Born to Die

The following is from Montrose Baptist Church's AM worship service on December 20, 2009.

Let me set a scene for you briefly. It is early evening. The room is dark, yet the outlines of streamers are noticed drooping from the corners of the room. A common silhouette is provided by the funny, pointed hats that sit on each person’s head. Many also have a protruding tube gripped between their teeth producing a funny, yet annoying noise. Suddenly, the room erupts in a common song and a cake is placed in the center of the table with candles aglow glistening in the darkness.
This is a common scene. In fact, it is something many of us have experienced many times more than we would like to confess.
While we each celebrate birthdays with our various traditions year after year, they are all just that- a celebration. But let me ask you this morning, what is it that we celebrate?
You see, we don’t merely celebrate the date of a loved one’s birth, but we acknowledge and celebrate the life that has come since that time.
As we celebrate Jesus’ birthday this coming week, we must also realize that the celebration only begins with His birth. In addition to His birth, we also celebrate the life that followed.
In this season each year, we must remember the meaning of the holiday season. We always come back and start with the story of our Savior’s birth. We make a concerted effort to once again gather around that manger in a lonely stable.
The story has become so common that many of you could quote the King James rendering of this story beginning with the “And it came to pass in those days…”
However, even in spite of our familiarity with the story, in spite of the commonality of investigating it at this time of year, we must be diligent to always return to the birth.

Read text. (Luke 2:1-19)

As we begin our story- as we look at the life and promise of this little baby, we must start at His earthly beginnings, at…

1.) The Birth (Luke 2:1-19).

I believe that the circumstances preceding and following the birth should communicate the importance and uniqueness of this baby. Obviously, there was something very special about this little child. Yet, in spite of the identity of this precious baby boy, He was not received. Rather, He was delivered in a stable and placed in a feel trough.
We know the details of the story. We know the progression. However, there is one particular verse that I want to dwell on for just a few moments this morning.
Luke 2:19 gives us a brief glimpse at Mary. It gives us a little insight into the mother of this precious baby. We are told that the shepherds shared about everything that they had seen and heard. As they shared, those around them wondered and marveled at what they heard. Yet, as we turn to Mary, we see something a little different.
Luke 2:19 says, “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
Rather than a mother caught in complete marvel, we find the presence of a loving mother that was carefully calculating everything that was said about her precious baby. She was considering the future of her child.
Can you picture her? I wonder if she was similar to most first time parents.
When Sarah Beth was born, I was first in shock, but then completely amazed at the miracle of life. As the nurses cleaned her up and laid her under the warmer, I can remember looking over that precious little baby girl wondering about her future.
When she was only a few hours old, I was already convinced that my daughter was brilliant and destined for greatness. I delayed holding her for awhile, mostly out of fear that I didn’t know what I was doing. Yet, as I looked into those squinting eyes, I can remember the flood of thoughts that came over me. I was already preparing for the first time I will have to greet a young boy at the door that thinks he is going to take my daughter on a date. I was already practicing my speech about the pains of the heart after her first breakup. I could already picture her donned in graduation dress delivering the valedictorian speech.
At that moment, when that little girl was in my arms, life was so full of possibilities. The world seemed completely open to every amazing possibility. I pondered in my heart what life would hold for her.
As Mary experienced that time, I imagine that moment was something a little different. While she was promised that her Son would be one whose kingdom would never end, I truly wonder if a Jewish mother made the connections of Old Testament prophecy. I wonder if she already began to consider her Son’s place as the atoning sacrifice for mankind.
I believe that Mary was already pondering the fact that her Son, this precious baby, was born to die. The story began with the birth.
Thankfully, the story did not end at the threat of King Herod or in that stable. And while we tend to forget this fact around Christmas time, Jesus did not remain a baby. Rather, we find a progression. From His birth, He became…

2.) The Blessing (Mark 10:13-16)

I believe as Mary considered the future of her Son, as she pondered what life held for Him, I believe that she would have expected Him to be a blessing. I believe that she was like most parents in her time that regarded children as an incredible blessing from God.
We could have chosen any number of passages to illustrate this fact. However, I don’t know if there is an image that I love more than the one presented in Mark 10.
“And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them; and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.”
Jesus was not merely a good boy and man. He was not just someone special. Rather, He became the greatest blessing the world has ever known. He sought to be a blessing.
This encounter in Mark 10 just gives a little insight into the heart of Christ. You probably recall this occasion. Jesus has been teaching the masses that are constantly chasing after Him. In fact, He was dealing with the popular topic of divorce.
After some time of teaching, some parents began to bring their children to Jesus. While the disciples evidenced much of the attitude that was prevalent in their day, while they obviously didn’t regard children as equals or important, Jesus sought to bless even them. He welcomed them with open arms.
Many of the accounts of Christ that the writers of the gospels leave us with are times when Jesus was offering a blessing, or literally being a blessing to those around Him. We are told of the times when He evidenced His love for humanity by seeking to serve and encourage those around Him.
As we return to Mary’s pondering, I believe that she would have expected this. And let’s face it, most parents act as if their children are perfect little angels that are incredible blessings to everyone they are around.
Mom, Dad, if you have not already discovered it, let me go ahead and help you out with a valuable life lesson. Your son or daughter is not perfect. That sweet little baby that captivated you in the hospital room is going to have times when they let you down. They are probably going to have times when they offend and hurt you. I guarantee you that they are going to have times when they act like anything but a blessing.
As Mary pondered what awaited her Son, I believe that she knew that her Son was going to be an incredible blessing to the world. However, that probably made the ultimate outcome even more difficult.
As she pondered the birth of her Son and the blessing He was going to become, I believe she also foresaw…

