A Mystery, Not a Riddle 

Luke 2:1-20

Christmas Eve Eve 2001 

Luke 2:1-20 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

I. Introduction

A. How a mystery begins

"It was a dark and stormy night…" That's the way a typical mystery begins. A crime has been committed, and then for the rest of the book or TV program you are taken this way and that, in search of who committed the crime. Finally, in the last chapter, or the last 5 minutes, the truth comes out. And the perpetrator of the crime is identified, and the mystery is solved.

B. But that's a riddle not a mystery

But there's a problem in what I just described to you. You see, what I just described is not a mystery-it's a riddle. The difference between the two is that a riddle has a solution, and a mystery does not. A mystery simply stands as an enigma that can't be figured out. What we commonly call mystery stories always have solutions, so they're really not mysteries at all, but riddles-because we always find out the answer in the end.

Well, what brings us together tonight is not a riddle, but a true mystery in the deepest sense of the word. What brings us together tonight is not a problem that has a solution…, …but a mystery so deep, …so unfathomable, …so beyond us… …that no human being can understand it, or solve it, or even explain it. All we can do is stand before it in awe and wonder.

II. Bethlehem

A. Stormy?

"It was a dark and stormy night…". Well, maybe. That night long ago in Bethlehem was surely dark, but there is no indication that the weather was stormy. In fact, it probably wasn't even very cold. If there were shepherds in the fields watching their flocks by night, it must have been spring or summer. Sheep and shepherds were never in the fields in the wintertime. But there was a stormy quality about the night-the kind of storminess which characterizes every night on the earth- -nations were at war with other nations; -people were plotting against other people for power and riches; -and evil was lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to seize control of people's lives.

B. God Became Flesh

On this dark and stormy night, in the midst of a world no less corrupt and self-centered than our own world today, God became human flesh. On this dark and stormy night, Jesus the Messiah was born to Mary in a crude, lean-to stable.

-Angels sang about it in the heavens, and shepherds in the region left their flocks to come and see. -King Herod was paranoid and worried over it, -and wise men in the east marveled at the strange configuration of stars in the sky. -Some people talked about it, others didn't. -Joseph, Mary's husband was pretty much silent through it all, -and Mary contemplated all these events in the deep recesses of her mind.

Something of incredible significance had happened in that stable, on this dark and stormy night. But don't make any mistake about it-this was no riddle to be figured out. What happened was a mystery.

III. What Was So Mysterious?

A. What it's not

But what happened that was so mysterious?

Was it the fact that a baby was born? Well, childbirth is something of a mystery and a wonder. Biologists can describe the process, and physicians can control it to some extent. But even so, there is a lot about the birth of a human baby that remains a respected mystery, rather than simply a riddle to be solved. Even so, childbirth is not the mystery that brings us together tonight.

Was it the humble beginnings? That baby, born in a stable in the back streets of Bethlehem, was someday going to be famous-that's somewhat of a mystery, also. But in the history of the human culture, it's not that great of a mystery. History is filled with stories of famous people who had humble beginnings. So, it's not a lowly birth that brings us together tonight.

B. What it is

What is the mystery, then? Friends, the true mystery of what we celebrate tonight is pure and simple-it is the birth of our Lord. The true mystery is the fact that God took on human flesh and became one of us. The true mystery is, Emmanuel-God With Us… in the form of a weak and helpless baby, just like we all once were.

A huge part of our faith is based on the sheer mystery of God's love for you and me, shown in the birth of His Son, Jesus. -It's not faith based on explanation or rationalization. -It's not faith based on stars in the sky, or a manger bed, or sheep or shepherds or wisemen…

…It is a faith based on the sheer wonder of the Word made flesh. …It is a faith based on the shock of seeing our Creator become a creature, like us. …It is faith based on finding ourselves totally overwhelmed by a grace so powerful that sin and even death are conquered once and for all.

C. Stand in awe

Illustration: When I was being taught to take responsibility for jobs during harvest time, when I was 13 years old, I was initially overwhelmed by all the "stuff" that had to be done. Often my dad would say to me, "Don't just stand there, do something."

But tonight, I'd like to give you the reverse of those instructions. As we consider the mystery of Jesus' birth, we are not called upon to do something, but simply receive what God has given us unconditionally. Tonight the order is, "Don't just do something, stand there!"

IV. Connect with Communion

A. The Last Supper

It was a dark and stormy night over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. And thirty-three years later it was another dark and stormy night. That's when the baby of Bethlehem's manger, now grown up, gave bread and wine to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. That last supper pointed people to His death and resurrection.

Friends, God did not become a child that night in Bethlehem in order to remain a child forever. -He became a child in order to become a man who would give His life for the sake of the world. -He became a child in Bethlehem in order to become the Savior of people in every corner of the globe. -He became a child in order to become the crucified and risen one who would reconcile all those who completely trust in Him, -He became a child to give us a new relationship with God.

B. Christmas Nail

I have in my hand an 8" nail. We were given it as an ornament this year. It's called the Christmas Nail. It reminds us of the central focus of the mystery of Christmas. I'm going to hang it here on the pulpit to remind us of two things… -First, Jesus' baby crib, that manger in Bethlehem, was made of rustic wood and was held together by nails. -Second, the rugged cross on which He died, was held together by nails-but not for structural purposes, they were used to hold God to the rough wood of that cross and to bring about His death.

This nail is symbolic of both events. And both events point to the mystery of God in human flesh, coming to purchase salvation for all who believe.

It was a dark and stormy night that night 2000 years ago in Bethlehem when the mystery took place. And it's that mystery that brings us together, tonight.

-Don't confuse it with a riddle. -God doesn't need a solution. And God is not a riddle for us to solve. -We are the riddle. Human beings are the ones who need a solution-we need a solution to our personal sin problem.

And to our riddle God applies His mystery-Emmanuel, God with us.

John 3:16 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Communion