Paula Wiseman

Faith and life meet in a story

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Journey to Christmas: The Manger

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Journey to Christmas the Manger title graphic

Christmas is far more than the birth of a baby. It is more than a holiday, or a celebration or a season of goodwill. It is the beginning, the beginning of the end, actually. Christmas is the final act in the redemptive story that began long ago, in eternity past. The first stop on our journey to Christmas was a beautiful garden. Next, we stopped in Nazareth and the fields outside Bethlehem. This week we’ll stop at the manger.

The Sign

We left the shepherds dumbfounded by the angelic visit, astounded by the news. But the angel plainly told them:

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).

Implicit in that pronouncement was the expectation that the shepherds would GO and FIND the baby, that they would want to SEE the Saviour who had been born. And they did.

The God of heaven gave us all the information we need in order to find the Saviour. Four gospels were written. Old Testament books explain our need. New Testament letters break down the wonder of salvation. All of it given with the expectation that we would act on it.

Straight to Bethlehem

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger (Luke 2:15-16).

Scripture is so understated here, it is almost humorous. I imagine the shepherds tripping over each other in their rush to get to town.

We are left to imagine what happened when the shepherds saw the baby. What did they say? What did they do? How long did they stay?

Once we knew there was a Saviour and that He was accessible, did we have that same fervor to get to Him? Maybe there are no details of the shepherds’ meeting because every encounter with the Saviour is unique and deeply personal.

After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, (Luke 2:17).

These were changed men. They had seen the Saviour!

Our stop at the manger puts us in the shoes of the shepherds. Last week we considered the humbling wonder that the Gospel has come to us. This week at the manger, in the presence of the newborn King, how will you respond? We’ve been given a clear message. We’ve been invited to come and behold Him. Now what? Is it a fascinating story? An amazing event? Or is it a life-transforming, eternity-defining encounter? And if so, can anyone tell that we have been changed by the Saviour who is Christ the Lord?

It’s easy to quickly give the “correct” answer and move on. Don’t do that. Experience the wonder and the joy. Worship and adore Him without reservation. Then let everyone know what you know about that Baby!

Our journey is not over. We have a couple of stops still to go. In the meantime, savor these Christmas moments!

Away in a Manger

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Away in a Manger title graphic

 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

Anonymous, or perhaps Martin Luther
Read Psalm 4:3-8

“Away in a Manger” often gets overlooked because it is a “children’s” carol. The lullaby quality only adds to that. At first glance, it may seem there is no heavy incarnation theology present. But there is. The very Christ has been a baby just like each of us have been. He understands our frailties and so is able to be our Great High Priest. We pray for His presence and protection, and we will not be fit for heaven unless He does the work. Jesus says in Matthew 18, that childlike faith is essential. Perhaps we overdo the simplicity of faith in the way we often overdo Christmas. You have a few days. Worship Him in the simple beauty that is Christmas. Merry Christmas

God with Us

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God with Us title graphic

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:22-23

Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:13-14

Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus
Isaiah the prophet spoke to King Ahaz.
He asked the king to confirm his faith in God
By asking for a sign.

Ahaz refused.
His faith and trust was in the nation of Assyria.
It was in his own skill as a ruler and a diplomat.
It was is the economic good times.
And his faith was in anything BUT God.

Ahaz wrapped his refusal in the language of piety.
“I will not test the Lord,” he said.
He was playing to the crowd, to his court,
And hoped to fool the prophet as well.

God was not fooled.
Yet, in grace, He gave the sign anyway.
Not only did He give a sign, He gave a Son.
He gave a promise. He gave His presence.

God with us.

Ahaz wanted no part of that.
Those who love darkness rather than light are still with us.
One day God’s patience will be exhausted.
The prophecies of His second coming will be fulfilled just like the first.

God will be with us eternally.
The others will be without God eternally.
And the sign He gave
Was the cross at Calvary.

