Sermon Title: To keep a Quiet Heart
Text: Luke 2:1-20
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In His Sovereign Will, this Christmas season is turning out to be a very quiet one.
Let us learn to keep a quiet heart in utter acknowledgement that Christ, is indeed, God with us!
We have always thought that the first Christmas was a joyous, loud, and perhaps busy affair with the angels heralding, the shepherds visiting, and the Magi travelling across continents to worship Christ, the Son of God.
It is most joyous indeed - for the Promised Messiah has come!
However, to Joseph and a heavily pregnant Mary, it was a most challenging and stressful time – with encounters of terrifying angels, making that treacherous journey to Bethlehem for the Roman census, visits from complete strangers, and revelations of prophecies foretold and fulfilled in their newborn child.
It was certainly not a Christmas that we would have envisioned based on how we are used to celebrating our Christmases in modernity.
On this important side note:
With the Province-wide restrictions - that stipulates NO social gatherings of any size at residences with anyone other than your immediate household, and the stated suspension of all in-person worship services and church gatherings - extended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic till the 9th of January 2021, we are assured that Christmas 2020 will be a very quiet Christmas.
And rightfully so.
As citizens under Gods care and care of the government that He established (Romans 13:1), we must each do our part to mitigate the worsening health situation; and as far as possible, stay home, and stay physically apart – for the time being.
Church, know this well.
There are absolutely no issues with how we are worshiping and gathering online today; because we do so in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I would like you to know that - where we are, we sense the same presence of God as we do when we are gathered in the Church Sanctuary; for God is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent!
It is not where we are gathered; but whom we are gathered before.
You can be in the church sanctuary and be in your own little world, far from the presence of God; or we can be anywhere in the world, in any state of being – in sickness or in health – and call upon Jesus knowing that He is Immanuel - “God with us”!
Church, we are blessed in this land, and we are certainly blessed with the freedom to worship God. This Public Health Order absolutely does not trespass our divine right to worship the living God. So let us continue to bless our land and leaders – who have sensibly restricted all seasonal and social activities during the course of a pandemic to which there is no proven vaccine – by praying for them, and be exemplary citizens in this difficult time; to the glory of God.
Now is not the time to be self-serving, and most definitely, defiant.
Self-service and defiance is a bad look on the bride of Christ - especially in the ongoing tragedy that has claimed millions of lives; and in the stark absence of any trespass on our freedom and identity as Christians.
To return on point, this is necessarily a different and quiet Christmas season.
For sure, there is nothing traditional about Christmas this year.
However, if you were thinking about being as authentic to the first Christmas as possible; I would say that:
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas; everywhere you go;
Take a look all around with the empty streets, you know;
Everyone will be home; yes this Christmas we are all alone.”
And you know what?
That we would be quiet and all alone within our immediate family would actually be very much like the first Christmas.
Today, I invite you to step back into the historical and biblical narrative of the first Christmas; and together, let us embrace the true atmosphere that surrounded the Christ-child and understand what that first Christmas meant to Joseph and Mary.
4 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.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (Luke 2:4-5)
Luke – was uncharacteristically brisk for a trip that was close to 150 km long – on foot; however, that is because everyone – then - would have known how miserable and treacherous that trip really was.
With Mary being heavily pregnant, scholars believe that the couple could travel about 15 km a day. Actually, I doubt if any of the scholars were actually pregnant and due in two weeks, tried walking that kind of distance. Mary must have been very tough.
The terrain was difficult, and dangerous - with countless climbs and descends; through the Judean desert that has sub-zero temperatures during the day and colder yet in the night – with freezing rains that threaten to overwhelm every traveller.
In order to protect themselves during such inclement weather, Mary and Joseph would likely have worn heavy woollen cloaks to protect them from the rain and snow; and under their outer cloaks, long robes belted at the waist would have kept them warm.
The rough trails and unforgiving weather were not the only perils Joseph and Mary would have faced on their journey south; one of the most terrifying dangers in ancient Palestine faced by every traveller was the heavily forested valley of the Jordan River - where lions, wild boars and bears lived. Travellers had to be constantly alert and prepared to fend off these wild, and sometimes, ravenous animals; and of course, also protect themselves against the hordes of bandits who would rob and kill without thought.
