A Noticer: Requires Humility, Not Status

A Christmas Series

We've been talking about many things that "get in the way" of Christmas. Today, we can add one more to this list: age.

Not that you're ever too old to celebrate Christmas, but as we get older, we have a tendency to lose our awe and wonder which comes so naturally as a child.

As a kid, I remember being awed by the lesser things of this anticipated holiday, like wondering if the click-click-click I heard in the middle of the night was reindeer tiptoeing on the roof of our house. I snuggled under the covers wide-eyed and very pleased with myself for sprinkling reindeer food in the yard to make them feel so welcome to our home.

Then, we all grew up. There were a couple Christmases that just didn't feel like Christmas. Myself and my two siblings were grown and opening presents wasn't as thrilling as it used to be. Soon, the grandchildren started arriving and the wonder of Christmas through a child's eye returned to our home once again. Tissue paper alone was beyond thrilling! ...for all of us! We all stared as this little one and those to come were captivated with the simplest of wrapping.

My point is: We've likely heard the Christmas story many times and because of this, we may take the story as it is and forget to ask those childlike questions, most notably: why? Today, no matter our ages, we're embracing child-like faith together as we ask, why did God reveal Jesus' birth the way He did?

God, beaming as the proud Father He is, He didn't write it in the skies though He could have. He didn't release all of creation to clap their hands and sing for their Creator though He could have. He didn't tell the ones who society held as most important - the kings and political figures, not even the religious leaders as we'll soon uncover. He came to ones He saw as very important and incredibly symbolic - the lowly shepherds.

We read about this in Luke chapter 2:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 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.”So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. - Luke 2:8-20

Imagine the shepherds scared and trembling, then so caught up in the thrill and wonder, they lay down on their backs in the grasses of the field and watch this never-before-seen feature in the skies. Heaven's warriors come to declare the good news, lights dancing across the heavens. But why? Why tell the shepherds first? Wouldn't we expect God to tell the High Priest first? Isn't he the one who is supposed to be closest to God, serving as the mouthpiece of God for the people? Why did God tell the shepherds who had no status, no famed righteousness, no known experience telling others prophecy from God, but why does God now entrust them with the prophecy fulfilled?

Is it as wild to you as it seems to me? If you joined us last week, you remember we're embarking on a faith expedition, which means we're cultivating curiosity and asking questions, so let's keep digging in with our questions. Who was the high priest at the time of Jesus' birth?

From John's gospel, we see it was Annas, who was the father-in-law to Caiaphas. (John 18:13). Real quick, let's take a quick look back to the Old Testament to understand this role a bit better.

Remember when God commanded Moses to go to Pharoah and Moses listed excuses, one being his insecurity of what to say and how to speak? Graciously, God chose Aaron to be the mouthpiece for Moses. And, yep. That's how this started. Aaron, the brother of Moses was the first to be anointed as high priest (Lev 8-9). From then on, we see this passed down the family of Aaron from father to son. Under Roman rule, the high priesthood became a political appointment, as high priests were appointed and deposed by the Roman governor.

Annas was appointed high priest by Quirinius, the governor of Syria in AD 6 and served until AD 15 but continued to be a powerful figure behind the scenes. Five of his sons succeeded him before Caiaphas, his son-in-law, was appointed.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.  - Luke 3:1,2

Annas is mentioned with Caiaphas, though there were not two high priests at one time. This simply illustrates the power Annas held after his time.

So why? Why skip Annas? He was obviously very powerful and influential. This decision was very intentional. Every detail has remarkable significance. The people were expecting the Messiah to deliver them from the Roman oppression. Given the high priest position had become one of political status, it would make sense on paper to work through the political channels and networking, but God doesn't. He doesn't care about respecting society's status at all. Instead, He chooses the shepherd, and it's not the first time.

About 1,000 to 1,040 years before this first Christmas, we see God choose an unlikely shepherd. Israel wanted a king, they pleaded for a king, so God answered and provided Saul. When Saul disobeys the Lord, God regrets His decision and sends the prophet Samuel to anoint another king to replace Saul.

The Lord asked Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul now that I have rejected him as king of Israel? Fill a flask with olive oil and go. I’m sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem because I’ve selected one of his sons to be king... you will anoint for me the one I point out to you.” - 1 Samuel 16:1, 3

Jesse brings his oldest son before Samuel, and seeing his stature and attractive appearance, Samuel thinks God must have Eliab in mind for this role. (When fighting battles, it makes sense the people want a king who is a strong soldier and a big, powerful presence.)

