A Touch of The Masters Hand

There is a Christmas song that tells us that this is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” I agree, Christmas is a great time of the year. It is a time to gather together with family and celebrate the birth of the single most important person who has ever walked the face of the earth.

I want to take us through a few passages that to me give us the true meaning of Christmas and at the same time share some memories and passages that have meant a great amount to me over the years.

I heard this first piece when I was much younger. To me this speaks to those who need to know that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done. 

It speaks to those who are forgotten about and feeling uncared for. In Jesus we have all we need and at a touch of the Masters’ hand our lives take on a whole new look.

This piece was written by Myra Brooks Welch

The Touch of the Masters Hand

'Twas battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No, From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow, Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low, Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered, But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand." "What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

"And many a man with life out of tune All battered and bruised with hardship Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice, He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

It was at the touch of the Master’s Hand that I was saved. It was a touch of the Master’s hand that changed my life and has guided me through life.

How many old violins are there here that have felt that touch, seen their lives change? How many of us here need a touch from the Master’s hand?

This next piece I first heard read on a Christmas Eve radio a number of years ago. I saw also it printed in the newspaper a few years later. 

Typically attributed to an unknown author it was written by James Allen Francis.

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned--put together--have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.

Think about this for a moment, Jesus never travelled more than 200 miles from his place of birth. Yet His ministry touched not just that small area but a world. He walked, or sailed to places He ministered, 200 miles.

Prince Edward Island is the smallest province in Canada and is 224 Km long or 139.19 Miles long. How many of us would be willing to walk the Island to share the Gospel? Don’t forget many of the people he spoke with were farmers and fishermen.

All the armies that have ever marched, all the kings and queens who have ever reigned and all the parliaments that ever existed will not outshine or effect the life of each of us here on the earth as much as that One Man.

That one man is Jesus of Nazareth, our Lord and Saviour.

How many of you remember all the Christmas specials on TV? Frosty The Snow Man, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, and many others. Times when it was acceptable to sing such tunes as Walking In A Winter Wonderland, Baby It’s Cold Out Side, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.

I can remember watching “Charlie Browns Christmas” every year. I remember one year, It was Christmas Eve; all the Kids Specials were over for the night.

I don’t know if they still do it, or if they did it here, but they used to broadcast where Santa was and tell you that he was being tracked by Norad. This time they also said Santa was being escorted across Canada by the air force due to the weather conditions.

My parents sent us off to bed. My sister was in the bathroom when a low flying jet flew over our house, we were on the flight path of the Hamilton Airport for any planes that were told to circle and make another approach.

Mary Ann was too young to know that, she only knew one thing, Santa must be about to arrive. I can still vividly remember her throwing open the bathroom door and making a made dash for her bed.

One thing from “Charlie Browns Christmas”  has always stuck with me is when Charlie Brown cries out “Isn’t there some one who can tell me what Christmas is all about?”

Linus walks out on stage and recites a portion of Luke 2:1-21.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is  Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
   “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men  with whom He is pleased.”.  

As Linus stopped speaking, he walked over to Charlie Brown and “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”

You and I are among those people. The Lord thought of you long before your parents knew you. I invite all of you to read Luke 2: 1-21 to get an even better image of that night.

We love our Christmas Hymns and songs. A couple of mine are Away in The Manger and Silent Night.

Twenty plus centuries have come and gone since Jesus was born and laid in that manger. He has many Names that have been attributed to Him, His disciples often called Him Master. That Master Who comes into your life, picks you up, fine tunes the strings, then plays a beautiful tune.

Friends tonight I want you to think about the real meaning of Christmas, The Birth of Jesus Christ and why He came and lowered himself to be a lowly human. Why the Master would pick each of us up, care for everyone of us.

The world may not understand Him, Christmas to many is Santa Claus and gifts. In that manger laid the greatest gift that was ever given to you and I and every person who has ever lived.

But when the Master comes, the worth of a soul and changes are brought by the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

For those of us who Know the Master, remember why we celebrate Christmas, and share the gift that was so freely given to you and me.

If you don’t know Him it is my prayer that you will open your heart, receive the gift and allow your life to be changed by the touch of the Masters hand.

Merry Christmas and may the love of our Lord Jesus be real in your life not just today, but everyday of your lives.