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Merry Christmas! I wish all of you a very merry Christmas! How can we have a merry Christmas? Can we have a merry Christmas by receiving lots of gifts? Maybe so. I hope all of you receive all the gifts on your wish-list at this Christmas. Also, I hope you give more to your beloved ones. Yet, we should not miss God’s Christmas gift. Otherwise our Christmas becomes Christmas without Christ, which is no Christmas at all. It is like your birthday party without you. God’s Christmas gift is a baby in a manger. What an odd gift! This time, let’s open God’s gift box together so that we may come to know the wonder of this gift and have a very merry Christmas with Christ this year! Look at verse 1. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire of Roman world.” The historical background of this passage is the times of the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus. Caesar Augustus was known as Octavianus. He was a grand nephew of Julius Caesar. He defeated Antonius at Actium Battle in BC 31, and sat on the throne of Roman empire. He ruled from 27 BC to AD 14. “Augustus” means ”exalted” or “revered.” This word was reserved only for gods. But the title was conferred on him by the Roman Senate in 27 BC. He was the first and one of the greatest Roman emperors. He issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire of Roman world. At his command, the entire Roman world moved as computer screen is controlled by one mouth click. At his decree for a census everyone went to his own town to register regardless of human conditions and distance and cost. Look at verse 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.” It was almost a 3 day journey on foot. He went there to register with Mary, his fiancée, who was fully pregnant. Joseph had no choice. While travelling Joseph most probably hoped that Mary would endure and deliver the baby after coming back home in Nazareth. Yet, while they were there the time came for the baby to be born.” It was not Joseph’s time, the time Joseph wanted. It was God’s time, the time God had planned from several thousand years ago. It was the very time for the baby to be born of virgin Mary in Bethlehem, the very town God had promised. Look at verse 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.” From the human point of view, the baby was born in a stable and placed in a manger because of Caesar’s decree and unmerciful social atmosphere. And it seemed to happen by chance or at random, and Joseph and Mary were helpless victims of the situation. Yet, it was not so. Indeed, God was in control to fulfill his promise of Micah 5:2, which says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephratha…out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” God used Caesar’s decree to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, the very place of his promise. Caesar Augustus was sitting on the throne of the Roman Empire, but our God is sitting on the throne of the Heavenly Kingdom. Our God is the Sovereign Ruler over all powers and over the human history. He fulfills his purpose at his very time and at his very place according to his promise. Let’s read verse 7 again. “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.” This shows vividly how Jesus Christ was born. He was born in an animal’s stable and wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger. “Manger” may sound poetic. But what is a manger? A manger is a feeding box for cows. It is dirty and stinky. Flies buzz around. Many would feel it is too disgusting to touch. Why did Jesus have to be born in such a place? The Sovereign God who is in control could have sent his Son in the most glorious way like the son of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus! Or at least God could have provided a safe and clean hospital room for his son to be born. However, God chose to send his Son to be born in a stable of animal and laid in a manger, in a most pitiful and lowliest way. Why, then, did God choose such a way to send his Son into the world? We may find Christmas miracle in the answer to who the Baby in a manger really is to us. First, the Baby Jesus in a manger is our friend. At that time it was almost impossible for ordinary people to approach Caesar Augustus on the throne. In the same way, big guys in our society are mostly not approachable, for many reasons, including security matter. As you may know, the US Secret Service is investigating how one couple could approach the President Obama as uninvited guests to the Whitehouse state dinner. Much more than that our God is holy holy holy. 1 Timothy 6:16 says, ““God…who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light…” Israel people couldn’t approach even the tent when the glory of God was present. Jesus is in very nature God (Phil 2:6-8). But by being born as a baby in a manger, the totally approachable God became most approachable to all kinds of people. No one is too poor or too lowly to approach him. He became approachable in order to befriend us. The word “friend” is a beautiful word. A dictionary definition of friend is “somebody emotionally close; somebody who trusts and is fond of another.” We all want a friend. We all need a friend. The population of the world has increased more and more up to 6.8 billion. At same time technology has advanced