Original title: Hark! How all the Welkin Rings. … “Welkin” is an old word that Shakespeare liked and it means “the vault of the sky.” Personally, I think it’s a shame we’ve lost this word, but apparently this song didn’t become popular until it was changed a few years later to the title we know now.
Big Idea: If you want to experience Christmas the way God intends, you must learn to hark (to stop and pay close attention) and see what amazed the angels that first Christmas night.
Three things that amazed the angels:
- Jesus’ Humility. … The angels knew Jesus before He came to Earth. They knew Him as the Creator of the universe. They knew He had made the sun, moon, and stars. He created all the animals and trees and flowers. He created mankind. And yet, there was no room for Him in the inn. Here’s an Austine quote that really shows the amazing humility witnessed by the angels: “Man's maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother's breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.”
- Jesus’ Incarnation. … Jesus is God in flesh. Jesus is fully human and fully God. This is a doctrine known as the Hypostatic Union, stating that Jesus is 100% God and 100% human. This doctrine was affirmed at the Council of Nicea. One of the supporters of it was a man named Nicholas. We know him better as Saint Nicholas. He even slapped the biggest opponent of this doctrine. So, remember, Saint Nick cares whether or not you believe Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
- Jesus’ Mission. … Jesus had three main mission objectives
- Our sin problem. … When Adam and Eve sinned that first time, it introduced sin into the world and now we are all born into it. Jesus lived a perfect life, defeating sin and giving us a chance for forgiveness.
- Our death problem … When Adam and Eve sinned, death was brought into the world. Instead of living in harmony with God forever, mankind would die. Jesus went to the cross and dealt with death face to face. He came back after three days victorious and now we have the opportunity to live in Heaven for eternity, in harmony with God once again.
Our separation problem. … When Adam and Eve sinned, they were banished from the Garden of Eden, where they had walked with God. We have been separated from God. But Jesus gives us a way to be reconciled with God. He gives us an opportunity to be born again, to be born into His family.