Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
Theme: Christmas Eve
Proposition: God reaches down. God reaches out. God receives all who call on His Name!
INTRO:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD!
A rather grumpy husband and wife were having their annual Christmas Eve argument. Each year it was the same argument; she wanted him to go with her and the children to church while he just wanted to stay home and relax. She believed that a family should go to church on Christmas Eve. She enjoyed getting all the family dressed up, pile in the car and drive out to the church to hear a message about Christ's birth.
It had been like this for years. Neither rain, sleet, hot weather or cold weather would deter her ambitions. Even the occasional snow would not dampen her resolve. She was determined to have her family each year be at church either on Christmas eve or Christmas day. It had become one of her family traditions.
Each year her husband would argue for the opposite scenario. Christmas Eve was a part of his time off from work and having to go somewhere. He was tired and who wants to go out late at night and be with a bunch of religious types. In his mind church was full of a bunch of hypocrites to say the least. Oh, well, he thought, it can't last too long. The service would at most last only an hour or two and then he could be back in sweats watching TV and drinking egg nog.
As he got ready for the service the man starting thinking about everything that he would experience that evening. It got him to thinking all kinds of questions. Why do they have to sing the same songs each year? Year after year it is the same ones; Silent Night, Away in the Manger and Joy to the World. You would think that they could at least change it up every other year. Don't they know that this was one of his only services of the year? Couldn't they realize that and sing something new?
What is with the candles? Three purple ones and that pink one with the white one in the middle. Even he could figure out that there was no symmetry in that arrangement. What about replacing them with some red and green candles. Everyone knew that Christmas was red and green, so where is the red and green candles? How about making one or two of them orange or blue and gold? I mean at Easter they at least have all those eggs different colors.
And what is it with those readings from the Bible. Again, each year the same ones. Either that one from Matthew or that one that Linus reads in that Charlie Brown Christmas Special. Why not read a passage from that scary book, Revelation? Or from one of those other ones like Genesis or that one that has all those battles, Joshua? Now, reading about a battle or two, that would be the way to get more men in church on Christmas Eve. If nothing else what about the story of that guy who gets the funny hair cut or that sling shot kid who killed that giant?
Oh, well he thought, I shouldn't complain. It's not like I really support the place and I guess they can't go all out for a guy that is going to be at best there only a couple times a year. Now. let's see, I wonder if I put up such a fuss maybe I can still get out of it. At worst maybe I can just go in a pair of sweats and an old T-shirt. I mean after all, I am missing out on some great TV and snacks.
Hopefully, tonight that was not what happened in your home. Hopefully, you are here with your loved ones ready to celebrate and worship Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD. Hopefully, you are ready to join millions of people who will be sitting in pews, benches and chairs all over the world to rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world.
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services can be difficult for the occasional attendee. For most of the time we do sing the same songs and read the same portions of scripture. And more often than not the decor looks the same year after year after year.
However, none of that is by accident. It all happens by divine design. This evening we should not be ashamed of our music, our scripture or our decor. All of it is done with the sole intention of focusing not on us humans but on the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. All of it is done to help us worship and praise God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Tonight, I would like to invite you to join in a time of relishing the mystery and joy as we celebrate the story of Jesus' birth. Tonight, I would like for you to join in a time of rejoicing in the story of salvation. A story that started all the way back in the Garden of Eden.
I. Christmas shares with us the Reality of the Incarnation - God's Loving Come Down
We all know Jesus is God's only Son. His conception and his birth were of course not normal. Jesus is Heaven's Child; conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. His birth and mission were foretold by prophets hundreds of years before his birth.
THIS IS GOD IN HIS ETERNALNESS
THIS IS GOD IN ALL HIS GLORY, POWER AND MAJESTY
THIS IS GOD - THIS IS THE GROUND OF ALL BEING
THIS THE GREAT I AM
THIS IS ALPHA AND OMEGA
THIS IS EL-SHADDA, ELOHIM AND YAHWEH
THIS IS GOD
The Incarnation is both a mystery and a majesty. It is all way beyond our ability to full comprehend. God coming down and becoming a single cell organism (a zygote). God growing in the womb of Mary over a 40 week period of time until he was born that Christmas Eve.
THIS WAS THE ETERNAL GOD STEPPING INTO TIME
THIS WAS THE ALL-POWERFUL TAKING ON FLESH AND BONE
THIS WAS THE CREATOR BECOMING A PART OF THE CREATION
The Incarnation of Jesus was and is the greatest event in all of human and divine history. It is all very theological and intellectually mind bending stuff. There are no words to adequately explain just how wonderful, how mysterious, how cosmically transforming the Incarnation is to our world and to heaven. Divine, yet human. God clothed in flesh. God - very tangible, very concrete and very vulnerable.
This Christmas, don't miss the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation. Don't miss the miracle of God coming down in love, mercy and grace. Don't miss the wonderful truth of when God took on a human body and nature and God and man. Revel in John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us."
Embrace the reality of the incarnation. Revel in its mystery. Share its depth of love and mystery. Reflect on how much God loved all of us that He would come down as the Son of God so that you and I could be redeemed, renewed and restored. Meditate on how Jesus left heaven to join you me and put on flesh and bone. Ponder how much Jesus loved us. Contemplate on how Jesus willingly experienced things like pain, suffering, hunger, loneliness, heartache and temptation for you and me. Rejoice in the reality that He loved us so much that He took upon Himself all the sin of the world. That is the wonder and mystery of the Incarnation.
