December 13, 2020 Luke 2.1-7 “New Birth: Jesus, Holy Hay” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

 

December 13, 2020 Luke 2.1-7  “New Birth: Jesus, Holy Hay” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

 

It has been 36 weeks, and things are not looking better, but we continue to walk by faith, not by sight. On this third Sunday in the season of Advent, we recapture the joy of the Lord that is our strength, and we all need God’s strength!

 Here is another musical selection by Donna. 

Here now Luke the physician’s story of the birth of Jesus

 

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

 

4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

 

 

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 

The word of God for the people of God!

 

The reason Mary and Joseph landed up in Bethlehem was because of Caesar Augustus. He called for a census. In those days no one came to your door with a government form or a website address to determine what the population was. It was cheaper for the government and better for the local economy if individuals went to the courthouse. There is and always has been a need to know how many school-aged children, senior citizens and possible people in the workforce and trainees for the military are in a certain jurisdiction. That’s good information for a government to have.

 

Caesar Augustus was the adopted son of the rich and powerful Julius Caesar who was murdered by Brutus and the gang in 44BC. Like father, like son, they both seemed to have manipulated those around them into treating them like God’s. After all they were known for their AUGUST – or their “grand” personalities, which is why they were called “Augustus.”

 

Of all the people that were counted in the census, Luke the gospel writer wants us to see the importance of the one born in Bethlehem, whose name was Jesus.  

 

If you have gone on a tour of Israel, you may have visited the church of the nativity,

where a spot is marked as the place where Jesus was born. Inside the church is a cave with an opening that is about 4 feet high. You have to stoop low to enter because the door was lowered to keep looters from driving in with their carts. It can be an act of humility to lower ourselves and view the place where as the song says, “You [Jesus] came from heaven to earth, to show the way.  From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay. From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky. Lord I lift your name on high.” We often picture Jesus in a stable, surrounded by animals and hay, and with Jesus, we know, even the hay is holy.

 

Going to what could be the site of Jesus’ birth is a way to recognize the life of Jesus. Reflecting on the life of Jesus – his birth, his death, his resurrection, his dwelling in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, are all ways to honor him; it is to exalt the kindness and character of Jesus, to lift up the high and holy name of Jesus.

 

It is good that we have decided to take this Advent journey to the high and holy moment called Christmas. We often tease each other saying that there are those who only show up to church for Christmas and Easter. We call them Chreasters. But as Jesus reminded us, those who are not against him are still for him – even if it is not one hundred percent, they are for him and not against him.

 

It is true that those who spend more time with Jesus share more of his love and goodness. In Matthew 18.20 Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with them.”  Each Sunday we can ask ourselves, did we see Jesus here today. Something marvelous happens when Jesus shows up. It is always a high and holy moment. Have you ever noticed? Did you smell roses, did you hear melodious music in the silence?

 

The songwriter experienced Jesus’ presence saying, There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place, And I know that it's the spirit of the Lord

There are sweet expression on each face, And I know that it's the presence of the Lord. Sweet holy spirit. Sweet heavenly dove, Stay right here with us, Filling us with your love. And for this blessings, We lift our hands in praise. Without a doubt we know. That we have been revived, When we shall leave this place.

 

As an ordinary baby, Jesus came to touch our lives and save us. Like every seemingly ordinary breath we take, matters, Jesus matters. Each day we take countless breaths and our hearts beat countless times, it is easy to forget that we depend on every one of those breaths. Immanuel, God is with us. Jesus the Christ the anointed one comes to save us from our sins and the sins of others. Remembering at Christmas how greatly blessed we are, how great a God we serve, carries us to a high and holy place where we can sing, again with another songwriter:

 

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place

I can feel His mighty power and His grace

I can hear the brush of angel's wings

I see glory on each face

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

 

We need the high and holy moments in our life. Holding on to the highlights of our spiritual day can give us a little boost when we need it the most, they put a smile on our face and help us to keep our chin up when we’re down.

 

It is good to visit, revisit and remember the great things that God has done for us. Sometimes, the great things God does are small things, unusual or ornery things, things that are simple or even secular. God can turn anything into something high and holy to help us.

 

We remember the birth of Christ at Christmas because remembering and reflecting bring to the forefront of our minds important lessons that we need in order to remain faithful. Recalling the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit within us and around us rekindles and renews our love for Jesus and all mankind. As we gather in his name, Sunday after Sunday, we can be set on fire and set free to be the Church deeply rooted in God’s love and grace.

 

For the most part Christmas brings so many memories, sights, sounds, and reasons to gladden our hearts. Like those who flock to the church of the nativity, we enjoy the Christmas season because it is a sensational experience, personal experience, an experience of holy hay. We can see with our own eyes, hear with our own ears, reach out and touch one another for ourselves.  

 

Sometimes, during this pandemic we are not sure what is worse about covid-19, getting sick or not being able to reach out and touch one another! We are certainly discovering that there are so many ways to touch and be in touch with one another.

 

According to Psychology Today, touch is the first of all the senses to be developed in the womb and is the most strongly developed at birth.

 Before we were born, God designed us to stay in touch, to be together. We do well, now, to, at all cost, find ways we can to connect! We cannot forget that during the Second World War, war orphaned babies were left in a room without human touch and they began to die. Later, when each one was assigned someone to hold them, they began to live.

 

Touch, that is good and gentle, has the potential to physiologically reduce our pain, lower our blood pressure, foster kindness, good will and wellbeing. Our palms, during a handshake, exchange an enormous amount of good vibes. How we miss that in many cultures! 

When we cannot touch, talk can become the new touch. With the rise of depression, anxiety, and perplexed parents of more and more children who are hurting themselves, we hear experts say that the solution, especially for young people, is to “talk, talk, talk and to avoid isolation.” This is, as always, a time to speak the truth in love, to use words that comfort and encourage. Talking can keep us alive in this pandemic!

 

At the same time, talk can be cheap, and positive action speaks louder than meaningless words. We always need the Holy Spirit to teach us, to touch us, and to talk to us. That’s why we worship and get together by any means possible because we know where two or three gather, Jesus is there. Something happens when Jesus shows up.

 

The Holy Spirit teaches us when we read and study God’s word, when we dialogue with one another on hard to understand scripture and hard to answer cultural questions. The Holy Spirit teaches us when we seek the Lord diligently, serve the Lord faithfully, and obey the Lord quickly. 

The Holy Spirit touches us when we stand still, meditate, pray, praise God and thank God. 

 

The Holy Spirit talks to us when we come empty, empty like an empty pitcher before a full fountain –

as James Weldon Johnson prayed. The Holy Spirit talks to us when we are ready to be filled with a word of wisdom, a word of consolation, a word to build us up and to build each other up.

 

It is good that we are on the journey toward Christmas, gathering to lift up the name - which is the character and the lifestyle of Jesus. For, Jesus will always show up and something good is always going to happen.

 

 

Let us pray…

There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God, A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God, Hold us, who wait before Thee, Near to the heart of God. There is a place of comfort sweet, Near to the heart of God,

A place where we our Savior meet, Near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God, Hold us, who wait before Thee, Near to the heart of God.