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+From The Heavens’ Glory He Came to Us
+#####################################
+
+:tags: sermon
+:category: faith
+:date: 2013-12-12T21:15:52
+
+(Christmas Sermon for the Prague Christian Fellowship on December 15, 2013)
+
+I haven’t grew up in the Christian home. None of my parents regularly attended
+church, and they have never taught me about Bible or Christianity outside of
+the general knowledge. However, neither they were anti-Christian: there was
+always Bible in our library, and, getting to the Christmas message, my Mom
+always read us before the Christmas Dinner this passage from the Luke’s gospel,
+and always in this a bit archaic, Kralická version. Therefore, this text is now
+inseparably linked to the Christmas for me: (translation to be from KJV)
+
+    And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar
+    Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first
+    made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every
+    one into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the
+    city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called
+    Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  To be taxed
+    with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  And so it was, that,
+    while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be
+    delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
+    swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for
+    them in the inn.  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in
+    the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of
+    the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
+    and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,
+    behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
+    people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
+    which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find
+    the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly
+    there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and
+    saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
+    men.  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
+    heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto
+    Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
+    made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph,
+    and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known
+    abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they
+    that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the
+    shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
+    And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things
+    that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
+
+    -- Luke 2:1-19 KJV
+
+Obviously this is the text which is so rich with meaning, with tradition of its
+interpretation that I don’t have a chance to interpret it fully.  I don’t mean
+to. Let me here just share couple of thoughts on this.
+
+First one is obviously, that this “the greatest story ever told” is the
+greatest paradox ever told. Jesus is the Lord from His birth, there are
+multitude of heavenly host praising his birth, he has great calling on his life
+(and if he was aware of it at the moment, then he would have great dreams and
+passions for his life). And yet, He doesn’t look great at all. We have here
+young couple too soon after their wedding having their first born son. They are
+very poor and now living in the manger.  They are probably a little bit cold
+(although in fact it mostly likely is not December then) and as every young
+couple of freshly born first child they now expect with at least a little bit
+of fear all troubles of lack of sleep, nursing troubles, possible sickness,
+desperation over the teaching him all what’s necessary for good life, and other
+difficulties of raising up a human child. Let me note also, that those diapers
+mentioned in the text were not for decoration and pretty soon they were not to
+be unsullied.
+
+We are so blinded by hearing this story many times that we don’t appreciate its
+pure craziness. God Almighty, who calls the stars by name, who knows
+everything, who knows the very number of hairs on each of our heads, this God,
+for love to us was willing to step down to this poverty and be completely
+helpless and dependent on his human parents.  And this pitiful picture of human
+poverty is the ultimate fulfillment of His Plan of Redemption of Humanity?
+
+This is in some manner a simple straightforward story covers obviously so much
+more than  it says on its face. And one look behind the curtains so to say is
+suggested by Paul (an early Christian leader, who was a friend and leader of
+Luke, the author of the previously read part from the early biography of the
+Christ) in his letter to the community of followers of Christ in Philippa:
+
+    Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who,
+    though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing
+    to be grasped,  but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,
+    being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he
+    humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on
+    a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name
+    that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should
+    bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess
+    that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 
+
+    -- Philippians 2:5-11
+
+Christ is the King, the Liberator, the Leader — but still he came to us as
+a humble child. There is apparently something about the small beginnings which
+made sense to Jesus, and I believe it should make sense to us as well. He
+didn’t despise the small necessities and troubles of life, and so we should not
+as well. We are often drawn to the higher visions, The Calling on our life and
+similar high-minded a bit abstract concepts, and everyday troubles seem to just
+distract us from this Really Important Stuff. And yet, Jesus didn’t skip thirty
+years of His life which would seem rather wasted considering their impact on
+the Humanity. That’s the first lesson.
+
+It seemed important to him to embrace life in all its complexities and everyday
+drudgery. He wanted to participate in the real life, instead of just picking
+from it famous and glorious parts. He embraced His helplessness, even though,
+because he was God, knew when he was entering a world in which the local King,
+Herod, was going to almost immediately try to kill him! So, giving up on the
+comfort and safety of our shelled lives, we need to step outside and embrace
+the wild life around us is the second lesson of this chapter.
+
+The last lesson we could learn from Mary. It seems that most people around here
+(except perhaps for Joseph) were mostly unaware of the high drama around them
+and they were mostly concerned with the visible and obvious. But she “treasured
+up all these things” (does it mean that these experiences were valuable for
+her?). She couldn’t know how the story turns about. She had to be prepared to
+trust in her calling just based on Wild and Significant but few experiences.
+Visitation by Angel, Hold by Magi, meeting in the Temple with Simeon and Anna,
+and then thirty years just caring for child and the standing behind and
+trusting God He will make the dream happening. This waiting and trusting the
+Lord even for (what we consider) very long time is the last lesson I want to
+learn from this message and talk to you about.