David Bahn – Reflections

Luke 2:4-7

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to 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, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

I grew up in a motel. My mom and dad built a motel in which we lived 24/7 for a number of years before we got managers. One thing is true: when you can put up the NO VACANCY sign it is a good night in the motel business. It means that to the extent that your rate structure supports your expenses you are able to live and maybe even make a profit. So when I read that for Mary and Joseph there was no room for them in the inn, I read, “Happy hotelier; another profitable day of business.” I don’t read “harsh and uncaring innkeeper.” I don’t read anything synnister or unloving toward the Lord of life.

Furthermore the word for “inn” is used to describe the “upper room” in which Jesus and his disciples celebrated Passover on the night he was betrayed. So it wasn’t quite a Motel 6 that was “full up” in motel lingo.

Having said all that, there was no room in the upper room, the inn, or any other place than where there was a manger for the child to be laid. What’s more is that the birth of Jesus is recorded in few words. The birth takes place in the context of Caesar Augustus’ decree, and trip from Galilee to Bethlehem, the lineage of Joseph, and the presence of Mary his espoused wife.

We know today that God was guiding the whole process: from conception, to birthplace, to lowly circumstance: God is at work bringing life and light to the world. He is pulling the threads of history together in order that his Son would fulfill all prophecies and redeem us. Whether or not Joseph and Mary were given a room in the inn, or Jesus was provided a crude manger in which to be laid, the question does beg for an answer today: is there room in my heart and life for Jesus to be born anew? Does he reign in my heart by his grace and love? Will I welcome him as he comes to me? Thanks to the work of God’s Holy Spirit we can welcome Jesus. May he rule our hearts by his grace throughout this day.

Luke 1:51-56

And Mary said:

This is a magnificent and beautiful hymn of praise to God – the one who humbles the proud and lifts up the humble. Rulers are brought down. The hungry are filled with good things. The rich are sent away with nothing. The humble are lifted up. That is the economy of God.

Ever wonder why that is so? Ever question God’s motives for humbling the proud and lifting up the humble? It’s likely you’ve yearned for it if you have been treated unfairly, or experienced long-term hardship. We are hard-wired to want more; we press on toward a better tomorrow. Whether we want that for our own life, our children or our grandchildren, few of us want to be taken down or experience setbacks.

I’m not convinced God does this purely out a philosophical ideology. Rather God does this, I believe, because it is only the humble who are able to receive the gifts of God. The proud have no need for God – or so they suppose. The high and mighty can control their own destiny. They can buy their way into comfort and wellbeing.

But God thwarts the best laid plans of the rich and mighty. He undercuts the schemes of proud; for no one lives a life with no problems. Everyone will one day die. Better the comeuppance now, however, than at the last hour.

Isn’t it good to know that in the midst of the deepest and darkest valley – the valley of the shadow of death – God is at work preparing a place of level ground in the light of his goodness and love? Isn’t it good to know that when we’re too full of ourselves, God desires to bring us down so that we may receive his goodness and love? This is why Mary praises God: his intent is to bless all people. If it takes humbling us, God will do it. If it involves raising us up, he will do it.

Truly all who are blessed in whom God does his great work!

Luke 1:30-34

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Mary’s question, “How will this be?” reaches farther than the obvious, “How can a virgil conceive and bear a child?” There are more issues at hand than that. How can a mortal be called the Son of the Most High? How will he be given the throne of his father David? How will he reign over God’s people? How will his reign be an eternal one? How will Mary not give into fear at the sight of this angel?

You might be facing such questions yourself these days? How will I remain faithful to God in the face of the temptations all around me? How will God bring good out of the very bad situation in my family? How will God forgive me for that sin? How can I forgive my sister for her sin against me?

The answers to all these questions are embraced only by faith; we cannot reason them out intellectually or reasonably. That might lead some to disavow the answers offered. That might make some reject God’s work. But may it never be so of us! In the end, all we have are the promises of God. And the message of the angel is one promise after another. Thanks be to God for his promises! May we embrace them fully and faithfully!

Matthew 2:7-12

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

 Three moves happen in these few verses: The perseverance of the wise men is rewarded. The duplicity of Herod is thwarted. The Sincerity of the wise men is sustained. God supports those who seek to honor his Son. He stands in the way of those who wish to undercut his mission of salvation through Jesus.

