This morning, we’re once again going to go back to that day when Jesus was born.  I believe that this morning, God desires for us to better understand what makes this season “Merry & Bright.” 

When God became flesh and dwelt among us as a baby, it was certainly a time of great joy.  When Jesus was born, a great light entered the world that brought hope.

In today’s world, we need to keep in mind this same hope that is available to us; that same great light that shines brightly through the darkness.  It’s easy for us to see all that is happening in the world and the great darkness that it often brings. 

We see these things happening because of the poor choices of people.  We see wickedness and evil in the hearts of mankind and the pain and grief that it brings.  Whether it be at the hand of world leaders, unfaithful spouses, friends that betray us, or whatever the case may be and become frustrated by it.

It’s important for us in those times not to focus on the darkness around us and allow it to grow roots of bitterness and frustration in our hearts.  Instead, we can look beyond the circumstances and remember the hope and light within us that no darkness around us can ever snuff out! 

It’s important for us to lift our eyes up to God and see what He is doing through the darkness.  None of it is going to stop His plans and purposes for you!  None of it is greater than our all-powerful God!  What mankind intends for evil and to harm us, God works together for good!

We see this reality in movement with the birth of Jesus.  John described the birth of Jesus poetically in this way:

John 1:1-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

…

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

When God chose the timing to wrap Himself in flesh and to dwell among us, it wasn’t during the best time in our history.  It was a very dark time full of chaos and power struggles and frustration. 

He came at a time when His own people were crying out for the savior to come to their rescue and yet when He came, He wasn’t what they were expecting or seeking out.  They didn’t recognize nor receive Him as their savior and their God.

The circumstances in and through which Jesus was born weren’t all that merry and bright.  In fact, the great joy about the light of the world experienced on that day was in contrast to a very dark reality. 

The circumstances through which God chose to come into the world weren’t all that merry and bright.  He chose to come in complete humility living a complete life as you and I have with one difference; born of the Holy Spirit and not of a man so that He was not born into sin.

He came as a baby born to a young couple not yet married through a girl who was a virgin.

Matthew 1:18-25

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  (We find the interaction with the angel Gabriel and Mary when she learned that this was going to happen in Luke 1:26-38) 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorc