I. INTRODUCTION
A. There are many ways to approach the Christ child and the Christmas story in general. Many of you have approached
it already through the movie, The Nativity. And, many of you have fallen in love with Joseph this year. The reproach of
the birth of Christ has captured your hearts. Why would God choose a scenario in which would bring dispute and shame
upon the birth of the Son of the Highest? Why does God choose a betrothed young maiden? Why not a single gal living
in Bethlehem? Why a girl from Nazareth with the suspicion of fornication? The reproach, the sting of losing our
reputations is intertwined with the Christ child. The reproach would follow Jesus for the rest of His life.
They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's
children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the
truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father." Then they
said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father -- God." (John 8:39-41)
B. Many of you fell in love with Joseph. You fell in love with a man who would lay all things down for love. He would
lose his reputation, his honor, his safety, and his control for the love of Mary, the love of God, and the love of the Child –
Israel’s only hope. In this way Joseph becomes the perfect model for the Son of the Highest who would lay all things down
for love – His reputation, His honor, His safety, and His control. Only the inward satisfaction of pleasing the Father would
comfort both Joseph and Jesus. Men, Joseph put pressure on us all to love to the depths and to love at all times.
C. We could also approach the Mystery of the Incarnation through a theological lens, analyzing its significance to overall
purpose of redemption. The Incarnation has much theological significance, and only eternity is big enough to explore the
depths of what God has done in Christ Jesus.
1. The Incarnation secured and guaranteed the Christian revelation of God. Whoever sees the Son sees the Father.
E. Stanley Jones, a famous missionary to India stated, “The Incarnation is the Great Divide.” For in Christianity, the Word
became flesh. Other religions speculate about what God is like.
2. The Incarnation revealed the passionate, zealous, pursuing heart of God. If He will take on the human form and
become a man, to what other lengths will He go? The Incarnation demonstrates the unrestrained love of Yahweh.
3. It secured and guaranteed Christian redemption. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself”
(2 Corinthians 5:19). When God took on flesh, He was making an emphatic statement that He would redeem humanity.
4. It secured and guaranteed the possibility of our regeneration and participation in the divine life. When Christ came
into the world, eternal life became embodied in human form and became a fountain of life for all who would receive Him.
5. The Incarnation alone secured Christian fellowship. The Body of Christ is connected by one mutually shared life.
We have One Head, the same Brother. “The Church is that place where someone chose Jesus and got one another.”
6. It secured and guaranteed the Christian meaning and final outcome of history. The Incarnation makes possible a
linear understanding of history. The Incarnation is the center of all history. From the sacred point of the Incarnation, faith
could look forward and backward. All of human experience matters. It is not cyclical. History is moving us somewhere. It
moved us to the Incarnation of Jesus and it will move us towards His return.
7. The Incarnation reestablished human dominion on the Earth. God established His government through human beings
again. What was lost in the Garden has now been restored by the person of Jesus. A human King came through Judah’s
line from the House of David, and will have an everlasting dominion. The image bearers, in the Incarnation, are restored
to their created place.
II. ADVENT
A. However, this morning I want us to do something more holy than explore the theological depths. I want us to do
something more earthy and tangible. I want us to join in and do what Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, and the
magi did. I want us to ponder the Child and lift him up in our arms like Simeon and weep like the shepherds who cannot
figure out why the angels came to them and not the Sanhedrin. I want to feel grace.
B. You see the implications of Jesus’ life are always impacting us in various’ seasons. In fact, the church calendar is
set up precisely so that the life of Jesus will ever be before us. Yes, if you are a believer you commune with Him always
by the indwelling Spirit, but His actual life instructs us on the great truths of God, ourselves, and of redemption. Jesus
ministry reveals to us His passion for the plan of the Father, the revealing of His Father’s true nature, and the freedom of
humans from the oppression of sin, sickness, and devils. Passion Week and Good Friday remind us of God’s commitment
to judge sin, crush His Son, and offer us a free gift that we do not deserve.
C. Advent and the birth of Christ does something quite different. Christmas beckons us to come closer and join in the
mystery where God is close enough and small enough to get around.
