This week's Bible Study - December 27, 2009

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Background Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Quote of the Week:
“Good news from heaven the angels bring, Glad tidings to the earth they sing: To us this day a child is given, To crown us with the joy of heaven.”
-- Martin Luther

This series of lessons has been on Christmas songs, which by this time you have probably heard for weeks (at least as of the original writing of this lesson). There are wide varieties of these songs, sung by carolers, in Christmas programs, heard in stores as you shop, and on TV and the radio. We hear them so often that we tend to forget the meaning. When you get so close to something, sometimes you take it for granted. I work with people all over the country. There are those who live off the beach in California - they drive up and down the Pacific Coast Highway every morning and afternoon and seem to forget that the Pacific Ocean is right beside them. There are those who live in Seattle and can see Mt Rainier from their back porch. There are those who are in Denver and can just look to the west and see the Rockies. These are all places that people may go for a long awaited vacation and be in total awe of what they see. But, when you live there, it can become commonplace.

Most believers have heard the Christmas story over and over. They have sung the songs and seen the plays and pageants. In some of them, they hear and see representation of the Christmas story. In many of the plays, you'll see a group of shepherds who are minding their own business when they encounter a host of heavenly angels. Many people just yawn past the theatrics without giving a second thought as to what really happened. Can you imagine being a shepherd out in the fields at night? There was no city with lights - I would imagine it was very dark. If you were outside in the pitch blackness of night, you would be very surprised by the presence of light; not to mention the presence of angels. This experience would have a huge impact on your life, wouldn't you think?

The other thing that occurred to me about this particular lesson was the passage that it is based upon. Generally, you'd consider something from one of the gospels, but this is from the book of Philippians. When you see the title of this lesson, you might think that this lesson would be about the angels singing, but in actuality, this is what the angels were singing about. Sometimes, we get caught up in the things around Christmas and forget the meaning of Christmas. In the Christmas story, the focus might end up being Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, the animals in the stable, the wise men (not really in the stable, although most nativity sets show them) and so forth. The thing that made the story remarkable was the baby in the manger, and not just the baby, but the man that he grew to be and how he impacted the world.

( Philippians 2:5-7 )

Consider who Jesus really was. This is another one of those things that we so often lose sight of. We hear the story and we think of this baby - yes, miraculous birth and all of that, but a baby. People did flock to see him and hear him as he grew, but if you think about it today, there are some people (national leaders, athletes, entertainers or other celebrities) that might show up in your community and draw much more of a crowd. When they actually 'grace' your town with their presence, many people become very focused on them. But, who are they, really? They are just people that go from place to place, based upon their past or present successes. They take the stage, while others stand and watch, perhaps cheering. They elevate themselves because of what they have done, but their time is fleeting and their praise is shallow.

Jesus was not merely a person, with some success. He was in nature God. But, rather than using his godly nature to elevate himself during his lifetime, he emptied himself of his godly capabilities to become a man. He did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, but he made himself as nothing. Being God, he took the very nature of a servant and was made in human likeness. There are some successful people that do play the role of a servant at times. But, none of them could ever attain to potential equality of God.

There were things that Jesus could have expected. His attitude could have been based upon who he was, but he put that beside him. If he had stood on his rights, or on his goal of getting what he wanted out of life, we would never have access to what he came for. What happens when our lives become more focused about us, with us in the center? Are we having an impact for eternity, or are we focused on how life is right now?

( Philippians 2:8 )

However, this signified more that just the fulfillment of prophecy. As stated previously, Jesus was found in appearance as a man. He lived his life showing others how God intended for them to live. But, in the end, he humbled himself and become obedient to death. As humans, death is an inevitable reality. We aren't obedient to death - it is just a default path that we will all take, assuming that Jesus does not come back soon. Jesus was obedient to death on a cross. It was God's plan that Jesus would die a horrendously painful death; which was also fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.

Not only did Jesus empty himself of his rightful nature as God, but he experienced something more traumatic than any of us can understand. Granted, there are martyrs in many parts of our world that suffer tremendously because of their faith. However, they suffer because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His obedience to death and the events that followed have impacted the lives of many who will follow his steps, regardless of where they may lead.

( Philippians 2:9-11 )

People wanted Jesus to be an earthly king when he lived, but that would have been so shortsighted. How many rulers and kingdoms have come and gone, without us even being able to recall their names? This is indeed a lesson to us right now. What are we focused upon? We get so caught up in the events of our lives, believing that certain things are crucial. Yes, some things do need our attention as we live, but in the grand scheme of things, we often live for short sighted goals. We want it all now, and we forget that getting it now may have a very negative impact on the future.

Jesus was given the name above every name, such that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Again, this global impact does not happen to a local ruler. God exalted Jesus to the highest place. It is only from the highest place that every knee could bow and every tongue could confess.

I have been on several mission trips to different parts of the world. The focus here is not on those trips, per se, but the people that I have encountered. I remember hearing the beautiful singing of a Russian church choir in a small church. I have seen Taiwanese, Thai and Chinese believers that worship the same Lord that I worship. People around the world may worship in different ways and they may speak different languages, but they are still our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Closing

Although God desires a personal relationship with you, realize that God is working throughout our world. When we focus solely upon what happens in our lives, we are not impacting others as we have been called to do. Are you having an impact on the people around you? Are you bringing them closer to Christ or are you patterning some other form of behavior?

The angels sang of the glory of Jesus. You may or may not sing well (I know I don't), but each of us should be telling others about Jesus. Will that be a priority for you during this Christmas holiday and beyond? Will it be evident that you belong to Him?