So this is Christmas – Unexpected News – Luke 1-2, Matt 1

Do you like to be surprised at Christmas? There’s two angles to this. First of all are you someone who writes out a precise wish list at Christmas and doesn’t want any variance from the list? That you know exactly what you’re getting? You’ve been compiling your list for a long time-so that when you’re opening up a gift-you’re not like-What is this? This isn’t on my list. I don’t know what this is. That for you the online Amazon wishlist to share with family and friends was the greatest Christmas invention ever? Or are you someone who doesn’t make any sort of list and loves to be surprised by whatever people pick out for you? Now that can be a risky endeavor. You could be setting yourself up for some weird gifts! But the unexpected surprise of a great gift could be well worth it! I like both-the surprise and a decent gift-so some years I put the To Jim, From Jim gift under the tree! Who put this there? Why it’s exactly what I wanted! Thank you Jim for that thoughtful gift! But I said there’s two angles to being surprised for Christmas-and the other angle is if you like to discover your gifts ahead of time? Who’s done this? Are you someone that searches the house for your gifts? You know they have to be stored somewhere so you’re earnestly on the hunt for where they could be hidden. I remember this happening to my siblings and I one year at Christmas. We were downstairs playing hide and seek when one of the neighborhood kids decided to hide in the luggage carrier that my dad stored in the basement. Now this wasn’t one of those sleek, aerodynamic Thule luggage carriers but a very non-aerodynamic, boxy luggage carrier-pic. But this went on top of our Chevrolet Caprice classic station wagon-pic. So when not in use on our station wagon-apparently it was the perfect place for our parents to store all the Christmas gifts! So when the neighborhood kid opened it up to hide-it was a treasure chest of presents! We quickly forgot the game of hide and seek and started looking at all the gifts we were getting that year. And in the moment it was very exciting-but at Christmas we had to fake the excitement opening up our presents because all the surprise had been taken out of it. There was something missing when the anticipation was removed-because there’s something really exciting about not knowing what’s inside that wrapped present-but tearing into it wondering what it could be. So the next year we made a pact together not to look inside the luggage carrier and spoil our Christmas. We liked the unexpected at Christmas

And this morning-that’s what we’re going to encounter about Christmas-how it is all about the unexpected. We’re beginning a new series entitled-So This is Christmas. And maybe you’re instantly humming the song by John Lennon when you hear that phrase. It’s a Christmas classic-released way back in 1971. John Lennon sings-So this is Christmas, And what have you done? Another year over, And a new one just begun. A very Merry Christmas, And a happy new year. Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear. Great lyrics-but I find that main line very intriguing-So this is Christmas… What’s the this? What makes the this the essence of Christmas? When you say-so this is Christmas-what are you pointing to, what are you talking about? And of course we’re not necessarily interested in what John Lennon says it is-he’s just hoping that it’s a good one as he says in the song. But his question, his statement is what we want to explore. That when you hear that song or sing that phrase-you can point right to God’s Word and say-So this is Christmas. This is what it’s all about. And to discover that we want to open our Bibles to Luke 1.

