This is the first of a four part series on the Christmas Story. I wanted to take a brief reprise to focus myself on what this time of year is truly about, instead of those things where advertisers and merchants seek to direct my life. If you are like me, even during the joy and celebration of the Christmas season, I can find a reason to complain about most anything. I suppose that it is a byproduct of growing older that I find myself being more picky about more things than I should. I am an American living in the Philippines and seem to make constant comments about what is wrong with the people and culture that I find myself a part of. In reality, this is a beautiful country full of warm and friendly people who love life for it’s very essence. Although Filipino’s have much less materially than what I see Americans accustomed to, they have greater joy than anyone I have ever known living in the U.S.
Christmas takes us back to a simpler time in all of our lives when we were children and the only things that we concerned ourselves with were play and our friends. I think that this year God would like it very much if we could all just forget about all of the complexities of our life and take a few days to just play and enjoy the many wonderful blessings we have already have in our life, like family and friends, a warm fire, good food and the remembrance of what God has done for all of us in Christmas.
I think that until about a week before Christmas day, most of us forget what Christmas is really all about.
This past month I was contacted by a person who stated that he wanted to help the poor and was directed towards my website bantayanisland.org. I am the CEO of a Christian Ministry that solicits help from those who have a heart for the poor of third world countries, and specifically in my case, here in the Philippines.
When this individual learned that we were a Christian organization, he declined to join us, stating that he did so because he objected to our “pushing God down his throat.” What this gentleman had not considered was that more than 90 percent of the charitable organizations in the world that bring assistance to the poor, are Christian organizations. Without Christ, there would never have been the vast global army of people who bring help to the poor of the earth. It is because we have been so deeply touched by the Love of God ourselves in Him giving us His only Son, that we are moved with compassion to help those who are helpless to change their own lives.
Along with the story of Christmas, this is a proper time of the year for each one of us to pause and evaluate our own life and the course that we are presently on. To contemplate matters beyond this world, into the next, and to consider God and His claim upon our life. Perhaps it could also be a time for us to surrender our pride and fall before the Lord in sincerity and express our need for His love and forgiveness.
In sharing with you the details of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ, may you find yourself and the true purpose for you’re existence, in the reason why Jesus came. The details of this four part series may surprise and challenge you in ways you did not expect. I hope that this story is a blessing to you and those to whom you share this story with. May you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas season and experience all the love and joy that the Lord desires you possesses in your life as you seek to know Him better.
Just before Jesus was born, the people who were living during those days, were growing increasingly discouraged with their lives. For 400 years, from the end of the Old Testament prophet Malachi, the Lord had seemingly not spoken a single word to Israel or to Gods people. The people had begun to imagine that the Lord had forgotten them. It seemed in the midst of all their trials and difficulties, that the Lord did not care.
But the Lord did care. In fact, just when it most appeared that He had forgotten His people completely, in reality He was working in the background to bring the greatest blessings they could imagine. Today, in your own life, it might seem as though the Lord does not much care. Perhaps your health or finances are suffering. Maybe the only thing that the Christmas season has brought you this year is loneliness. You may be experiencing problems with family or friends. You parents or your own children seem distant and too busy to care. It may be that your career has been threatened by layoffs in your company. Finances may be diminished and you cannot afford to buy presents for anyone this year. In the midst of these serious issues, the true story of Christmas bring a message of hope.
Let me encourage you, the Lord is working in the background of your life. Don’t you lose your confidence in Him just yet. He will come through for you, just continue to trust Him and wait a little while longer. These present afflictions will only serve to bring you greater revelation of who God is in your life, and increased blessing for you in the future. The Lord has not forgotten you, on the contrary, He has been working in your life through every difficulty, heartache, and loss that you have had. Renew your commitment to Him right now as you read these words, and renew your heart’s confidence in the Lord’s love and His desire to bless your life. Your trust in Him will release those blessing that He has been storing up for you. Many of the things the Lord is desiring to do in our life, can only be released into our life when we are willing to trust Him with all of our heart.
