Chippie's Christmas

 

December 26, 2020                   NOTES NOT EDITED
Chippie’s Christmas
Matthew 2:1-12

SIS— Receiving joy is a gift from God—maintaining it takes inspiration and effort.

Some time ago I read about a parakeet named, “Chippie.”  Chippie was a chipper bird and loved to whistle and chirp.  All that ended one fateful day we will learn about later.  About 6 years ago a movie came out roughly based upon and award-winning children’s book titled, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” Unlike the book, the movie is not likely to become a classic though it did well at the box office. I think people can related to “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.”  Certainly, Chippie can.

In March, our nation plunged into a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day,” that continues now ninth months later and there is no real hope in sight these “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days” are going to end anytime soon.  As a result, many people have lost their song, just like Chippie. 

Families have suffered with the loss of loved ones. Restaurants are closing for good.  Businesses are going bankrupt.  Families have lost their income.  Even churches have succumbed to the Covid Virus Response. One such church in a neighboring county finally closed after just one too many, “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.”  Their pastor of 3 decades just died after a two-year battle with cancer.  This faithful church was caught in a transitioning neighborhood.  The Covid craziness magnified the weight of the burden on this small church, and their doors are not shuttered for good.

My theme for this Sunday’s service is “joy.”  I believe joy is a gift we were promised by God throughout the Bible, and that promise reached a climax with the angelic announcement to the shepherds, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people:  Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David” (Luke 2:10-11).

And, that’s that!  Notice the tense of the verb, “was born.”  It is “past tense.” (historic present is sometimes used to translate).  The promise has reached its fulfillment.  The long-awaited Messiah, the Deliver has already come.  Joy came with Him.  A promise made was a promise kept. 

I will be honest with you, I’m not feelin’ the joy like I have in previous Christmases.  However, joy is not a feeling based upon my circumstances but a promise secured by My Savior, Jesus Christ.  Joy is my inheritance as a child of God.  Joy is much like the sun.  When the day comes to an end and my world is cloaked in darkness, it does not mean the sun is “gone.”  The sun is still shining but my place in the spin of the earth simply keeps me from seeing it.

Joy, for a believer, a deep sense of well-being, is always there.  Sometimes, joy shines bright and we experience the warmth of its rays upon our lives.  Other times, joy is hidden by our situation, and all we can do is wait for “joy to rise in the morning.”  This is what the Scriptures promise in Psalm 30, verse 5:  “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!”

Morning cannot come too soon for me these days.  I am waiting expectantly.  I go to sleep with a prayer on my lips.  I wake with a prayer on my mind.  I pray throughout the day.  My prayers are awash with hope that “joy cometh in the morning.”

So, exactly what happened to “Chippie” and how are so many people this year having a “Chippie-type Christmas?” Well, as I said before,  Chippie is a parakeet.  He loved to whistle and chirp.  One Christmas season, that all changed.  It happened when Chippie’s owner decided to clean out his cage with a vacuum as part of her regular Christmas cleaning.  She stuck the nozzle into the cage to clean up the bottom of the cage. Suddenly the phone rang. She reached for the phone with her free hand and not realizing it… her hand holding the nozzle rose slowly upward and sucked Chippie into the vacuum cleaner. Realizing what she had done, she dropped the phone and turned off the vacuum.

She loved Chippie and was horrified by what had happened.  Quickly, she opened the vacuum bag to rescue the poor bird. Chippie was stunned and covered head to foot with gray dust… but thankfully he was still alive. She grabbed him and rushed him to the bathtub, turned on the cold water full blast, and held him under power washing him to remove the vacuum debris. Then it dawned on her that Chippie was soaking wet and shivering, so she did what any compassionate pet-owner would do. She snatched up the blow dryer and blasted him with hot air.

Surprisingly, Chippie survived all this. He survived, but he lost his song.   He didn’t sing or even chirp for a long time after that. Even now, he mostly just sits there in his cage eyeing the closet where the vacuum cleaner is kept. Being sucked up, washed out, and blown over had stolen the joy from his heart. Brothers and sisters… can you blame him… one could easily understand why Chippie doesn’t have much joy when Christmas time comes around.