As we’ve said our main theme this morning is the unexpected. And nowhere is there a chapter in the Bible that throws a simple, everyday woman into a greater set of unexpected circumstances than Luke 1. Look at how this unfolds-Luke 1:26-29. Now try to put yourself in Mary’s shoes. Here you are on a normal, average day, minding your own business. Christmas hasn’t been invented yet-so there’s nothing special about this time of year. You’re not decorating the house or preparing for the holidays-you’re just doing the normal, routine things of life when all of a sudden a visitor shows up to give you a message. But this isn’t just any visitor, it’s an otherworldly angelic visitor that’s not from planet earth or anywhere inside our universe, but has come from God’s presence in heaven. Now here’s Leonardo DaVinci’s famous painting of this scene-Annunciation. If you’ve ever been to the Uffizi gallery in Florence, Italy you would have seen this. It’s a beautiful piece of artwork-but it makes it appear as if Mary’s interaction with an angel is nothing out of the ordinary. That here she is on lovely day sitting outside doing her reading when Gabriel shows up for a casual chat. We tend to think that angelic conversations are part of the normal routine for someone like Mary. Of course she’s talking to angels-that’s what Mary does. And yet what did the text say? Back to v. 29. Mary is baffled and confused-greatly troubled-by the angel’s appearance. This is not a simple thing-but something very unexpected and unsettling for her. Much like it would be for you or me if an angel showed up this afternoon to talk with us. There we were sitting on the couch watching football when an angel shows up and says-Greetings! You’d wonder if you were seeing things or suffering from a hallucination. And once you accepted the reality of it-you’d probably be petrified or shaking in your boots wondering what the angel wants. Look at how Gabriel responds to Mary-v. 30. That’s a statement of God’s grace-His undeserved favor that Mary has received-it’s the same grace any of us have received as His followers. Mary wasn’t somehow better or more holy than other people. She needed God’s saving grace just like we do. And Gabriel is confirming that grace, along with acknowledging her fear. Now Mary will eventually come to a place of faith and acceptance in God’s plan-but it’s important to know where she started because that’s where a lot of us start with God. Fear and hesitation when we consider the scope of His unexpected plans.

So Pt1:Mary’s story-serving God in very unexpected ways. And don’t shorten up your notes by skipping that word very-because it’s exactly what this is-and it’s often God’s way. All across the pages of Scripture He shows up unannounced to people with some very unexpected plans. Think of Abraham minding his own business when God calls him to leave home and journey to a new, unknown land. Or when God calls to Moses from the burning bush to enter Egypt and free His people from Pharaoh, or when God calls out to Jonah and says head to Nineveh or when He calls to the disciples and says stop fishing by the shore and become fishers of men. Or think back to your own life when God showed up and wanted to use you for His purposes. It was probably when you were least expecting it. There you were living life, doing whatever you were doing, when God appeared unannounced and said-I have some incredible plans for you-I want to use your life in a way you never would have expected. To leave the familiar and the comfortable behind and come follow Me on a new journey. Because that’s what following God is-we’re all at this spot like Mary where God wants to turn our life upside down and do something unexpected-and a lot of times we can only do what Mary did which is to simply serve Him despite our skepticism and fears. Look at how she responds to God’s plan as it’s further described-v. 30-34.

Once again-Mary doesn’t just instantly accept this and say no problem. Granted, she’s not running away-but she’s questioning and trying to figure it out. Because this is really unexpected-that she’s going to bear God’s Son-the Son of the Most High-who will be the ruler of an eternal kingdom that will never end. These plans are nothing short of extraordinary. I’m sure Mary said to the angel-come again, what did you just say-bear God’s Son? How is that even possible? And you could argue that God wanted to use Mary in a much greater way than he wants to use you or me in our ordinary lives. And yet the truth is that God calls each one of us to be a part of something eternal. He calls each one of us to help build this eternal kingdom that His Son is going to rule. Each one of us has a unique role to play, ways we can serve-no matter how small it might seem. Each one of us are confronted with plans of an eternal scope when God shows up in our lives. And often skepticism and fear is where we begin-like Mary saying-God, how can this be, what are you trying to do, how can you possibly use someone like me in your plans?

