Christ came for the poor and lowly. God choose to leave Heaven's riches and became a human being for us, in the person of Jesus Christ. I have been listening to sermons throughout this Christmas season and being mindful of the story of the birth of Jesus and what the bible has to say about it. One of the stories that has been in my mind is the Angels announcing the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds keeping watch of their sheep by night, (Luke 2:8-14) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the LORD appeared to them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the LORD. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
During that time the job of a shepherd was a lowly position, it was a job for someone who was less educated but had an understanding of life that maybe some of the other people in society didn't have. Jesus's parents found no room for them in the inn, as Mary was about to give birth to Jesus, and God designed it that Jesus was to be born in a stable, or a cave as they were back then. Jesus was born in a humble way because his parents were poor, and the shepherds were poor as well. God was and is trying to tell us that all of the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ indicated that He (Jesus) was and is Lord not just of the rich, but of the poor specifically too.
His birth tells us a story that the Son of God choose to be born in poverty, and God including the poor shepherds as the first to be told of the Saviour's birth by the angels, include all humanity, no one excluded. When society shuns certain people, the shepherds show us that God shuns no one. All are included especially those that people tend to look down on in society. Yes, there were wise men who celebrated the birth of Jesus, and Jesus received fancy gifts from them, however these gifts were for a king and Jesus had to be celebrated in this way. When those in society have nothing to celebrate, or nothing to hope for, God offers us His Son. There are no conditions on salvation, God just asks us to believe and have faith. This is Mike.
The story of Christmas is about God revealing Himself to certain people, and showing us that Jesus was just as much human, but sinless of course. God identified with his people with the incarnation, and asks us to identify with Christ in all of God's humanity in Jesus. He invites the poor, the forsaken, the outcasts to come to the banquet and feast upon the risen Lord, who took on the form of man, as a baby.
The story of Christmas is about God revealing Himself to certain people, and showing us that Jesus was just as much human, but sinless of course. God identified with his people with the incarnation, and asks us to identify with Christ in all of God's humanity in Jesus. He invites the poor, the forsaken, the outcasts to come to the banquet and feast upon the risen Lord, who took on the form of man, as a baby.
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