After
months of building anticipation and growing excitement, it is finally here: Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day. We have looked forward to this joyous night of
celebration when we join hearing the narrative of Luke 2. Through hymns and
readings, in our minds we have traveled back to O Little Town of Bethlehem
where Gentle Mary Laid Her Child, tucked Away in a Manger, truly A
Great and Mighty Wonder to behold. Once, in Royal David’s City, Of the
Father’s Love Begotten, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear as Hark,
the Herald Angels Sing. In just a few moments, candles will burn, and the
lights will be bumped down and, soto
voce, we remember the Silent Night when alles schleft, einsem vacht. As the final “Amen” echoes through the
church, there is a sense that – if only for a moment – there truly is peace on
earth and goodwill toward men.
Naturally,
our attention is drawn to Mary and Joseph – after all, they are the newly
minted parents. Mary as mother of man mother of God will always inspire both
majesty and awe – even Mary herself wondered how this could be, that God would
chose her from among the least of the women of Israel. Mary delivered the Bread
of Life in the House of Bread. Joseph as step-father to God’s own Son, possibly
burdened with the shame he might have felt as people whispered about his wife’s
pregnancy. A cursory glance is tossed at Herod the Great – both because it was
his decree that God used to have Jesus delivered in Bethlehem, and because he
was the monster who had a unknown number of babies and toddlers murdered trying
to hunt down Jesus. Again, because of the romantic mis-notion, folks will also
include the wise men, the magi, but they probably didn’t arrive for quite some
time yet. We certainly can’t forget the angels – both the lead spokesperson and
the whole, heavenly hosts who follow Gabriel’s lead in disturbing the peace
with the message of peace.
So
let’s see…Mary – check; Joseph – check; Herod – check; wise men – in waiting,
but check; the angels – check; and we might as well toss the hotel manager in
the mix, too. Who’s missing?
Ah,
yes - the baby. Not just any baby, though. This is God’s entering into time,
through the Virgin Mary, in the person of the God-child Jesus.
Every
other religion in the world demands that man somehow approach their diety,
whether it’s with bribery, chicanery, trickery; accomplished with acts of
strength, wisdom, or foolish bravado. Not only does the Triune God NOT demand
we come to Him – we cannot by our own reason or strength do this, remember? –
He comes to us. God descends from the highest of heavens, takes on human flesh
and weakness, and comes to us.
He
comes as a baby born, conceived in an extra-ordinary way, to be sure, but born
in an ordinary way, like any of us. Although a descendant of King David, and
Himself King of Kings and Lord of Lords, His bassinette was a manger. Although
His Father is Divine and Eternal, His earthly mother was a simple Jewish woman
from Nazareth – Nazareth…can anything good come from Nazareth? We shall see.
His step-father a craftsman – about as nondescript and average as you could
find. And, Bethlehem? Other than having a historical significance as David’s
birthplace, it was such an insignificant little berg that already 600 years
earlier Micah had declared it “least among the clans of Judah.”
But
it is from this humble and unexceptional setting that the most remarkable event
happens. Although the birth was ordinary, from human terms, it was and always
will be extraordinary. Remember: God comes to us. This boy-child, son of Mary,
is also the God-child, Son of God. His name is Jesus, which means Savior,
because He has come to save us from our sins.
Never forget that the reason for tonight’s
celebration has its roots at a tree in the Garden, a tree filled with tempting
but forbidden fruit, and a man and a woman’s inability to resist temptation.
Their surrender to the devil’s lies that day trapped mankind in a world of dark
despair. Out of a Father’s love for His beloved, but fallen, creation, God
pledged to send His Son to rescue, redeem and save that which otherwise would
be lost. Jesus’ death at the cross would be the ultimate gift of love: His
only-begotten Son would be sacrificed; a perfect gift for imperfect people.
While that lies ahead, Jesus’ death is
always on the horizon. The cross always stands ahead. The cross, not the
manger, is Jesus’ throne. The cross, not the manger, is where God’s glory is
fully shown. The cross, not the manger, is where Jesus saves. The cross, where
Mary would watch her son – and God’s Son – die. And then, three days later, He
would be birthed again – not from womb, but from the tomb – risen, resurrected,
whole and alive.
That
is down the road.
Tonight,
we celebrate that Christ is born.
A gift for you.
A Savior.
A gift for you.
A Savior.
Last
year, after Christmas Eve service, someone gave me a handshake and said, “Christmas
gift!” I had never heard that before, but I have read about it. Author Ferrol
Sams describes how his family used it when he was a child growing up in the depression[1]:
“Christmas gift!,” we would shout! Then it rang all
over the house, “Christmas gift!” You said it first and you said it fast. You
said it to anyone and everyone upon first sight that day. It was the salutation
of the season, used only on that day. It was an accomplishment to catch a
sister, a cousin, and aunt or uncle unaware with this cry. Christmas gift!
They say we picked it up generations before. Maybe so.
It was said that whoever beat another person to saying it was supposed to
receive a present from that individual… But it was impossible to get daddy. He
beat everybody to it, his parents, his siblings, and certainly his children. He
surprised, he startled, he anticipated everyone. It was a point of honor with him.
He carried the custom into his 80s. He was even known to hide behind the smoke
house and leave out at arriving grandchildren. “Christmas gift!”
But what it really means is I love you and on that one
day of the year they can be shouted exultantly to the heavens. “Christmas gift!
Christmas gift! Everybody - Christmas gift!”
On
that night of old, the Bethlehem hillside rang with God’s declaration of
Christmas gift! The angel said, “Fear not, for behold I bring you good news
that will be fore all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David,
a Savior which is Christ the Lord!”
(Luke 2:10-11) So there was no doubt that this message of Christmas gift
love, an entire chorus of angels joined in: Glory to God in the highest and on
earth, peace, among those whom He is pleased.” (v. 11-12).
For
most of us, Christmas involves gifts under the tree and exchanging those with
family and friends. Whether you are celebrating tonight or tomorrow; whether you
stay up late or get up early – or both – don’t forget the reasons for these gifts
we give. It’s because of the Christmas gift of Jesus.
To
the shepherds, to Mary and Joseph, to the town of Bethlehem, to all of Israel,
to all of the world, to Mission Valley, to you, people of Zion: Christmas gift!
Christmas gift! Everybody – Christmas gift!
This
gift is Jesus.
In
His name. Amen.
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