The Coffin and the Christmas Tree
Four years ago my Father-in-Law, Dr. W. C. Dobbs, pastor and professor, passed away. Because his death happened right before Christmas it was the first time that I had ever missed any events of my church’s Christmas season. I missed the Children’s Musical and the Keenager Sunday lunch at our home. Although I did sing in the Christmas choir musical, it was readily apparent that I had missed numerous rehearsals.
At the funeral home, like every other business, there were discreet Christmas trees decorated and placed in appropriate places. None were placed beside the coffin, but one was placed in the same room. I thought, “What an interesting combination…the coffin and the Christmas Tree.
I had the opportunity to do both the Funeral Sermon and the Graveside sermon. Like they say down south, “I really shucked the corn.”
On a number of occasions while we were gone, while we were with family, while we were at the bedside, while we were at the funeral, while we were at the graveside, someone would say, “thank you for being here,” “your presence was much needed here today,” or “your words were a comfort and your message was inspiring.”
In light of missing so much of the church’s Christmas events, I especially appreciated hearing those affirming words.
Of course, in LeAnne’s family the entire group brings Jesus into every good situation or every bad situation; easy or difficult, we bring Jesus. Christ is so evident in LeAnne’s life, in LeAnne’s mother’s life, sister’s life, and brother’s life. Christ is evident in the entire family.
Because Christ was so evident in this situation, I had the thought that even in missing out on some of the Christmas festivities, Christmas occurred with us because Christ was present in LeAnne, in Susie, in Bill, in Mom and, I hoped, in me.
Christ was present to each person in the hospital room. Christ was present to each person at the funeral service. Christ was present to each person at the graveside.
The reason Christ was present is because of the great promise found in Acts 2:17-18.
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”
Luke was quoting Joel who prophesied a new dispensation.
Jesus said in John 7:38, 39, “Whoever believes in me , and Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
Just as the Prophets foretold the birth of Jesus and the life of Jesus, the prophets also foretold the birth and the life of the Spirit of Jesus…IN EACH ONE OF US.
First Corinthians 3:16 reads, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
Jesus’ birth, his life, his teaching, his crucifixion, his resurrection, and his ascension were important. But also important and maybe more important for us is the fact that Jesus promised us that there would be sent a special PRESENCE, and with a special presence would come a special POWER (gifts of the Spirit), and with the PRESENCE would also come a special PERSONALITY (fruits of the Spirit). And this PRESENCE, POWER, AND PERSONALITY OF JESUS would be born in each one of us.
Therefore, leading up to Dad’s funeral, and even during the funeral, I was thinking this through as well as talking to Jesus about it, and I became convinced that where the Spirit of the Lord is…WHERE THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT IS-- there is Christmas, because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Christ.
Our lives present moments of great DIFFICULTY, and it is when you arrive into that moment of great difficulty that the presence, personality, and the power of Christ arrive into that moment and THOSE MOMENTS OF GREAT DIFFICULTY BECOME THE ADVENT OF THE CHRIST – for in those moments of sorrow and sadness Christ is born.
We think Christmas is about p-r-e-s-e-n-t-s and parties and pageants, but Christmas is about p-r-e-s-e-n-c-e and power and personality.
When the presence of Christ is birthed into a situation there is Christmas.
Therefore, we can birth Christ into every difficult situation.
I think there are three ways you can do this.
1. Anticipate the difficult. Luke 2:1-7
Let’s take a census this morning. How many things in this story make it a difficult situation?
It was a difficult pronouncement. What a horrible time for a census! Mary is in her eighth or ninth month of pregnancy. What a horrible time to have to take a trip!
It was a difficult place for a destination. It was eighty miles on foot and/or donkey. (I’m not sure about the topography but any trip of that length on foot while pregnant would be difficult.)
She was in a difficult position. Mary was pregnant. They were poor.
They met difficult persons. They were declined room in the inn.
What was God thinking?
But when Jesus is born into that situation the difficult becomes the divine.