To make the two weeks long trip, Mary and Joseph would have to bring and carry their own provisions. Water in wineskins and a large amount of bread would burden, and yet, sustain, them at the same time.
Arriving in Bethlehem, their hardship would continue.
An overcrowded Bethlehem forced Joseph and Mary to be turned away from an inn and they had to take shelter at a nearby cave used to house animals.
That’s right. Christ Jesus – the Son of God – was born in a cave for animals, and laid in a manger hewn out of stone that would look like an oversized oval-shaped bowl used as an animal trough.
This cave was not even a place to rest, much more, give birth to a child. It was filthy, smelly, dark and dank; the worst of all dwellings – and Christ was born in a place such as this.
For Joseph and Mary, their entire journey was gruelling, miserable and deadly dangerous.
And they were the original celebrants of the day known as Christmas.
If we wanted to really celebrate an authentic Christmas, we should all think about experiencing what Joseph and Mary experienced; or at the very least be very serious and thoughtful about what Joseph and Mary experienced.
Their trip into Bethlehem was a terrible, lonely and potentially fatal ordeal. It is doubtful that any kind of celebration can be birthed out of such an ordeal; perhaps a solemn commemoration; but certainly not a rowdy celebration.
“6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly 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.” (Luke 2:6-14)
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
It is important to never conflate the two events taking place – one was a quiet, and divine birth; the other, a glorious heavenly symphony of prophecy and praise.
It was the same night; but two very separate events.
This perception must be corrected; for as far as Joseph and Mary was concerned, they never witnessed the heralding angels, and in fact, might never even have received the shepherds at all.
Here’s why.
Although Luke reports,
“16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:16-17)
They found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, and saw them.
Nothing suggests a formal introduction and proper visit at any length.
“19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” suggests that Joseph and Mary somehow heard about the shepherd’s encounter with the angelic hosts who proclaimed and prophesied in detail regarding the advent of Christ the Messiah.
To this, “ the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:20)
The shepherds remembered every angelic detail about the prophecy of Christ; and they heard and saw – just as they had been told.
What the shepherds witnessed was so much a miracle as it was the strangest sight:
“You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)
Why was this the strangest sight?
Well, because:
(1) Even in those days, the babies wore … baby clothes. But of course, with all Joseph
and Mary had to endure and pack, baby clothes would understandably not be on top of their packing list. The cloth that wrapped the baby Jesus most likely belonged to either Joseph or Mary and was used to keep them warm under their outer cloak.
(2) In that dirty cave that housed donkeys and other travelling animals, Mary and Joseph felt compelled to put the baby Jesus down; why?
Wouldn’t anyone consider keeping the baby carried in such a place, and especially under such ominous circumstances?
Why would Joseph and Mary feel compelled to put baby Jesus down in the first place?
They were completely exhausted; so tired from the trip and so overwhelmed by the events that surrounded the trip that they had absolutely nothing left.
They were so exhausted but they certainly couldn’t put him on the floor - it was Bethlehem; desert country. With no straw to line the floors, the cave-like barn would have been revolting, mucky and putrid. The only place they could lay the child – the cleanest place by any comparison - was in an animal trough hewn out of stone; shaped like a big bowl.
So here we have it.
The first Christmas.
Baby Jesus wrapped in cloth; and placed in a stone feeder; in the quiet of the night carved into the disquiet of the world around it.
The first Christmas.
The picture of Christ’s birth; which is also the prophetic picture of His death - the tomb, and His body wrapped in linen – the very purpose of His incarnation, the atonement for the sins of all people.
To this, we have established that the correct posture to embrace the Christmas season – this Christmas and every Christmas to come - is to keep a quiet heart.
And even if Joseph and Mary may not have realised it then; their posture of quietness and trust – even in their overwhelming exhaustion – was the right and holy posture of acknowledging that the Christ-child who was wrapped in linen and placed in a stone manger was the prophetic image of the day Christ would die on the Cross, be wrapped in linen and placed in the tomb (Ref: Mark 15:46) from which He would raise victoriously from the grave; having fulfilled the conditions for our Salvation.
In quietness and trust – your right, holy, and true spirit for Christmas.
