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Our memories go back to our previous church home, Desert Christian Fellowship, pastored by our good friends Pastors Michael and Susan McFarland. One year for the Christmas play, two of our church elders, Bill and Paul, dressed up as shepherds, complete with bathrobes, and towels wrapped around their heads. These elders were not the typical 10-year-old Christmas play shepherds. It was a great time!
But let us imagine the shepherds who were greeted by the heavenly host on the first Christmas.
“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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:9-14 (NIV)
My good friend and mentor, Pastor Ed insisted that I read The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah, that Alfred Edersheim wrote with his daughter. This very valuable Bible reference brings us to the splendor of this moment with the Angels and the Shepherds:
“Heaven and earth seemed to mingle, as suddenly an Angel stood before their dazzled eyes, while the out streaming glory of the Lord seemed to enwrap them, as in a mantle of light.”
The birth of Jesus represented the combination of history up to that point. God had prepared the nation of Israel and the world for Jesus’ arrival. Starting with Abraham, God made a covenant with His people, and we see the lineage of that covenant in the first book of Matthew. God had arranged entire world empires to provide the necessary ingredients for Christ’s coming (e.g. the Roman roads, and the Greek language). Timothy Keller in his book The Hidden Christmas states:
“Christmas, of course, is just the beginning of the story of how God came to save us. Jesus will have to go to the cross. Yet the whole of Jesus’ life and salvation is here in embryonic form, foreshadowing what will happen. He came to stand in our place, to pay the penalty of our sin, to take what we deserve. Where, in light of our sin against God and our neighbor, do we deserve to be? Out in the cold and dark. Jesus was born in the cold and dark stable, but it was only a foreshadowing. At the end of his life, Jesus will cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). On the cross he was thrown out into the spiritual darkness so that we could be brought into the warmth and light of God’s presence.”
Jesus came to save us this Christmas. Wherever you are let’s celebrate His birth, and also remember His death on the cross.
Sounds Of Blackness “Soul Holidays”
https://youtu.be/Ew-VhCWibM0?si=gPzvAWP9ehh9t76X
The HeartVision Church Family Wishes you a
Blessed Merry Christmas
We Love You,
Pastors Willie and Rochelle McIntosh
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