Summary of my sermon, based on Matthew 1:18-25. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on December 24, 2023.
In the hustle and bustle of life, there’s something uniquely satisfying about receiving those small brown boxes on our porches. Those little Amazon deliveries bring excitement, especially during the holidays. Have you ever paused to ponder where these parcels originate?
Near my place, there’s a colossal Amazon warehouse, spanning over a million square feet and built with a budget exceeding $100 million. They call these hubs “Fulfillment Centers.” These are the nerve centers ensuring Amazon’s swift delivery of our impulse purchases from halfway across the world.
Recently, as I prepared for a family gathering, I found myself relying on Amazon for White Elephant gifts. Ordering on Monday, the packages arrived promptly on Tuesday. Amazon once again fulfilled their promise, as they so often do. But as impressive as this fulfillment process is, it pales in comparison to the fulfillment observed at Christmas.
The Birth of Jesus was the culmination of a promise, an assurance generations in the making. Old Testament scriptures foretold specific events that Jesus, the Messiah, would fulfill. Isaiah prophesied, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, ESV)
Micah predicted the birthplace, saying, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:2, ESV) And indeed, in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary registered for the census, paving the way for the birth of Jesus.
The birth of Jesus wasn’t in opulence but in humble surroundings. Born in a manger because “there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7, ESV), this marked the beginning of a life defined by humility.
This humble birth echoed the greater purpose of Jesus’ life. As stated in Philippians, Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7, ESV) This humility foreshadowed his ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
Christmas isn’t merely about past fulfillment. It’s a precursor to more than 300 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus would ultimately fulfill. The birth of Jesus signaled the commencement of a journey that would fulfill God’s promises in profound ways.
Jesus’ life was a testament to humility, signifying his willingness to embrace a human experience, ultimately leading to his sacrificial death. As we celebrate Christmas, it’s crucial to reflect on the humility of Jesus’ birth amidst the clamor of festivities. It’s a reminder that the essence of this celebration lies not in material grandeur but in the fulfillment of a promise and the embodiment of humility.
This is especially important because we know that Christmas can also be a difficult time for many of us. There are some of us who are hurting during despite the joy all around. Some of us may have lost loved ones recently, or spending Christmas away from home for the first time, or maybe we’re just burnt out by the busyness of the season.
To tie this back in to our theme song, O Come All You Unfaithful, I want to quickly share the story of Lisa Crow, who wrote it. She tells us how the song came to be:
I was struggling. It had been a long year and a half. Finances were stressful, I miscarried twins, and on top of it I was battling a deep relational bitterness…That Sunday morning, I stood at my seat as they began to sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” and the first line of the song just clobbered me. It hit me like a giant wave of guilt.
O come all you faithful, joyful and triumphant!
I remember hearing those words and thinking, “I have been so unfaithful. My joy has dwindled, and I am a triumphant…failure.” And I didn’t sing the rest of the service. I drove home, my mind still churning, “Is that really who is invited to come to Jesus? The faithful? The joyful? The triumphant? If so, then I am hopeless.”
The Story Behind O Come, All You Unfaithful
Lisa found solace in the final verse I want to share. It is an incredible verse of how the humility of Christ is an invitation to those who are struggling. He invites us:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
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