Do you have a favorite gift? I have one that I really, really love. It isn’t a particularly expensive gift. It isn’t a particularly beautiful gift. It isn’t even a particularly useful gift. But, it is a fun gift. I don’t take this gift out very often. In fact, I have this gift in a plastic bag and stored away in a closet. Why? - To keep it from getting worn out too quickly. I take it out once in a blue moon. Here it is [show dad’s gift here – a stuffed Chihuahua dog that sings “La Bamba”].
The reason that I like this gift is because it reminds me of my dad – you see, he gave it to me. I went to see dad one day, and I saw this little guy there. Dad showed me how to get it to sing. I remember that when I saw it’s head bobbing and heard it singing - it made me smile – and dad noticed. He gave it to me right then and there. I tried to tell dad to keep it, but he insisted that I have it. So I brought it home with me.
Now I’ve thought about why dad wanted me to take this little guy home. There’s only one reason that I can think of. You see, dad knew me pretty well. He could read me. And most of you that know me well know that I am not a mellow person. I am always preoccupied or busy with something or other. If I am engrossed with something troubling, you can see it on my face. I can’t hide it when I’m preoccupied with my work. And I’m almost always preoccupied with my work. Dad knew that about me. And I’m fairly well convinced that when he saw me smile at this little guy’s singing and dancing – when dad saw me forget my problems for just a little while because of this little guy – he wanted me to have it. That was dad’s way of bringing just a little bit of joy into my life. That’s why this little guy is one of my favorite gifts – it helps me to remember dad’s love for me.
The rebellious young man had misspent his fortune. He’d demanded his money, left home – and he’d blown it. He didn’t notice that his popularity seemed to depend on how much he opened his wallet. Now that he had no money, he had no friends. He was starved, even the pigs ate better than he did. He had hit rock bottom.
Through it all, his dad had refused to give up on him. He would eagerly wait for him to return. He’d just sit and watch the road in hope of seeing his son come back home. One day – there he was – his boy was returning! His love made the father loose all pretence at dignity. He grabbed his robe and ran out to meet him his boy. The son started, “I’m sorry…” But before the words came out he felt his father’s arms around him and his father shushed him and kissed him and put his ring on him. The Father had the servants prepare a lavish banquet to welcome his wayward son home.
If we could ask this dad, “Why did you do this for such a foolish young man? He selfishly squandered the money you worked so hard to earn – why would you welcome him back so lavishly?
“Why?” – would answer the father, “This is my son. I love him. My son was lost, and now he is found.”
Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were friendly. Once Christmas she went there to buy stamps. The lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. “I know,” said Mamie, “But the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis.” (Bits and Pieces, December, 1989, p. 2 - on www.sermonillustrations.com)
You’ve heard of the term, “Rhodes scholars?” A British statesman and financier named Cecil Rhodes endowed the world-famous Rhodes Scholarships. He was known as a stickler for correct dress - but not at the expense of someone else’s feelings. A young man invited to dine with Rhodes arrived by train. In order to avoid being late, he had to go directly to Rhodes’s home in his travel-stained clothes. Once there he was appalled to find the other guests already assembled. The guests were all wearing full evening dress. After what seemed a long time Rhodes appeared. He was wearing a shabby old blue suit. Later the young man learned that his host had been dressed in evening clothes. But when he heard of his young guest’s dilemma, he had gone to change into the old suit. (Today in the Word, February, 1991, p. 10 – adapted from www.sermonillustrations.com)
Why was Jesus born? Our text in Titus begins with the words, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared…” When God saw the shabby, sin stained condition of our soul; when He saw just how much we needed a kind word to help our brokenness; when God saw that we could not live righteously but squandered opportunity after opportunity to do good; when God saw how our burdens weighed us down and engrossed us and kept us from knowing joy – then our Savior appeared.
It wasn’t because we were good or because we deserved it – but because God is merciful and kind and loving. And so at just the perfect time in history: when the signs in the heavens were just right; when the conditions in Judea were just right; when conditions were just right – when Cyrenius’ tax was promulgated; when the shepherds were ready in the field; when little Mary was ready to deliver and she and Joseph could only find room in a stable to have her miracle child – God showed his kindness and love in the form of a little Baby born in a manger.
Christ Jesus left heaven – he abandoned his place on the throne. “…being in very nature God, [Christ Jesus] did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)
But, why, dear God, why? Why did this beautiful, holy Child have to come into the world poor and destitute? “Because I love you,” is God’s answer. Jesus was born to wash away the ugliness of sin and replace it beauty. The baby in the manger came dressed in flesh to show that our humanity is not shabby and that by adorning it with his own righteousness – we become children of God. That holy child came because he saw our wounds and pains. And so He came to take the lashes and the stripes for us. When we rebelled against our Heavenly Father - the Baby of Bethlehem became the way that the Father lavished his love among us. When God saw the burden we carried – He gave us Jesus so that we might be able to smile and feel joy.
Love can do amazing things. During the summer of 1994 Sofi and Roland and our nephew Stephen and I drove to Chicago to go to our oldest son’s (Eloy) graduation from Navy boot camp. After the graduation, our son was given several hours of liberty. So we drove to downtown Chicago to play tourist. We went to the top of the Sears tower and we walked up and down Michigan Ave. We were at the downtown watermill each at a slightly different location.
Now in Chicago there are some fairly aggressive beggars. One particularly belligerent fellow must’ve thought that our son, who was wearing his fresh, white, just-out-of-boot-camp, uniform - was a particularly good mark. So this man approached my son and asked him for money. Our son gave him a few quarters that he had in his pocket. But apparently this was not good enough for this gentleman because he began to harass Eloy. Then that little 5’2” woman (point to wife) noticed what was happening. She went and stood between her little boy and she lit into this big, hairy, intimidating guy and ran him off. You know, I sort of felt sorry for that poor guy after Sofi got done with him. Why would a little woman like that go after what was a much larger and seemingly more intimidating aggressor? Why that’s easy - it was to protect her son.
Though seemingly helpless, that little baby – Jesus – came to stand between God’s children and the enemy that assaulted them. That little baby, the one whose birth we celebrate – didn’t look like much. But through Jesus, God took on the powers of darkness head on. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. God did it to protect his sons and daughters – you and me beloved.
Baby Jesus - what a gift! He brings peace and joy to burdened hearts - our hearts. To those who’ve strayed from God, He brings restoration with the Father so that we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. And he stands in the breech between our enemy and us – utterly triumphing and sharing his victory with us.
Merry Christmas, beloved! The Christ Child has come! Amen.