more and more. So now the whole world became a small village, a global village. As a result we should have more friends. However, it seems that people have become more and more lonely in the midst of the crowds and in the midst of technology. The other day I went out to the campus to talk to students and make friends with them. But it was not easy for me to find one available to have conversation. Most of them were either listening to music on their i-pod, talking on a cell phone or surfing websites. Indeed many people these days live most of their time in a cyber space, playing games, or watching movies on internet hours and hours alone. They even make cyber friends and cyber date. It seems that they don’t need friends anymore. It seems that they enjoy to be loners. However, we all need someone who understands us, shares our joy and sorrow together, and supports us at time of suffering. We all need a true friend. Jesus was born as a tiny baby in a lowly manger in order to be friend to all kind of lonely people. There was a very lonely man. He became lonely in the pursuit of his selfish dream in the world. He studied hard and got a high paying secure job. He could afford a luxurious condo and fancy sports car. But he had to live all by himself: jogging by himself, working by himself, eating lunch by himself, driving the fancy car by himself, and going out to drink by himself. No one wanted to be associated with him, much less befriending him. Outwardly he looked okay, but inwardly he was crying in his loneliness. Who on earth could hear his inner cry? Amazingly there was someone who could hear it. His name was Wonderful. One day Jesus called him, saying, “Follow me.” It was life-changing word to the man, a loner. The Son of God Jesus accepted him as he was and made him one of his best friends. Through Jesus humble friendship, he was changed and emulated Jesus. And he himself became a good friend to many of early Christians. He is St. Matthew. The baby Jesus in a manger is approachable and he welcomes each of us as his friend. A friend indeed is a friend in need. The baby Jesus in a manger is our friend in need whom we can approach with all our problems. The world is full of problems; global climate change, terrorist problem, H1N1 pandemic problem, recession and unemployment problem, etc and etc. All people have problems. Is there anybody here who has no problem whatsoever? Please raise your hand, if you have no problem at all. There is no one who has no problem. Some have school study problem, others health problem, still others job problem, marriage problem, visa problem, direction problem, relationship problem, children problem, or parent problem, etc and etc. Our life is a series of problems, with a fresh new problem appearing after one being solved. What do we do with our problems? Mostly, we try to solve our problems with our own strength. When we cannot, we look around for help. When we can’t find any, we become anxious and helpless. In our helplessness, some sleep a lot, while others eat a lot or drink a lot. But here is good news: there is solution with God who is almighty. The Almighty God came to this world as a baby in a manger. He came to us in a such a humble way that we may approach him with all our problems. He is humble enough to listen to us again and again. He is humble enough to understand all our problems and all our helplessness again and again. He is gentle in heart, full of understanding and slow to anger. Not only understanding us, but also answers our prayers and solves our problems. He is indeed our friend in need. There was a girl. She was about 10 years old. She was lonely and sad because she had no siblings. Her mom was getting old. Then she approached Jesus and began to pray to grant her a younger brother or sister. She prayed day after day, encouraging her parents to keep trying. Do you know what happened? Jesus heard her prayers, and granted her request with bonus that she has a lovely baby brother, and one more sibling is on the way. Jesus heard such a child’s prayer. He never rejects anyone who approaches him and he never despise anyone who confides with him. And no problem is too big or too small for Jesus to solve it. Thank the Baby Jesus in a manger who is our approachable God, our true friend, friend in need. Second, the Baby Jesus in a manger is our Saviour. Verse 7 says, “…She…placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” It shows that he came to this world, but the world rejected him. There was no room for him in the world; his birth place was found in the animal’s world, away in a manger. He was rejected from the time of birth. His humbleness and rejection reached the climax when he was crucified as a criminal. His life was consistent from the manger to the cross. He was born in a manger as a baby to be approachable and befriend all in this world. Then he died on the cross as the Lamb of God to save all perishing mankind from their sins and bring them back to the kingdom of God, where we can be forever with him seeing each other face to face. We easily make mistakes and commit sins. But it is not easy for anyone to take responsibility for his or her own sins and mistakes. Many people blame others. And it is much harder to take responsibility for someone else’s mistakes and sins. It requires ultimate humbleness and sacrifice. There were two