My wife and I went to a Christmas Eve service at a local
church – the type where it is easier to find a leprechaun than a pew Bible. The
church was packed and we watched them as they took Communion, wondering whether
they believed that they were singing about the Savior of the world.
However, it wasn’t this way for the shepherds in the field
on what seemed to be a very ordinary night. Suddenly the boredom was shattered
by the presence of an angelic messenger and the glory of the Lord.
The lowly shepherds, who had been living with their sheep in
the fields, were perhaps by now, covered with dew. Instead of filling them with
excitement, this divine appearance filled them with terror. Why? This was always
how people experienced the presence of God. At the manifestation of God upon
Mt. Sinai, the Israelites were so terrified that they thought they would die.
The entire Mosaic sacrificial system informed Israel that they could not
approach God without being struck dead. After all, they were still in their
sins – they were under a curse – and their holy and righteous God had not yet
been satisfied. Instead, He was breathing wrath.
·
But the angel said to them, “Fear not, for
behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)
They would no longer have to fear the presence of the Lord
because the promised Messiah had already come, and it was time to celebrate. He
would save them from their sins, something that the Law had been unable to do. The marriage between God and His people had
begun. They would now be enabled to approach their Savior.
·
And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke
2:13-14)
Peace? Yes! What kind of peace? Between God and His people!
The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) had finally arrived in the most unlikely way –
in a smelly manger, swaddled with strips of cloth meant to wrap the dead. The
symbolism was unmistakable to the shepherds – a Child born to die, just as the
sacrificial sheep, which they had been shepherding.
It was now grabbing my heart. He is also my Savior. I hadn’t been waiting
for Him, but He had been waiting for me to come to the end of my hope. I knew
that I was an utter failure and felt deeply ashamed of myself. It was so
tormented that it was hard for me to come into the presence of others, let
alone the presence of God. I so hated myself that I was sure that others hated
me.
However, this suffering, this consuming shame, this insecurity
has been eradicated by the advent of this Child who became sin for me. Consequently,
He is precious to me. He must have also been to the lowly shepherds who had
been invited into His presence to celebrate His advent.
What He has done for us is very tangible:
·
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to
enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he
opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we
have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart
in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
Consequently, we need no longer dread the presence of God.
We can stand tall, even in the face of persecution. We know who we are, and no
one can take that away.
I wondered whether the congregants of this church were just
going through the motions. Did they understand what they were doing here and
who they were singing about? I wanted to scream out, “Do you realize who this
Child is,” but I didn’t.
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