That’s the issue Mary is wrestling with-and it’s quite logical because in light of conceiving and bearing God’s Son she’s a bit confused since she’s a virgin-which obviously doesn’t work too well with the normal child bearing processes. Lord, I don’t understand how your plan could happen. I’m not officially married yet or with my husband. So I’m not sure I’m qualified for the task, that I’m the person you’re looking for? Maybe you got the wrong house or the angel got confused on where to go? That’s basically what Mary is suggesting-that she doesn’t seem like a good fit for God’s plan, that based on her spot in life someone else would be better suited. How can this be since I’m not the right one? Have you felt that way before in responding to God? I know I have. It’s easy to think there’s someone else out there who can accomplish God’s plans instead of us-or someone else who’s a better fit or will be more successful or get it done far easier. How will this be, Lord, since I’m… How would you finish that sentence? Since I’m not talented enough, not spiritual enough, I’m not smart enough, or gifted enough or prepared enough for the job. If we’re honest with ourselves we could all find some reason or excuse to put there-How will this be, Lord since I’m… And yet what does God say? Does He accept our reasons and retract His offer? You’re right-I did get the wrong person. Sorry to bother you-I realize you’re a bad fit. I messed up on that one-let me call somebody else who will be better. No! God knows exactly what He’s doing when He shows up unannounced to call us to something unexpected and new. He’s God-and His plans are far more incredible than we could ever imagine. Look at-v. 35-37. And that’s the truth we’re called to believe-right there-that no matter how amazing or unexpected it is-nothing is impossible with God-v. 38. She said-Okay, I’m willing. No matter how incredible this is, Lord, I’m willing. Back to Pt1.

And of course anytime we think of Mary-we need to remember that Joseph was an integral part of this too-so look at how the unexpected news hit him-Matt 1:18. Now that is the most far-fetched, unlikely-and inconvenient idea he ever could have imagined. Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes-you and your fiancee have faithfully followed God’s plan for marriage and not been physically intimate together while you’re engaged-the text has made that really clear. The two of them have remained pure during this time of their life and honored God’s law-a very commendable, obedient way to live. Joseph has been a godly man in this. But then all of a sudden Mary shows up and says she’s expecting a baby. Obviously Joseph knows he isn’t the father so what’s he supposed to conclude but that someone else is. And so there’s that heartbreaking thought running through his mind-my fiancee’s been unfaithful to me; the woman I loved so much hasn’t loved me back. You can imagine how Joseph is crushed, thinking that some sort of affair has taken place and he’s just now finding out about it. What else could he think? What other earthly reason is there? So Joseph would have every right to get really angry and blow up and make a big deal of it. What have you done, Mary? I thought we were going to raise a family together like a godly husband and wife-we had a bright future, an amazing life planned out, but now you’ve ruined it all by having an affair! Joseph could easily get back at her and shame her-based on the rather clear evidence of her pregnancy. But he doesn’t do that-v. 19.

Now in our culture you only divorce someone if you’re married to them-if you’re engaged and it goes bad you just end it. But back in this culture, Jewish engagement, meaning betrothal, was as binding as marriage-and so a divorce was necessary to end it. In fact, when it came to issues of infidelity or affairs divorce was almost obligatory. So Joseph is taking the logical, lawful step in this case-but did you notice how he was going to do it? He resolved to divorce her quietly. Talk about grace-especially in a moment when his life is collapsing around him. The future he’s been building, the woman he’s been pursuing and dreaming of marrying is over. So as we said a moment ago-Joseph could have easily gotten back at her and made a public spectacle of Mary. He could have exposed her pregnancy-basically ruining her life for ruining his-and no one would have blamed him. Everyone would have clearly seen the condemning evidence in Mary as her pregnancy progressed and treated her as the adulterer they assumed she was. And yet Joseph doesn’t do that. Even before he understands what really took place, before the angel ever visits him and explains it all, he’s trying to protect Mary and spare her reputation. He’s trying to abide by the law-but do it in a gracious hush, hush way for Mary. I think that says a lot about Joseph’s character. That without any explanation-just the undeniable appearance of wrongdoing, he chooses grace and mercy over vengeance. Talk about a great earthly father for Jesus! So as Joseph’s pursuing grace, he finally gets the explanation-and it’s as unexpected as anything he would have imagined-v. 20-23. Joseph wouldn’t have put any of that together. That’s what I was thinking, Lord! My fiancé is going to bear your Son. You know I wondered as much. Not at all! Talk about unexpected! Here’s Joseph getting the news that the baby inside Mary is God’s Son who will save His people from their sins-and he’s also being told that this was a part of OT prophecy, part of God’s plan all along-that his future wife is the one to fulfill it! Joseph wouldn’t have planned on any of this. He was probably thinking of a simple life, working as a carpenter, buying a home one day, raising a family-not having his firstborn kid be the Messiah. I was thinking lawyer or doctor for my firstborn son, maybe play professional sports if he’s decent-or take over the family business-I wasn’t  thinking Savior of the world. That wasn’t on my radar! Certainly it wasn’t! None of this was on his radar-and yet despite that Joseph obeys-v. 24-25. He believed God and followed through with the plan. He and Mary became husband and wife and they name the baby Jesus. So Pt2:Joseph’s story-trusting God in very unexpected circumstances.