Let me take a census of the congregation this morning. Is there anyone in our congregation this morning who has heard or knows someone who has heard a difficult pronouncement? (Raised hands.)
Is there anyone here who is dealing with a difficult situation that involves another person, perhaps a difficult person…and sometimes the person is in the family…a child, a spouse?
Is there anyone here who is having problems with their finances…with their job?
The situation in Bethlehem was one of those very difficult moments. But with Christ’s birth the difficult becomes the divine.
When Christ is born into that difficult situation – the presence, power, and personality of Christ is brought into that situation. The difficult becomes the divine.
Every difficult situation becomes an advent for the Christ.
Dad’s funeral went from difficult to divine so quickly that some who did not know us well and those who worshipped with us during the service were somewhat shocked by the quickness and strength and power of the joy and praise.
2. Acknowledge those who need him most.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8
Shepherds were considered to be the type of folk who were often the least religious in society. They were on the outside of society both spatially and spiritually. They were so distant they were almost invisible.
Many of you know what it feels like to be almost invisible. Something made you invisible. You feel isolated, unsure of life and have difficuly creating healthy relationships.
I saw on the news last night that they have these glasses you put on and when you drive these glasses make you drive as if you’ve had three beers. The driver knocks over cones, runs over mannequins, and crashes into plastic cars. Reality is distorted.
There are some things in society that distort one’s reality and the relationships in that reality. Soon you just decide to withdraw from reality and relationship because the reality and relationships you have seem distorted. They don’t seem to work. One causes harm and hurt.
Illness can isolate a person. One can be in the hospital or in one’s home so long contact with others is lost. There is no touch or caring. The person feels invisible.
But when you show up, reach out, visit and give even a small gesture of care or fellowship, Christ is born into that situation.
There are some who are like the shepherds who need to know that Christ can be born into their lives. Your presence becomes the presence of Christ.
Illustration: The school system in a large city had a program to help children keep up with their school work during stays in the city's hospitals. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child's name and room number and talked briefly with the child's regular class teacher. "We're studying nouns and adverbs in his class now," the regular teacher said, "and I'd be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn't fall too far behind."
The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, "I've been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs." When she left she felt she hadn't accomplished much.
But the next day, a nurse asked her, "What did you do to that boy?" The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. "No, no," said the nurse. "You don't know what I mean. We've been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He's fighting back, responding to treatment. It's as though he's decided to live."
Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: "They wouldn't send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?"
I’ve got a noun and a verb for you. Jesus…lives!
Sorrow and sadness become an advent. You know that every time there is sorrow and sadness Jesus is coming.
3. Announce the Good News (Luke 2:9-11)
This Christmas you bring the good news of great joy to those people that God brings your way.
I like good news that brings great joy. When our babies were born, we had good news of great joy. We shared with family, friends, and even strangers. I was shopping right after Erin was born, for something…I can’t remember what it was, and the clerk said, “May I help you?”
“Yes, I’ve had a baby girl!” I screamed. I did not know her at all, but I had good news of great joy. I had to tell someone.
When I got my first pastorate, there was good news of great joy. I called my parents, my wife’s parents. I called my former pastors. I had good news of great joy.
When there is good news of great joy, not one person receives a gift, every does!
I’ve got some good news of great joy. Because of Christ there is recovery. Because of Christ there is healing. Because of Christ there is salvation for reality and relationships.
Jesus defeated sin and death. Jesus defeated sorrow and sadness. Jesus gives us not just life; CHRIST GIVES US HIS LIFE. He did not just give us a life in the hereafter; Jesus gives us a life in the here and now and he gives us life in the here and now; therefore, his presence, personality and power invades each situation.
Conclusion: At my Father-in-law’s funeral a co-teacher of my brother-in-law, Bill, was present. She was a wonderful Christian African-American lady who knew Bill at school. As she was leaving the funeral service she said to him, “I didn’t know Baptists could enjoy a funeral so much.” Although it was a funny observation, there was great truth. She saw the joy.
The reason: when the presence of Christ is birthed into a situation there is Christmas. Merry Christmas.
