SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST: To Us and For Us
/Another insightful post by my husband John, patriarch of the Loyd family..
We invite you to “listen in” as John shares our family devotions: Christ to us and for us!
On Christmas Eve this year we shared a devotional with our family, one set of parents and kids with us in Beavercreek and the other set of parents and kids on Zoom in Illinois. Even though the holidays are past, and even though The Epiphany on January 6 has gone by, we would like to share our simple thoughts with you all. This meditation is pretty standard fare compared to the previous two years when we discussed the portal of the Incarnation (ala the Nether portal from Minecraft) or the fact that Jesus wasn’t “socially distanced” when He stepped into our contaminated world (ala the Covid pandemic).
Of course, the passages involved are Luke 2 and Mathew 2:
Luke 2:8-20 (NASB) 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God…15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Matthew 2:1-12 (NASB) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea…7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem… 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh…
God revealed the birth of the Savior-King to two groups of people. Just as our family is composed of diverse and unique individuals, these two groups were as diverse and unique as they could be. Yet God spoke to both.
Let’s take a moment to contrast the experience of each group as they made their way to witness this invasion of God into humanity.
One group was comprised of shepherds.
One group was comprised of Maji or wise men.
The shepherds were from Israel.
The wise men were Gentiles, not from Israel.
The shepherds lived near Bethlehem.
The wise men lived far to the East, perhaps in Persia.
The shepherds were poor.
The wise men were rich.
The shepherds were the bottom of Jewish society.
The wise men were leaders of their society.
The shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem that very night.
The wise men were far to the East of Jerusalem that very night.
The shepherds were surprised by an angel’s sudden and terrifying appearance.
The wise men were watching for a predictive heavenly event.
The shepherds were immersed in God’s glory.
The wise men saw the glory of God, “a star,” from afar.
The shepherds heard good news of great joy about a prophesied birth.
The wise men recognized the “star” as the sign of fulfillment of a prophesied birth.
The shepherds traveled to Bethlehem find this child.
The wise men traveled to Jerusalem to find this child.
The shepherds traveled a short distance.
The wise men traveled a long distance.
The shepherds traveled a short time, the same night of the birth.
The wise men traveled a long time, maybe weeks, months, or years after the birth.
The shepherds were looking for a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
The wise men were looking for a child who was royal offspring.
The shepherds were looking for a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The wise men were looking for the King of the Jews.
The shepherds “found their way” to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem.
The wise men were sent to Bethlehem by Herod and followed the reappeared “star.”
The shepherds rushed to Bethlehem to see what the Lord had made known to them.
The wise men rejoiced with exceedingly great joy as the star led them to Jesus.
The shepherds found the baby with Mary and Joseph as He lay in the manger.
The wise men found the Child with Mary His mother in a house.
The shepherds glorified and praised God for His confirmation of the angel’s message.
The wise men fell to the ground, worshiped Jesus, and gave Him gifts.
The shepherds shared the angel’s thought-provoking message with everyone around.
The wise men, being warned in a dream, left by another route to avoid telling Herod.
The contrasting experiences of the shepherds and the wise men amplify the message of the angel to the shepherds that eventful night.
10 “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 (NASB)
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: 11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 (NET 2nd Ed.)
The angel had good news, news of great joy.
Like MercyMe sings:
“It's not good news
It's the best news ever”
To whom was this “best ever” joyful news directed?
“To all the people.”
To both the shepherds and the wise men. And to us as well.
For whom was this divine Child born?
“For you.”
For both the shepherds and the wise men. And for us as well.
TO everyone everywhere and FOR everyone everywhere.
TO and FOR each and every unique individual in our family and yours.
“Listen carefully,” said the angel.