There are a lot of people like Chippie.  Life has sucked us up, washed us out, and blow-dried the song from our hearts.  Joy is difficult, almost impossible, for some people to come by. 

The story of the visit of the Wise Men from the East teaches us that “joy ain’t that easy to come by,” but it is possible if you meet certain conditions. Let’s read the story of the Visit of the Magi. (Mt. 2:1-12)

1.  You have to know WHO and “WHY” to look for v2

Summary:  Joy comes from a devoted relationship with Jesus Christ.

 Wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem,  ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

I see a lesson in the story of the Wise Men who made a long, arduous, and dangerous journey to find the Messiah, born on Christmas Day.  But, at the end of their long, arduous journey they did find the Messiah, and they did find joy.  The Bible says, “[The star] led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure (Mt. 2:9-10).  The overwhelming joy the Wise Men experienced wasn’t easy to come by.  Let me explain.

The Wise Men from the East have secured a very important place in the Nativity Story.  Much about who they were and where they came from is conjecture, or even myth.  Nothing in the story, for example, says they were Three Kings.  They were probably not kings, but more like priests or soothsayers; and though they brought three gifts, nothing indicates there were only three of them.  They often are seen worshipping with the family and shepherds around the manger, but they would not have arrived for months after the birth. 

There is much that we do NOT know about these “Wise Men.”  There is much we DO know.  We do know their profession.  The word translated “wise men” is magoi.  We get the word, magic from this word.  The original Middle Eastern term referred to a very important (and rich) class of priests that practiced an ancient version of astronomy, which was mixed with astrology.  A brand of magic.

We also know that their trek from the point of origin in the Middle East (perhaps Iraq or Iran, or some say, Yemen) would have been very long (500 to 1000 miles depending on point of origin), and very dangerous.  Not only were there no smart phones to provide GPS, they would travel across brutal terrain and territory controlled by thieves and constantly experiencing war and strife. 

After many weeks, perhaps months, The Wise Men would eventually follow that strange, dancing star to the house where Jesus and His family were now residing. Jesus is no longer the infant (brephos) in a manger, but the young child (paidion) in a house. 

The joy that the Wise Men would eventually experience was very hard to come by.  Something, or in this case, SomeONE, had to give them an almost supernatural motivation to risk life and limb on such a perilous trek. The journey was long, hard, and dangerous. Experiencing joy is often like that.  Joy is often “hard to come by” but when we are motivated by a passion to “know and worship the King of the Jews, nothing will hinder our quest.  Circumstances and personal issues can rob one of his or her joy as surely as the Grinch plotted to steal Christmas from the town of Whoville unless we know “WHO” it is we are seeking and WHY—The Messiah, the Savior.

Experiencing joy is not automatic.  Having joy may mean taking risks.  Having joy may be a longer process for some than for others.  Some may have to wrestle joy away from terrible circumstances or personal challenges.  Joy may be hard to come by for you at this time of year—or at any time of year.  While it may be hard to come by, joy can be had if we know what we seek, where to seek for it, and how to maintain it.  Life doesn’t have to be perfect for our joy to be full.  

These Wise Men knew to follow a star that would lead them to a person who they called, “King of the Jews.”  How did they know about such a King, and how did they know His birth would be attended by a mysterious star? A star that cannot be explained by any known astronomical conjunction or condition.

How did these Wise Men know to look for, and how to interpret this strange astronomical anomaly?  Well, over 1400 years before the Bible says, “I shall see him, but not now:I shall behold him, but not nigh:  There shall come a Star out of Jacob” (Num. 24:17).

Balaam, was a “Wise Man” from the same area as the Three Wise Men of the Nativity.  The most plausible answer to how pagan Star-gazing Diviners from the area of Iraq or Iran, would know of a prophecy in the Jewish Bible would be this caste of astrologers from had interaction with the Jewish exiles in Babylonia, some of which remained for six centuries since the exile.  This would make them aware of the Jewish prophecies in regard to a coming God-King called the Messiah.  Balaam, a non-Israelite, Middle Eastern (perhaps Canaanite) prophet, is recorded in the Bible as saying 

Notice the words of Balaam, “I perceive him but not near.”  Balaam’s prophecy, though delivered through a pagan prophet is sanctioned by God by appearing in the Bible, occurred over 1400 years before the birth of Christ.  This is a “Messianic” prophecy meaning it refers to the coming Deliverer, which is Christ the Lord.