Journey to Christmas: The Fields

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Journey to Christmas The Fields title graphic

Christmas is far more than the birth of a baby. It is more than a holiday, or a celebration or a season of goodwill. It is the beginning, the beginning of the end, actually. Christmas is the final act in the redemptive story that began long ago, in eternity past. The first stop on our journey to Christmas was a beautiful garden. Next, we stopped in Nazareth. This week our journey takes us to the fields outside Bethlehem, where some shepherds were out with their sheep.

They were average, ordinary guys. None of their names are recorded. We don’t even know how many there were. They weren’t educated or popular. In fact, they were generally outcasts. They smelled bad, they were unclean and most people thought they were thieves.

The shepherds were the first to hear the good news.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:10)

Good news, euangelizo, was not an unfamiliar word to the shepherds. A “gospel” was proclaimed whenever there was a great military victory. Or when a son was born to the emperor. But on this night, the angel proclaimed THE good news. And it was GOOD NEWS for everyone. You see, a military engagement has a victor and a vanquished. The birth of an emperor’s son means someone else will not rule. Those announcements are not good news to everyone.

But this ANNOUNCEMENT, this VICTORY, this BIRTH … well, it will take all of eternity to sort out just how amazingly good this news was.

Why shepherds?

When an emperor proclaimed a “gospel” it was first delivered to the Senate, to the powerful and well-connected, the prestigious and respected.

This most important announcement ever was first made to the shepherds. Why?

The good news really is for everyone: the outcasts (the shepherds in the fields), the humble, the marginalized as well as everyone else. We get a tipoff about who Jesus will focus on as He ministers and preaches the kingdom of God is at hand.

God sees Himself as the Shepherd of His people.

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.  In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the LORD, “men will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. (Jeremiah 3:15-17)

Jesus will call Himself the Good Shepherd, the One who lays down His life for the sheep. He will set this kingdom vision of Jeremiah in motion.

Marvel that you, like the shepherds, have received the Good News that a Savior is born.

It is no less wondrous today when God makes known to us through the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the Savior, that through faith in Him we can be part of His eternal kingdom rather than be consigned to the depths of hell away from the presence of God. If you know Jesus, you have had your own “good news of great joy” moment. How did you respond? Did you rush to confirm, to claim it for your own? Did you, have you explained to everyone you meet the thrill you experienced?

This stop in the fields presents us with the fact that we are privileged beyond measure to have received the Good News. We are humble, undeserving outcasts. But God wants us. God loves us.

Linger here in the fields until that becomes real, as real as the blinding glory of God that split the night sky, as real as the armies of heaven, as real as the message. A Savior is born!



Next week: The Stable

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

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Let All Mortal Flesh title graphic

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six-winged seraph;
Cherubim, with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the Presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Lord Most High.

Gerard Moultrie, trans. 1864
Read 1 Peter 1:10-12

“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” presents the birth of Christ in its greater context. It presents the wonder and worship of the angels. It reminds us of Christ’s deity and His majesty. There is credible evidence that the Greek text on which the hymn is based dates back to at least the 5th century and may be even older. It is a hymn, a carol of Emmanuel, GOD with us. May we never forget, in our familiarity with Christmas that it is GOD who has come down.

Bread and Fruit

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Bread and Fruit title graphic

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Micah 5:2

In the Hebrew, Bethlehem is a combination of two words,
Beth meaning house, and
Lechem meaning bread.
Bethlehem, the house of bread,
Became the birthplace of the Bread of Life,
The bread who comes down from heaven to give eternal life to the world (John 6:33).

In Hebrew, Ephrathah means fruitful.
The city called fruitful
Became the birthplace of the fruitful vine.
He gives life to the branches
And those who abide in Him also bear much fruit (John 15:5).

Judah was one of Jacob’s sons, founder of the tribe of Judah.
His name means celebrated.
The region named celebrated
Became the birthplace of the one who came in the name of the Lord
Hosanna! The blessed King of Israel (John 12:13)

Bethlehem Ephrathah in Judah
Isn’t just a random spot on a map.
It is the chosen birthplace Jesus the Christ.
tells us His character and His mission.
He is the King who came to bear witness to the truth. (John 18:37)

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