Again that word very is very important! We can see how unexpected Joseph’s circumstances were-the most unexpected set of circumstances anybody could face. And yet when it comes to your life and the circumstances God takes you through-aren’t they often just as unexpected and challenging? You thought your life was headed in one direction and God says I want you to go in this direction. You had all your plans laid out, your vision for the way ahead, things you wanted to accomplish and God brought something totally different your way, setting your feet on a totally different path with new things to accomplish. I’m sure we’ve all faced very unexpected circumstances in life-maybe you’re facing them right now. That what you’re going through isn’t what you anticipated at all-that the road God has you going down isn’t a road you want to travel-and yet God knows what He’s doing. To God, your circumstances aren’t unexpected at all. Random stuff didn’t just come out of nowhere. It’s all a part of His perfect plan for you. It’s all a part of the story that He’s writing. And the reality is that He’s the author and we’re the characters. And we have a good Author who knows exactly what He’s doing and how every thread of our lives connects in an amazing way that glorifies Him!

The new Star Wars movie is coming out next week-Rise of Skywalker-(you knew I wasn’t going to get away without talking about this!) But it’s the 9th film-the ending of the last trilogy in a trilogy of trilogies. I was reading an article about it on Entertainment News that said there has arguably never been a film tasked with wrapping up more stories that span a longer cinematic time period than this one. Rise of Skywalker finishes the trilogy that began in 2015-but it also wraps up the original trilogy that began in 1977. So the article said-that’s 42 years of blockbuster sci-fi adventures somehow concluding in one film. That basically spans the entire existence of my life so far! This concludes a very crucial chapter of my life! But the statement from JJ Abrams-the writer and director is that endings are the thing that scare him most! He said-This is about bringing this thing to a close in a way that is emotional and meaningful and also satisfying That if years from now, someone’s watching these movies, all nine of them, they’re watching a story that is as cohesive as possible. He’s hoping that all the story lines and character threads and plot developments come together in a way that makes the audience cheer. That this ending is so fantastic -all the movie reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are 100% positive-a grand success-and go back and see it 5 times! But he’s hoping. Hoping that all the unexpected twists and turns he’s written into the film will work out great. But God isn’t hoping that our story is great-yours and mine-He knows it’s great! He isn’t trying to bring the storylines of each of our lives into a grand conclusion-He knows it’s a grand conclusion. God’s not after a good set of reviews from us concerning the story He’s written of our lives-Lord, the pacing was a little slow, I didn’t like those plot twists your brought into my life-could have done without that-and some of those characters that showed up in my story-not so sure about them either! I give it a mediocre review! He’s not after our opinion or our review! Did you like it? Was the life I wrote for you all you hoped it would be? He’s not asking that because He Himself is the writer and the reviewer! And He’s saying-The story that I wrote of your life is good. You will like it-a lot-trust me-even when it’s unexpected and challenging. I know what I’m doing. Which is exactly what a guy like Joseph reminds us. Back to Pt2. Because God knows that His will, His story is perfect. That even if you don’t like the chapter you’re in right now or the unexpected plot twists that have come your way-He knows it all leads to an ending that is remarkable and glorious as He’s shaping you into who He’s called you to be!! The point is that not only does God bring us through unexpected circumstances-but He shows up in the most unexpected places in our lives.