This year because of the pandemic, we are compelled to have a quiet Christmas – a Christmas like no other; but a Christmas that is actually closer – more accurate in the sacred degree of silence and solitude - to the very first Christmas.
The event of Christ’s birth - although connected to the public spectacle of heralding angels, and the evangelistic and praiseful shepherds - was in fact very much separated from all the revelry; and in the perspective of the first people who was truly close to the heart of Christmas – there was a deep heaviness was in the air, it was contemplative and lonely; for there was much to think about, much to remember; and essentially, much to be quiet about.
To Joseph and Mary, it was a deeply quiet affair, because they were necessarily decompressing from the tremendous challenges, threats and stresses they had to endure to get where they were on that fateful night.
For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances surrounding them were far from celebratory; it was deeply contemplative because of the events that preceded and surrounded it.
And yet, in God’s Sovereign Will, it was the disquiet of the world around them that led their hearts to be quiet before the Christ-child.
Joseph and Mary had nothing left.
They were absolutely exhausted.
But before them was God’s Promise fulfilled:
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet Isaiah: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:22-23)
Christmas is the sacrament that draws us to the reality that God is with us – and the only posture befitting of such a glorious and eternal reality is to keep a quiet heart.
Perhaps today, you are also exhausted and you have nothing left.
Know this.
What you have, is the power to calm yourself and keep a quiet heart before God.
Stop looking at the circumstances that overwhelm; look solely to Christ who gives you rest to overcome!
Hush your heart; shush your mind – be still before God; trust Him utterly.
Repent and return to Him; and He will restore you.
Repent. Return. And be restored.
But first, be still; keep a quiet heart before the Holy God.
In the face of a disquiet world – a world that is besieged and inundated with clamour, noise, and tumult – it is urgent and necessary for every Christian to keep a quiet heart before the Lord our God.
To keep a quiet heart is to align yourself to the centre of the crescendo of events leading to the birth of Christ – which at the very height of the crescendo is a holy silence; silence that accepts only the most silent of hearts that know what it truly means to ”be still and know” that Jesus is God. (Ref: Psalm 46:10)
For Joseph and Mary who found themselves in the Presence of God, it was the quiet of their hearts that transcended the disquiet of the world.
Christ is with us today; learn to hush your heart.
Be disciplined and resolute to keep still, and be still; to keep a quiet heart before the Lord at all times – in the faithful acknowledgement that He is our God; our Provider, our Protector, our Redeemer and our King.
In the knowledge of God’s love, hush your heart – like you would comfort a little child’ shush yourself from the thoughts, words and deeds of worry – instead, repent and return to the Presence of God.
The biblical and historical narrative reveals to us that the Christ-child was victorious over the forces of darkness; nothing could disturb the peace that surrounded Him.
How can we not put our trust in Christ our Saviour and the Risen King?
Fight fear with faith in Jesus the King! Have faith in Jesus the King!
Learn to keep a quiet heart in the Presence of our Holy God – transcend over the disquiet of the world.
A heart that truly befits Christmas - A Quiet Heart Before Our God
And so, as we anticipate Christmas, or think about a traditional Christmas gathering with food, presents, loud conversations above the din of revelry; let us remember… …
“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:26)
“Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.” (Proverbs 17:1)
“The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.“ (Ecclesiastes 9:17 )
When we consider, or think about, Christmas decorations or clothes to wear, let us remember what is of great worth in God’s sight.
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
As we think even about evangelism this Christmas, let us consider this passage:
“Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to (love one another) more and more,11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12)
So this year, let us commemorate a quiet Christmas – by keeping a quiet heart before our Holy and Sovereign God who said to us -
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,” (Isaiah 30:15)
“The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:17 )
May our Christmas prayers be guided by Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:1-6:
The life of quiet worship
”I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
Church, God’s Salvation plan was fulfilled from the moment Christ came into the world – nothing was going to disrupt the reality that God is with us; and that He is mighty to save!
Today, as we prepare ourselves to partake of the Lord’s supper; let us keep a quiet heart before God; and receive His Heavenly Peace that transcends over the disquiet of the world.
Let us come before Him as David exemplified for us in Psalm 131:
1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too lofty for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
3 (Church), put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.
Calm and quiet yourself this Christmas; for true content comes only with the Christ of Christmas.