III. READING THE BIRTH NARRATIVE FROM LUKE
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should
be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be
registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there,
the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped
Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Glory
in the Highest Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over
their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them,"Do not be afraid, for behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city
of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in
swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to
us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when
they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And
all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all
these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:1-20)
IV. SAFETY
A. In the birth of Jesus God comes near. He’s no longer distant. On Christmas Morning God’s not making a list and
checking it twice. He’s lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. Angels are telling shepherds of good tidings of
great joy, announcing the birth of Christ the Lord, a King who happens to be the Lord Himself. Multitudes of angels burst
in praise, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Christmas is the most popular holiday
because it celebrates the generosity and approachability of God.
B. “Larry King Live” did a story about the one man in history he would interview and what question he would ask him.
1) Jesus Christ 2) “Are you indeed virgin born?” He said, “The answer to that question would explain history to me.” (Ravi
Zacharias’ JESUS AMONG OTHER GODS p. 38). Why does Larry pick the virgin birth? Why not ask Jesus if He is God?
Because, Christmas is safe. We can approach God around the nativity scene. Because it is there that He is in it with us.
He is Immanuel. God with us. God’s chips are all in at the birth of Jesus.
C. Standing in awe of God is one thing. Loving Him is quite another. You can go through life obedient and struck by
His awesomeness, but it’s quite another thing to be struck by His tenderness, to be tender towards God. When you know
His humanity and tender acquaintance with your frame, your heart feels safe to move towards Him and ask questions you
normally would not ask. Sheer joy is to engage with your older Brother in dialogue and in worship, free to love Him with
your particular personality. This is joy: to be safe enough to enjoy yourself in enjoying Him.
D. Quote from St. Alphonsus Ligouri in the Practice of Loving Jesus
When the Son of God became man for our sake, He could have come on earth as an adult man from the first moment of His
human existence. But the sight of little children draws us with an especial attraction to love them, Jesus chose to make His
first appearance on earth as a little infant . . . . “God wished to be born as a little baby,” wrote Saint Peter of Chrysologus,
“in order that he might teach us to love and not to fear Him.” The prophet Isaiah had long before foretold that the Son of
God was to be born as an infant and thus give Himself to us on account of the love He bore us: “A child is born to us, a
son is given to us.” . . . . My Jesus, supreme and true God! What has drawn Thee from heaven to be born in a cold stable,
if not the love which Thou bearest us men? What has allured thee from the bosom of Thy Father, to place Thee in a
hard manger? What has brought Thee from Thy throne above the stars to lay Thee down on a little straw? What has led
Thee from the midst of the nine choirs of angels, to set Thee between two animals? Thou, who inflamest the seraphim
with holy fire, art now shivering with cold in this stable! Thou, who settest the stars in the sky in motion, canst not now
move unless others carry Thee in their arms! Thou, who givest men and beasts their food, hast need now of a little milk
to sustain Thy life! Thou, who art the joy of heaven, dost now whimper and cry in suffering! Tell me who has reduced
Thee to such misery? “Love has done it,” says Saint Bernard. The love which Thou bearest us men has brought all this
on Thee (Miller, p. 226).
V. CHILDLIKE FASCINATION
A. The Great Mystery – the incarnation
Quote from Napoleon Bonaparte: I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds see a
resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not
exist. There is between Christianity and whatever religions the distance of infinity…
Everything about Christ astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and His will confounds me. Between Him and whoever else
in the world there is no possible tern of comparison. He is truly a being by Himself. His ideas and His sentiments, the truth
which He announces, his manner of convincing, are not explained either by human organization or by the nature of things.
The nearer I approach, the more carefully I examine, everything is above me; everything remains grandof a grandeur
which overpowers. His religion is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not that of man. There is there a
profound originality which has created a series of words and of maxims before unknown. Jesus borrowed nothing from
our science. One can absolutely find nowhere, but in Him alone, the imitation or the example of His life…I search in vain
in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history, nor humanity, nor
the ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.
The more I consider the gospel, the more I am assured that there is nothing there which is not beyond the march of
events, and above the human mind.
Anyone contemplating the life of Jesus needs to be newly and more deeply aware every day that something scandalous
has occurred: that God, in His absolute being, has resolved to manifest Himself in a human life. He must be scandalized
by this, he must feel his mind reeling, the very ground giving way beneath his feet; he must at least experience that
‘ecstasy’ of non-comprehension which transported Jesus’ contemporaries (Mark 2:12, 5:42, 6:51).
