ORLANDO CHINESE CHURCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER, 2000
In the Manger
(Luke 2:15,16, John 1:14)
The young Sunday school class was asked to express their impression of Christmas. Their views can be summarized as the following: Christmas is a time to (1) remember the birth of Christ Jesus, (though we know the date was not Dec. 25), (2) share the gift of God --- Jesus Himself, and (3) fellowship in peace, joy and love. And all this began in the manger.
Two thousand years ago, a spectacular event took place at that wonderful moment. God became a man to come to this earth. The heaven was open to anchor the best of herself in the womb of a virgin. The omnipotent God and Lord of the universe condensed Himself into a tiny human embryo. He who created the world and sustains the world with the power of His Word gave Himself to the total dependence of the nourishment and care of a young maiden. God then came near! As it is said in John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." The Lord Jesus as the Son of God came to this world to be with us, thus His Name of Immauel.
He did not come in a flash of lightening as an unapproachable conqueror. One could find no royalty nor fame nor wealth in Mary or Joseph. God the Father committed His only begotten to the care of a common young couple. The baby did not look like the King. His face was prunish and red. His helpless cry was no different from that of any little babies. All these took place at that remarkable moment in the manger.
It was majesty in the ordinary, and holiness in the filth of cow manure and sheep dung. The baby's swaddling cloth was not of silk yet carried with it a sign of eternity. He was born to be the King and Priest, even a sacrifice for the mankind to take away our sins. He gave up the gold royal court of heaven and chose the dirty sheep fold. The worship by the angels surrounding the throne was replaced by the bewildered eyes of the shepherds. The wonder of it all was that His palace had no glittering crown nor gold scepter, no wall hangings nor great paintings, no trumpet sound nor court call. Only the cow munching and a new mother humming!
The King's arrival began in the manger. God appeared in the flesh in that the most royal became lowly, the richest became poor, the eternal entered into time to be a baby, a child then a man of thirty to be baptized by John. His face was marked by time and in time He called the dead out of the tomb with a human voice. His hand that touched the leper for cleansing was soiled. His feet washed by the tears of the woman were callused and dusty. His stretched hands toward the disciples were nail-scarred. He shed His tears from a broken heart for the sin of the unbelieving world. On earth people thronged to Him. At night the official came to visit. By the sea the crowd followed Him. On the streets they touched Him. Upon entering a house the children came to sit by His feet. He asked for no temple nor pulpit. He was revered and dear. Though some despised Him, envied Him, hated Him and misunderstood Him, no one was refused by Him as if He were too holy or celestial to be near.
Whoever draws near will be near to Him, and He blesses him with peace, joy, healing, comfort , faith, hope and love. He bestows forgiveness and eternal life. He came to give all of Himself. And it began in the manger!
Back to Bethlehem
(Luke 2:1-14: In the field of Bethlehem there were shepherds,.........the angels brought good tiding of joyful news for all the nations.......born in the city of David a Savior, who is the Lord Christ........Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to man of good will )
One night two thousand years ago, Joseph, a descendent of David, took Mary from Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem of Judea, the city of David to register for the census. Without any celebration or proclamation they came, but there was no room in the inn, because many had returned for the registration. People were busy around and no one noticed that Mary was heavy with child. Nor did anyone know that the child was born to be the King of kings, yet there was no room in the inn for Him.
As we come to the doorstep of the twenty-first century, some four million tourists would visit Bethlehem this Christmas, quite a headache for the Israeli government. It is estimated that for the pilgrims of that one single day the cost will run more than four hundred million dollars. What a contrast to that first Christmas! Are we trying to make it up to the negligence of that ancient day? In the busy and stressed life of the twenty-first century, with our care and confusion, do we have room in our hearts for our God? Do we bring Him the worship that is due unto Him?
True worship is not measured by how much money is spent, but by the spirit and truth. If you know Christ as your Lord, you will adore Him and believe in His death, burial and resurrection. One may have great plans for Christmas, but the best celebration is to accept Him as the Savior and exalt Him as the Lord and Christ (I Peter 3:15).
That night, Jesus came to be born,
Angels sang the song of peace;
Today the world is filled with evil and chaos,
Many labor, weary and broken-hearted.
Jesus came to say: "My peace I give to you!"
When others only use Thy Name for this day,
We remember, Lord, the Word became flesh.
Keep my heart, I pray,
Not to run after the mad world,
Back to the peaceful manger;
Not dazzled by the colorful lights,
Back to my Bethlehem;
Till the morning star shines
In my heart full of glory and divinity.