Be still and keep a quiet heart before God – and live in the victorious peace of our Saviour; now and forevermore!
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord Jesus, You have given me peace; peace to keep a quiet and holy heart before You, and to be still and know that You are God.
Thank You, Lord!
I believe utterly that in my exhaustion and weakness, You are my courage, resolve, strength, and wisdom.
Grant me Your Holy Spirit – that I may have the power to hush my heart and shush my mind, and keep a quiet heart before You all the days of my life.
Especially in the disquiet of the world around me, lead me into Your Holy Presence – in quietness and trust, for this is the only posture befitting of Your glorious and eternal reality.
Draw me close to You, Lord; and into the reality that You are Immanuel – God with us!
Help me sense your Presence, Lord; transform my mind to receive Your Peace; and teach my heart to be absolutely and utterly quiet before You.
Lord, I receive and resolve to live in Your glorious and eternal Kingdom reality – that I may be victorious in the present - through a quiet heart; in the face of a disquiet world.
Align my soul, Holy Spirit, to the center of the crescendo of events leading to the birth of Christ – which, at the very height is silence; the holy silence that accepts only the most silent of hearts that know what it truly means to ”be still and know that Jesus is God.”
Help me believe and live in this eternal Truth; and embrace the true atmosphere that surrounded Your birth, Lord Jesus - in deep knowledge that You have come all along to save the world; to save us from the wages of sin, which is, death.
Help me know You deeply and truly – in quietness and trust; for “in repentance and rest” is Your salvation for me, “in quietness and trust” is Your strength in me (Ref: Isaiah 30:15)
Grant that I may bear the fruit of Your Righteousness – which is peace; and that I would live in “quietness and confidence forever”. (Ref: Isaiah 32:17 )
May my heart not be proud, Lord, and my eyes not haughty;
May I never concern myself with anything apart from You, Jesus;
That I may calm and quieten myself;
And place my hope in You both now and forevermore. (Ref: Psalm 131)
Grant me a quiet heart before You – all the days of my life; that I may receive Your Heavenly Peace that transcends and overcomes the disquiet of the world.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Text: Luke 2:1-20
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In His Sovereign Will, this Christmas season is turning out to be a very quiet one.
Let us learn to keep a quiet heart in utter acknowledgement that Christ, is indeed, God with us!
We have always thought that the first Christmas was a joyous, loud, and perhaps busy affair with the angels heralding, the shepherds visiting, and the Magi travelling across continents to worship Christ, the Son of God.
It is most joyous indeed - for the Promised Messiah has come!
However, to Joseph and a heavily pregnant Mary, it was a most challenging and stressful time – with encounters of terrifying angels, making that treacherous journey to Bethlehem for the Roman census, visits from complete strangers, and revelations of prophecies foretold and fulfilled in their newborn child.
It was certainly not a Christmas that we would have envisioned based on how we are used to celebrating our Christmases in modernity.
On this important side note:
With the Province-wide restrictions - that stipulates NO social gatherings of any size at residences with anyone other than your immediate household, and the stated suspension of all in-person worship services and church gatherings - extended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic till the 9th of January 2021, we are assured that Christmas 2020 will be a very quiet Christmas.
And rightfully so.
As citizens under Gods care and care of the government that He established (Romans 13:1), we must each do our part to mitigate the worsening health situation; and as far as possible, stay home, and stay physically apart – for the time being.
Church, know this well.
There are absolutely no issues with how we are worshiping and gathering online today; because we do so in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I would like you to know that - where we are, we sense the same presence of God as we do when we are gathered in the Church Sanctuary; for God is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent!
It is not where we are gathered; but whom we are gathered before.
You can be in the church sanctuary and be in your own little world, far from the presence of God; or we can be anywhere in the world, in any state of being – in sickness or in health – and call upon Jesus knowing that He is Immanuel - “God with us”!
Church, we are blessed in this land, and we are certainly blessed with the freedom to worship God. This Public Health Order absolutely does not trespass our divine right to worship the living God. So let us continue to bless our land and leaders – who have sensibly restricted all seasonal and social activities during the course of a pandemic to which there is no proven vaccine – by praying for them, and be exemplary citizens in this difficult time; to the glory of God.
