An Unexpected Christmas

Grace Baptist Church of Pekin

Pastor Randy Justus, Sunday, December 06, 2020
from the Christmas series, "The Year That Stole Christmas"

Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown,

At the warm lighted windows below in their town.

For he knew every Who down in Whoville beneath,

Was busy now, hanging a mistletoe wreath.

"And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer,

"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!"

Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming,

"I MUST find some way to stop Christmas from coming!"

How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss

Well, it seems in 2020, that the Grinch has found a way and named it Covid-19. Be honest, are any of you having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit? Have you been thinking that this Christmas is just not going to be the same? Are you not quite feeling it?  Are you afraid it might be less of a Holly Jolly Christmas and more of a Blue Christmas? 

I asked friends to describe how they’ve felt during this pandemic year using words that start with the prefix, “un-”.  Some people were more optimistic. They said that the hardship has left them unstoppable, undeterred, unwilling (to let it stop me), unbelievable but unchanged…

But most replied with: unplanned, unexpected, uncomfortable, unhappy, unstable, unsociable, unreal, unsettled, unfriendly, unloved, unhinged, unable, unwelcome, unclean, unfamiliar, and unemployed. 

There’s all kinds of “un-ness” this year. It kind of feels like an Un-Christmas. However, nothing, not even the Corona-Grinch, can keep Christmas from coming.  After all, the very first Christmas had plenty of its own “un-ness”.  For today, let’s consider that the first Christmas was An Unexpected Christmas. Take a moment to read Luke 1:5-41

In so many ways, that first Christmas was An Unexpected Christmas.

 

THE ANGEL WAS UNEXPECTED

In both, the lead-in story of Zacharias and Elizabeth, and the story of a young lady named Mary, the sudden appearance of Gabriel, God’s faithful messenger, was definitely unexpected.

Zacharias was one of many priests who gave one week, twice a year, every year, to serve at God’s Temple in Jerusalem. He was an old man who had done this many, many times. But this time, when a name was drawn for a priest to go inside the Temple to burn incense on the altar, he was chosen – a once-in-a-lifetime honor.  Imagine how nervous he was.

“I’ve never done this before and I’ll never do this again! Lord, don’t let me mess this up!” While he was alone inside the Temple, standing at the Altar of Incense, without any warning, the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared right next to him!

…when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias… Luke 1:12-13

It was similar with Mary. This young lady, legally married to Joseph, but waiting to make it official at the ceremony, was by herself. Out of nowhere, the angel Gabriel unexpectedly appeared before her very eyes.  He immediately greets her joyfully, tells her that she’s favored with God’s grace and presence, a blessed woman, among women and by women.

For both Zacharias, and then Mary, The Angel Was Unexpected…

 

THE NEWS WAS UNEXPECTED

Remember, Elizabeth and Zacharias were old, well-past child-bearing years. Their village in the hill country, only 5.5 miles west of Jerusalem, was small. Everyone knew them as “that godly elderly couple, you know, the childless ones.”  But still they prayed. Maybe, just maybe, God will hear.

And He did. God heard every prayer. The Lord always knew that He would answer their prayer and give them the desire of their hearts. But it had to be in His perfect time, because their son was to be the Forerunner of His Son. So, how unexpected was God’s message through Gabriel, …thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:13-14

The news was so unexpected by Zacharias that it was unbelievable. Literally!  He didn’t believe Gabriel; which meant, more importantly, that he didn’t believe God. It never pays to tell an Almighty God what is impossible. Though the Lord didn’t take away His promise to Zacharias, He did take away his voice temporarily.

As unexpected as it was for an elderly couple to get that news, how much more unexpected, unprecedented, and unbelievable was it for a virgin to be told, “Don’t be afraid. You’re going to have son?”

“How? I’ve never been with a man, not in that way. Not even with Joseph.” Mary asked, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?  Her question is different from Zacharias’s because he asked in doubt, while she asked for detail. Imagine, if you will, how unexpected was that news!

Never in human history, has there ever been that KIND of Unplanned Pregnancy.  From Unexpected News to being an Expectant Mother.

The Angel was Unexpected, The News Was Unexpected, and…

 

THE CHANGE WAS UNEXPECTED

Zacharias finished out his week of service at the Temple and went home to explain all of this exciting news to Elizabeth, but unable to speak. He had to write it down and act it out. He couldn’t talk, right? Well, Elizabeth and her husband conceived a baby, and she quarantined for the first five months of her pregnancy.  To read the passage, it seems that no one else in the village even knew they were expecting until Elizabeth’s much younger cousin Mary came to visit them from up north in Nazareth.

Life was about to drastically change for this old man and his wife, well stricken in years! Were they in their 60s… 70s… 80s?  And now they’re facing a monumental change:  physical changes for her, a crying baby, the midnight feedings, and dirty diapers. But unexpected and uncomfortable does not always equal unwanted or unwelcome.

Then there is Mary; young Mary. Everything she had planned was suddenly changed. Though legally espoused, or married; she and Joseph would not fully married. There was the ceremony, the celebration, and the wedding night in their new home still to come. But now… what would Joseph say? How will he respond? The Gospel of Matthew tells us Joseph wanted to break it off when he first heard the news of Mary’s pregnancy.

Unexpected changes. “What will my parents say? What will people assume about me? Will I be put to death according to the Law? Where will I go now?” Everything changed. Her plans fell apart.  And she was ok with that.  How could she be ok with that?

Because she knew that God could be trusted in the unexpected. She took Him at His Word and believed Him in spite of the odds, and the gossip, and the risk of losing Joseph, her reputation, and everything else.

Like an offering laid out on the altar, Mary laid out her life and her future before God when she said in sweet submission, …Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Luke 1:38 

God was calling her to serve Him in a life-changing way, & she willingly obeyed.  She risked it all in faith, until one night… nine months later… God in Human Flesh was born to save Unexpected People like you and me.

The Angel was Unexpected, The News Was Unexpected, and The Change Was Unexpected.

 

Why does all of this matter?

 I know that a lot of unexpected things have happened this year; that if feels like 2020 is The Year That Stole Christmas.  Plans and dreams have been deferred. Hopes have been paused. Trips have been cancelled. Weddings have been postponed. Even funeral services have been delayed. From Easter until Thanksgiving, and now with Christmas almost here, everything has changed.  Everything... except God.

His plans are greater than our plans.  Our loving Father reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember Zacharias and Elizabeth, and Mary and Joseph. Though there was plenty of room for panic, anxiety, and fear; in the face of unexpected changes, God worked out everything for perfectly. He is still in control. Trust Him, dear Christian. Follow Him through the unexpected. Rest in Him & be at peace.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Have you come to the point of believing that the Child of the manger is the Creator of the universe? Jesus lived a sinless life and yet died on the cross as the way of: 1) taking our sin and punishment, 2) rescuing us from an eternal hell, and 3) offering to us forgiveness and eternal in heaven with Him.  He did everything that was needed to save you. You just need to turn from your sin to believe and receive Him for yourself. If you will call to Him in prayer right now, and He will save you! He will not push you away.

If we can help, let us know so that we can help you grow spiritually and get you connected with a local church family. Please reach out to us in person or online.