Tonight, hold tight to the reality of God's love - the Incarnation of Jesus Christ - a love come down.
II. Secondly, Christmas shares the Immense Reach of God's Love
Christmas is not only the story of God reaching down but also God reaching out. It is the season that best displays the everlasting truth of God's love - a love which has no bounds or boundaries. Christmas is the season of God's Loving Reaching Out.
IT IS THE SEASON OF OUR GOD:
REACHING OUT ACROSS THE COSMOS OF THE UNIVERSE
REACHING OUT ACROSS THE BOUNDARIES OF TIME AND SPACE
REACHING OUT FROM THE HOLINESS OF HEAVEN
REACHING OUT TO ALL OF LOST HUMANITY
Christmas reminds us how far our God reaches out for all of us. We, who the Bible states were enemies, were alienated but we were not abandoned. Instead, God reached out through His Son Jesus so that through His love we can experience reconciliation, redemption, renewal and restoration. We are called to a living hope through Jesus' resurrection. We are called to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. We are called to be a chose people, a holy people and a people of God.
Once all we humans could hope for was to be vessels of sin, decay and death. Through the mercy and grace of His Son, Jesus we can be vessels of light, life and holiness. We who were once only fodder for the fires of Hell can now be among the sons of light and everlasting life. We who were once fit only for pain and suffering can sit among the angels in heaven and praise our LORD and Savior forever and ever.
Years ago the story goes that a young man wrote his family telling them that he would like to come home. For years he had abandoned them and had ended up in trouble time and time again. But now, it was his desire to come home and make amends. He did not know if his family still wanted him so he wrote and asked for a simple sign. If they wanted him to come home all they had to do was to place a yellow ribbon near the bus station. If he saw that yellow ribbon then he would know it was safe to get off the bus and return home. If he did not see that yellow ribbon he was simply continue his journey.
The story goes that when his bus drove up to that bus station everyone on the bus was amazed. Someone had put not just one yellow ribbon out but the whole area was full of tens of yellow ribbons. It looked like a yellow ribbon celebration. The young man who had been so full of fear and anxiety was overwhelmed by the forgiveness and love his family had displayed for him. He was not just wanted, he was overwhelmingly wanted. He knew he was home. He knew in his heart he would be welcomed, accepted and loved.
Christmas is God's yellow ribbon. Jesus Christ Himself is God's yellow ribbon that is to remind all of us that we are accepted, needed and wanted. Jesus is God's yellow ribbon to all of us prodigal children that in Christ we find redemption. Jesus is God's yellow ribbon telling all of us that we are welcomed, accepted and love.
Let's not forget this evening that Christmas is a story of God reaching out
III. Thirdly, Christmas is the story of God receiving everyone who desires His forgiveness
It doesn't take long to understand that our world is a world dominated by separations. We are separated and compartmentalized by our gender, race, social class, economics, education, philosophical viewpoints and politics. We live in a world in which you can be ostracized by having too much or too little in the form of education, power or position. We are a society that loves to pigeon hole people into either the lower, middle class , upper or elite class. You are either blue or white collar, city or rural. All you have to do is to begin filling out job applications and you quickly understand that
+No higher education - do not apply
+No high figure salary - not needed or wanted
+No blueblood pedigree - do not need to apply
+No power or position - there is the door
This is not a pretty part of our world. Races are intolerant of one another. Rich and poor do not want to share the same space. Males and females continually disagreeing and down grading one another. We seem to be at a time when intolerance and narrow mindedness rule the day.
At some time or the other we have all experienced this type of separation. And for some it has led to a time of humiliation and rejection. No one wants to feel isolated, segregated or separated. No one wants to find themselves on the outside looking in.
Perhaps this is the greatest message of Christmas. For God not only looks down, reaches out but He also accepts all those who call upon His name. He accepts all who come to Him in repentance for the forgiveness of their sins.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God
For God so loved the whole world that He sent Jesus His One and Only Son
For at the foot of the Cross all the ground is level
It matters very little to our God whether you are rich or poor, Republican, Independent or Democrat. It matters very little to Him who brings salvation that you are blue blood or commoner, city or rural or developed world or third world. It matter very little to Him for He will receive, save and transform us all into His image of love and holiness.
God receives all. God welcomes all. God forgives all who call upon His name. God cleanses all through the infilling of His Holy Spirit. God adopts all as His everlasting children. God extends to all redemption and salvation. God extends to all an invitation to a walk of sanctification. All we have to do is to repent of our sins, accept the LORD as our Savior and open our lives to the infilling presence of His Holy Spirit.
In God's eyes there are no classes; there are no separations or differences. We all are simply His creations who have rebelled against Him. We are simply saints in the making if we choose Him to be our Savior and Lord. We are simply Heaven bound citizens if we accept His forgiveness, mercy and grace.
This evening as we celebrate the anniversary of the One we call Jesus - Messiah - Lord and Savior have you
+Allowed His love to reach down and touch your heart and your life?
+Allowed His love to reach across space and time to your heart and life?
+Allow His love to receive you as His forgiven, baptized and Holy Spirit filled child?
Tonight, have you allowed yourself to be a part of the Christmas Story? To be a part of what Christmas means in the first place - the salvation of all humanity.
Tonight, we invite you to receive the LORD's Supper. By doing so, you testify that you desire to be a part of Christ's community. By doing so, you testify that you accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, your Savior and LORD. By doing so, you testify that you are a part of the Body of Christ ready to bring about His Kingdom here on this earth. By doing so, you testify that you desire the continual infilling presence of the Holy Spirit.
