PUTTING THE “EXTRA” IN EXTRAORDINARY
LUKE 2:7-14 -- “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
ð Most of life is ordinary, mundane, and even boring. It was into this ordinariness of life that the risen Christ came, that it is in the midst of this ordinary life that we encounter him doing ordinary things. That’s what is extra-ordinary.
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ð This is where we make our home.
ð This is where we live our lives.
ð This is where we make love or struggle to find love.
ð This is where we share love and spend our lives with those we love.
ð I think that the gospel writers are going to some lengths to demonstrate that Jesus was born and entered those ordinary days of our lives.
ð They underscore the fact that Jesus was raised on the first day of the week when everything was getting back to normal.
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ð Just an ordinary night
ð Cool nights with stars like diamonds
ð Ordinary sky with ordinary clouds
ð Ordinary pasture
ð Ordinary sheep – some fat, some lean, some dirty, all smelly
ð Ordinary shepherds with ordinary clothes
Jesus' family is doing what is expected – what everyone else does. It's ordinary. They are an ordinary family according to the law. Jesus is ordinary child according to the law. "He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect," we are told in the Letter to the Hebrews. Like an ordinary Hebrew baby boy he was circumcised. Like an ordinary Hebrew first son, he was presented -- given to God. Like an ordinary child, Jesus grew and became strong.
ð He might have had a pimply face.
ð He might have had bony knees
ð He might have had a crush on the girl down the street or maybe she had one on Him.
ð Just an ordinary person.
Would not have been noticed or remembered if God didn’t hook an “extra” on the ordinary
ð David was ordinary
ð Ordinary sling with ordinary rocks
ð Anyone who doesn’t believe has rocks in their head
ð God made him extra-ordinary
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ð Blind man was ordinary
ð Ordinary mud
ð Ordinary day
ð Ordinary spit
ð God did an extra-ordinary miracle
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ð Mother Harris was an ordinary woman in an ordinary town But she encountered an extraordinary God
ð Gene Lindsay was an ordinary man until he encountered the extraordinary God
ð We are all ordinary, because God has chosen the simple things of the world to confound the wise
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Tto Simeon and Anna this ordinary baby is something Extra-ordinary - extraordinary. He is the Messiah - the savior for whom the Hebrew people wait. "A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Not only is this child the one to save the Hebrew people, but he is sent to the Gentiles - to the rest of the world - as well.
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