Sermon -- Christmas Eve (December 24, 2022)

Good Shepherd observes the Service of Lessons and Carols for its Christmas Eve services.  After all but one of the lessons, there is a brief address.  Here are a few of them.

The 3rd Lesson -- Isaiah 11:1-9

         Jesse was the father of David who became King of Israel.  David was anointed to take the throne, and God sustained David’s line for many generations.  But, since the kings of Jerusalem continually turned away from the Lord, the Lord lost his patience.  God had sent prophets again and again to urge Israel to repent and turn back to the Lord.  Their message was treated with disdain.  The prophets were met with derision.  Some were put to death.  So, the Lord brought the kingdom to an end.  David’s line was cut off—like a tree reduced to a lifeless stump.

         But that lifeless stump would see life again.  After centuries of dormancy, a branch sprang up.  The Son of David came forth who would take up a throne and reign.

         Unlike many of Israel’s kings, he would be faithful to the Lord.  His kingdom would be established and endure forever.  He would judge all people accurately, neither persuaded nor deceived by flattering words or phony people.  The guilty will be exposed for their sins and judged accordingly. 

         But his kingdom will not be established by the slaughter of others.  It will not be known for violence and destruction.  His kingdom is established by him being slaughtered for the sins committed against him.  His reign is known by mercy upon those who deserve to perish.  He forgives sins and proclaims peace.  But he will not force anyone to believe in him and be part of his kingdom.  Those who want no part of him will get their way.  They will get neither forgiveness nor peace.  They will perish forever.

         But for you who believe in him, you will be delivered into Paradise, into a perfect kingdom of peace where there is no war, violence, hatred, or anger.  A Branch has sprung up from the stump of Jesse.  The Son of David reigns over a kingdom of grace and peace.

The 6th Lesson -- Luke 2:1-7

         When the Lord entered the world, he did not come down from heaven at age 30, appearing out of nowhere.  He came into the world in the common way.  He was conceived in Mary’s womb and gestated there for nine months.  She gave birth to a baby boy.  It was her first, so that was special, but it was not amazing.

         We might get the idea that the moment Mary passed the city limits of Bethlehem she went into full blown labor.  We may also envision some wicked hotel manager who banished a pregnant woman.  We might even think of house after house in Bethlehem refusing shelter to Mary as she was panting in pain and the baby’s head was crowning.  All of that would make for a great movie, but the Bible does not record anything that dramatic.

         There is a tradition that Jesus was born in a cave.  Or maybe it was in a stable.  The Bible does not really say that, either.  It says that Jesus was laid in a manger, in other words, a feeding trough.  We keep our animals in barns.  Some are kept in caves.  The word translated “inn” would be better translated “guest room,” which was an upper room in someone’s house.  So, whether Jesus was born in a cave, a stable, or a house is irrelevant.  What is relevant is that God came to earth in the flesh of a baby boy.

         Christ the Lord is born, and he came into the world in unspectacular fashion.  Mary gave birth and wrapped her newborn in strips of cloth, like any other peasant would have.  But that is the point.  He was a commoner, and he came for common people.  He is like us in every way, but without sin.  We would not be able to approach him in his bare glory, so he hides it in humble human flesh.  Veiled in flesh the God-head see.  True God, hidden under lowly, infant flesh.

         What was visible was common, ordinary, and earthly.  What was truly going on had to be revealed, and that is truly amazing.  We will hear about that next.

 

The 7th Lesson -- Luke 2:8-20

         What was witnessed at the manger was unspectacular.  But a spectacle of angels revealed what was really going on.  A great heavenly mystery is hidden behind a common, earthly birth.  God’s glory was hidden in the flesh of Jesus.

         Mary knew what was going on.  The angel had told her nine months earlier: The child to be born is God Most High.  Joseph knew, too.  The angel had revealed: Mary’s child is Immanuel, God with us.  Now the angel told the shepherds in the fields: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  So much is packed into that sentence.  We will work backwards.

         He is the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He is the one who divided the Red Sea and led Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land.  He is the one who put his name on the Temple and dwelt there with his people.  The one born in Bethlehem is the Lord.

         And he is the Christ, the Messiah, the Lord’s Anointed.  Those who were anointed were given an office to fill.  Aaron had been anointed as High Priest.  David had been anointed as King.  Elisha had been anointed as Prophet.  Jesus is all three.  As Prophet, Jesus proclaims the word of the Lord to you.  As King, he goes out to conquer your enemies—sin, death, and the devil—for you.  As High Priest, he comes to make a sacrifice for you.  In fact, he IS the sacrifice made for you to atone for your sins.

         He is the Savior.  If he is the Savior, that means you need to be saved.  Jesus delivers you from sin by taking your sin away from you.  Jesus saves you from the grave by conquering death for you by his resurrection.  Jesus destroyed the work of the devil and snatched you away from him.

         But perhaps the most important words of the angel are these: “Unto you.”  Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, but he has come for you.  He is Lord for you.  He is the Christ for you.  He is the Savior for you.  Glory to God in the highest, and peace from God for you.