Just when the people of Israel were about to give up on the Lord ever coming to deliver them…in the very last Book of the Old Testament, the Lord made this promise:
Malachi 4:5,6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.“
Though over 400 years had passed without a word from the Lord, He still kept His promise. Even though you have waited long for the Lord to help you, without that plea being heard so far, hang on, deliverance is coming for you. Don’t allow doubts to rob you of perhaps the best experience of your life.
Psalms 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Though Israel had lost hope, one who was about to be born amongst them would turn theirs, and many of ours, back to the Father again…
Many people do not realize that John the Baptist was the last of the old testament prophet’s. Most of us think of the old testament as ending with the book of Malachi. Actually, from heavens viewpoint, the old testament period would not be concluded until one last prophet would come. This messenger would announce the arrival of Gods Savior to planet earth.
Matthew 11:7,11 When John the Baptists disciples had gone, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “Who is this man in the wilderness that you went out to see? Did you find him weak as a reed, moved by every breath of wind. Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? Those who dress like that live in palaces, not out in the wilderness. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, `Look, I am sending my messenger before you, and he will prepare your way before you.’
Here, Jesus is confirming the fact that John the Baptist is “Elijah”, that was predicted by the prophet Malachi, who would arrive just prior to the coming of the Messiah.
Jesus then says this about John the Baptist:
“I assure you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the most insignificant person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! NLT
There had never been anyone born to that point, who was greater than John the Baptist. Yet Jesus announces that the most insignificant person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist. The idea then, is that John the Baptist is not included in this new classification of Gods people called, “The kingdom of heaven”, He is a part of the regime of the old testament.
“When did the kingdom of heaven begin”?
Matthew 3:1,2 JOHN THE BAPTIST MESSAGE WAS: 1…In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” NKJV
Matthew 4:17 JESUS MESSAGE WAS THE SAME: 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” NKJV
According to this text in Matthew, “The Kingdom of Heaven”, is a new class of God’s people, and it began when Jesus arrived. Who then, are the people included in this new “Kingdom of Heaven”? Everyone who has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The church, referred to in the new testament as “Jesus body”, are “the members of this ” Kingdom of Heaven”
John the Baptist then, is not included in “The Church”, he is from “The old testament prophet” classification. If Israel had accepted John the Baptist’s message regarding Jesus being their Messiah, then John would have fulfilled the prophecies literally concerning the coming of Elijah, before the coming of the Messiah. Because Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah, John was only able to fulfill the prophecy of the coming of Elijah before the Messiah, in “A spiritual sense”.
The next part of the story of Jesus life, really begins with one of Jesus relatives: Zechariah and Elizabeth
Luke 1:5, through 2:40 Zechariah, lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zechariah was a member of the priestly order of Abijah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and now they were both very old.
The priest in Israel, that served in the temple, took turns in their service. They each had a two week period, when they were allowed to go into the temple and serve. There were, what is called, “26 courses of priests”, that is, 26 priest were appointed to serve in the temple, each with a 2 week period. These 26 priests, each serving 2 weeks, filled up the entire 52 week year. The priests, each drew straws to see which ministries they would perform, while in the temple. This particular year, Zechariah, “just happen to be chosen”, to offer up the incense in the “Holy of Holies”.
Zechariah’s turn in the Holy of Holies was a very rare occasion. Usually the priest were only allowed to go into the “Holy of Holies”, once during their entire lifetime. Being chosen to offer incense in the Holy place put Zechariah, directly before the Ark of the Covenant and the “Golden Mercy Seat”. Zechariah, was in the place where the very presence of God dwelt. When a priest was in the Holy of Holies, he was adorned with bells around the bottom of his robe, so that his movement could constantly be monitored. A rope was also placed around the ankle of the priest who served, so that should the priest enter the presence of God in the holy of holies, with his sins not being covered by a sacrifice, that priest would be immediately be struck dead by the Lord. If the sound of bells could not be heard inside the Holy place, those outside would know that something had gone wrong. A tug would be given on the rope to confirm that priest was alive. If he had perished inside the Holy place, not one could go in to fetch him, they would drag his lifeless body out by the rope attached to his ankle!
