The Baby That Spoke On The Day Of His Birth
The Baby That Spoke On The Day Of His Birth
J. Mike Minnix
Introduction
Luke 2
The day a child is born we all know that he or she can't actually say anything. A baby can cry, gurgle, and whine, but a baby cannot speak. We also know that actions speak louder than words. In the case of the birth of Christ His mere presence on the day of His birth in Bethlehem spoke volumes. His presence in the manger still speaks for itself. The songwriter penned the question, "Do you hear what I hear?" We all need to hear the message of Jesus Christ from the day He was born.
An industrialist in Canada needed to clear many acres of land very quickly in order to put up a factory. He called together some of Canada's best lumberjacks and made them an offer. If they would go up to the rough back country and remove the trees by a scheduled date, he would pay them well, include a bonus for being on time, and then would have their wives and children to join them at the conclusion of the project for a celebration. The men worked hard and completed the job on time. The employer kept his word and sent for their wives and children. A great party was held with food, a band, and great fellowship. In the midst of the festivities a baby began to cry. A lumberjack leaped upon his chair, waved his arms and shouted, "Stop the music, everyone be quiet, and let's listen to the baby cry." He had not heard a baby coo, laugh, or cry for a few months, and now the sound of it thrilled him. Our sin-sick world needs to stop and be quiet, so that the people can hear what the baby who was in the manger at Bethlehem is saying to them.
Listen - you can hear what Jesus is saying from the manger.
I. The Baby in the Manger says that GOD ARRANGES THINGS
From the manger Jesus is telling us that God arranges things for those who belong to Him, and will do the same for all who come to believe upon Him as Lord and Savior. The world may seem to be out of control, but the manger reminds us that God has a plan and He is still in charge.
If you and I had been in charge of the birth of Jesus, we would certainly not have had Him born in a manger. We have placed Him in a royal palace in a capital city. Nothing would have been lacking in regard to the accoutrements surrounding the Son of God. Banners would have hung across every street. Heralds would have been in every city to annouce His birth. But, the plan of the Father was to have His Son placed in a manger in a lowly, lonely place called Bethlehem. The place, the time, and the manner were all in the divine plan of the Father. God was not caught by surprise when Jesus was placed in such an rude and humble place.
There is a great lesson here for us. Mary and Joseph were in the center of God's will, but we know that they were certainly having a difficult time. There are some who preach and teach that following God's will means you will travel the easy road with every valley will being filled and every mountain being lowered. Mary and Joseph were in the midst of one of the greatest moments in earthly and heavenly history, but the way was not easy. James Cleveland used to sing ...
"Nobody told me that the road would be easy
but I don't feel in no ways tired.
I don't believe He brought this far,
to leave me!"
I say "Amen!" to that.
The long, hard trip for Mary was part of the plan of God. It was an arduous journey for a woman ready to give birth. Note this carefully - often God's plan for us takes us through the valleys, over the rough roads and high mountains. In fact, they sometimes make no human sense to us or those around us. We can question if God is really with us at times like that. Yet, when the center of God's will is down a bumpy and difficult path we are to trust His love and wisdom.
You see, God arranges things for His will to be done and for us to take part in it. But He arranges His plans in His own way, and is always at work to bring about ultimate victory for the kingdom and for His people. He doesn't lead you down a road to leave you on your own. Mary and Joseph are proof of that.
I think of the embarrassment that Joseph must have felt having to place his espoused wife in so pitiful a place where the baby would be delivered. He knew the child was the Son of God, but did God really mean for Him to be born in a cattle stall? Yes, that was God's plan. All Joseph had to do was be faithful and believe that God was arranging things. The Lord had not brought Joseph that far to leave him on his own.
Yes, God's plans often involves our being humbled before a world that prizes wealth, accomplishments, and a popular image. Yet God was in this humble plan for His Son, and for Mary and Joseph. It was all part of the Father's will and purpose. The world could not see it or appreciate it at the time. And that is still true regarding how our God does things. In your life and mine He is working to bring about His plan, and in the end it will be a blessing. We must simply stay the course, love the Lord, and disregard what the world thinks of us.
We may not fully understand all the reasons that Jesus was born in that place, but certainly we know that He was born in lowly circumstances to reveal that He had come to save the least, the last, and the lost within the human race. He did not come just for the "up and in crowd," He also came for the "down and out crowd." In fact, we are all sinners, so even the up and in crowd may well be the down and out crowd before God's throne.
A little lad was wandering through the streets of London following a bombing raid in WWII. A civil defense worker asked where the boy lived and offered to take him home. The boy told the civil defense man that his mother was dead and his father was dead, and he could not think of any other family member to whom he could go. The civil defense worker said, "But son, you must have someone." The little, sad boy, with tears in his eyes said, "No sir, I got nobody. I guess I'm just nobodies nothing".
Jesus came to say that everybody is somebody's something because God loves you and will save you. Jesus came for one and for all who will believe.
His birth also teaches us to be faithful in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. I think of Paul the apostle, who ended up so often beaten, shipwrecked, or in prison. Yet Paul never lost faith or became discouraged. He knew how to be content in abundance and in want. He knew how to be exalted and abased, and it each case he had learned not to lose his sense of trust in the faithfulness of the Lord. That is something we all need to remember. God arranged the birth of His Son, and He is working in your life as you trust and follow Him. It doesn't matter how things look to the world, or even how they look to you, keep on following the Redeemer.