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the
Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
1. The Incarnation is more than just a doctrine; it is the object of contemplation. It is the place where angels and
humans alike stare at a mystery as deep as the Almighty Himself. As soon as understanding enters your mind, cognition
loses its grip and recedes into the abyss of non-comprehension. This is true joy – to ponder that which cannot be fully
fathomed.
2. Paul emphatically stated that the greatness of the mystery of godliness was a non-controversial issue. Paul was
not speaking as one uninformed. 2 Cor. 12 tells us that Paul had been to the third heaven. He had seen the Lord. Yet
Paul emphatically proclaimed that there was no debate around the magnitude of God becoming a man. No one gets it.
Paul proclaims that both heaven and earth are in agreement concerning the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Angels are baffled
and long to look into such things (1 Peter 1:12), and humans cannot fathom that which God has done.
3. Great is the mystery of godliness! Have you ever wondered, “What is it about the human frame that pleased Him
so much that the One who made all things could dwell in flesh?” Jesus is not only your divine King and Maker. Now He is
your brother. What has God done in His Son?
4. What is this desire in the groundswell of God which resulted in the taking on of humanity for all eternity and
governing as a human king? Where is the origin in the mind of God of such a scheme as the incarnation? How did it
begin? How did it grow? What was the dialogue among the Trinity when, before the foundation of the world, a Lamb
was slain in the heart of the majesty of heaven?
5. How mysterious is this plan that was birthed in the pure heart of the infinite, holy God, a perfect plan begotten by a
perfect God—to have the God-Man sitting on the throne in government. Have you ever thought that right now, within the
Trinity, there is a human body? Oh, what grand bliss! The Theandric Union—the God-Man! At the center of the throne a
Lamb dwells, a descendant of David, born from the loins of a young Jewish maiden.
6. The Theandric Union is a mystery because it’s designed to bring us to worship, not just comprehension; it’s the
ecstasy of non-comprehension. This mystery has been the object of great affection throughout church history. God
became man. He took on our frame for the love of us. The Church is unable to explain its depths. Thus, doctrine has
rightly sought to give the parameters of defining the Theandric Union.
B. The birth of the God-man has the highest mystical elements surrounding it. Gabriele announces it to Mary that
the Holy Spirit come upon her and the power of the Highest will overshadow her and she will conceive a child who is the
Holy One, the Son of the Living God. He ends His announcement with the most wonderful words, “For with God nothing
will be impossible.” A barren woman is pregnant with John and a virgin is pregnant with God. Angels sing, shepherds
marvel, and Mary ponders. Look at Luke 2:19.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)
C. Recently, I came across my deceased mother’s birth certificate from 1943. On the back of this hospital record were
her tiny footprints. Pictures and memories became amazingly familiar. Suddenly, a divine dialogue began, with the Lord
speaking to me in this tender moment, “Allen, I had feet like that.” “You’re kidding me, Lord? You had feet like this! I
mean tiny feet like my boys now have, feet with toes I love to pull on until they pop.” “Yes, I did. Just as small and frail
as your mother’s with toes as poppable as your sons.” He came as a man.
The joy of the Christian life is to gaze upon the mystery of Jesus. Luke 2:7 describes the virgin birth. Mary bore Him in
childbirth, brought Him forth with real pain. She brought forth her first-born son, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in a manger. Then the angels broke out in singing and shepherds paid homage to the newborn king.
In verse nineteen, after, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace towards men - goodwill towards men,” look
what Mary did. She was perplexed. She’d given birth to this baby whom angels were praising. And in verse nineteen
she pondered, “I know He is God, but I felt real pain and real movements in my belly as He was growing. How can that
be? How can it be that angels tell shepherds about this and wise men come to visit him bearing gifts, and yet He came
out of my loins? How come He has, how can that be that God has my eyes and my nose? How can it be?” She found
the joy of pondering the mystery, and she kept all these things in her heart.
