I’ve been fascinated recently by the flash mob phenomena. “What is a flash mob?” You may ask. Wikipedia defines it as a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse …
October 30, 2010, 650 singers assembled in Philadelphia inside Macy’s and sing the Hallelujah Chorus. 7 million hits on YouTube.
November 13, 2010 at a mall in Toronto, Canada, once again the Hallelujah Chorus is sung. 27 million hits on YouTube.
However, unusual as they may be, I am convinced they are far from being pointless. In fact I believe God chose the Christmas season to step into the reality of those people and say “Hey, it’s not about all that stuff, it’s all about Me!” It was an unexpected witness to those who might not otherwise have heard the gospel. You see, although traditionally associated with Christmas, the Hallelujah Chorus in Handel’s Messiah is actually written announcing the Resurrection of the Christ on Easter morning. It is an extraordinary narrative of God’s plan of salvation for mankind throughout the history of His creation.
One man commented on the story featured on Hear and Now, public radio’s daily news magazine:
Being an atheist I hate Christmas, but I like good music and this is one of the best ever written. I would have loved to have been there that day and heard this. Hmm, a self proclaimed atheist invaded by an unexpected witness!
So what does this have to do with an ear?, you ask. In John 18, a Roman cohort comes with lanterns and torches to arrest the light of the world. When asked, “Who do you seek?” They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I am.” They backed up and fell to the ground. When asked a second time He said “I told you I am He!” Peter draws his sword and cut off the right ear of the High Priest’s (Caiaphas) slave. His name was Malchus. Jesus then tells Peter to put his sword up and says “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Luke 22:49-51 tells us that Jesus put his ear back on.
You can imagine the conversation between Malchus and Caiaphas “Sir, he cut off my ear and Jesus healed it!” It was Caiaphas and Malchus’ unexpected witness. This was one more opportunity for Caiaphas the High Priest to know this was the Messiah. For years to come as Caiaphas looked at Malchus each day he would be remined of that witness.
The shepherds were watching over their flocks one night when the angel of the Lord stood in front of them and God’s glory shone around them scaring them to death. The angel told them “Today, in the city of David a baby was born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you, a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly host saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men whom He is well pleased.” It was an unexpected witness to an unexpected audience!
Christmas morning on Good Morning America Max Lucado and the Harlem Boys Choir were special guests. Those listening were exposed to an unexpected witness. God has not left Himself without a witness according to Romans 1:18-20, 21-23. All that heard the singing in Philly and Toronto as well as over 30 million YouTube hits, all that watched Good Morning America Christmas morning and the countless number who have listened to Christmas hymns will be held accountable before the Lord one day. You can almost hear the conversation now “But I never knew….” God’s response “What about the time that….”
So what do flash mobs, an ear and angels all have in common? They were all vehicles of God’s unexpected witness.
It is my prayer that you live with your eyes and ears wide open in order to see God’s hand at work in the world around you in 2011. Don’t miss His unexpected witness not only to the lost and dying, but to you as well.
