God's Christmas Message: This Gift is For You! - Luke 2: 10-12

And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger – Luke 2:10-12.

They expected it to be a night like most others. The shepherds had gathered the sheep into their enclosures and prepared for a long, boring night. Boring was good – no excitement like thieves or wolves that might break into the sheep pen and cause a panic. That would not be good.

But it would not be a night like most others, nor would it be boring. God had a little surprise in store. Its rather interesting, I think, that God’s surprises like to come in the night, in the midst of darkness. The creation was in darkness when God spoke light into existence. The children of Israel were locked into their homes when the angel of death passed over their Egyptian homes marked with the Passover lamb’s blood. And before it was sunrise, while it was still dark, our Lord rose from the dead on the first Easter morning, ready to show Himself to the faithful.

Now, on this night, when most of Bethlehem was sleeping, a single angel appears to those shepherds with the announcement: And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. That announcement, and everything that followed, is what we and Christians the world over celebrate tonight. We celebrate because Jesus is the gift from God who comes for you.

Christmas celebrations have varied a great deal from time to time and place to place. Just consider the music, hymns and carols that are sung around the world. Or, in our Western culture, Christmas celebrations include elements like parties and plays, church and school celebrations, caroling and cards, lights and trees, candles and dinners – just to name a few. It would be hard for us to imagine our Christmases without some of these things.

It might be hardest of all to imagine Christmas without any of the gifts that will be given and received in the days ahead. Ever since the real story of St. Nicholas – the real pastor of the Church in the 4^th century who is said to have given gold coins anonymously so that poor, young maidens could marry, Christians have followed in his footsteps by giving gifts. Even where and where there is extreme poverty, parents try to find some way to give a little something to their children. It may be the simplest toys or hand-made clothes. My dad remembered getting an orange, and being excited because it was such a rare luxury.

But, gifts don’t make Christmas, any more than candles make it a birthday. Christmas is about Jesus. He is the one gift that truly matters. Without Jesus, we can have a holiday but we cannot have a HOLY day. We can receive good gifts without acknowledging that they came from God, but we cannot receive the perfect gift because He is the perfect gift.

So, who was this Jesus? You heard of him tonight. What makes him such a great and perfect gift? You heard that, too. This baby is the Savior, who is Christ the Lord. What God had promised to Adam and Eve, way back in the Garden of Eden, then repeated to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and again through all of the prophets, had finally come to pass. Jesus is born.

Stop and think about that one word: born. The eternal God is born. The Creator becomes creature. He enters a womb to grow and develop, to experience birth in the crying form of a baby. All the mess and pain that mothers and newborns know today, Mary and Jesus experienced 2000 years ago. But, God arrived in such a simple way the angel wanted to make sure the shepherds didn’t miss it. This Baby wouldn’t be born in a palace or surrounded by political and religious leaders. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.  

Jesus is a gift. We did not create Him, or invent Him. We did not even deserve Him. His very name, Jesus, tells us what He will be. Jesus means “savior.” Jesus came to earth to be our Savior – to rescue us from our sinful condition that deserved condemnation.

Although the birth was in keeping with the promises, the promises were not yet fulfilled. There was more to come. Jesus would grow as a child into manhood. He would conduct His earthly ministry for about three years, finally culminating at the cross where He offers Himself as payment for the sins of the world. The old Christmas carol asks and answers the question that is most important: “What child is this who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?... This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing.” The song continues, “Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you.” This carol reminds us of the reality of what Jesus is, and what He has come to do to save. He would again be wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid, not in a borrowed manger among the animals, but a borrowed tomb among the dead.

But, that would not be the end. As Christmas was the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Easter will be the celebration of new birth of resurrection. The death-payment, the debt-payment of sin would be paid in full by Him, God’s Son, Mary’s Son, born to be Savior, born to die, born so that we might live.

Forgiveness and life… purchased and won… so they can be given… as a gift… when God gives the gift of Jesus.

Of everything that the angels said to the shepherds, there is nothing more important than two little words: for you. If a gift isn’t directed to someone, it has no value, it has no worth. Everything Jesus did – everything from womb to tomb – was done for you: singular, individual, one person.

The gift of Jesus was for the shepherds – who resided near the bottom of the social ladder of the time. The same gift, the same Jesus, was there for the Wise Men who arrived to see the toddler Jesus some time later. The Wise Men were at the top of the social ladder, but they were from a foreign country – not even Jews! Today, the Lord assures us that the gift is FOR YOU – wherever you may be, whatever your situation might be. Whether you are home-bound or homeless, whether on welfare or well-funded, Jesus is for you. Jesus is there for the single mom who holds down two part-time jobs, just to almost make it through. He is there for the children who wear clothes that were hand-me downs from last year’s fashions. He is there for the man whose “grocery shopping trip” is done at the local food pantry. Jesus didn’t come to fill the closet or pantry. He came to fill you with peace and contentment because He is for you.

The gift is for you – whose heart is sad this Christmastime, surrounded by so much merriment, wondering why no one understands your pain. The gift is for you – who is chronically ill, tired of doctors tests and appointments. The gift is for you – who has only questions about “what next?” but never seem to find an answer. The gift is for you – who believes that Jesus is Savior, but struggles with what that means day in and day out when life is so hard. Unto you is born a Savior is Christ the Lord. He doesn’t necessarily take away your illness, but he gives you the strength to bear it, in faith. And, when you can’t bear it any more, He holds you in His arms so that you know nothing will separate you from His love. His power is perfect in your weakness.

This gift is for you – who celebrates tonight and tomorrow with an empty spot at the table because a loved one isn’t there any longer. Nothing will replace the loss of a wife or husband, mother or father, brother or sister, son or daughter. Jesus doesn’t suddenly raise the one who has died, but He does comfort you with the assurance that those who die in the Lord continue to live in the Lord. For that reason, you will see your loved one again, and you will also live forever with your loved one in the presence of Christ and all others who are His. You can trust that to be true because of the angel’s message: unto you is born a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

The gift is also for you – who have everything your heart could desire: health, family, home, food, employment, and joy-filled peace. Thanks be to God for these gifts. These are symbols that point to the greatest gift of all, Jesus, who is yours forever.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever your circumstance: the gift of Jesus is for you. Say this with me: Jesus is for me. Jesus is my gift. Jesus has your name on Himself. Whether you are rich or poor or somewhere in between, He is your true treasure. Whether you are young or old, He is the one whose days are without number. Whether you are overwhelmed by loneliness or caught up with the crowd, He is the one who is your true friend and companion.

Wherever you are tonight or tomorrow – at home, at a hospital, at a nursing home, or somewhere between; whether you have gifts under the tree, or even if there is no tree in sight let alone a present; whether you are alone or surrounded by loved ones – here is one gift that does not fail, one gift that does not disappoint. Tonight, receive the greatest gift in the world. Truly, this gift is heavenly, divine, perfect, and just the right size. This gift is the precious, life-giving gift that God has given you. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

This is God’s gift. Unwrap it. Embrace it. Love it. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. He your greatest gift – for you. Amen.