For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four readings prior to the Message. The assigned readings for today are: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14 and Luke 2:1-20.
Let us pray... O Heavenly Father We come to you this evening with hearts open ... open to your transforming love.
We come seeking your will for our lives ... to be filled to overflowing with joy ... and with the Peace that passes all understanding.
O' Come Holy Spirit this night and kindle in us the fire of your love.
And ... We ask this in the name of your son Jesus the Christ.
O Come, O come Emanuel...... Amen
The manger was down in front ... at the chancel steps ... where it always had been ... every year.
The girl playing the part of Mary was there ... in a blue cloak ... and Joseph ... with a cotton beard.
The wise men were there ... with a handful of shepherds, ... and of course ... in the midst of them all, ... was the Christ child, ... lying in the straw.
The nativity story was read aloud ... with carols sung at the appropriate times, ... and all went like clockwork ... until it came time ... for the arrival of the angels of the heavenly host.
The angels were represented by the children, ... who were all robed in white ... and scattered throughout the pews ... with their parents.
At the right moment, ... they all were to come forward ... and gather ... around the manger.
And that is just what they did ... except there were so many of them ... that there was a fair amount of crowding ... and jockeying ... for position.
One particular angel, ... a little girl ... who was smaller than most ... ended up ... so far out on the fringes ... that not even by craning her neck ... and standing on tiptoe ... could she see ... what was going on.
'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will among men.' (Luke 2:14 KJV)
They all sang on cue, ... and then in the momentary pause that followed, ... the small girl ... ...who's view had been blocked ... electrified the entire church.
For she cried out in a voice ... shrill with irritation ... frustration ...and enormous sadness, ... 'Let Jesus show!' (Long Pause)
Beloved ...That should be the premise of our lives as followers of the Christ ... not only at Christmas ... but throughout the year: ...... Let Jesus show!
(Illustration from a Sermon by Peter M. Wallace Titled: "Let Jesus show- A sermon on Luke 2:1-20" I commend it to you.)
Consciously ... or subconsciously, ... most people, ... this time of the year, ... are truly trying to catch a glimpse ... of God.
Christmas is that one time in the year ... when many make an extra effort ... to find real meaning, ... to find real joy ... in their lives.
This is when many people ... make an effort ... to look into ... the heart of God.
"Maybe this is the year,"
Maybe this year ... I will find real joy and meaning ... to my life."
Maybe ...this year ... I will be able to finally understand." (Long Pause)
Imagine the world ... at the time of ... Jesus birth.
Imagine ... what Mary saw.
The world was very busy .... most people were traveling to their hometowns to register ... to be taxed ... by Caesar.
Mary ... was one of those people.
So much hustle and bustle ... everyone so very busy.
There were so many travelers, ... that Mary and Joseph ... find no room ... at the Inn.
Mary gives birth to Jesus ... and lays him in a manger.
Yet most people really did not notice, ... most people ... really did not care.
Well ... The world has not changed much.
There is still the hustle ... and the bustle.
Everyone so busy.
Does that mean ... people are not interested in God?
No....... No matter how busy you are, ... deep down, .... there is a desire ... a desire ... to look into the heart ... of God. (Pause)
Many people leave the holidays ... a little down, ... a little disappointed, ... and often they do not know why.
Perhaps ... it's because they were looking for God, ... but never found him ... in the places ... they were looking.
Beloved ...This evening, ... I want you to walk into Bethlehem ... near the manger, ... and stand next to Mary, ... and see ...what she sees. (Pause)
Mary sees a baby, ... yet ... she sees ... so much more.
She remembers ... the promises of God.
And as she recalls ... those promises;
As she stares into the face of that child, ...she realizes ... that she is staring ... into the heart of God.
And then the shepherds arrive, ... and they tell her ...what the angels ... had proclaimed.
They crowd around the manger, ... and gaze into the face of that child, .... and as they do, ... they realize ... that they are gazing ... into the heart of God.
And then the shepherds leave, ... and Mary ponders ...all these things ... in her heart.
Everything her world needs ... is right here.
Everything that her hustling and busting neighbors and friends could ever ask for ... is lying in the manger.
And then Mary lifts the baby out of the manger ... and she hands him ... to you.
And there you stand, ... holding in your arms ... the Son of God.
And as you look down into his face, ... you realize ... ...that you to ... are looking into the heart ... of God.
In your arms, ... you hold .... what everyone in the world ... is longing for.
