Advent Week 2: God Honors Those Who Are Despised of Men
This blog is part two of a four-part Advent series.
As noted last week, Martin Luther wrote this Christmas message from Wartburg, where he lived in exile after the edict of the Diet of Worms in 1521 that excommunicated him.[1] Luther’s refusal to recant his criticisms of the practice of indulgences (among other points), led to a split in Western Christianity that resulted in the formation of “protest” factions, or “Protestants.” This, in turn, set the stage for religious and political conflicts throughout Europe in the following centuries.
In addition to writing and preaching, during his exile at Wartburg, Luther also translated the New Testament into German. This further advanced the dissemination among the common people of the principles he espoused (aided by the printing press), creating a movement that proved impossible to suppress. The concepts of “faith alone” (sola fide), and scripture as the sole source of religious authority (sola scriptura) aimed at simplifying and purifying Christian doctrine and practice that stood in stark contrast to what he saw as the corruptions of the Roman Church.
In the portion of his sermon included below, Luther emphasized the humility and humanity of Christ, highlighting intimate and earthy elements that attended his unceremonious birth, even as the glorious citizens of heaven watched and rejoiced.
A Sermon by Martin Luther, from his Wartburg Church Postil, 1521–1522
Grace does not interfere with nature and her work, but rather improves and promotes it. Likewise Mary, without doubt, also nourished the child with milk from her breast and not with strange milk, or in a manner different from that which nature provided, as we sing: ubere de coelo pleno, from her breast being filled by heaven, without injury or impurity. . . .
How could God have shown his goodness in a more sublime manner than by humbling himself to partake of flesh and blood? He did not even disdain the natural privacy but honors nature most highly in that part where Adam and Eve most miserably brought to shame. So that henceforth that can be regarded godly, honest, and pure, which in all men is the most ungodly, shameful and impure. These are real miracles of God, for in no way could he have given us stronger, more forcible and purer pictures of chastity than in this birth. When we look at this birth, and reflect upon how the sublime Majesty moves with great earnestness and inexpressible love and goodness upon the flesh and blood of this virgin, we see how here all evil lust and every evil thought is banished. . . .
But what happens in heaven concerning this birth? As much as it is despised on earth, so much and a thousand times more is it honored in heaven. If an angel from heaven came and praised you and your work, would you not regard it of greater value than all the praise and honor the world could give you, and for which you would be willing to bear the greatest humility and reproach? What exalted honor is that when all the angels in heaven cannot restrain themselves from breaking out in rejoicing, so that even poor shepherds in the fields hear them preach, praise God, sing and pour out their joy without measure! Were not all joy and honor realized at Bethlehem, yes, all joy and honor experienced by all the kings and nobles on earth to be regarded as only dross and abomination, of which no one likes to think, when compared with the joy and glory here displayed?
Behold how very richly God honors those who are despised of men, and that very gladly. Here you see that his eyes look into the depths of humility, as is written, “He sitteth above the cherubim” and looketh into the depths. Nor could the angels find princes or valiant men to whom to communicate the good news; but only unlearned laymen, the most humble people upon earth. Could they not have addressed the high priests, who it was supposed knew so much concerning God and the angels? No, God chose poor shepherds, who, though they were of low esteem in the sight of men, were in heaven regarded as worthy of such great grace and honor. . . .
And although we . . . wish not to receive blessing, honor, and life in this [humble] way, yet it must remain so. God does not change his purpose, nor does he teach or act differently than he purposed. We must adapt ourselves to him, he will not adapt himself to us. In what more lovely manner could he have shown his grace to the humble and despised of earth than through this birth in poverty, over which the angels rejoice, and make it known to no one but to the poor shepherds?