A Word about a Vision of Glory

 Today I want to share a word about a vision of glory as I comment on Luke 2:1-20:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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!”   When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Our Scripture for today portrays a glorious event. What we see is the population of heaven giving the Baby Jesus a standing ovation. The word picture that is presented here reminds me of an Independence Day fireworks display. And like a fireworks display, this evening started small and slow but then ended in a crescendo of noise and light.

In many ways this night was both the culmination of a long journey and the beginning of another one. It was a time of celebration, but I think it is good for us to remember the events that led up to this glorious moment.

Glory in Life’s Hassles:

In Verses 1-5, we can see that Mary and Joseph experienced the same kind of everyday hassles that we experience. The saying is that all we can count on is this world is death and taxes, but in truth we know that some people don’t pay taxes. However, everyone must endure the hassles of life.

As I write this, my wife and I are currently in the midst of moving from Alabama to Illinois. That has involved selling our home, cleaning out our possessions, packing and storing the items we will be using here, changing our address on numerous accounts, establishing a relationship with a new bank and new doctors; the list of details seems endless.

In the hassles of life, we can take comfort in the care and concern of God. As Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 10:13,

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Glory in Crisis:

In Verses 6-7 we see that Mary and Joseph experienced a crisis. This crisis was unique, but what I have discovered in 17 years of disaster relief ministry is that all crises are alike, but they are all different as well.

A few months ago, my wife and I were on a once-in-a-lifetime overseas vacation. We were enjoying it and it was a blessing to us. One morning, however, as I was dressing for breakfast, I could not find my wallet. We searched the room high and low but couldn’t find it. We had scheduled a local guide to meet us after breakfast and so we decided to search again that evening. Then, a few minutes after we drove off in the van with our guide, a cap came off one of my molars! Everything turned out fine, but that day did not start off well at all!

Mary and Joesph had a much larger crisis to deal with. Giving birth under those circumstances was truly a life-or-death situation. If Mary, humanly, was not supposed to have a baby, she certainly wasn’t supposed to have it in strange town in a cattle stall!

Again, in the crises of life, we can take comfort in the perfect will of God. As Paul taught us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Glory in the Mundane:

In Verse 8, Luke tells us about the shepherds out in the field. Shepherds and sheep are common themes in the Bible, and we tend to romanticize their relationship. In truth, shepherds lived like the animals they tended, they were poorly paid but given great responsibility of caring for and protecting a valuable commodity.

I once met a soldier who was formerly a paniolo, a Hawaiian cowboy. He chose a soldier’s life over being a paniolo, and he said it wasn’t a hard decision to make. He told me, “People think being a cowboy is romantic, but in truth it is hard dirty work. I would come home every day cold, wet, and covered with manure and I was paid peanuts.”

Most of life is mundane. Even flying fighter planes and bombers has been charactered as “Hours and hours of boredom, punctuated by a few moments of sheer terror.”

Mary was a young girl who probably spent her days helping her mother keep house. Joseph was a carpenter, which is a satisfying career but one in which, if any excitement occurs, things have gone very wrong! Like them, in the mundane things of life, we can take comfort in serving God. As Paul said in Colossians 3:17,

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Glory in our Response:

In Verses 15-20, we see that glory is not found in our circumstances but in our response to them. As a former pastor taught us, “Effectively dealing with the circumstances of life is a case of ‘mind over matter.’ If you don’t mind, it don’t matter!”

In the Christmas story we see people responding in a way that brought glory to God.  The shepherds did not recoil in fear, but went immediately to see the child, entrusting their sheep to God because the child was more important.

The shepherds did not keep the good news to themselves, but they testified to all who would listen, and they praised God as they went back to their charges.

Mary treasured all of these things. Really? 

• She treasured the risk that she and Joseph took to get to this moment? 
• She treasured the laborious journey to Bethlehem while nine months pregnant? 
• She treasured giving birth in a cattle stall? 
• She treasured having her first moments with her son interrupted by a mob of smelly shepherds? 

The short answer to all of these questions is yes, because she had yielded her will to God, and she was just watching God do His thing.

Conclusion:

It is great to share the glory of God in the big moments. I believe, however, that it is more important to share His glory in the small ones. They happen much more often.

Yes, there are other times in the Bible when angels appeared with grand pronouncements. Most of the time, however, we see God working through His still small voice.

Let us purpose in our hearts to bring God the glory He is due as we live our everyday lives together in this place.

Merry Christmas,

Dr. Otis Corbitt