Zechariah, would be offering incense during the morning and evening sacrifices. It seems that it was around the 3:00 p.m. Sacrifice, that Zechariah is there in the Holy of Holies, offering the incense before the Lord, when the Angel Gabriel comes to tell John the news of his son, Johns birth.
A couple of important points here:
Zechariah, was an old man by this time, but still had not been able to have a son. This lifelong disappointment was about to change. Zechariah and his wife were to receive news of a son who would be “John the Baptist”, the forerunner of the Messiah. The Lord works in our lives, even when we think that it is too late for us. He does so during circumstance of our life that seem impossible to us.
The Lord organized the schedule for the temple service so as to place Zechariah exactly in the right place, at the right time, in order to fulfill his plan for Zechariah, and the coming of the Messiahs forerunner. The Lord will do the same for your life. He will place you in the right place at the right time, with the right people, in order to accomplish His will for your life.
The chances of Zechariah being chosen to go into the holy of holies, was nearly impossible. The Lord placed Zechariah here in this place, because he was about to send to him, the angel Gabriel, to tell Zechariah that he was about to be the father of John the Baptist. The Lord works best in impossible circumstance. He places us in these seemingly impossible circumstances, just so he can work an awesome plan that he has for us. There is nothing that is impossible for the Lord, if you will only trust Him.
Notice that the time when the Lord chose to speak to Zechariah. It was when he was the busiest. This Christmas season, while you are so busy, the Lord is trying to speak to you, can you hear him?
Luke 1:8-13 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense in the Lord’s presence. While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. Zechariah was in the sanctuary when an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was overwhelmed with fear. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John.
Imagine the fear that must have come upon Zechariah. There he is serving the Lord in the Holy of Holies, standing in the very presence of God. An angel appears before him and declares that as an old man, he shall be given a son. Many of the opportunities that the Lord presents us with are during moments of great perplexity and fear in our life. If you are waiting to receive a revelation from God during times of peace in your life, these are often not the circumstances where He moves.
Are You Afraid Right Now? Are the circumstances of your life in disarray? You may very well be in the exact environment that the Lord will choose to make his greatest revelations known to you.
Luke 1:14-17 THE ANGEL BEGINS TO TELL ZECHARIAH You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice with you at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or hard liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will persuade many Israelites to turn to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will change disobedient minds to accept Godly wisdom.”
The baby that the angel is speaking of, will be John the Baptist.
Luke 1:18-20 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! And now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you won’t be able to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time.”
The Lord had brought incredibly good news to Zechariah, but he was not able to accept it. After waiting his entire life for a son, now when Zechariah thought that there was no hope of ever having a child, the Lord comes to him with news that he will soon be a father.
There are many moments in our life when it seems as if the Lord has forgotten us. Trust me when I say that it only appears to be that way. This Christmas season, may you understand that the Lord has never forgotten you, nor your life and the needs you have. If God appears silent, know that this period of quiet is not the absence of his presence, but an opportunity for you to trust him while you wait for the manifestation of his presence in your life. He is working, and has always been working. When Zechariah was at a place of hopelessness and had given up on ever being able to have a son, that is the time that the Lord chose to give him the greatest blessing of his life. It is often when all of our human resources have been diminished and there is no possibility of us ever achieving our dreams, that the Lord comes to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He does this to teach us that everything of importance in our life comes from his hand, not by our efforts or power.
Luke 1: 21 -28 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out, wondering why he was taking so long. When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures that he must have seen a vision in the Temple sanctuary. He stayed at the Temple until his term of service was over, and then he returned home. Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. ”How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children!”
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!“
The Christmas story now turns from Zechariah, to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary was poor, young, and had nothing to offer the Lord. She possessed no skills, nothing that the world would consider valuable, yet she appears to have a precious and yielded heart to God that was perfect for Him to manifest His work through.
