“FROM A LITTLE VILLAGE CAME A GREAT SAVIOR”
MICAH 5:2 / ECCLESIASTES 9:14-15
David P. Nolte
“It was in a little village, on a simple village night, when a message for the Ages, was sent in Timeless Light.” Bethlehem. Small, insignificant, despised, but noted by the prophet Micah, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a Ruler of Israel will come from you, One Whose origins are from the distant past.” Micah 5:2 (NLT). Solomon mentioned, in his memoirs, another little village; not Bethlehem, from which came a poor, but wise man. Let’s read his words and then consider Jesus. “There was a small town with only a few people living in it, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. There was a poor, wise man living there who knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought any more about him.” Ecclesiastes 9:14-15 (NLT). Solomon wasn’t talking about Jesus, but he certainly described Him. Think about it:
I. JESUS WAS BORN AS A POOR MAN:
A. Solomon’s man was a poor man, and Mary and Joseph were of poor, peasant stock. Nothing wrong with that; they just weren’t the “gentry” of their day. They were not the elite, the aristocracy, the upper crust of society (a lot of crumbs are in the upper crust anyhow). Joseph was a carpenter, hard working, and honest, but not what the world would call affluent.
B. This was all God’s plan, however. God chose the state of poverty for the Messiah.
1. Cheryl Ann Smith said, “Jesus was a poor man. He was born in a borrowed cave, and He was buried in a borrowed tomb. During the years of His public ministry, as He journeyed where the Spirit led Him .... He had nowhere to lay His head.”
2. And Paul wrote of Him, “You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though He was very rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty he could make you rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT).
3. Thus He could identify with the outcast, the weak, the lonely, the hungry, the impoverished. He knows how to provide for our daily necessities. He didn’t come to be the First Bank of Heaven, dispensing mere material wealth but He came to make us rich toward God.
C. There are 4 ways to be rich. So think about this:
1. Some are rich to the world and poor to God.
2. Some are poor to the world and poor to God.
3. Some are rich to the world and rich to God.
4. Poor to the world and rich to God.
5. The only thing that matters much is that we be rich to God. Jesus in His poverty provides that for all who believe.
D. A rich man decided to disguise himself and to work in one of his own factories as a laborer. He took a room in a boarding house and carried a simple lunch in a brown bag and walked to work every day. It changed the way he looked at his workers, and he decided to improve the work conditions, the pay scale, the benefits and the whole place was changed for the good, because this rich man decided for awhile to live as if poor. Jesus, in His poverty, came to make all of us rich to God if we believe.
II. JESUS WAS WISE AND KNEW HOW TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE:
A. Solomon wrote of his man, “There was a poor, wise man living there who knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued.” The Lord Jesus came to rescue us; He came to seek and save the lost. From the very beginning He lived His life in the shadow of the cross. He held no delusions of saving the world in any other way than dying for it.
B. Paul wrote, “when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God. This ‘foolish’ plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-25 (NLT).
C. Note that from a little village came a great Savior. A poor one, to make us rich; a wise one to rescue and save His people.
D. Janie discovered that. She was a poor woman living in London. She lived alone in a dreary little room. She never gave a thought to Jesus except to use His name as an expletive. But, tired of her hard, empty life, she decided to go to the river and drown herself. On the way, she met a crowd of people. There was a door open and to get out of the way of the crowd, she stepped in. A man inside had gathered a few people and was reading from the New Testament, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Janie listened closely, and she thought, “Why, that's just what I am, weary. And that's just what I want, rest. I must find out more.” She stepped farther into the room, and sat down to hear what the Bible-reader had to say. When the meeting ended, she had a long talk with him. Then she went down to the river; not to end her life, but to begin it in baptism. She found rest, and peace, and joy and salvation in Jesus.
III. JESUS IS OFTEN GIVEN LITTLE THOUGHT:
A. Solomon wrote of his man, “ there was a poor, wise man living there who knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought any more about him.” The Bible records man’s neglect of Jesus, too:
1. Isaiah wrote, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” Isaiah 53:3 (NIV).
2. John wrote, “But although the world was made through Him, the world didn't recognize Him when He came. Even in His own land and among His own people, He was not accepted.” John 1:10-11 (NLT).
3. Paul preached, “The people in Jerusalem and their leaders fulfilled prophecy by condemning Jesus to death. They didn't recognize Him or realize that He is the One the prophets had written about, though they hear the prophets' words read every Sabbath.” Acts 13:27 (NLT).
4. Even Martha needed reminding. She was all a-bustle with preparing a meal and doing something for Jesus that she forgot to spend time with Jesus. “Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what He taught.” Luke 10:39 (NLT). Martha griped about that in self-pity. Jesus chided her gently, “My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it – and I won't take it away from her." Luke 10:42 (NLT).
B. It’s a sad commentary when the world, or even we Christians, fail to remember the one thing worth being concerned about: Jesus.
1. Store clerks, public school teachers, and politicians can’t say, “Merry Christmas” and have to substitute the bland and insipid, “Happy Holidays.” Oh, but we mustn’t upset the Muslims, atheists, and liberals by mention of anything related to Jesus.
2. Presents, mistletoe, parties, and all the mundane trappings take center stage and leave Jesus waiting in the wings.
3. People relegate Jesus to a state of perpetual babyhood, trapped in the manger for one short season each year not remembering his 33 years leading to Calvary.
C. So, how can we keep Jesus right where He belongs: in the front, in our minds, in our homes, in our celebrations? How can we keep from giving Jesus little thought? There is nothing tricky or profound about it:
1. Listen to more carols than “Here comes Santa Claus” or “Rocking around the Christmas Tree” songs. I love the sentimental songs, too, like “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,” and, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” but it’s the carols that speak of Jesus.
2. Practice the spirit of giving, more than the spirit of getting to remember God’s gift in Jesus.
3. Daily remind yourself that it’s all about Jesus, not all about preparations, and gatherings, and material things.
4. Sit at His feet daily in fresh prayer and meditation on His Word as did Mary.
5. Read again the Christmas narratives and prophecies in the Old and New Testaments.
D. After the family had finished opening presents and the litter was cleared, Abby, about 5, sat weeping silently. Her dad asked, “What’s wrong, Abby? Don’t you like your presents?” She said, “Oh, Daddy, I love my presents. But I feel sad because nobody remembered a gift for Jesus.” She was touched by the neglect of the One about Whom it should center. All of us should make sure that in our celebration, in our lives,Jesus is never neglected or given little thought.
Isaiah sums up nicely what I have tried to say, “There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we did not care. .... And because of what He has experienced, my Righteous Servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for He will bear all their sins. I will give Him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because He exposed Himself to death. .... He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.” Isaiah 53:11-12 (NLT). Even now, that’s what He’s doing, and “He is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through Him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25 (NLT). From that little village to right where you and I live came Jesus in poverty, wisdom, and grace. He came to save us, and He saves all who comes to Him in faith. From rags to riches; from lost to found; from blind to sight. All by the amazing grace of this One who chose to give it all up so we might gain everything. Have you received it? Have you believed? Repented? Confessed? Been baptized by immersion for sin’s forgiveness? If not, this is the time to change that, and it’s grace that motivates and calls us to do so.
Christmas poem by Betty J. Curtis.