D. Luke goes on to tells us that Jesus was not only born with a human body, He grew up. The pondering continues.
I love to imagine this. What did Jesus’ awkward seasons look like? Can you imagine the time when His ears had outgrown
His head and he sat through two more years of rabbinical school before His head caught up? Have you ever thought
about that? He was just like you, except without sin. What did it look like when Jesus lost His first tooth and had his first
haircut? What was it like when Jesus as a boy had awkwardness in each of His stages? What was it like? Luke says
that the child grew and that Mary was amazed again and again. This is all we know about Jesus until we find Him at age
12 in the temple. He simply grew. He was confined to human weaknesses.
I look at my little boys all the time and wonder, “Jesus, were you like them? What were You like? What was holy fun like
for You, Jesus? Did You ever play a practical joke? What was harmless fun like for You, Jesus?” Oh, it had to be
outstanding! Jesus also grew in the Spirit, was the filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. He grew
mentally and spiritually. He grew. What were the stages like as He was finding out He’s the unique God-Man? Thinking
to Himself, “Something feels different about Me. I never get in trouble like James does?” What was it like when His
capacity mentally and spiritually got to the point where He began to have remembrance of the throne room? What was it
like for Him as a human to read the Word as fully God and start to remember it? What was it like for Him growing up when
He could see all the angels around everybody else? What was it like on the day when the Father decided that Jesus was
ready to see spiritual realities? I think of his first angelic encounter. Trembling with fascination, I see Him asking, “I feel
like I know You from somewhere. Have we met before?” We seldom think on these things. This is reality. This is your
God, and this is your King, and this is your Brother and your Groom! You can fall in love with Him! It’s okay. Did you
know that? You really can fall in love with Him for this. We’ve been robbed of Jesus for far too long. It is time to ponder.
It is time to enjoy the depths of His mystery and the richness of His shared life. We have so many unfilled blanks, all we
know from the Scripture is that He grew (Luke 2). Does He have Mary’s cheekbones? He was fully God, yet He grew.
He is fully man. Mary pondered these mysteries (vs.19).
Max Lucado’s Twenty Five Questions For Mary: What was it like watching Him pray? How did He respond when He saw
other kids giggling during the service at synagogue? When He saw a rainbow, did He ever mention a flood? Did you ever
feel awkward teaching Him how He created the world? When He saw a lamb being led to the slaughter, did He act
differently? Did you ever see Him with a distant look on His face as if He were listening to someone you couldn’t hear?
How did He act at funerals? Did the thought ever occur to you that the God to whom you were praying was asleep under
your own roof? Did you ever try to count the stars with Him . . . and succeed? Did He ever come home with a black eye?
How did He act when He got His first haircut? Did He have any friends by the name of Judas? Did He do well in school?
Did you ever scold Him? Did He ever have to ask a question about Scripture? What do you think He thought when He
saw a prostitute offering to the highest bidder the body He made? Did He ever get angry when someone was dishonest
with Him? Did you ever catch Him pensively looking at the flesh on His own arm while holding a clod of dirt? Did He ever
wake up afraid? Who was His best friend? When someone referred to Satan, how did He act? Did you ever accidentally
call Him Father? What did he and His cousin John talk about as kids? Did His other brothers and sisters understand
what was happening? Did you ever think, That’s God eating my soup? (Miller, p. 107)
VI. HOPE
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you:
You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
(Luke 2:10-14)
A. This Child has much wrapped up with Him. He is the promised seed. The one prophesied from the first moment of
our fall. The hopes of all the ages resting on this One. Behold, the One destined to free His people from sin and to crush
the head of the serpent. The One, to ransom Adams fallen seed and usher in a kingdom of everlasting righteousness.
B. Today we stand post-Crucifixion and post-Easter – forgiven and filled –, but the manger beckons us to come look
again. It is the place where we first hoped. That God in all of His kindness could stoop so low and cast His lot in with me.
The manger is the first glimpse where we believed God could take us in warts and all. The humility of it all causes us to
bow but it is the tiny fingers of the King that allows our hearts to reach. If He can become like me, then just maybe He will
make a way for me to become like Him. Maybe this will be good news after all – just as the angel said.
C. At the manger I lose my crankiness and my religious hardness that’s built up from defending righteousness. At the
manger I soften and begin to commune with a God who dared to come for us all. In that tender exchange He invites to
dream with Him for all those who have never heard.