So, first we know that from the manger of Jesus tells us that God arranges things. But, note also ...
II. The Baby in the manger says that GOD CHANGES THINGS
Another message of the manger is the way God changes things. Note how he took a lowly cattle stall and turned it into a beautiful image. Most of us have manger scenes in our homes or in our yards during the Christmas season. Isn't that something strange? Just think of it, a cattle stall, once a symbol of the most lowly of earthly places, has become an image of divine life. The presence of Jesus changed that image forever. Now let me tell you something, anything Jesus enters into is changed for the better and for the best. What He enters is changed forever. That is what happens to a man or woman who allows Him into their lives. He changes you and makes you a child of God.
Shepherds used to be a despised, disdained, and scorned. This was so because the Shepherds had to watch their flocks even on the Sabbath and the Pharisees felt they were breaking the Old Testament Law. Also, sheep had a terrible odor and the shepherds often had this same odor on their clothing. Thus shepherds were not the most pleasant people to be around. Yet, angels appeared to them and invited them to the manger, the birthplace of our Lord. From that time forward, shepherds would never be viewed the same. Pastors are called Under-Shepherds because we shepherd a flock under Jesus, the Great Shepherd. Of course preachers are called things worse than Under-Shepherds, but I will not go there!
I heard about a boy once who was sitting in class at school rolling a piece of bologna his mother had sent for his lunch between his hands. The teacher said, "Johnny, what are you doing?" He answered, "I'm making a teacher." She was upset and brought the principal to the room. He asked, "Johnny, what are you doing?" He replied, "I'm making a principal." The principal was appalled. He went out to call the boy's parents when he spotted the pastor of the local church in the hall. He told him what had happened and asked if he would talk to the boy. The preacher went into the room and said, "Johnny, I know what you are doing with that bologna. You are making a preacher aren't you?" Johnny said, "I'd like to make a preacher but I don't have nearly enough bologna for that!"
Whatever people think of preachers, the Bible calls us under-shepherds and Jesus is the Chief Shepherd - the Great Shepherd. The manger reminds us that Jesus changes things.
Jesus changed the way we look at calendars. Our calendar is dated from the birth of Christ. But, if a person receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, He changes far more than that. Everything Jesus touches, He changes! Especially those people and places that open up willingly to HIM.
To the songwriter penned, "Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, Come into my heart to stay." I know the Lord is inviting someone to open your heart to Him in this very service today. You can trust Him today, because He came from heaven just for someone like you - someone like me. And when Jesus comes in, He changes your life forever. You will never be the same. It is the one decision you will never regret,
So, the Baby in the Manger tells us that God Arranges Things, and that God Changes Things. But, think with me about one more thing the Lord tells us from the day of His birth.
III. The Baby in the Manger says that GOD EXCHANGES THINGS
Christmas is a time of exchanging gifts. The day after Christmas people go back to the stores and exchange the gift they received for something they actually want. Or, if they can't send it back to Amazon, they put it in the closet for a re-gift.
On that day when Jesus was born we see a great chance for an exchange being announce. You see, Jesus came to offer an exchange for our sin - He offered grace and love for our sin and guilt.
This world had no room for Him, but He had and has room for the world. "He came unto His own and His own received Him not." There was no room at the inn that night, but there was room at the Cross for the innkeeper. No wonder the songwriter penned, "Hallelujah, what a Savior".
The poet has written,
"They laid Him in a manger,
And the angels sang the hymn,
Of rejoicing at His coming,
But there was no room for Him."
"Not much room for baby Jesus,
Not much room today for Him,
Only here and there a manger,
Like to that of Bethlehem."
Most importantly, He came to be born in order to die in our place.
- He came to take our sins and give us His righteousness.
- He came to take our death and give us His life.
- He came to take our guilt and give us His grace.
- He came to take our judgment and thus He died on the cross.
For those who repent of sin and accept Him by faith, He provides us a place in heaven. More than that He gives us abundant life now. I accepted Jesus when I was very young and I would trade that decision for anything in this earth. The bonus is that the One born in that manger will also meet us on the streets of gold when this life is over.
"There was no room for You,
Sweet Jesus Child, in Bethlehem,
Nor in Galilee,
Nor in Gadarea,
Nor in Jerusalem,
But You still had room for me!
Praise be to you,
Sweet Jesus Child."
Conclusion
Someone in this room today needs to come to Christ. He arranged for your salvation long ago. He changes everything whenever anyone makes room for Him. He will exchange your sins with His righteousness. Just admit your need to be saved and accept Him as your Savior. Matthew 1:21 is clear, "You shall call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.
The little boy was looking in the window at a beautiful red fire truck. He saw the storeowner coming and thought he was about to be chased away, so the boy turned and ran into the street. A cab passing by hit the lad and threw him to the ground. He was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that his injuries were not as bad as first thought. The next day the owner of the store showed up and gave the boy the red fire truck from the store window. The little boy ran his hands over the truck and said over and over, "It's the red fire truck and there is no glass between."
From the manger Jesus reveals that He is available to all who willl come to Him. From the cross He was saying, "I love you." From heaven today He is saying, "I am calling you."