While the rest of the world hustles and bustles, ... there you are, ... in the quiet ... of the night; ....
Looking into the face of this child ... looking into the heart ... of God himself. (Pause)
"Why would God do this," ... you ask.
And then you look outside the stable, ... and you see a shadow.
It's a bright night ... the stars are out ... one star seems especially bright ... you see a shadow, ...it's a shadow ....... of a cross.
And then you understand.
You understand ... that someday, ... God would sink even lower than tonight; ... to suffer ... and to die ... on that cross.
You cannot help ... but feel a little sad ... as you look into the face ... of this child.
But you also cannot help ... but rejoice, ... because you know that this child ... will rise ... from the dead.
You give the baby back ... to Mary.
But before you walk away, ... you take one last look.
You see God's love for you, ... his mercy, ... his wisdom ... his forgiveness.
God has touched you.
God has touched you ... this night. (Pause)
In our Gospel text ... the shepherds see the bright glory of God ... accompanied by an angel.
Certainly, ... they had never seen anything like this before.
Hear again, God's word:
BIBLE The angel said to them, ... do not be afraid. ...... for see I am bringing you Good News! .... of great joy ...! (Luke 2:10) To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, ...who is the Messiah, ... the Lord. END (Luke 2:11) (Do not put the Bible Down)
Now, these shepherds ... probably have no idea ... ... the theological impact ... of all this.
All they needed to know, ... and maybe ... all we need to know;
Is that God has done something glorious ... something amazing ... and it is Good News ... of great joy.
Such joy that you too ... cry out ... Let Jesus show!
That night in Bethlehem ... all of heaven burst forth in praise:
BIBLE "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God..." END (Luke 2:13)
Suddenly ... I love that word suddenly ... "suddenly there was with the angel ... a multitude ... of the heavenly Host."
It is ... almost as if ... the praise of God ... could not be contained in heaven ... and it bursts forth ... into our world:
(Loudly Say) .... "Glory to God in the highest, ... and on earth ... peace, ... good will ... toward men!" (Luke 2:14 KJV)
I am convinced ... this heavenly anthem ... echoed in the hearts of those shepherds.
Clearly, ... they were changed.
I am quite sure ... they told all... about this glorious night.
And Beloved ... they continue to bear witness ...through their story ... in Luke, ... year after year... ...Christmas after Christmas.
They continue to ... Let Jesus show.
You and I ... have probably never seen ... an angel stand before us, ... we probably ... have not heard ... heavenly angels sing.
Or maybe we have ... and did not even ...realize it.
Yet Beloved, ... we have been given the Good News... we have been given ... a great gift.
Jesus has come, ... our Savior, ... our Messiah, ... our Lord... Has come. (Pause)
After Christmas, ... when you return to your routine, ... whether it involves shepherding sheep or not, ... will this reality ... will this knowledge ... change your life?
This year, ... just like every year, ... millions of people, ... both children and adults, ... will open millions of gifts.
Some won't fit.
Some will be the wrong color.
Or as the newlywed wife said ... after receiving a unique looking dress from her husband ...... Honey ... that dress ... is just too precious ... to wear.
Yes, ... many will be returned, ... exchanged ... or kept in safe keeping.
But there is one gift ... that meets everyone's need, ... one gift that never breaks, ... one gift that will never wear out.
Beloved ... The most valuable gift of all, .... is Jesus.
Christmas is a celebration .... that "God so loved the world ... that he gave his one and only Son, ...that whoever believes in him ...shall not perish ...but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV).
As the apostle, Paul said, to the believers gathered in Corinth ... "Thanks be to God for His ... Indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV).
When Mary touched the face of her new born baby, ... she was touching ... the very heart of God.
When she held her precious child in her arms, ... she was holding ... the greatest gift ... ever given.
Beloved ... Let us nair forget ... to ... Let Jesus show.
As you give and receive gifts this Christmas, ... let it be a reminder ... that Jesus has given us ... the greatest gift of all ...he has given us ... himself.
Now as Paul Harvey, ... would say ... "The rest of the story."
After the little girl cried out, ... "Let Jesus show,"
There was still much of the service ... planed for that evening.
But the pastor said .... that one of the best things he ever did in his life .... was to end everything ... precisely there.
'Let Jesus show!' ... the child cried out.
And while the congregation was still sitting in stunned silence, ... he pronounced the benediction.
And everyone filed out of the church ... with those unforgettable words ... ringing in their ears."
(Slow) ...... "Let Jesus show!"
Amen and Amen!
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