Christmas Day Sermon
Luke 2:1-20
Why God thought of Christmas
1 ¶ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all
the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was
of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling
cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them
in the inn.
8 ¶ And in that region there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10 And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you
good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in
swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom
he is pleased!"
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said
to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that
has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told
them concerning this child;
18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they
had heard and seen, as it had been told them.RSV
Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the
Christ.
I would like you to pretend that you are back 2000 years ago in
Bethlehem, you wake up on this day, get the morning newspaper and you
read about some strange happenings which occurred in your town during
the night. As most newspaper do, this one, the Daily Bethlehem covered
the story from every angle. You read....There is a story about
astronomy in which the strange bright star over Bethlehem is explained
The top astronomers of the day give their opinions concerning this
latest appearing in the sky.
As you read further, you find on article concerning the many miles
people traveled and the crowded conditions in your town especially last
night. A special human interest story appeared which told of a pregnant
woman traveling 70 miles on top of a donkey, then arriving so late that
Mary and Joseph find no room in the inn, so they have to settle for a
stable.
Then in the police reports, you find that a group of shepherds invaded
your town during the night. The report gives little detail, but the
shepherds were reported to have gone to that stable to see a little
baby who was suppose to have been born. The police kept close track of
those shepherds because of their reputation for causing trouble
whenever they come to town. The report said something about the
shepherds seeing angels in the sky and hearing the angels singing and
telling them about a special baby being born this night in a stable.
The report went on to say that the police were very suspicious of the
shepherd's story.
Finally in the birth announcements you read about a baby born who as
yet has not been named being born in a stable behind the inn. You find
out that the parents, Mary and Joseph were of the house and lineage of
David and that is why they are in your town because of the census
ordered by Herod.
By all the accounts, there were some strange happenings in your town
last night. As you read these stories, you come to the conclusion that
these were all unrelated events. You wonder how the baby is doing since
little was said concerning his welfare.
Using your imagination, those might have been the stories you read
concerning the strange events in Bethlehem. Notice every angle was
covered, but the story which was the short shortest concerned the baby
born in that stable. Is that how it should have been? Maybe not, but
that is the way it was and I bet if it happened today, it would be
reported in the same manner.
The most important event of Christmas, the birth of God's Son would
probably receive the least print, except the human interest side, the
baby being born in a stable.
Is the human interest side of the story the reason God thought of
Christmas? Did God think of Christmas so that everyone would fell for
Mary and the Baby born in a cold, drafty stable in the middle of the
night?
Why did God think of Christmas?
God thought of Christmas because God wanted to give us the gift of
Himself. God to be with us, in a human form. God wanted to give us the
gift of salvation. God wanted to do for us what we cannot do for
ourselves, to love us, to forgive us, to bring peace and contentment
into our lives.
A story entitled The Miraculous Staircase by Arthur Gordon explains the
gift of Christmas very well It seems in 1878 a chapel was built and
completed and named Our Lady of Light and run by the sister of Loretto
. But a problem developed, it seemed that the plans for the chapel came
from Paris and the architect who drew them forgot to put a staircase
leading to the choir loft. After the chapel was built, it was soon
discovered that there was no room for a staircase.
One cold December day a carpenter came hearing about the problem and
offered to build a staircase. The mother superior Magdalene was leaving
to help in a village with sickness and couldn't talk with the Carpenter.
The best ones in Santa Fe and New Mexico couldn't figure out how to
guild a staircase so she figured this one wouldn't either. She left
giving orders for him to be fed and then he could go on his way. While
fighting the sickness in the village she received some strange letters
from home. It seemed that the carpenter was working late, into the
night on something.
The Mother Superior having completed her mission in the village hurried
home. Because of a snow storm she arrived late at night on Christmas
Eve. The chapel was ablaze with light. She hurried in and was met by
excited sister ushering her quickly into the chapel to the choir loft
area.
"Like a curl of smoke the staircase rise before them as insubstantial
as a dream. Two completed spirals it made, nothing seemed to support
it. One sister whispered, it has 33 steps, One for each year of the
Lord. Mother Magdalene moved toward the staircase, stepped up and began
to climb. She reached the choir loft, she was ecstatic
"How did he do it?" she asked, "How did he finish it in time? What is
his name?"
The sister answered,"He finished today, he left when he was done."
A young girl who had been mute came forward trying to form words and
uttered, "his name was Jose" Jose is the name in Spanish for Joseph.
The sisters bowed their heads.
This staircase can be seen today in Santa Fe. No one can explain how it
was built. 33 Steps make two complete turns without central support.
There are no nails, only wooden pegs. The curved stringers are put
together with precision and the wood is spliced in seven places on the
inside and nine on the outside!
