Opening

• Charles Dickens said it was “The Best of times and the Worst of times” in a Tale of Two Cities. The author is trying to get us to understand the contrast and contradiction of life

• Black Americans understand this because black Americans were liberated from slavery and set free to figure out life without economic means

• In Matthew 2, it was a holy and silent night (Jesus’s birth) but it was also chaos in the world at the same time. There was a ruler who was killing Jewish boys 2 years and under

• The gospel causes us to stand in the center of the darkness of our world

Sermon Key Points

• Herod is the ruling king and heard it was a star pointing to a King/Lordship of Jesus Christ

• Herod was not impressed and wanted to kill all the Jewish boys

• Herod was a man of ruthless cruelty. His validation and identity comes from the power that was assigned to him. He was hell bent on maintaining his power

• Signs in the scripture where God has overcome their lawlessness

• Jesus is born into a world filled with crisis and Jesus is a migrant in crisis.  Jesus is born into a world where children are killed and tyrants are protected

• The gospel does not call us to ignore reality but prompts us to fight for the innocent. To stand with those made in the likeness and image of God. 

•  Sometimes God displays his sovereignty in the chaos of our society. Sometimes God raises up redeemers and leaders among the least likely among us. Sometimes God uses the non-marquee players of scripture to do it.

• The role of Joseph in scripture- He is the  silent superstar of Christmas. He finds his “fiance" to be pregnant and he knows he is not the father. He was doubtful until an angel appears to him and tells him about Mary’s conception 

• Joseph obeys God without any complaints 

• Those that have lived on the margins can share with others that there is a God in heaven. We can share our experience as slaves and built a nation without recognition

• God comes to us in weakness. God came to us as a child. As a baby, Jesus frightened a King. 

• When he was born the stars stood center over his crib in Bethlehem, the nations went on alert, the big king was afraid of the little King 

• God like to use the weakness of man to display his mighty Power 

• God in weakness is stronger than man in strength. Jesus was crucified for us but got up with all power in his hands on the 3rd day.