Now is not the time to be self-serving, and most definitely, defiant.
Self-service and defiance is a bad look on the bride of Christ - especially in the ongoing tragedy that has claimed millions of lives; and in the stark absence of any trespass on our freedom and identity as Christians.
To return on point, this is necessarily a different and quiet Christmas season.
For sure, there is nothing traditional about Christmas this year.
However, if you were thinking about being as authentic to the first Christmas as possible; I would say that:
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas; everywhere you go;
Take a look all around with the empty streets, you know;
Everyone will be home; yes this Christmas we are all alone.”
And you know what?
That we would be quiet and all alone within our immediate family would actually be very much like the first Christmas.
Today, I invite you to step back into the historical and biblical narrative of the first Christmas; and together, let us embrace the true atmosphere that surrounded the Christ-child and understand what that first Christmas meant to Joseph and Mary.
4 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.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (Luke 2:4-5)
Luke – was uncharacteristically brisk for a trip that was close to 150 km long – on foot; however, that is because everyone – then - would have known how miserable and treacherous that trip really was.
With Mary being heavily pregnant, scholars believe that the couple could travel about 15 km a day. Actually, I doubt if any of the scholars were actually pregnant and due in two weeks, tried walking that kind of distance. Mary must have been very tough.
The terrain was difficult, and dangerous - with countless climbs and descends; through the Judean desert that has sub-zero temperatures during the day and colder yet in the night – with freezing rains that threaten to overwhelm every traveller.
In order to protect themselves during such inclement weather, Mary and Joseph would likely have worn heavy woollen cloaks to protect them from the rain and snow; and under their outer cloaks, long robes belted at the waist would have kept them warm.
The rough trails and unforgiving weather were not the only perils Joseph and Mary would have faced on their journey south; one of the most terrifying dangers in ancient Palestine faced by every traveller was the heavily forested valley of the Jordan River - where lions, wild boars and bears lived. Travellers had to be constantly alert and prepared to fend off these wild, and sometimes, ravenous animals; and of course, also protect themselves against the hordes of bandits who would rob and kill without thought.
To make the two weeks long trip, Mary and Joseph would have to bring and carry their own provisions. Water in wineskins and a large amount of bread would burden, and yet, sustain, them at the same time.
Arriving in Bethlehem, their hardship would continue.
An overcrowded Bethlehem forced Joseph and Mary to be turned away from an inn and they had to take shelter at a nearby cave used to house animals.
That’s right. Christ Jesus – the Son of God – was born in a cave for animals, and laid in a manger hewn out of stone that would look like an oversized oval-shaped bowl used as an animal trough.
This cave was not even a place to rest, much more, give birth to a child. It was filthy, smelly, dark and dank; the worst of all dwellings – and Christ was born in a place such as this.
For Joseph and Mary, their entire journey was gruelling, miserable and deadly dangerous.
And they were the original celebrants of the day known as Christmas.
If we wanted to really celebrate an authentic Christmas, we should all think about experiencing what Joseph and Mary experienced; or at the very least be very serious and thoughtful about what Joseph and Mary experienced.
Their trip into Bethlehem was a terrible, lonely and potentially fatal ordeal. It is doubtful that any kind of celebration can be birthed out of such an ordeal; perhaps a solemn commemoration; but certainly not a rowdy celebration.
“6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly 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.” (Luke 2:6-14)
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
It is important to never conflate the two events taking place – one was a quiet, and divine birth; the other, a glorious heavenly symphony of prophecy and praise.
It was the same night; but two very separate events.
This perception must be corrected; for as far as Joseph and Mary was concerned, they never witnessed the heralding angels, and in fact, might never even have received the shepherds at all.
Here’s why.
Although Luke reports,
“16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:16-17)
They found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, and saw them.
Nothing suggests a formal introduction and proper visit at any length.
“19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” suggests that Joseph and Mary somehow heard about the shepherd’s encounter with the angelic hosts who proclaimed and prophesied in detail regarding the advent of Christ the Messiah.
To this, “ the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:20)
The shepherds remembered every angelic detail about the prophecy of Christ; and they heard and saw – just as they had been told.