That mysterious staircase was a gift, an unexplainable gift just as the
baby born in the manger is an unexplainable gift from God to us.
Why did God think of Christmas, easy, to give us a gift, a gift of love
which was freely given. A gift which is just as masterful as that
staircase in Santa Fe.
This closing story tells it all, why God gave us Christmas!
NO JACKET REQUIRED
Author Jimmy D. Brown
I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn't be the right place. After
all, I couldn't possibly be welcome here. I had been given an
invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally
decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn't
be the right place. Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that I
clutched in my hand. I scanned past the words, "Come as you are. No
jacket required." and found the location. Yes, I was at the right place.
I peered through the window again and saw a room of people whose faces
seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed, adorned in fine
garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at this exquisite
restaurant. Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn
clothing, covered in stains. I was dirty, in fact, filthy. A foul smell
seemed to consume me and I couldn't shake the grime that clung to my
body. As I turned around to leave, the words from the invitation seemed
to leap out at me......"Come as you are. No jacket required." I decided
to give it a shot. Mustering up every bit of courage I could find, I
opened the door to this restaurant and walked up to a man standing
behind a podium. "Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile.
"Jimmy D. Brown," I mumbled without looking up. I thrust my hands deep
into my pockets, hoping to conceal their stains.
He didn't seem to notice the filth that I was covered in and he
continued, "Very good, sir. A table is reserved in your name. Would you
like to be seated?"
I couldn't believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I
said, "Yes, of course!"
He lead me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with my
name written on it in a deep, dark red. As I browsed over a menu, I saw
many delightful items listed. There were things like, "peace," "joy,"
"blessings," "confidence," "assurance," "hope," "love," "faith," and
"mercy." I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant! I flipped the
menu back to the front in order to see where I was at......"God's
Grace," was the name of this place!
The man returned and said, "I recommend the 'Special of the Day.' With
it, you are entitled to heaping portions of everything on this menu."
"You've got to be kidding!" I thought to myself. "You mean, I can have
ALL of this? What is the 'Special of the Day'" I asked with excitement
ringing in my voice.
"Salvation," was his reply.
"I'll take it," I practically cried out.
Then, as quickly as I made that statement, the joy left my body. A
sick, painful ache jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes.
Between my sobs I said..."Mister, look at me. I'm dirty and nasty. I'm
unclean and unworthy of such things. I'd love to have all of this, but,
I just can't afford it."
Undaunted, the man smiled again. "Sir, your check has already been
taken care of by that Gentleman over there," he said pointing to the
front of the room. "His Name is Jesus."
Turning, I saw a man whose very presence seemed to light the room. He
was almost too much to look at. I found myself walking towards Him and
in a shaking voice I whispered, "Sir, I'll wash the dishes or sweep the
floors or take out the trash. I'll do anything I can do to repay you
for all of this."
He opened His arms and said with a smile, "Son, all of this is yours if
you just come unto me. Ask me to clean you up and I will. Ask me to
take away the stains and it is done. Ask me to allow you to feast at my
table and you will eat. Remember, the table is reserved in your name.
All you must do is accept this gift that I offer you."
Astonished, I fell at his feet and said, "Please, Jesus. Please clean
up my life. Please change me and sit me at your table and give me this
new life."
Immediately, I heard the words, "It is finished." I looked down and
white robes adorned my squeaky clean body. Something strange and
wonderful had happened. I felt new, like a weight had been lifted and I
found myself seated at His table. "The Special of the Day has been
served," the Lord said to me. "Salvation is yours."
We sat and talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that I
spent with Him. He told me, me of all people, that He would like to me
to come back as often as I liked for another helping from God's Grace.
He made it clear that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as
possible. As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the "real
world," He whispered to me softly, "And Lo, I am with you always." And
then, He said something to me that I will never forget. He said... "My
child, do you see these empty tables throughout this room?"
"Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?" I replied.
"These are reserved tables...but the individuals whose names are on
each placard have not accepted their invitations to dine. Would you be
so kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined
us yet?" Jesus asked. "Of course," I said with excitement as I picked
up the invitations.
"Go therefore into all nations," He said as I turned to leave. I walked
into God's Grace dirty and hungry. Stained in sin. My righteousness as
filthy rags. And Jesus cleaned me up. I walked out a brand new
man...robed in white, His righteousness. And so, I'll keep my promise
to my Lord. I'll go. I'll spread the Word. I'll share the Gospel...I'll
hand out the invitations. And I'll start with you.
Have you been to God's Grace? There's a table reserved in your name,
and here's your invitation...
"Come as you are. No jacket required."
God gave us Christmas so we can go to God's Grace.
Amen
Written by Pastor Tim Zingale