Angels sing of great joy for all people and shepherds race to the small town of Bethlehem to a barn behind the village inn.   Inside they discover a newborn child of peasant parents lying in an animal’s feeding trough.  As unlikely as it would appear to the ordinary person, these shepherds who are working the midnight shift see a wonderful miracle of God.  They return to their sheep celebrating and praising God with great enthusiasm for what they had seen.

This was not big news in Jerusalem that night.

The great Roman Empire missed it.

Yet this is the event that wrings cries of joy and celebration from the lips of kings and prophets of Israel throughout the ages.

"You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy, they rejoice before you...   For a child has been born for us, a son given to us..."  Isa. 9:3&6

"O sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all the earth..."   Psalm 96:1

The writer of the New Testament letter Titus reflects back on the event and points to the reason for the joy and celebration.

"Fort the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all..."

And today, almost 2000 years later -- on the threshold of a new century, we too come to celebrate the birth of a peasant child who was born in a barn.

***

And who was this child who was born to parents so poor and so without influence or connections that they could not manage a simple room for a mother in labor?

The prophet Isaiah tells us who the child is, but can we believe it?  Listen:

"For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders and he is named,
Mighty Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace."  (Isa. 6)

Surely there is some mistake here!

How can One so great even visit such a place as a barn in a second class town in a third rate nation -- much less be born there.  And placed in a manger -- a feeding place for lowly animals?

Surely a mistake has been made!

Where are the heralding trumpets?  The dancing maids and cheering throngs?   Why has the whole nation of Israel not turned out for the celebration?  Why do angels and choirs from heaven to to lowly shepherds -- common laborers -- to make an earth shattering announcement and sing anthems from the gates of heaven?

What in the world is God thinking?

If you were in charge, would not a Mighty Counselor have at least a king suite in a four star hotel?

I know that I would find the best room in town for the coming of a child a prophet had called "Mighty God and Prince of Peace." Even if there was a chance that prophet was wrong -- would we not err on the side of gaining the favor of such an important child and his parents?

One thing I am absolutely sure of. If a real, honest to goodness Prince of Peace came to our town today, I am sure there would be an incredible gathering of the most important people in town. And if that Prince of Peace for any reason did not have a place to spend the night -- is there anybody here who doubts that the finest suite in town would be cleared out without delay?

And do you think for one little moment that the "movers and shakers" in our town would make haste to announce the coming of this Prince to the third shift workers over at the factory, or the night LPN's over at the nursing home?

I wonder. Would they send someone to tell you about the coming of this Prince? Would I be included?

What in the world was God thinking?

We gather to celebrate a story that touches our hearts at the core. Every year there are thousands of children’s program all over the country with the simple story line of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Mary and Joseph make the long journey by donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Mary is going to have a baby and the mean old innkeeper won’t give them a room. Jesus is born in the barn behind the inn and placed in a manger. His entourage and adoring guests are shepherds and animals.

It’s a story we love. And yet… would you want these circumstances for your daughter and grandchild? My own grandmother became kind of a legend in her neighborhood in Ann Arbor, Michigan where a local Presbyterian church had a "live manger scene" for a number of years back in the forties. The first time she saw it, she grabbed a blanket from her car and rushed to put it over the child who was playing Jesus as she blurted out, "Why, he’ll catch his death of cold!"

And if you think about all of this for very long, the question will seem so very natural.

What in the world was God thinking?

***

The words used to describe the shepherd’s experience are from the Greek words "mega" and "phobos". What the shepherds felt was "mega fear!" Fear that rates as "big time fear!"

I can relate – can’t you?

Here’s the clue into what God is thinking by sending the Prince of Peace to the place and through the people in our scripture. When the shepherd’s were quaking in their boots and covering their eyes from the brightness of God’s glory, the angel says, "Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people."

The Lord God wants you and me to know that Jesus has come to bring us good news of God’s love and grace. He brings salvation, not condemnation – renewal, not retribution. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, not of punishment. God wants us to rejoice in not hide from, the glory of heaven.

And just how does God approach us with this amazing and life changing news?

The One Isaiah calls, "Mighty Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," becomes absolutely, totally, 100% vulnerable!

Can you wrap your mind around this amazing truth? The heart of the celebration we share at Christmas tonight is the truth that the God who came to us in the birth of Jesus is…

The God who is vulnerable!

The whole Christian message begins with…

• Parents who are poor.
• A mother in labor with no place to go.
• A newborn child with no crib for a bed.
• Visitors who come to see the child who have no influence.

So you see, there is no reason for fear. There is no barrier to overcome. No person is too poor, or too uneducated, or too insignificant to come to the Christ child who is sent by the God who is vulnerable.

Such a wonderful truth can only be contained in an open, receiving, adoring heart.