As we saw previously, when God comes near, insignificant places are given meaning. Also, when God comes near, insignificant people are used for His purposes. When it was time for Christ to be born, God didn't send Gabriel to Rome or Damascus. He didn't even send him to Jerusalem. No, it was little Nazareth and lowly Bethlehem. When it was time for Christ to be born, God didn't send Gabriel to visit kings or religious leaders. No, he went to visit a poor carpenter and a lowly peasant girl. And despised shepherds were given the "good news" to deliver to the people.
Likewise, when God comes near, insignificant events are filled with power. The big events of the day would be plastered all across the front page of the morning papers in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. You would read all about the census. It may even mention the enormous influx of people and catch everyone up on how the economy is fairing because of the people and all the money being spent in local businesses. But a baby born to a poor carpenter? At best you might find it in the “living section,” somewhere around page 5 in section D. Most people wouldn’t see it as important enough, even though it was unusual, having occurred in a stable.
But that one event, the birth of Christ, would ultimately overshadow everything else that went on there that day. The rest of the news that day is gone. The census that was taken is only known because of the role it played in bringing Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. It was just a minor detail in the great event. What everyone remembers is the birth of Jesus, the birth of our Lord and Savior. That is the most important event of the day! Why? Because God came near and a Savior was born.
An ordinary event. Yet to the believer, an event that is anything but ordinary. God came near and prophecy was fulfilled. God came near and a virgin was "overshadowed" by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), conceived, and gave birth to the Savior: "So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:6-7).
God came near and lowly shepherds were visited by angels, who commissioned them to bring the good news of the birth of the Savior to the people (Luke 2:17). God came near and wise men from the east saw a star that guided them to the Savior (Matt. 2:1-2, 9-10). God came near and Joseph was warned in a dream about King Herod and fled to Egypt with Mary and the baby Jesus to keep Him safe (Matt. 2:13-15).
Think about it. God started to save the world with the birth of a baby. Another event about thirty-three years later would finish what God started that first Christmas morning. That baby grew, and though Jesus "knew no sin," He became "sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). The birth led to the cross, providing forgiveness of sin and salvation for you and me.
A birth and a cross, filled with power! That is what happens when God comes near. He takes events that most people would ignore, and fills them with power; His power! He moves in places we would least expect. He uses people we would ignore. He brings events to pass in order to meet our needs. That is what happens when God comes near.
Charles Spurgeon, once while testing the acoustics in Agricultural Hall in London, rang out over the empty building, "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!" A workman up in the ceiling heard the message, was convicted, went home, knelt before the Lord and found salvation. God took an insignificant event, filled it with power, and brought salvation to this man. That is what happens when God comes near. (Paul Lee Tan, "Spurgeon Tests the Acoustics," Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Assurance Publishers, Rockville, Maryland, 1979, #5869, 1318-19)
Christmas is about God coming near to us. The message is that all places, all people, and all events matter to God. You matter to God! We tend to see ourselves as insignificant. In the greater scheme of things, in this world we think we are of little importance. But you are just the person God most wants to use to accomplish His purposes.
Have a little faith. Let Jesus have all of you. And let the Lord God use you to His glory. Amen.
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