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We gather
on this special night to relive the Christmas story
which culminates with the birth of Jesus. We have just
spent the better part of a month planning and preparing
for Christmas. Some might have come to this night
exhausted from the frenzy of activity of the last month
asking ourselves “is that all there is?” There has to
be more to Christmas than non stop activity. We come
tonight seeking once again to experience the miracle of
Christmas.
Some among us might
have traveled many miles to come home for Christmas.
Others might be traveling tomorrow to be with family and
loved ones. There is something comforting about being
home for Christmas. That is part of the reason why we
are here tonight. We feel at home with God.
God continues to work
in our lives and in our world. We may not always sense
or perceive the many ways that God is active in our
world. Often God is at work behind the scenes, out of
the limelight—one life at a time.
The
Christmas story begins with the gospel writer Luke
naming the movers and shakers of the time, the all
powerful emperor, as well as the governor. There is a
certain irony. You would expect those holding power to
be calling the shots, making things happen. However the
night Jesus was born, they did not have a clue but were
totally in the dark. Those is power were not privileged
to news of Jesus’ birth.
A census was ordered,
for the purpose of taxation. The emperor needed more
money for his projects so an increase in taxes would
serve that purpose. Taxes adversely affect that who can
least afford it—namely the poor—and that was the case
with Joseph and Mary. The census required Mary and
Joseph to travel to Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem. The
trip would be anything but pleasant, traveling by foot
or donkey for three long days. The recent movie, “The
Nativity” reminds us how difficult and potentially
dangerous the trip was for Mary and Joseph.
With a sense of relief
Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem only to discover
that there was no place for them to spend the night.
Joseph’s relatives could not take the couple nor could
the local inn accommodate them. Maybe no one
anticipated so many people descending on their little
town all at once. They no sooner arrived when it was
time for Jesus to be born. “She gave birth to her
firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and
laid him in a manger.” The baby was wrapped in “bands
of cloth,” reminding us of Jesus’ humble beginnings.
Jesus was not wrapped in the finest linen but with bands
or scraps of cloth. Jesus was born in a stable in the
midst of animals and not in a palace. On that first
Christmas there was no place for them.
Let us not make that
same mistake tonight as we welcome Jesus into our lives
anew. Let us make a place tonight and always for Jesus
in our lives.
A few miles from the
little town of Bethlehem were shepherds out tending
their flock. For them it was an ordinary night, one
like thousands they must have experienced. Perhaps the
shepherds had gathered around a small fire and were
talking about their day or whatever shepherds talked
about. Just then an angel stood before them, “and they
were terrified.” They had good reason to be terrified.
They were frightened out of their wits. Nothing like
this had ever happened to them. The angel told the
frightened shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for see--I am
bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is the Messiah, the Lord.” The angel told of
finding a baby “wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a
manger.”
As if that were not
enough a heavenly choir of angels suddenly appeared and
began praising God, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” And
then the angels left and they were all alone. Just a
quickly as they appeared they vanished. The shepherds
were stunned by the experience. They said to one
another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to
us.” They were not satisfied with hearing about the
wonderful thing that God had done; they wanted to see
the baby with their own eyes. They were not about to
stand around and debate what the angels told them. They
wanted to see the baby. That was the sign the angel
spoke of. They went immediately, “with haste.”
Seeing a group of
shepherds run into town probably caused alarm to anyone
who witnessed the spectacle. Shepherds did not have the
best reputation. People might have assumed that they
came to town to rob or steal or worst. They found “Mary
and Joseph, and the child lying in a manger,” just as
the angels told them they would. They worshiped the
baby Jesus. The shepherds then told Mary and Joseph of
their encounter with angels. “All who heard it were
amazed.” Again you would not think that the shepherds
were polished public speakers.
All who heard and
experienced the miracle were amazed that God would break
forth into our world in such a fashion. They were
amazed that angels announced the birth of the Messiah.
And they were amazed that the first people to learn of
Jesus’ birth were lowly shepherds and not the wise and
powerful. What amazes you about the Christmas story
tonight?
You might have thought
that that the people who held power would be in the
know, or at the very least the religious officials back
at headquarters in Jerusalem. No one would have thought
that shepherds would be the first persons on the scene.
Again, I believe this reveals that Jesus, the new born
messiah, was born for all people. Not some people, but
all people including each one of us tonight!
“The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had
heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Probably the
lease likely to respond to the message of salvation left
Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus praising God.
The miracle of
Christmas is allowing the Christ child to be born into
your life anew, tonight. God is still at work in our
world-one life at a time.
Cimeri was
traveling home for Christmas, from California to
Arkansas by bus, taking her two young sons to see their
grandfather. She was experiencing a difficult time, she
was broke, the reason she was headed home was that her
father had wired her enough money for bus fare and food,
for the four day journey. Cimeri was afraid to tell him
how bad things were and that she wanted to move back
home with him for a few months until she could get back
on her feet.
Two hours from Kansas
City, at four o’clock in the morning the bus lurched to
a stop jolting everyone awake. The bus had broken
down. By the time they got to the station they had
already missed the connecting bus for Arkansas. She was
told that the next bus would leave in twelve hours.
Cimeri called her father in tears, “we’re not going to
make it in time for Christmas Eve,” she said. Checking
her purse she had only ten dollars not enough for a real
meal for the three of them. What was she going to do?
How would she keep her toddler sons occupied in a bus
station for twelve hours?
Just then a tall man
dressed in overalls and a Santa cap was walking around
the bus station handing out gifts to people. “Look
kids,” she said, “it’s Santa Claus.” The man stopped in
front of them. “Merry Christmas” he said as he reached
into his pocket and pulled out a hundred dollar bill.
“I can’t accept this,” she gasped, waving his hand
away. “Are these your boys?” he asked. He reached into
his pocket and pulled out two more hundred-dollar bills.
With tears in her eyes
she told the stranger how badly she needed money but
there was no way she could accept it. The man bent down
and told her he knew exactly what it felt like to be
down on your luck. He told her when he arrived years
before he too was in the same situation. He reached
into his pocket once more and pulled out two hundred
dollars more. “Take it” he said gently. She broke down
and told him that they had no money, how the bus broke
down and that they would not reached their destination
for Christmas Eve. The man promised that she would make
home that night, he arranged a limousine to drive them
home.
Through this stranger’s
kindness they made it home for Christmas Eve. But there
was more, Cimeri had just about given up on faith but
through the kindness of a stranger her faith was
rekindled. (1)
On this special night
may our faith be rekindled, our hearts strangely warmed
as we reflect on how God sent Jesus to us—for us. We
might have looked high and low for the perfect gift this
Christmas—but tonight discover that it is Jesus. Jesus
is God’s most precious gift. The amazing thing is that
Jesus is with us tonight.
Santa knows exactly
what I want for Christmas. I’ve made my list. However,
only Jesus knows what I need. Jesus calls each one of
us to follow him as modern day disciples. The wait is
over—Jesus is here!
Amen.
1. “Along Came Santa, Cimeri
Miller, Guidepost, December 2007, pp. 22-24
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