Remember the Wonder
Matthew 1:1-17
November 28, 2004
First Sunday of Advent
Introduction
Chris Van Allsburg has written a wonderful Christmas book called The Polar Express. The book tells the story of a young boy who wakes up one Christmas Eve to the sound of a train in his front yard. As he goes out to investigate, he is invited to take an enchanted ride on the train and to the North Pole.
As the train makes its way to the North Pole the boy experiences the wonders of riding on The Polar Express and learns the purpose of the trip; the giving of the first gift of Christmas. Once the train arrives at the North Pole the children are led away from the train into a large courtyard where they meet Santa and wait to see who receives the first gift of Christmas. The boy is surprised to find himself the child chosen to receive the first gift from Santa. He is given the choice of anything that he could want and he asks for a bell from Santa’s sleigh. The boy is thrilled and puts the bell into his pocket.
On the ride home, he soon learns that there was a hole in his pocket and the bell was gone. The ride home is filled with disappointment as he knows that the first gift that Santa had given was now gone.
On Christmas morning the boy finds a small package with his name on it. Inside the box is the bell and a short note. “Found this on the seat of my sleigh. Fix that hole in your pocket.” The boy was once again thrilled as the gift that was lost was now returned. In his excitement he shakes the bell to hear the sweet sound and his parents comment that the bell was broken because they heard nothing. It is then that the boy realizes that the bell rings only for those who believe.
Here is how Van Allsburg closes the book. “At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”
This story strikes at the heart of what Christmas is really all about and I don’t mean Santa Claus. The reality is that we have been given a wondrous gift that first Christmas and I think that we need to be reminded, it is that gift that makes Christmas possible. The real gift of Christmas is Jesus.
As Christmas swiftly approaches us, let me ask you a question: Does your heart still ring with the sound of belief in Jesus?
This morning I want to give you a gentle reminder of the wonder of Christmas. Open your bibles to Matthew 1 and we will start at verse 1.
I can see some of you thinking, what does that passage have to do with the wonder of Christmas? I believe it has everything to do with the wonder of Christmas.
Remember the wonder that God sent His Son
Matthew opens his gospel with an incredible statement of faith and if you’re not careful you will completely miss it. He opens with the name Jesus Christ. At first glance this seems minor but the significance is earthshaking.
The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means God will save or God is my savior. Matthew is relaying a clear message to all who read his gospel that Jesus of Nazareth is the method and the means that God was going to use to save all of humanity.
The title Christ carries special significance because of its deep meaning. The title originates again in the Hebrew word meshia, which means anointed one. This is the root word where we get our English word messiah. Meshia was the title given to all of the Israelite kings because of the anointing that was done as a part of making them a king. The understanding of anointing also gives the understanding of God’s hand being with the king who righteously serves Him.
Matthew ties in two other individuals to make the claim of Jesus being the messiah complete. The first name to appear is Abraham, the father of the Hebrew nation. Without a connection to Abraham there would be no legal right to even claim Jesus as being a Jew. The second name to appear is David, the king whose line would bring the Messiah. Without a connection to the linage of David, there would be no legal right to claim Jesus as the Messiah.
Remember the wonder that God showed us His grace
As Matthew unveils the genealogy of Jesus there are no cover-ups and no trying to hide the skeletons in the closet. In fact, Matthew made an even better case for Jesus being the Messiah by including the “black sheep” of the family.
There are several things that make Matthew’s genealogy unique even in ancient standards.
1. The inclusion of women
Through his writing of the line of Jesus, Matthew includes five different women. Without offending the ladies here this morning; this is highly unusual. Women were never included in the genealogies of kings because men had all of the authority and all of the priority.
· Tamar: Tamar is a name we may not recognize but she was the daughter in law to Judah, one of the twelve men who would become one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In ancient, customs men were to care for the needs of women within their own families. Judah refused to do what was right and Tamar was forced to trick him into marrying her.
· Rahab: Rahab was one of the few survivors from the city of Jericho because her family hid the spies when they were scouting the land. Rahab was not only a foreigner but she was also a prostitute
· Ruth: Ruth was the daughter in law of Naomi and returned to Israel with her following death of her husband, Naomi’s son. Ruth was morally pure but she was a foreigner.
· Bathsheba: Bathsheba is not mentioned by name in this list but she is called the mother of Solomon and the wife of Uriah. Again we see the line of the messiah taking a curve. We are not sure of the nationality of Bathsheba because Uriah was a Hittite; it could be assumed she was also. Bathsheba also committed adultery with David and revealed a lack of moral character.
· Mary: Of all the women named Mary was the only one who was seen as morally pure. However, it is important to remember, she would have carried a stigma throughout her life as the woman who had a son before she was married.
2. The inclusion of the wicked with the righteous
· The righteous kings: There were many good and godly leaders throughout Israel’s history. Men like Jehoshphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah made Israel a strong nation.
· The wicked kings: There were also those who were horrid leaders and damaged the nation of Israel in horrendous ways. Men like Ahaz, Manasseh and Amon.
Why does Matthew include these people? The answer is simple God included them in making history. These people were included because they were a part of the grace of God. What they chose to do with God’s grace was up to them.
We are the same as these people. We have been given a choice to make; accept the grace God offers or simply walk away. I believe that those who were brought into the faithful end of the line were those who heard the bell of belief and those who became wicked stopped hearing the bell of belief.
Closing
One of the songs from the movie The Polar Express communicates the heart of the story much better than I can. So just listen to the words of Believe by Josh Groban.
Children sleeping Snow is softly falling
Dreams are calling Like bells in the distance
We were dreamers Not so long ago
But one by one We all had to grow up
When it seemed the magic slipped away
We find it all again on Christmas Day
Believe in what your heart is saying Hear the melody that’s playing
There’s no time to waste There’s so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need If you just believe
The wonder of Christmas is not about the gifts and fancy wrapping. It is not about spending time with family and friends. I would even dare to say that the wonder of Christmas is not about celebrating in special church services. The true wonder of Christmas is found only in believing in the first gift of Christmas, Jesus.
Maybe you have yet to find that ring in your heart because you have never given your heart to believe. Maybe you had the bell but lost it like the little boy. Maybe you heard the ring and it is nothing but a distant memory.
This morning does your heart ring with a belief in Jesus? Is He calling to you with the sweet sound of faith again today? Do you hear it?
Today, why not listen to the bell of your heart and come embrace the true gift of Christmas, Jesus is calling and Jesus is waiting.