These are the type of people that the Lord desires to use. People who don’t think they have anything to offer God, people who simply make themselves available to be used by him, without pretense or personal agenda. Mary was no one of particular talent or social standing. Mary was just was just a young girl from a simple family with a yielded heart. What made Mary usable by the Lord, was that she made herself available to him, to be used any way that he desired.
Luke 1:29-34 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ”Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.“
Mary was not expressing doubt over what the angel told her, she simply did not understand how she could be used in this way by the Lord, seeing who she was and where she came from. It is not a lack of faith, nor a heart of doubt to ask honest questions of the Lord. If you don’t understand something in his word, or about spiritual matters, ask questions from someone who is themselves well versed in the Bible. A person who knows the Bible and has a personal relationship with Jesus, being filled by the Holy Spirit, will be able to answer your questions. God never expects you to blindly accept everything without understanding what he is saying. God never asks us to accept with our heart what our mind cannot understand. Every question has an answer when it comes to the Bible. I have been asked some of the most interesting questions from people over the past 36 years about the Bible and Jesus Christ, and so far the Lord has always given me a good answer for each one.
Luke 1:35-37 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s already in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.“
Notice that the only thing that Mary had to do to be used by the Lord was believe what he said to her, and let him use her. The Holy Spirit would come upon her and do all the work, Mary’s part was to allow him. You might think that in order to be greatly used by God you need to be uniquely gifted or qualified. This is not true. Mary was just a girl, and yet by her simple trust and yielded life, she became one of those who was the creates vessels of God.
Luke 1:38 Mary responded, “I am the lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true.” and then the angel left.
Notice Mary’s response, “Lord I am just your servant, do with me whatever you want….”
Everyday of your life, this is the constant and sincere question that the Lord is asking you in every circumstance of your life; “Will you trust me?”
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Luke 1:39-41 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Remember the baby that is in the womb of Elizabeth is the future John the Baptist, he recognizes Jesus as Lord and Savior even though he is only a small infant inside his mother. The baby inside the body of a woman is not just a mass of fetal material, they are an eternal being of immense importance. The mother carrying that baby is herself a steward of the child in her body and responsible to the Lord for insuring that child comes into the world safe and protected from all harm. The Lord will hold every woman accountable for the child she carries in her body. It is not the rights of the woman’s body that is of importance in her pregnancy, it is the child inside her to whom life has been entrusted. When we have someone else’s life in our care, we are responsible for the welfare of that person. It matters not the circumstances for how that life came into being. All life comes from God, not only by the efforts of men. Every spirit residing in the body of a person is eternal and of such infinite value to God, that he was willing to offer his only Son to redeem that life. If a woman becomes pregnant, even though it was by rape, incest or a horrible and abusive husband, she is still responsible to make sure that baby comes into the world safe and unharmed. There are many childless couples who long for a child to love and nurture by adoption. Taking the life of a baby to try and right a wrong done to a woman, or for matters of convenience, will only add to the future sorrow and regret of that woman. I believe that this example of John the Baptist being inside his mother’s womb, yet conscience of the world around him, is an example from the Lord of how important a child inside his mother, truly is.
At this point, John in his mothers womb is only about 9 inches long. He weighs about 1 1/2 pounds. His skin is Translucent so that you can see his organs, veins and muscles through his skin. Yet at this stage of his development, he already has fingerprints, footprints, he can open his eyes, and he can feel emotion. As Mary arrives, 9 inch long John “Leaps for Joy inside his mothers Womb”
Luke 1:42-45 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “You are blessed by God above all other women, and your child is blessed. What an honor this is, that the mother of my Lord should visit me! When you came in and greeted me, my baby jumped for joy the instant I heard your voice! You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
In Mary’s response to Elizabeth, we see the humble spirit within her and the true person of the heart that she is:
Mary’s Song of Praise
Luke 1:46-55 Mary responded, “Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me. His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. His mighty arm does tremendous things! How he scatters the proud and haughty ones. He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. And how he has helped his servant Israel! He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. For he promised our ancestors, Abraham and his children, to be merciful to them forever.”
