A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Born Unto You

This is a partially edited transcript of a message presented by Michael Burdick at Awaken Church December 17, 2023.

In the final month of our calendar year, we set aside one day to celebrate a beginning, to remember the start of what the church body refers to as the new covenant, new promise, a new chapter—a new life awaiting the acceptance of a lost world desperately waiting to be found.

Christmas is a busy season by the world’s standards. It is a tradition of chaos on a treadmill sped up, which includes shopping for presents; the parties with friends and coworkers; radio stations forgetting that there are more than Christmas carols that could be played; the children’s performances at school and church; and all happening in a compressed amount of time while the regular demands of life refuse to take the holiday off. 

As believers, It’s important to take time to reflect not on a gift that is to come, but the true Gift who has already come.

Let me assure you, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the traditions of Christmas. There is no shame in buying your loved ones a special gift or seeing who can wear the ugliest sweater, no harm in singing Jingle Bells, or even allowing children to dream of a present left for them by a calorically challenged man in a red suit.

Traditions of this world are just that. Traditions. A systematic means of taking time to celebrate. A time to think positively and hope for a brighter future.

 As believers, we must take time out of the Christmas chaos to reflect on the one gift that is not to come, but the one true gift that has already come. We all know this is the time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

From the 30,000-foot level, it is the miraculous birth of a baby that would change the course of human history, the birth of a baby that would walk among men with the purpose of displaying their Heavenly Father, a birth that would usher in the one true path to eternal salvation.

Let’s reflect on that moment in history. We all know the “who” was born, His name is Jesus. We all know the “why” He was born, to save the world, right? But let’s revisit this birth from a slightly different vantage point to appreciate the individual application of this miraculous birth. Let’s  look at the “what” is being born and sit in the blessing of knowing that Jesus was "born unto you.

Jesus’ birth had universal implications and a global effect, but also was designed to be a birth with individual advantage.

We will begin by looking at the following verses in Luke 2:8-14.

”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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye 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.“

Let’s look more closely at verse 11, ”For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.“  The words unto you are very telling. Those two words are one word in Greek, “hummin.” Strong’s states this word is categorized as being in the dative case.

Ohio State University Department of Classics explains “the dative case is chiefly used to indicate the person for whom (that is, for whose advantage or disadvantage) an action happens or a quality exists. In a sense, all datives are Datives of Reference or Datives of Advantage and Disadvantage. As a result that category is not particularly useful though it does remind that the dative case refers to a personal or affective interest in the action.” 

The point is, that though Jesus was born to save the people of this world, globally speaking; He was also born unto you. He was born for your advantage; He was born for my advantage. His birth had universal implications and a global effect, but it also was designed to be a birth with individual advantage. His birth was unto you.

Mary got this. Somehow, someway in her young teenage years, she understood this from the very beginning. Let’s look at her reaction to the angel’s declaration of the miraculous virgin birth of the savior to the world. At some point after being told what is to come, Mary goes to visit Elizabeth, the future mother of John the Baptist. And during that visit, she sings the most beautiful song of praise and appreciation for what is about to happen.

We see it in Luke 1:46-55:

”And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him

From generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.” 

Mary got it.

She understood both the global and the individual aspects of giving birth to Jesus. She did not praise herself, nor did she seek recognition for her efforts. She praised God. She was overwhelmed with gratitude that He chose her to be amongst the exalted lowly. Somehow, she understood the impact this birth would have on the individual. She clearly knew this would be a birth unto you.

To better appreciate this emphasis on the individual advantage declared in “unto you,” one must journey back hundreds of years earlier to the Old Testament and the prophecies of Isaiah.

In the book of Isaiah, there are several distinct passages that talk of what some call the suffering servant.

Over a hundred years ago, looking at the song-like style of these writings, the passages were dubbed the servant songs. Four songs were originally so named, but later, a fifth passage was included by some.

Let’s look at selected verses from these passage, starting and ending with Luke 2:11. As we make these scriptural connections, I hope to further shine a light on the profound nature of the words “unto you,” to draw out the individual advantage of the birth of Jesus. And in doing so, speak to you the true meaning of this Christmas season. Meditate on each as you read them.

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.”

“Listen, O coastlands, to Me, and take heed, you people from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother, He has made mention of My name. And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand, He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me. And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

“Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

“The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore, I will not be disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.”

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

As stated earlier, Christmas is a fun and exciting season and one of the most chaotic times of the year. We hustle and bustle through the shopping, parties, family get togethers, etc. Now again, none of this is bad and traditional activities within the Christmas season are not, in and of themselves, a sacrifice of your faith.

Singing Christmas carols about a frosty snowman does not mean you are or are not a believer. Indulging in cookies and fudge does not mean you lose your salvation. Though I would recommend moderation with eggnog, attending a Christmas party does not make one a heretic.

The only downside to the hectic pace is when it shifts our heart’s focus.

The only downside to the hectic pace is when it shifts our heart’s focus. I know there were times in my life where the most joyous day of the season was December 26th because that was the day, I would quietly say, “Thank God it’s over. I failed to maintain the proper focus. But when you maintain proper focus, born unto you stops being seasonal and evolves into  a year-round expression of peace.

Born unto you is a heart focus that can promote your identity in Christ and motivate you into a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Born unto you helps each believer see how precious you are in God’s eyes and how he wholly desires to use you everyday to reach those in need as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Born unto you is the reason why the angels brought forth never ending good tidings of great joy.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Celebrating the birth of Jesus should be and needs to be our main priority not just in season, but off season as well.

His birth was a monumental day in the history of mankind. His birth advanced God’s plan from creation and started in motion the fulfillment of prophecies declared centuries prior.

His birth was, and is, impactful to the entire world. The effects of His birth, life, death, and resurrection have a tremendous global effect to this day.

Jesus’ birth was a monumental day in the history of mankind.

But even though these global and far reaching effects are known, understood, and absolutely true; never, never, never forget, Jesus was also born unto you.

Merry Christmas.