April 16, 2023 Sunday Worship Service

Call to Worship Psalm 91:4
Hymn JBC # 363 Lord of the Church, we pray for our renewing
The Lord’s Prayer
Offering
Scripture Luke 2:1~7
Prayer
Sermon “Room for them”
https://youtu.be/xDpy_zkQp4M
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 554 All the way my Saviour leads me
Doxology JBC # 674
Benediction


Last Sunday (April 9th) we had an Easter service (Resurrection Sunday) to commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus died on the cross as atonement (redemption) for our sins. On the cross, our sins were forgiven in exchange for Jesus' life.
And the Lord was resurrected and overcame death. The resurrected Jesus clearly shows us that fear and power of death have no power at all before God.
Therefore, by believing in Christ and living with the risen Lord Christ, we are freed from the fear of death and the bonds of sin, and are able to live each day with a sure hope. For this, let’s give thanks to God from the bottom of our hearts.

Today's Bible passage is from Luke 2:1-7, going back to the schedule where we read the Gospel of Luke continuously in our worship service. Today’s passage describes the scene where Jesus was born, and it is one of the passages that is often read during Christmas services.
Today's passage begins with the description that "In those days Caesar Augustus (Roman emperor) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world." (verse 1). At that time, the Caesar's decrees must be obeyed by all people under his rule.
It is said that the reason why the Caesar ordered the census at that time was to impose tax on people. In order to impose taxes, it was necessary to accurately record and keep track of the number and assets of the people (each family).
Joseph and Mary (they were not officially husband and wife yet, since Mary is described as “Mary, who was pledged to be married to him” in verse 5) had to travel from the city of Galilee, where they lived, to Bethlehem in Judea for the census.

　The distance (from Galilee to Bethlehem) is said to be about 150 km. Joseph had to travel that long distance with Mary who was pregnant.
This census also shows the extent of Caesar Augustus’ power. The purpose of this census may have been practical, which is to impose taxes, but at the same time it may also have another purpose which is to “show off the power of the Caesar''.
A single word from the Caesar caused the entire population to move on a large scale - this shows the magnitude of the Caesar’s power.
On the other hand, however, this census also shows the weaknesses of human beings and the limits of human capabilities.

That is, even a Caesar cannot grasp the people he rules unless he forces them to register in the form of census.
God, on the other hand, is not like that. God does not need to tell us to "register" in order to know us. God knows all of us.
This is because the God of the Bible is the Creator who made all of us and all things in this world. And God is the One who really cares about each and every one of us and watches over us.
Jesus said, "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:30). It means "numbered by God".

It means, "God knows literally everything about each one of us." So, God doesn't have to do things like census registration to keep track of the number and assets of His people.
Also, God is not Someone who collects taxes from us. God does not need to take taxes from us at all.
It is true that we believers make offerings in gratitude for the blessings that God has given us. However, it is completely different from taxes imposed on us (obligatory to pay).
We offer (or give back) with thanksgiving of faith to God, who knows all about us and who gives us everything – this is our offering. (Concretely, our financial offering)

Human authorities may impose excessive burdens and demands on other people who are under their authority, even when it’s not necessarily with malicious intent.
We pray that those in power (which include pastors in churches) will perform their duty rightly and fairly, and that they will never abuse their power.

With the Caesar’s decree, it is written in verse 3 that "everyone went to their own town to register." Because Joseph belongs to the House and line of David, he had to go from Galilee to Bethlehem.
He belongs to the line of the great King David, and David's city of Bethlehem is his "own city" (original hometown). Originally from Bethlehem, Joseph probably had moved to Galilee.
For those who live far away from their home town (place of birth), going back to one’s hometown at the time of this census may have been an opportunity to return home after a while or to trace back their roots.

For some people, going back to their hometown after a long time may have been a deeply emotional time as they feel the happiness of being back home and the feeling of returning to their roots.
Our hometown or birthplace gives us a special feeling. Sometimes we feel happy when we meet people from the same hometown when living in a faraway place.
Our church has local people, people from all over Japan, and people from overseas regions and countries. I imagine that each of you has an attachment to your hometown and country of origin.
It is a very special thing for us to gather together in a church like this – it’s a joyful and graceful event. Because it shows that the church is the house of God and also a special place that is the body of Christ.

By gathering at church and staying connected to it, we are made aware of what we really belong to and empowered to believe.
The Bible says this about our "homeland". Philippians Ch.3 verse 20 says:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”

The Bible tells us that those who believe in salvation through Christ have their homeland (citizenship) in heaven (= the kingdom of God).
We are born in different regions and countries on this earth. But through faith in Jesus Christ, we are made aware that the real homeland for all of us is in heaven.
Differences between countries and regions, cultures and languages represent the diversity (richness) of our human world. At the same time, they may hinder our understanding of each other and cause discrimination and misunderstanding.
Our differences can unfortunately lead to hostility and even conflict. At such times we need to look up to the cross of Jesus Christ.

In another passage of the Bible, Ephesians 2:14 says:
“For he (Christ) himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,”
Christ is our peace, and through him we can be united as one despite our different backgrounds and various differences.
Furthermore, Ephesians 2:19 says, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigner but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household."

We have peace and are made one in Christ. We come together in worship to confirm and rejoice that we belong to our homeland, the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let us rejoice that we, who come from various backgrounds, are being united by Christ and become God’s family.
And since our homeland is in heaven, let’ rejoice together by faith knowing that regardless of where we come from or where we live on earth, we all have the same heavenly home in Christ.

Mary gave birth to a child while Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem. It is the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Luke 2 Verse 7 says “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them (Mary & Joseph).”
In contrast to the figure of Caesar Augustus who wielded great power and ordered the residents of all his territories to register in the census, Jesus, the Son of God, was laid in a manger, far from the “best place” that he should have been given.
"There was no place for them to stay at the inn." This represents the reality of this world and of us humans. It means that the world was not ready or willing to welcome the Son of God to its best place (guest room).

Jesus Christ was crucified by people. Jesus was betrayed by his closest disciples.
　But the human world, in a sense, from the beginning rejected the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. Baby Jesus being laid in a manger also shows the reality of our sin.
Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ was born into this world according to God's plan. Jesus was born as the son of Joseph and Mary, who was exhausted after traveling a long distance in accordance with the decree of the Caesar.
The child who was not even given a place suitable for the child of God and was laid in a manger is the Savior who saves the world.
In this way, God personally descended to the lowest place in the world. From the time Jesus was born, he was in the lowest part of the world, together with people who are made weak and small/unworthy.
Therefore, Jesus is able to fully understand the thoughts and feelings of people who are most suffering, underestimated and deemed low or weak.

Jesus fully understands the suffering of those who are underestimated and looked down as weak and unworthy, just as his own.
Like that, Jesus came to this world for us. Let us once again ponder on the grace of Jesus Christ, who was born into this world for our salvation, and let us live our days in gratitude to Him.