So Jesse brought seven more of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these. Are these all the sons you have?”“There’s still the youngest one,” Jesse answered. “He’s tending the sheep.”Samuel told Jesse, “Send someone to get him. We won’t continue until he gets here.”So Jesse sent for him. He had a healthy complexion, attractive eyes, and a handsome appearance. The Lord said, “Go ahead, anoint him. He is the one.” - 1 Samuel 16:10-12

In appointing David as King - the lesser of all his brothers, the one without status or an attractive appearance, the lowly one who spends his days tending the sheep - God was foreshadowing what was to come: the King of kings who would serve as a Good Shepherd for His people.

Jesus tells us,

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” - John 10:11, 14-18

God knew the purpose He had for His Son, even back when the people were asking for a leader. David was chosen because he was a man after God's own heart. We know David did not live a perfect life. Jesus comes as the better David. Not just a shepherd in tune with the needs of his sheep, but the Good Shepherd - the one who will lay down His life for His sheep - not because the sheep have done anything to deserve it, but because He loves them so.

He loves them so.

God chose the lowly shepherds as the mouthpiece of the miracle of Jesus' birth, because though society saw them much as riff-raff and unimportant, God saw them as immensely important. He said: those shepherds, I love them so. My Son is coming, not with the political agenda to free people from the current oppression of the Roman government, but for a much more important task: to take care of my sheep, to free them from the wages of sin and lead them into everlasting life.

Even as the news spread of Jesus' identity and ministry, the high priests missed it. We see Annas' powerful presence continue. When Jesus is arrested, they bring him to Annas first, even though Caiaphas is the current high priest:

First they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “Better that one should die for all.” - John 18:13, 14

God not only doesn't use the high priest for the news of the birth of Christ but allows the high priest to be a vessel of prophecy, unbeknownst to Caiaphas himself, to share the best news - that Jesus, the chosen One, would die for all mankind.

The prophecy is fulfilled through the high priest and the high priest is oblivious! It's as Jesus taught:

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted". - Matthew 23:12

The shepherds became noticers of God in their midst, experiencing the holy night before anyone else - not because of their status. They didn't have any. Not because of their righteousness. Only Christ is righteous. They were invited to participate in the miracle of Christ's birth because God honors humility. Humility to be captivated by the awe and wonder of the miracle of Christ. Humility of child-like faith. It's the perfect illustration of James' reminder against pride:

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up".  - James 4:6,10

As we saw last week, becoming noticers of God in their midst, the expedition of faith began with belief. Now, we can unwrap this one more layer. Before we can believe - hold certainty so assuredly that it propels our feet, our hands, our heads and our hearts to move in one direction - as we see in the shepherds - we must humble ourselves. As Tim Keller explains, not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.

It was true for them then and it's true for us now. It's not about status. It's about humility. It's about humbling ourselves, trusting God is greater.

Also, isn't it good news God's plan included making Jesus our High Priest? Move over Annas and Caiaphas, there's a King on the throne now, and His name is Jesus!

There's something beautiful which comes as we humble ourselves before God. Our eyes stop focusing on the pressure around us and start looking at something else - God. As we learn to trust God's power and His position above our circumstances, our vision sharpens and we start to see through the lens of faith. We become a noticer of God's grace.

God has made a way for all of us to experience and notice Him in our midst. But many, like Annas and Caiaphas and many religious leaders in Jesus' times, will miss Christmas because pride from elevated status has blocked their vision. Friend, I don't want this for us.

In these weeks leading up to Christmas, we're looking at those who missed Christmas so we can learn how to be a noticer. How can we become aware and spiritually awake so we do not miss the miracles and God's presence in our midst. I so hope you'll join us next week, and if this is encouraging, consider sharing this link with a friend and rating it on your favorite podcast platforms so it can reach and encourage many more this Christmas!

May we find strength as we lean not on ourselves but seek strength from above. May we be surprised with joy in the middle of the inconveniences as we begin to practice trusting God in these spaces, and may we experience peace as we notice God's presence here with us. May we find our hearts rest easy when we abide and stay closely connected with Him.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.