When we bring our gifts – whether gold, sacrificial service, or gracious comfort – God is not only honored, but his reign and rule is revealed. When we refuse to cooperate with those who seek evil, we push out the borders of God’s rule and reign.

Jesus will reign – even the mighty King Herod will not be able to bring him down. And when it comes time for Jesus to die, he proves to be a greater victor than those who put him to death. Coming or going, those who honor him and seek to follow in his ways will find a path of God’s favor and blessing. That is good news indeed.

Matthew 2:1-6

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

Most likely the visit of the magi as recorded in Matthew’s gospel took place some two years after Jesus’ birth. The star may have shown up at Jesus’ birth, but there is other evidence that would point to their arrival some time later. Nevertheless these wise men did visit Jerusalem and ask about the birth of the King of the Jews. Not surprisingly King Herod’s response to the news of this search was not pleasant. And not only was the king troubled, all Jerusalem was troubled along with him. For this newborn King will change everything. And I mean everything.

It is one thing to celebrate the birth of a little baby who was laid in a manger. It is one thing to learn of angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest!” It is quite another thing to consider the rule and reign of God in this Child. Never mind that Scripture is being fulfilled. Don’t mention the fact that this One is a ruler who will shepherd God’s people Israel. Give no thought that this is the Christ – the Anointed One.

When Jesus reigns things will be different. Differences and offenses, sins and transgressions will be forgiven – between God and man, and husband and wife, child and mother, sister and brother, friend and foe. For that is why he was to come: because we had ruined our relationships, corrupted our spiritual foundations, and undercut our own souls.

We have done this in spite of ourselves. But Christ has come to put things right. And sometimes that means we must climb out of our miry muck of self-righteousness, ego-centered pain, and self-serving interests to consider Christ’s gift. He was born 2000 years ago, but even after all this time, his rule and reign in people’s lives changes everything. Has he changed your life? Will you repent and believe the Good News of his birth? I need to. I hope you will join me.

Matthew 1:21-25

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

(which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

On a recent flight Diane was having a conversation with a her seatmate. As the conversation deepened, Diane had an opportunity to share the importance of Jesus in her life. When she mentioned Jesus’ name, her seatmate became animated, and shared a story of how Jesus had helped many years ago literally save a person’s life. It was a wonderful story about calling on Jesus’ name for physical strength, and how God had answered that prayer in a dramatically-powerful way. Jesus has a way of doing that. His name calls him into the conversation, and opens doors to spiritual truths and soul-touching realities.

A recent trend among sincere and prayerful Christians is to pray, ending with the words, “in your name. Amen.” While that isn’t a major offence, I’m not certain I really even understand how I might pray to God in God’s name. I believe it is important to pray explicitly and specifically in Jesus’ name. It is a witness to Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God, to our identity as God’s sons and daughters through faith in Jesus, and to Jesus’ specific promise that the Father will answer prayers in Jesus’ name.

Matthew tells us that this child’s name is to be named Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins.” That forgiveness is reflected in God’s invitation to pray. God’s salvation is hinted at when we experience answered prayers. Those who take Jesus’ name onto their lips honor God, and embrace the rich blessings Jesus has come to bring.

Thanks to Eric Trickey, my friend, brother in Chirst, and fellow pastor for this wonderful Christmas prayer, echoing thoughts from John 1.

From Angela of Foligno (1248 – 1309)

O Lord Jesus Christ,

make me worthy to understand the profound mystery

of your holy incarnation,

which you have worked for our sake and for our salvation.

Truly there is nothing so great and wonderful as this,

that you, my God, who are the Creator of all things,

should become a creature,

so that we should become like God.

You have humbled yourself and made yourself small

that we might be made mighty.

You have taken the form of a servant,

so that you might confer upon us a royal and divine beauty.

You, who are beyond our understanding,

have made yourself understandable to us in Jesus Christ….

You who are the untouchable One, have made yourself touchable to us….

Blessed are you, O Lord, for coming to earth as a man.

O marvelous and indescribable love!

Amen.

Psalm 95:1-7