And nowhere is that better seen than in Luke 2:8-12. So here’s our 3rd set of characters-we went from a surprised woman, to a confused future husband, now to a group of rough and ragtag shepherds. It’s so easy to picture these guys in this idyllic setting sitting outside under the stars, with some calm, fluffy sheep, as they’re wearing slightly rugged-but sort of stylish robes-as if the shepherds came out of the Ralph Loren catalog from 1st century Bethlehem-where woven robes with a checkered pattern on the inside were the fashion trend that year. But it was anything like that-as one commentator said-Shepherds were a despised class of people because their work prevented them from keeping the ceremonial law as they lived outside moving about the country. They were often considered thieves, who were untrustworthy and unreliable-not even allowed to give evidence in a court of law. So these are a bunch of unlikable, stinky, thieving guys living outside. Definitely the fringe of society-and this is who hears the announcement of Jesus’ birth first. The angel said this is good news for you, unto you a baby is born, this is the sign for you–you will find the baby lying in a manger. Jesus’ birth-the Savior’s arrival was good news even for guys like that-especially for guys like that! So what do they do-v. 15-16a. They didn’t think about it-or weigh their options or plan to go see Jesus the next day or next week-but with haste they rushed out to see him-v. 16b. The maker of the universe, the eternal 2nd person of the Trinity, the Son of God who never had a beginning and will never have an end-showed up in a manger. And that’s Pt3:Shepherds’ Story-seeing God in very unexpected places. Our Savior used the used the feed trough of animals in a borrowed stable as the place where He would show up. At some point in the night-after Mary gave birth and wrapped Jesus in the swaddling cloths-she would have had to wipe out the manger of old food. Maybe she made Joseph do it-but nothing like wiping out dirty dishes into order to lay your newborn baby-who happens to be our Savior! Is there ever a more unexpected place that the shepherds could see Jesus? A more unexpected place that we could see Jesus? I like what author Dan Schaeffer says, 80-81.

Back to Pt3-and that’s because He shows up in our place of greatest need. We expected a grand King to arrive with all sorts of fanfare and celebration-and He will one day when He returns-but at His first arrival He came in the most unexpected way-because we didn’t realize how deep and desperate our need was to be saved. What does it say in Phil 2:6-8. Jesus was made like us, took on our human flesh and was born in a state of humility into our world-because He came to serve us by dying for us on a cross. God sent us a King, He sent us our Savior-but He showed up in the most unexpected of places-in a manger at His birth-and on a cross at his death in order to save unlikely people like us. Have you seen your Savior in those places? And even more than that-have you seen Him with the eyes of faith-trusting in Him to save you? That’s what it’s all about.

I don’t know about you-but often Christmas is about the expected. You have your family traditions, things you do every year at Christmas. Certain foods you bake, decorations you set up, the Christmas movies you watch, the Christmas songs you sing, the set schedule of when family comes and company arrives (and how dare they come early or suggest a different day!) But you don’t want anything to mess that up. That for you Christmas is a success if all goes according to plan. That if everything meets your expectations then it was a good Christmas. But let me say that the heart of the first Christmas was anything but expected-it was all about the unexpected. Not here’s what I’m going to do to celebrate-and you can fit into that Lord. I’ve got my traditions at Christmas and you’re a part of that. But instead-Lord, my traditions revolve around you. Your arrival has turned my world upside down-doing things I never would have expected-but are absolutely amazing! So let Jesus show up in some unexpected places in your life this Christmas. Let Him lead you through some unexpected circumstances in the new year, trust Him in the unexpected ways He wants to use you. Don’t define your Christmas as a success because it was expected. Let Him show you His glory and His presence in the unexpected-for that is truly the place of joy and worship. And that’s where you’ll see how faithful and glorious He really is!