was a heavenly peace. They saw God, not the kind of God who is far away from them but the God who humbly came to this world as a baby in a manger. This baby Jesus is a new and everlasting ruler of a new kingdom. Yet, this is not new. This been promised all along in history through the holy prophets. And what is more amazing is that this ruler’s life on earth began in a humble manger and ended on the cross. He was known as a man of sorrow and familiar with sufferings. He is God in the manger and God crucified for our sins. But he is the king of the everlasting kingdom and will come again someday. Surely, the baby in a manger is different from worldly kings and rulers, like Caesar Augustus or Alexander the Great.

But why some people fail to see the sign of Immanuel? It’s because people are naturally drawn to great signs, such as wealth, power and glory. We are often motivated by ambition for power and glory. But when we follow those glamorous signs, we often end up in the wrong place with regrets. As history attests, the kings and the kingdoms of the world are temporal and cannot give us true joy or peace. Huge corporations, business executives, world leaders or systems cannot bring peace and joy to us. Unlike the throne of Caesar Augustus, the baby in the manger brings peace and joy to us. The image of the baby in the manger may not be impressive, but he is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. What a paradox! He is so approachable, lovely, gentle, peaceful, stress free and life-giving. The baby Jesus in a manger is absolutely vulnerable, but it is Gods’ way bringing His kingdom into this world. Those who have embraced the baby Jesus can have heavenly peace and joy. Those who embrace the cross of Jesus will always find peace and joy from heaven. This joy and peace cannot be taken away from us. The angel said to the shepherds, “This will be a sign to you: You will see a baby, wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (12) May the joy and peace of heaven be with you all. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!