brothers. The older one was compassionate and kind-hearted; the younger, troublesome and violent. The older advised his younger brother to disregard his bad habits and prayed for him. However, all his effort was in vain and his younger brother fell deeper and deeper into the pit of self-destruction. Then one day, the younger brother suddenly ran into his brother’s room with blood-stained clothes and cried, “Please, my brother, help me. The police are chasing me, because I’ve committed a terrible crime.” The older brother thought about the situation and said, “Let’s exchange our clothes.” As soon as they did so, the police dashed into the room and arrested the brother who was wearing the blood-stained clothes, without any hesitation. Later on the arrested older brother received the death sentence. When the younger brother found this out, he begged for the suspension of his brother’s execution. But it was too late. As time passed, the younger brother changed into a new man because of his brother’s sacrificial love. The older brother reflects image of Jesus. He died in our place as the Lamb of God. John the Baptist cried out to describe this Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” One man grew up in a poor family. His father was a drunkard. When the father came home drunk, he beat the son. It went on and on. The man was so sorrowful for his poor family and angry towards his father. In despair he lived according to his sinful desire. He blamed his poor family and alcoholic father for his ruined life. Then God led him to Bible study and in the first year of his university he attended UBF SBC. There he heard the message of Jesus’ cross, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” He realized that Jesus took up all his sins for the grace of forgiveness and he accepted Jesus’ sacrificial death for him. Since then his life was changed. When his father was dying with a terminal cancer, he could not just watch him because of eternal punishment awaiting his father. He felt responsible for his father’s eternal destiny. He preached the gospel of salvation to his father and prayed earnestly for his father’s salvation. After he prayed, he could sense God’s presence. His father accepted Jesus Christ and died in peace. The man became so thankful to God and became a missionary to Canada. He prays to be a responsible missionary and shepherd for perishing souls in Canada, beginning with U of T students. May God bless him and guide him continuously! Third, the Baby in a manger is God’s love. His humble birth in a manger and responsible atoning death on the cross were all initiated by God’s love. All these were expressions of his love. John 3:16 “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.” There is a saying, “You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.” My wife has several uncles. One of them had 5 sons, and another 5 daughters. So her grandfather suggested that they exchange one of their children, that the one who had 5 sons might give one son to the one who had 5 daughters, and vice versa. They reluctantly did so, to obey their father, but as soon as he passed away, they cancelled the promise and had their own son and daughter back. It wasn’t easy even to exchange one of five children as adopted child to his own brother’s family. But God loved us so much so that he gave us his one and only Son as a Baby in a manger. God loved us so much so that he gave up his Son on the cross to take away all our sins and die in our places. All thing changes including computer software year by year. But the love of God never changes. Jesus is the undeniable and unchanging expression of God’s love. It is written in the Bible, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” (Isa 49:15,16). Some students write important things on their right or left palms not to forget them. They do so because of forgetfulness. But God is not forgetful like human beings. So he does not need to write or much less engrave something on his palm. Yet, he does it, even engraving on his both palms for our sake so that we may not forget that he does not forget us. Rather, he remembers us and cares for us like an apple of his eye, because of his love. M. Timothy Park has been ill with leukemia cancer for the last four months. His struggle to go through chemotherapy was more than one could describe. In his pain he even longed for the kingdom of God. But our loving God protected him and cared for him as an apple of his eye, and has been healing him miraculously. He is victorious because of God’s love. We have great confidence in spite of ourselves that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. We may start the new year with great confidence through God’s love for us in the Baby Jesus in a manger, and have many victories for his glory. Furthermore, we may be apostles of God’s love our family, campus, workplace, so that Toronto be a holy city and Canada, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. At this Christmas we thank and praise God for sending his Son to be born as a baby in a manger. The Baby Jesus in a manger is our friend, our Saviour and God’s love. The baby in a manger is the Christmas gift from above for everyone who receives. May we welcome him into our hearts, worship him and live with him in the new year and forevermore.

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