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The Great Miracle

The Great Miracle. Luke 2:1-20 (p. 945-6). December 23, 2012. Introduction. Grey whales in crisis - trapped in the Arctic Ocean, 1988 Head-bumped the ice to make breathing holes for themselves  The only way to survive Experts: “a common and natural occurrence” But the media got involved.

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The Great Miracle

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  1. The Great Miracle Luke 2:1-20(p. 945-6) December 23, 2012

  2. Introduction • Grey whales in crisis - trapped in the Arctic Ocean, 1988 • Head-bumped the ice to make breathing holes for themselves The only way to survive • Experts: “a common and natural occurrence” • But the media got involved

  3. Introduction • Response to this situation: • Unlikely given the parties involved and the odds against the whales • Unexpected for a commonplace and natural occurrence • Massive in scale  A Big Miracle

  4. Our Crisis • Sometimes we feel trapped: • No sense of the way forward • How to get out of a bad situation • How to get away from an unhealthy mindset • Crisis of family AND crisis of friendship • Many walk alone without: • Support, guidance, hope • Christmas-time can make this worse

  5. First Century Jews in Crisis (?) • Forlorn: wondering when their prophesied Saviour would arrive • They thought the Saviour would be like King David – bring freedom, power, sovereignty • Waited and waited… • Nothing seemed to happen. • Some lost hope • But then it all changed…

  6. Mary is Pregnant • Young virgin Mary will give birth to a child • The child will be “son of the Most High” and “he will reign over the house of Jacob forever” (Lk 1:32-33)  The long awaited Messiah was to finally come!

  7. The Birth • Mary and her husband Joseph went to Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home • No room at the inn, therefore stayed in a stable • In that mucky, muddy place Mary gave birth • She wrapped Jesus and placed him in a manger to sleep • Not a pretty scene! • Unlikely circumstances for the birth of a Saviour!

  8. The Birth Imaginary Example: • Kate Middleton before she married Prince William • Gave birth here  • To an ‘illegitimate’ child • Wills still marries her • The baby is granted status of heir to the British throne

  9. The Birth Imaginary Example: What would the reaction be?? • Shock, disgust • disdain, disapproval • discussion of impropriety & indecency • Judge based upon unexpected circumstances of the birth • This happened to Jesus

  10. The Angel’s Announcement • Despite skepticism about who Jesus was, Scripture is clear in Luke 2 • Angel appears to shepherds near the stable “I bring you good news of great joy that is for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Lk 2:10)  Angel reiterates what was told to Mary in Lk 1

  11. The Angel’s Announcement • Angels tells shepherds that they will find the baby in unlikely circumstances: • wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger • These are the sign that they have found the right baby • Karl Barth: “the swaddling clothes and the manger are to be the “sign.” How strange, for swaddling clothes and the manger speak of segregation, poverty, oppression and need. Who would look here for the wonder that God in the highest and man on earth have really become one?”

  12. The Angel’s Announcement • Confirmed by “a great company of the heavenly host… praising God” (Lk 2:13-14)  Lots of angels

  13. The Shepherds Find the Baby • “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened” (Lk 2:15) • They find Mary, Joseph and the baby in the manger • “But you Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Mic 5:2) • The shepherds spread the news and all were amazed

  14. The Shepherds Find the Baby • “Mary treasured up all these things in and pondered them in her heart.” (Lk 2:19) • Overwhelmed at the arrival of baby • Considering her bizarre circumstances • Wondering what the angel’s word mean for this newborn baby • How unlikely & unexpected her life has become

  15. The Great Miracle “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Lk 2:10) • What is this good news? • It is for all people! • He brings the good news in a startling way!

  16. The Great Miracle What is this good news? • Jesus is God! • God came to earth as a human to share his love with all humanity • He expended more than is sensible to free us • The natural & just course for fallen humans is dismal • Yet Jesus made massive effort to save us • He gave his life as a ransom for the many (Mt 20:28, Mk 10:45)

  17. The Great Miracle • This great miracle comes from unlikely and unexpected places: • The squalor of a borrowed stable • The shame of a criminal’s death on a cross • If you are feeling trapped and need rescue: Jesus is with you, He knows how you feel and He wants to rescue you. “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me for I have redeemed you.” (Isa 44:22)

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