May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing
in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:1-14)

Wond'ring Love

In Christ's name and to his glory, dear friends: In one of our Christmas Carols we sing: O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. The verse catches how unspectacular was that night, at least to mere mortal senses. Just a very few shepherds took time to investigate. And they had to be roused supernaturally. When they told others about the baby and the angel message it says of the people, They were amazed. But then follows by way of contrast, But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. In other words, most simply said, Isn't that interesting, and went back to bed. What would we have done? I would like to think that everyone one of us would have gone to see. But then I know how uninterested we can be about our Bible and worship which is no less God speaking of his wonders to us. The carol goes on: For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond'ring love. The perfect angels knew how spectacular were these events. I pray that God would let us be like the angels tonight - not in their splendor, but in their understanding. Lord, don't let us sleep through this day and season without perceiving, understanding, believing, trusting. Lord, make us part of the angel choir, instill in us that "wond'ring love."

The angels were caught in wond'ring love and admiration in how the Lord showed his powerful love that night. He controlled the big events of life without forgetting the little events of one family's life. There was no more powerful person on earth than the man mentioned here - Caesar Augustus. He said the word and millions of people had to change their plans to conform. I am sure that their were all kinds of people with unkind words to say about their government and feelings like this - Here we go again; I am at the mercy of the powers that be. But the angels marvel at what goes unperceived. Caesar was not in control. The Lord was in control. This was not about Caesar and taxing. It was about the Lord and his saving plans.

And even more, the angels marveled in wond'ring love over the private, personal care of the Almighty. Caesar speaks, but he has no idea of how his words effect the individual. How different is the Lord's rule. He rules the world yet also rules with personal care the people in his world. Joseph and Mary and Jesus did not set out on their own, but the Lord who told Caesar to decree also told Joseph to move.

And so it still is. The Lord rules the big things without loosing touch with the little things. This is true. This account shows it to us again. If only we would perceive it. How often we sin by thinking God has forgotten us, God does not know what he is doing, or doubting that he is doing things correctly. We need this Savior born tonight. Just looking at the circumstances of his birth remind us of that. Lord, help us to see this as clearly as the angels saw it.

There was still more over which the angels marveled in wond'ring love. It was not just power and individual care that caught the admiration of the angels. They could also see the wonder of divine humility here. We sinful mortals associate humility with weakness. In our case it often is. He had to eat some humble pie, we say. If it were within his power man would never be humble. Sin shows itself in our lives with an insatiable desire to have others humble before us. The angels marvel at what they saw that night - pure, willing, unforced humility. The one who said, Caesar, move the people, at the same time puts himself willingly under that decree. The Creator becomes a creature. Not by force, but by choice. Later the Apostle would join the angels in wondr'ing admiration writing: Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! (Philippians 2)

And the angels wond'ring love marvels at the reason for this humility. They announce to the shepherds that this humble baby is Savior, Christ, and Lord. By his humility he would save. God was walking with man to satisfy God's righteous demands of man, to be tempted in every way just as we are, yet to be without sin. In doing so he would become our righteousness before God. In his humility he would be Christ, the Priest. He would be involved in the bloody business of sacrificing. He would not sacrifice animals but himself, and his willing death would be the price that sets us free from hell. This child would also be Christ, the Prophet. He would preach the good news of forgiveness of sins even as he worked that forgiveness in his humble life and death. And he would be Christ, the Lord and King. As a king he would fight for his people and protect them from what threatens them. He would not take along vast armies, for this battle he alone must fight. He would not use traditional weapons for the enemies that threaten are not touched with weapons of the earth. It was Satan, sin and death that threaten the world and Jesus would go to battle against these on behalf of his people.

The angels came to the shepherds and said, To you is born a Savior, he is Christ the Lord. But do not think that God has forgotten us, has forgotten you. They said, This good news of great joy is for all the people...his coming means God's favor on the earth, on all. Take this to heart and marvel with the angels. Though no one in all the earth could have dreamed of a world 2000 years later, let alone the individuals in that world, still this baby, who is the Lord, knew each of us and had us in mind when he came. Marvel this night that he came for you.

...no ear may hear is coming, but in his world of sin where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; oh, come to us, Abide with us, our Lord Immanuel! Amen.