Sermon -- Christmas Eve (December 24, 2023)

We followed the Service of Lessons and Carols at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  There were eight brief homilies presented at the conclusion of each reading.  A few of them are below.

3^rd Lesson       Isaiah 11:1-10             

Our righteous ruler shall bring an everlasting peace.

         God so loved the world.  He loves his whole creation.  God was pleased with all that he had made, and he called it very good.  He is not pleased, however, that it has become corrupt.  He is not pleased with the sins of people.  He did not create animals to be predator and prey.  He did not intend the earth to destroy by quakes and landslides and volcanoes and hurricanes.  He did not design plants to prick or to poison.  But sin entered the world through one man.  That sin did not just affect people, it brought a curse upon all creation.  It is not just that our minds are warped and our hearts that are turned in on ourselves, it is also that the entire creation has been corrupted and subjected to death and decay.

         Nevertheless, God loved the world.  Rather than toss it in the trash bucket, he sent a Savior to reclaim all creation for himself and to restore all creation back to perfection.  The Savior comes to redeem everything.

         This righteous King brings back righteousness to you.  His own righteousness is put upon you in holy baptism.  By baptism, all that Jesus has achieved is given to you.  His innocent life answers for yours.  His sacrificial death is where he dealt with your sins.  His resurrection brings about your eternal life.  Though Jesus, you are declared innocent, righteous, and an heir of the eternal kingdom.

         Isaiah declared the perfection of that eternal kingdom.  This world remains broken and corrupt.  Disorder, destruction, death, and decay rule in a world of sin.  But when Jesus comes again, Eden will be restored.  Mortal enemies will live in peace.  Deadly threats will be extinct.  For, where there is no sin, there is no curse. Where everything has been restored, there is no corruption.
         No more let sin and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found. Let heaven and nature sing. For God so loves the world.

5th Lesson Matthew 1:18-25
The angel Gabriel visits Joseph in a dream.

         Joseph was a righteous man.  He took the word of the Lord seriously.  If you page through the Scriptures, you will discover that Joseph never says a word.  He has no lines.  But he is outstanding at listening to the word of the Lord and obeying it.

         Joseph was betrothed to Mary.  Betrothal was more binding than an engagement.  It was legally recognized by a ceremony.  The consummation of the marriage would take place a year later, but the bride and groom would rarely see each during that year.

         So, when Joseph learned that his betrothed was pregnant, he knew that the child was not his.  How disappointed, even devastated, he was!  She must love another if she carries his child.  What other conclusion should Joseph have drawn? 

         Joseph was a righteous man.  He was not out for revenge.  He did not seek to shame the young woman.  “Let her go to the man she loves,” he reasoned; and he resolved to divorce her quietly.  But before he could do that, the Lord revealed to Joseph what was really going on.  The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to let him know what he could never have known unless God revealed it.  What was revealed to Joseph has also been recorded for us so that we will know it too: “That which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21).   

         So, Joseph learned that Mary was not only faithful to him, but was also virgin pure.  The child who was conceived was not fathered by another man, but by God.  Therefore, the child is Immanuel, “God with us.”  And since he takes on humanity in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the child is not only God with us, but God who has become one of us.  In this way, God binds himself to humanity.  He becomes God for us who will save his people from their sins.

         We hear not a word from Joseph, but we see that Joseph knew how to listen to the word of the Lord.  Perhaps he did not understand it.  Surely, he marveled at it.  But Joseph certainly believed it.  The Lord God would come through the Virgin Mary, but he comes for all of us.

Sermon -- Christmas Eve (December 24, 2021)

Our Christmas Eve service at Good Shepherd follows the Service of Lessons and Carols.  There are nine lessons.  A short devotion was given for eight of them.  Two of those devotions are below.

6^th Reading           Luke 2:1-7

         Luke 2:1-7 tells us what was visible in Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus.  What was apparent to the eye was nothing spectacular in any way.  A woman gave birth to a baby boy.  It was her first, so that was special, but it was not amazing.

         When the Lord came into the world, he chose to enter in the most common way.  Joseph and Mary had been inconvenienced by the decree of Caesar Augustus.  They were compelled to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Behind the scenes, the prophet Micah would smile.  The word of the Lord through him would be fulfilled.  But many others had also come to Bethlehem.  No one would have had special pity for Joseph and Mary.  They were like the rest.

         We might get the idea that the moment Mary passed the city limits of Bethlehem she went into full blown labor.  That may make for a more compelling story, but the Bible does not say that.  I don’t know how long they were in Bethlehem, but while they were there, she gave birth.  We also do not need to create a villain.  The word translated “inn” is better translated as “guest room.”  Every house had a guest room.  The family lived in the main room.  An upper room was available for guests.  So, there is no wicked hotel manager who banished a pregnant woman panting in pain as a baby’s head was crowning.  But Bethlehem had swelled with people.  Guest rooms were occupied.  Since there was no space in the guest room, Mary was in the main room which was more private anyway.  She was there, by the lower level where the animals were brought in each night.  There would have been a manger or two there so that the animals could feed if they needed to.  There, Mary gave birth and wrapped her newborn in strips of cloth, like any other peasant would have.