3.) The Bloodshed (Luke 23:32-38)
“And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. An when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ And they parted His raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God.’ And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying, ‘If thou be the King of the Jews, saved thyself.’ And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’”
As I mentioned earlier, the only problem with our typical approach to Christmas is the fact that we leave Jesus a baby in a manger. However, that was not the totality of His purpose.
I believe that Mary understood much of this from the very beginning. If she did, can you imagine the excitement and pain mingled together when looking into the eyes of that baby boy?
The fact is that Jesus was laid in a manger, He grew up, performed a few miracles and sought to be a blessing, and then He was crucified as our substitute. He took our punishment.
Can you imagine what this must have been like for Mary? What emotions flooded over her through this time of pondering? I believe that it was in some ways similar to what every parent feels.
There was that excitement of a baby, of a child, yet there was the dread of the inevitable times of pain that come in life. For Mary, it was a little more extreme. I believe that we can begin to understand some of what she felt.
To the parents in the room, it is difficult enough to think about the pain and heartache that your precious baby will eventually endure. I already dread the first time that my daughter comes in the house with tears streaming down her cheeks because some boy broke her heart. I don’t look forward to the times when reality in life may fall a little short of her dreams.
However, I understand the reality of life. I understand that things don’t always seem completely fair.
But what would it do to your heart to know that your child is a perfect, sinless gift from God that always blessed and served, that he or she never wronged anyone or even told half-truths, and then you discover that they have been sentenced to death for a list of heinous crimes that they did not commit? How would it feel to know that they were enduring hardship and punishment because they loved so deeply that they willing assumed that place for someone else?
As Mary pondered in her heart, I wonder if her muscles already tensed, and she already dreaded the fact that her precious baby would unfairly, yet willingly, endure the full weight of God’s wrath on every sin of mankind.
Regardless of what Mary saw in the eyes of her baby boy that day, it did not change the fact that Jesus willingly shed His blood on Calvary for you and me. He endured the agony of the nails willingly, because of His love for you and me.
Rather than simply envisioning a peaceful baby boy snuggled in warm clothes in a comfortable bed, we must remember that this baby whose birthday we celebrate this week is the same one that spread His arms wide to show the world just how much love He has for you and me.
The birth was followed by His life as a blessing. His life of blessing was followed by an event of bloodshed.
While we often abbreviate the story and leave Christ in the manger, it seems that if we are faithful to carry through to His sacrifice and resurrection we are prone to stopping there. However, that still is not the complete story. Where we celebrate the birth, His life as a blessing, and even His bloodshed, they story still continues. The fact is that Jesus continues to live on, and the next chapter of His story is dependent on…

4.) The Believer

Too many times we stop the story before it ever requires something of us. We like to recite the facts and tell the tale. However, we must realize that the life of Christ bids us to make a decision. It demands something from you and me.
When we see the picture of the baby in the manger, the benevolent Savior showing His grace and goodness to the children, or that child as the grown King that sacrificed His own life as a ransom for many, it demands that we make a decision about who we believe this Jesus to be.
We must each understand that we are part of this story. Whether you realize it or not, as that precious baby found Himself laying in swaddling cloths in a manger, His very presence on this earth was because of you. He left His throne in heaven and took on the form of flesh because of you.
Because of that fact, He demands a verdict.
The life of Jesus, the life and events that Mary pondered in her heart have transcended time and continue on through you. The life of Christ comes to an intersection with you this morning.
Jesus was not simply a child with a difficult life. He was not just a victim of unfortunate circumstances. Rather, the hardship He endured was done willingly for us. And when we consider that fact, we must make one of two decisions: we can simply regard this baby in a manger as a holiday icon and a cute story, we can leave Jesus in the manger or we will recognize His sacrifice and love, and will surrender our hearts and lives to Him.
This morning, that cute little baby that was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger is looking for a willing heart to call home. He is looking to be Lord and Savior of your life.
This morning, what will you do will the baby in the manger? Will you leave him there, or will you give Him the throne of your life?