Notice the number of times that Mary uses the words “HIs” and “He”, 12. Today if you listen carefully to the conversations of people when they talk together, you will hear the words “Me”, and “I” as a constant part of their conversation. We are by nature, people more focusses and concerned about ourselves than others. Mary’s focus is on the greatness of God and how He chose to use her in her humble state as a mere human being. Today the Catholic church has elevated Mary to a position of honor not intended by God, nor seen in the Bible. Protestants do the opposite, they ignore the example of service, humility and honor that Mary has given to God in her service for him.
Here is the heart of a woman who knows who she is before the Lord. She is totally surrendered to him, to do what he wishes with her and her life. This is what happens to a woman who is totally committed to Jesus. She will see him do things through her, that will amaze the entire world!
Luke 1:56-67 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home. Now it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, and it was a boy. The word spread quickly to her neighbors and relatives that the Lord had been very kind to her, and everyone rejoiced with her. When the baby was eight days old, all the relatives and friends came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” ”What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they asked the baby’s father, communicating to him by making gestures. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John!” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. Wonder fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “I wonder what this child will turn out to be? For the hand of the Lord is surely upon him in a special way.” Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
Luke 1:76-80 “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” John grew up and became strong in spirit. Then he lived out in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
The Legend of Elijah’s Mantle:
According to legend, when Elisha died (having inherited Elijah’s mantle, His Coat (1 Kings 19:19; 2 Kings 2:14; 13:14,19) his mantle was placed inside the Golden Altar (the Altar of Incense).
man·tle
1. A role or position, especially one that can be passed from one person to another (formal)
2. Something that envelops or covers something else (literary)
3. A loose sleeveless cloak
Remember that Zechariah’s turn to serve in the Temple, was at the Altar of Incense, where the coat of Elisha was placed. When Zachariah received his visit in the Holy of Holies by the angel, he was told to take this mantle with him (cf. Luke 1:17), and that this was the very mantle that John the Baptist was wearing 30 years later (Cf. Mark 9:13). 1. John Holland, Luke 1,9:20, Word Publishing, Dallas, TX 1989, p.14. 2. Mishna, Yoma 2:1,5; Joachim Jeremias, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus, Fortress Press, Philadelphia, PA
When the angel first appeared to Zechariah, he was unbelieving and doubtful of what God was trying to reveal to him. In the amazing patience of the Lord, as he endured Zechariah’s unbelief, in the process of witnessing the birth of his son, and by the process of time, Zechariah believed everything that the Lord had first told him. God is so very patient with us when we fail and do not believe what he says. He patiently endures our periods of unbelief and waits for us to grow and accept his will. When you fail, remember that the Lord will not easily cast you aside. He will also be very patient with you and give you all the time that you need until you come to a place of being able to believe what he has said and act on that belief in obedience.
Perhaps you have committed sins in your life that seem as if there is no forgiveness for by God. The Bible states that the “Blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse us from every sin.” If you will call on the name of Jesus right now and confess to him what you know to be wrong, that you have done, he will forgive it all and release you from the guilt you feel. In place of the guilt he will fill you with a sense of peace and well being that you have never experienced before in your life.
What did Zechariah do, after he was forgiven? He got up, and began to follow the Lord with all of his heart.
If you have been trying to follow Jesus as a believer in him, but have failed, it is time to take all those feeling of failure to the Lord today, and experience his forgiveness and a new start in your life.
Jesus came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem. He lived the life of an ordinary man with all of the capacities for failure that you also have, yet he never sinned. He understands how hard it is for you and I, and how impossible it is for us to ever be perfect while in these fallen, mortal bodies. He is both merciful and gracious and will welcome any sinner who comes to him in sincerity and honesty. At the conclusion of part one of this Christmas story, perhaps you need to make a new start with Jesus right now. You can do so by just having an honest conversation with the Lord and tell him about your failures and your desire to be forgiven and start anew. He is ready if you are. Come to the Lord right now and experience the miracle of Christmas…. Forgiveness and New Life.
Part 2 follows….
Rob Robinson