          When the Lord entered the world, he entered as a commoner. He did not come down from heaven at age 30, appearing out of nowhere. He was conceived in Mary’s womb and gestated there for nine months. He was born in a house in Bethlehem. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It was utterly common, but that is the point. Jesus did not come in majesty, but in humility. He came as a common person 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. The God-head was veiled in flesh. He came as a common person for common people.
          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.

7^th Reading           Luke 2:8-20

         What was witnessed at the manger was unspectacular.  But a spectacle of angels has 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 that the child to be born is God Most High.  Joseph knew what was hidden.  The angel told him that Mary’s child was Immanuel, God with us.  Now the angel told the shepherds in the fields: A Savior has been born for you.  He is the Christ, the promised Messiah.  He is the Lord—the Maker of heaven and earth, the one who divided the Red Sea, the one who led Israel in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, the one who dwelt between the cherubim above the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies.  Yes, THAT One is a baby in Bethlehem.  He is Christ the Lord.

         But note the sign: He is wrapped in strips of cloth lying in a manger.  This sign might seem meaningless to you, but it was not meaningless to the shepherds.  When they heard that the Lord was wrapped in strips of cloth, they understood that he was a commoner.  He had come for the likes of peasants, shepherds, and everyone.  This is how the angel emphasized that the good news was for them.  And it is for you.  Christ the Lord has come, for you!

         This is the glory of God which the angels sang about.  We often think the glory of God is that he is holy and all-powerful.  He is that, but no one is saved because God is holy and all-powerful.  Those things are terrifying.  So, Jesus did not come in power, but in weakness.  He came to reveal the true glory of God—that he loves and saves sinners.

         Glory to God in the highest!  There is good news for all people; for you!  A Savior has come.  He is the Christ.  He is the Lord.  He is for you. 

Sermon -- Christmas Eve (December 24, 2020)

On Christmas Eve, we follow the order of A Service of Lessons and Carols.  There are nine lessons.  I offer a brief devotion after the first eight of those lessons, the 9th lesson being the Gospel for Christmas Day.  I save those thoughts for Christmas Day.

Here are two of the devotions from Christmas Eve.

2^nd Lesson  --  Genesis 22:15-18                

God’s promises to Abraham

 

            From all of the people and nations on the earth, the Lord had called Abraham to be the one through whom God would bring the Savior into the world.  The Seed of the Woman would also be the Seed of Abraham.

            The Lord had promised that salvation would come through him, and through his promised son.  The promise was astounding.  It was first given when Abraham was 75 years old.  It was not until Abraham was 100 years old that the Lord provided the son through whom that promise would be kept.  Understandably, Abraham loved his son, his only-begotten son of a promise.  But the Lord tested Abraham.  He commanded him to sacrifice his only begotten son as a burnt offering.  But to do so was also to sacrifice the promise.  What was Abraham to do with this? 

            Abraham did not try to work around the word of the Lord.  The Lord had made a promise, and—somehow, some way—the Lord would be faithful to his word.  Abraham had a heavy heart, but it was an obedient heart.  Abraham would offer up his son as a sacrifice to the Lord.  And the Lord—somehow, some way—would be faithful to his word.  Before Abraham slew his son, the Lord stopped him.  Abraham had proven himself faithful and obedient.  In place of Isaac, the Lord provided a ram to be slain.  The Lord—somehow, some way—was faithful to his word.  It was not this son of Abraham who would be an offering.  It would be the son who would come later.

            Through the Seed of Abraham, all nations would be blessed.  When Abraham’s Seed would come, he too, would be the only begotten Son of his Father.  God the Father would send his Son to be a sacrifice.  But this time, there would be no mercy.  No one would stop his death.  The Seed of Abraham would be offered up by God’s command—a substitute for the whole world. 

            Jesus is the “how” God would be faithful to his word.  Jesus is the “way” God would provide salvation to sinners.  The Seed of Abraham, the Son of God, would pay for the sins of the world; for the sins of you.  Through Abraham’s Seed, you and all the world are blessed. Through Abraham’s Seed, you are saved.

 

3^rd Lesson   --  Isaiah 9:2,6,7 

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light

 

            People have always longed for a ruler, a leader, or a king who would fix everything.  We crave an honest man who would put an end to suffering, to hardship, and to any number of problems we must endure.  Stop the war.  Feed the hungry.  Clean up the system.  Fix the economy.  Find a cure for COVID.  Leaders come and go.  The problems still remain.  In a broken world, that should not surprise anybody.

            Even the Lord is zealous for such a ruler.  For, the Lord is not fond of a broken world or crooked rulers.  Nor is the Lord pleased by broken lives or crooked hearts.  The Lord is not the one who broke it, but he has promised to fix it.  The Lord did not make it crooked, but he would act to straighten it all out.  The Lord said he would send a child.  He is the Prince of Peace.  Everything weighs on him.  His reign will not be limited by nationality, race, language, borders, or even time. 