About 1200 years after Balaam, we have the writing of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  In one section, scholars of the community that produced the scrolls confirm this prophecy of Balaam refers to the coming Deliverer (Damascus Document 7, 18-21; Testimonia 9-13).  

The Wise Men were not seeking a “what” but a “Who.”  Most often people seek joy in “things” or “circumstances” and as a result, they do not find it, or find it and lose it.  Joy that is based upon circumstances is “happiness,” not joy.  Happiness comes from the root word, hap, an English word probably related to Scandinavian.  It means “luck or chance.”  It is unpredictable and fickle as in “haphazard.” Happiness is a response to favorable stimuli, or pleasurable circumstances.  Lasting joy cannot be found in circumstances or seeking personal pleasure.  Joy is found in meeting a person—the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Think about it.  How many of us still have the first toy we received for Christmas?  Many toys not only don’t last decades, some don’t even survive beyond the snow melt of the season.  No matter how expensive—or durable—any gift might be, things will never bring us lasting joy. Other people can never be the source of our joy.  Relationships change. Loved one’s die.  Other people cannot be the source of our joy.

Discovering and maintaining lasting joy requires that we know WHO we are looking for and WHY. We are looking for Jesus because He is the Savior.  The Wise Men were seeking Jesus and found true joy.  Wise Men (and women) still seek Jesus today.

A second condition that must be met to have true joy is we must,

2.  We must know where to look (Matthew 2:1-11)

Summary: Joy is found through Spirit-inspired Bible Study

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 

It is not enough to know “WHO,” is the source of true joy, but we must know where to look to find that true joy.  The Wise Men arrived in Jerusalem.  Jesus wasn’t there.  The Jewish leaders said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.  True, but incomplete.  Jesus wasn’t there. The mighty, self-absorbed, evil king told the Wise Men—look in Bethlehem. They wisely decided to follow God’s leading—the star. 

Here’s some good advice:  Don’t get your Bible teaching from Bible teachers who don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ! 

Now, let me be clear of one thing about “finding Jesus.” On our own without the faith that God Himself gives us, we would never find Him.  In fact, we would never even think to look for Him.  There is a bit of irony to Christianity that I don’t fully understand.  We don’t find Jesus—He finds us.  The Bible says, “No man can come to the father unless the Spirit of God draws Him.”  But the Word also says, “Seek and you will find.”  God must give us the very faith He requires of us in order for us to be saved.  OK.  Now, back to our lesson on joy.

I’m going to assume that since you are here today, in a church, you are on a Spiritual Quest—whether you know it or not.  My prayer is that God would open your heart and shine His light into your soul so that you will first, seek Him, and secondly Look for Him in the right place. The right place to look is in the Spirit-led study of God’s Word,  as represented by the miraculous “star.”

Think about this: had the Wise Men travelled north, or south, or east they would never have found the object of their quest.  Luke 2:39 tells us the Wise Men found Jesus in Nazareth, because that’s where the star led them.  Without the star, they would have looked in the wrong place and never found the Lord.

This is why Herod never found joy, and never found Jesus because Herod rejected the Light and Guidance of God and Herod looked in Bethlehem, based upon what the Scribes and priests, who rejected God’s Messiah, told him (see verse 6).  But, that is where Jesus was “born” not where he remained.  Luke 2:39 says, “ And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.  Herod used what little knowledge he gained from the Jewish leaders.  He only missed the mark by about 65 miles, but close does not count in a relationship with God.  To be “almost persuaded” is to be “totally lost.”  Herod missed heaven and its eternal joy because he looked in Bethlehem when Jesus was in Nazareth. 

