Birth Announcements

Luke 2:8-20

“Birth Announcements”

25 December 2016 St. Andrew’s Military Chapel Singapore

            Last night we had a wonderful evening where we heard lessons predicting the birth of Jesus as well as readings describing the night of Christ’s birth. We capped it off with lighting candles so that each of us could hold the light of the world in our hands and physically see that the light of Christ will overcome any darkness in the world if we let that light shine rather than hide such hope from the world.

            We also explored how that whole night was nothing like the neat, tidy, rehearsed night we participated in just a few short hours ago. It was noisy and messy, much like some of your houses were early this morning, or still may be after opening of presents and the Christmas morning tradition of playing with every toy or trying on every piece of new clothing for an impromptu fashion show.

            Nothing about the story is fit for a king. If the location of his birth didn’t make people turn up their noses, the birth announcement sure did.

            I always enjoy getting birth announcements. Years ago, you’d go to the mailbox and find a post card sized piece of mail with some photos of a cute face sleeping or smiling at the camera. Embossed over the photos was a date and time with a name. Occasionally there’d be a cute statement like, “So and So said hello to the world” or “Meet the newest member of our family.” Now I see the same thing, just on Facebook where people can immediately comment on how proud they are, how cute the baby is, and how much they love the family.

            Those with more money, power, or fame will try to up the game, creating a kind of arms race in who can have the best birth reveal. Some families even get photographers and magazines into a bidding war so they can make money off sharing good news           

Regardless of the medium, the goal is to tell those who are important in your life that you have just added to the family.  

On Christmas Eve, we have the most important birth in the world and the most magnificent birth announcement that the world never noticed.

Joseph and Mary aren’t wealthy, they aren’t powerful, they aren’t famous. There is no entourage following them around waiting for the birth of the Messiah, despite a number of people knowing what was spoken to Mary regarding her son’s birth. This was probably like any other birth to a family of their status and income. Jesus is just another boy born into a carpenter’s family.

Yet, just see that birth announcement. Its night in the pasture after a hard day chasing sheep. The shepherds are dirty, smelly, tired. They’ve just finished dinner and are sitting around the fire telling stories of how they have protected their flock for one more day. No one will get fired for losing a sheep tonight. Then suddenly they see something that looks like a man standing in the middle of a bright light. They jump up, not knowing what to make of this intruder. He says, “It’s ok. I bring wonderful news. The Messiah has been born. He’s just over that hill in Bethlehem and he wants to see you.”

These shepherds are wary of this vision for they’ve been harassed and taken advantage of many times in their lives. It’s probably the owner playing a trick on them to see who will leave their flock so he can bring in a new shepherd for less pay. Suddenly, heaven opens up in the middle of the night. Angels descend in full glory. The field shines as if it’s the middle of the day. There is the most moving and perfect melody any of them have ever heard. A peace, calm, and warmth washes over them. It’s unexplainable, but they know something big is happening.

So, they leave their flocks and head to Bethlehem. And, just like they were told, they find the baby exactly where he was supposed to be, in a manger. A piece of equipment they know well. They look at each other with as bemused glance. It’s only then they notice Joseph, Mary, and a few others who heard the cries of a baby and checked to make sure all was well. With knowing smirks on their faces, they tell the small crowd how they ended up in a barn, in Bethlehem while their sheep are alone in the fields.

Some people won’t believe he is the king because the majestic birth announcement everyone was waiting on went to the wrong people. The poor migrant workers received the news first rather than those who believed they deserved the surprise news. It reminds me of a scene from the movie Big Daddy. (Play video)

Did God waste the surprise on the Sonnys of the world, or were they the intended recipient of the good news from the beginning?

Jesus was no ordinary King. Just look at the stories we have of his life. Born to unwed parents who were not of the priestly or powerful families of the day. Christ learned the trade of carpentry because Joseph was a carpenter and people learned the trade of their family. He lived the itinerant life going from town to town with his small group of close friends that had questionable backgrounds of their own. When they stayed in towns, it was with friends rather than in places of power or the Shangri La of the day. Jesus dined with the outcasts of society and died with the label of a defeated revolutionary.

Because we know the rest of the story and not just the bizarre events of this night in Bethlehem, we know that Christ’s birth announcement was received by the exact people to whom it was intended. The people Christ came to save and release from the bondage of the world. We too have heard and seen the birth announcement. All of us who live messy lives with battle scars, we who hide wounds that we have inflicted as well as absorbed, we are the ones to whom the announcement resonates with and uplifts our souls because we are the intended recipients of the glorious news of a proud father. We are part of the family.

As we sit with the beautiful image of the best birth announcement we’ll ever receive. Let us join with the shepherds and not just treasure receiving the news and do more than just post the photo on our refrigerator or make a short, happy comment on Facebook. Rather, let us go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born glorifying and praising God for we have been selected to see and hear the greatest birth announcement in history.