            What's more, he is not crooked.  He does not play favorites, and he cannot be bribed.  His rule will be marked by justice.  The guilty will be punished.  Those who have done wrong will pay the price.  It does not matter who you are; the Prince of Peace is not impressed by your fame or pity you for your anonymity.  It does not matter if someone's sins are flaunted or concealed.  He knows who is guilty, and the guilty will be judged as guilty.

            But he does not revel in shaming and condemning.  He is the Prince of Peace, and he acts to secure your peace.  It all rests upon his shoulders.  He takes your guilt from you.  He becomes the guilty and pays the price for you.  Therefore, the punishment has been taken.  If all the punishment is gone, there is nothing left but blessing.  If the wrath has been removed, there is only peace. 

            The Prince of Peace establishes an everlasting kingdom.  In his kingdom, all things are right.  In his kingdom, everything which was broken shall be fixed.  Every rift will be reconciled.  In his kingdom, darkness will be chased away by light.  In his kingdom, everyone will see God’s mercy and salvation.

            Don’t think he has failed because this world is still broken and the people in it are still crooked.  Rather than make a heaven on earth, the Prince of Peace will deliver you from this broken world to a better one—the everlasting, heavenly kingdom and the home of righteousness.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this; for he is zealous for your salvation.

Sermon -- Christmas Eve: Service of Lessons & Carols (December 24, 2019)

Below are two of the devotions that followed lessons from our Service of Lessons & Carols on Christmas Eve.

1st Lesson
Genesis 3:8-15
The Seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head
Adam and Eve tried to hide their shame under fig leaves; it did not work.  Adam and Eve tried to hide in fear from having to face the Lord; it did not work.  Adam and Eve tried to dodge accountability by offering up excuses for their sinful choices and actions; it did not work.  It still does not. 
You cannot talk yourself out of the fear of death.  You cannot ignore the guilt that festers in your conscience and accuses you relentlessly.  You cannot avoid accountability before the Lord.  You can pretend God does not matter.  You can pretend God is not real.  You can pretend your rejection of God's word means that God's word no longer applies to you.  You might even convince yourself that rejection of God and his word result in freedom and fun.  But these are the same kinds of lies that the devil sold to Adam and Eve.  He still lies.  We still believe him.
Adam and Eve were not free from God, from guilt, or from death.  God had them dead to rights.  Satan had them under his realm.  Adam and Eve were free only in one respect—they were free from God's blessings and love and mercy and eternal life.  They were promised better than that.  The devil lied.  He still does.
Even though Adam and Eve did not ask for it, God promised it—mercy for sinners, a solution for sin and death, a Savior.  The Savior would be the Seed of the Woman.  God refers to him as a specific person: “He.”  He will come from a woman—not the seed of a man, but of a woman.  He will come as one hated by the devil, for the devil knows he comes to destroy his work and put an end to his dominion.  He will come to crush the serpent's head.  He will come to pardon sin, to alleviate guilt, to set sinners free from fear, to cover our shame with his goodness, and to put an end to death.  He comes to give us something better than excuses; he comes to give us forgiveness for our sins.
But it will cost him.  “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heal.”  He will suffer and die in order to set us free.  But he will set us free—free to live under God's blessing, free to live without fear or guilt, free to know that God's favor rests upon us.  Now you live under a new realm, and this one does not end in death but in life.  This is what God had created us for, and this is what “He” redeems us for.  The serpent is crushed underfoot.  The Savior lives.  And you are free to live in peace, and to live forever.

6th Lesson

Luke 2:1-7 The birth of Jesus

Caesar cared little for what was going on in Israel.  He only wanted his taxes collected.  He needed his subjects counted.  So Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be counted.

This was God’s timing.  Time for the Savior to come.  Time for every promise to be fulfilled.  Time for the world to receive its Savior.

And so the Son of God was born.  He was wrapped and swaddled in cloths—a commoner who came for common sinners.  The Lamb of God was placed in a manger.  The Lamb of God had come to be the sacrifice that is made for common sinners.

  The Son of God did not come into this world to rival Caesar.  Caesar had his kingdom where he collected the wealth of his people.  Jesus came to establish a greater kingdom where he gives lavish gifts to his people.  He comes be the ransom price to save you from sin, from death, and from the devil.

Caesar's decree resulted in Joseph and Mary having to go to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.  His decree resulted in the Scriptures being fulfilled.  Caesar did not know, and he did not care.  But God knew it was time to redeem his people.  God cared to save you.  

And so, through Caesar's unwitting decree, the Lord fulfilled his promise.  

And so, the Savior would be born in Bethlehem—just as God, through Micah, had decreed it would be.  

And so came into this world the Seed of the woman to crush the serpent's head—just as God, to Adam and Eve, had decreed it would be.

And so came into this world the Seed of Abraham—just as God, to Abraham and Isaac, had decreed it would be. 

And so came into this world the Prince of Peace—just as God, through Isaiah, had decreed it would be.

And so came into this world the one who is called Jesus, “the Lord who saves,” who saves you—just as God desires it to be.