God’s logic is not our logic.  God’s ways are not man’s ways.  It defies human logic that a King would be born in a stable, and not the nursery of a palace.  Isaiah declares (55:9):

“For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Had the Wise Men followed their logic and learning (that said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem) instead of following the guidance of God’s star, they would have missed Jesus.  They would have been in the wrong city.

Hell will be populated by a great many good, religious people who LOOKED for God in all the wrong places.  Some will look for Jesus in philosophy—and not find Him.  Some will look for Jesus in morality—and not find Him.  Some will look for Jesus in good works—and will not find Him.  Some people will have even look for God “in church,” but will not find Him.  God is not found at the end of a philosophical or even religious quest.  In fact, God is not “found” at all.  It is God Who seeks.  It is God who guides.  It is God who provided that special star. Many people attend church regularly and never meet God.

One Sunday Evening a little boy from a very religious family knelt by his bedside to pray.  This family went to church every time the doors were open.  The little boy had literally grown up in church.  His prayer stabs me like a dagger in my heart.  The little boy prayed, “Dear God, we had a good time in church today!  I wish you had been there!”  Even church can be the wrong place to look for joy.

To experience joy we must know ❶“WHO” to look for, that is Jesus, and WHY, He is the Savior.  We must know ❷“WHERE” by diligent, Spirit-led study of Scripture. 

3.  how to keep it going (10-11) 

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. ¹¹ Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

A key condition to experiencing great joy is “great giving.”  Trying to maintain a joyful life by seeking better circumstances is like trying to get out of a hole with a shovel.  You need a “ladder” not a shovel to get out of a hole. Worshipping Jesus with an open, giving heart is God’s ladder for climbing out of despair.

So much of the emphasis in the world at Christmas time is giving and receiving gifts.  I don’t want to be a Scrooge and suggest we should not give gifts to each other.  I like gifts.  I will accept your gifts graciously, but my greatest joy comes from giving, not getting.

I am aware, however, that receiving a thousand wonderful gifts will not bring as much joy into our lives as giving people one special gift:  presenting people with the gift of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  You see, when you analyze the gifts the Wise Men gave, what they were doing was outlining Who the little child was and what he would do.  

One Wise Man gave a gift of gold.  This is a gift fit for a King.  The Bible tells us that this young child, born in a manger and not in a palace, was in fact a king—the King of Kings. Another Wise Man presented Jesus with the gift of frankincense.  Frankincense was an expensive incense used by priests.  The Bible calls Jesus Our “Great High Priest.” The third Wise Man gave Jesus myrrh.  This may be the most significant gift, and most unusual.  It is a very expensive substance that was used to prepare a dead body for burial—a strange gift for a child just starting the journey of life.  Myrrh reminds us that Jesus was “born to die.”  The real meaning of Christmas comes when we celebrate Easter.  The gift of myrrh is “prophetic” because it points ahead three decades to the death of Jesus on the Cross.

The Wise Men maintained their joy of meeting Jesus by “opening the  treasure of worship and giving.”  Passionate worship leading to sacrificial service is a key condition to maintaining joy. 

We cannot control our circumstances.  We cannot completely control our feelings.  We do have a measure of control in regard to our joy.  Once we have received God’s joy by responding to God’s grace, we can determine to a great measure how much joy we experience from day to day.  We must know WHO, is the source of our joy.  We must know WHERE to look to better understand that joy, which is the Word of God as we are led by His Spirit; and we must keep our joy going and growing by giving:  giving worship to God and service to others.

At least part of being full of joy is to be gracious in giving.  The more we give away love, peace, hope, and joy, the more room in our heart to receive the same from God.

In this sin-darkened world it doesn’t take long for us to realize,  “joy ain’t that easy to come by and it is harder to hold onto!”  We need to be like the Wise men.

So many people experience a “Chippie Christmas” without the abundant joy the Wise Men and others who have discovered the Lord experience.  A Chippie Christmas allows circumstances to suck the joy out of the celebration.

Don’t be a “Chippie.”  Find joy by receiving Christ.  After all without Christ in Christmas, all you have is “mess.”

Joy ain’t that easy to come by, but if you allow God’s star of grace to guide you to Him, you will have joy