What the shepherds witnessed was so much a miracle as it was the strangest sight:
“You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)
Why was this the strangest sight?
Well, because:
(1) Even in those days, the babies wore … baby clothes. But of course, with all Joseph
and Mary had to endure and pack, baby clothes would understandably not be on top of their packing list. The cloth that wrapped the baby Jesus most likely belonged to either Joseph or Mary and was used to keep them warm under their outer cloak.
(2) In that dirty cave that housed donkeys and other travelling animals, Mary and Joseph felt compelled to put the baby Jesus down; why?
Wouldn’t anyone consider keeping the baby carried in such a place, and especially under such ominous circumstances?
Why would Joseph and Mary feel compelled to put baby Jesus down in the first place?
They were completely exhausted; so tired from the trip and so overwhelmed by the events that surrounded the trip that they had absolutely nothing left.
They were so exhausted but they certainly couldn’t put him on the floor - it was Bethlehem; desert country. With no straw to line the floors, the cave-like barn would have been revolting, mucky and putrid. The only place they could lay the child – the cleanest place by any comparison - was in an animal trough hewn out of stone; shaped like a big bowl.
So here we have it.
The first Christmas.
Baby Jesus wrapped in cloth; and placed in a stone feeder; in the quiet of the night carved into the disquiet of the world around it.
The first Christmas.
The picture of Christ’s birth; which is also the prophetic picture of His death - the tomb, and His body wrapped in linen – the very purpose of His incarnation, the atonement for the sins of all people.
To this, we have established that the correct posture to embrace the Christmas season – this Christmas and every Christmas to come - is to keep a quiet heart.
And even if Joseph and Mary may not have realised it then; their posture of quietness and trust – even in their overwhelming exhaustion – was the right and holy posture of acknowledging that the Christ-child who was wrapped in linen and placed in a stone manger was the prophetic image of the day Christ would die on the Cross, be wrapped in linen and placed in the tomb (Ref: Mark 15:46) from which He would raise victoriously from the grave; having fulfilled the conditions for our Salvation.
In quietness and trust – your right, holy, and true spirit for Christmas.
This year because of the pandemic, we are compelled to have a quiet Christmas – a Christmas like no other; but a Christmas that is actually closer – more accurate in the sacred degree of silence and solitude - to the very first Christmas.
The event of Christ’s birth - although connected to the public spectacle of heralding angels, and the evangelistic and praiseful shepherds - was in fact very much separated from all the revelry; and in the perspective of the first people who was truly close to the heart of Christmas – there was a deep heaviness was in the air, it was contemplative and lonely; for there was much to think about, much to remember; and essentially, much to be quiet about.
To Joseph and Mary, it was a deeply quiet affair, because they were necessarily decompressing from the tremendous challenges, threats and stresses they had to endure to get where they were on that fateful night.
For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances surrounding them were far from celebratory; it was deeply contemplative because of the events that preceded and surrounded it.
And yet, in God’s Sovereign Will, it was the disquiet of the world around them that led their hearts to be quiet before the Christ-child.
Joseph and Mary had nothing left.
They were absolutely exhausted.
But before them was God’s Promise fulfilled:
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet Isaiah: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:22-23)
Christmas is the sacrament that draws us to the reality that God is with us – and the only posture befitting of such a glorious and eternal reality is to keep a quiet heart.
Perhaps today, you are also exhausted and you have nothing left.
Know this.
What you have, is the power to calm yourself and keep a quiet heart before God.
Stop looking at the circumstances that overwhelm; look solely to Christ who gives you rest to overcome!
Hush your heart; shush your mind – be still before God; trust Him utterly.
Repent and return to Him; and He will restore you.
Repent. Return. And be restored.
But first, be still; keep a quiet heart before the Holy God.
In the face of a disquiet world – a world that is besieged and inundated with clamour, noise, and tumult – it is urgent and necessary for every Christian to keep a quiet heart before the Lord our God.
To keep a quiet heart is to align yourself to the centre of the crescendo of events leading to the birth of Christ – which at the very height of the crescendo is a holy silence; silence that accepts only the most silent of hearts that know what it truly means to ”be still and know” that Jesus is God. (Ref: Psalm 46:10)
For Joseph and Mary who found themselves in the Presence of God, it was the quiet of their hearts that transcended the disquiet of the world.
Christ is with us today; learn to hush your heart.
Be disciplined and resolute to keep still, and be still; to keep a quiet heart before the Lord at all times – in the faithful acknowledgement that He is our God; our Provider, our Protector, our Redeemer and our King.
In the knowledge of God’s love, hush your heart – like you would comfort a little child’ shush yourself from the thoughts, words and deeds of worry – instead, repent and return to the Presence of God.
The biblical and historical narrative reveals to us that the Christ-child was victorious over the forces of darkness; nothing could disturb the peace that surrounded Him.
How can we not put our trust in Christ our Saviour and the Risen King?
Fight fear with faith in Jesus the King! Have faith in Jesus the King!
Learn to keep a quiet heart in the Presence of our Holy God – transcend over the disquiet of the world.
A heart that truly befits Christmas - A Quiet Heart Before Our God
And so, as we anticipate Christmas, or think about a traditional Christmas gathering with food, presents, loud conversations above the din of revelry; let us remember… …
“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:26)
“Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.” (Proverbs 17:1)
“The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.“ (Ecclesiastes 9:17 )
When we consider, or think about, Christmas decorations or clothes to wear, let us remember what is of great worth in God’s sight.
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
As we think even about evangelism this Christmas, let us consider this passage:
“Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to (love one another) more and more,11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12)
So this year, let us commemorate a quiet Christmas – by keeping a quiet heart before our Holy and Sovereign God who said to us -
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,” (Isaiah 30:15)
“The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:17 )
May our Christmas prayers be guided by Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:1-6:
The life of quiet worship
”I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
Church, God’s Salvation plan was fulfilled from the moment Christ came into the world – nothing was going to disrupt the reality that God is with us; and that He is mighty to save!
Today, as we prepare ourselves to partake of the Lord’s supper; let us keep a quiet heart before God; and receive His Heavenly Peace that transcends over the disquiet of the world.
Let us come before Him as David exemplified for us in Psalm 131:
1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too lofty for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
3 (Church), put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.
Calm and quiet yourself this Christmas; for true content comes only with the Christ of Christmas.
Be still and keep a quiet heart before God – and live in the victorious peace of our Saviour; now and forevermore!
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord Jesus, You have given me peace; peace to keep a quiet and holy heart before You, and to be still and know that You are God.
Thank You, Lord!
I believe utterly that in my exhaustion and weakness, You are my courage, resolve, strength, and wisdom.
Grant me Your Holy Spirit – that I may have the power to hush my heart and shush my mind, and keep a quiet heart before You all the days of my life.
Especially in the disquiet of the world around me, lead me into Your Holy Presence – in quietness and trust, for this is the only posture befitting of Your glorious and eternal reality.
Draw me close to You, Lord; and into the reality that You are Immanuel – God with us!
Help me sense your Presence, Lord; transform my mind to receive Your Peace; and teach my heart to be absolutely and utterly quiet before You.
Lord, I receive and resolve to live in Your glorious and eternal Kingdom reality – that I may be victorious in the present - through a quiet heart; in the face of a disquiet world.
Align my soul, Holy Spirit, to the center of the crescendo of events leading to the birth of Christ – which, at the very height is silence; the holy silence that accepts only the most silent of hearts that know what it truly means to ”be still and know that Jesus is God.”
Help me believe and live in this eternal Truth; and embrace the true atmosphere that surrounded Your birth, Lord Jesus - in deep knowledge that You have come all along to save the world; to save us from the wages of sin, which is, death.
Help me know You deeply and truly – in quietness and trust; for “in repentance and rest” is Your salvation for me, “in quietness and trust” is Your strength in me (Ref: Isaiah 30:15)
Grant that I may bear the fruit of Your Righteousness – which is peace; and that I would live in “quietness and confidence forever”. (Ref: Isaiah 32:17 )
May my heart not be proud, Lord, and my eyes not haughty;
May I never concern myself with anything apart from You, Jesus;
That I may calm and quieten myself;
And place my hope in You both now and forevermore. (Ref: Psalm 131)
Grant me a quiet heart before You – all the days of my life; that I may receive Your Heavenly Peace that transcends and overcomes the disquiet of the world.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.