O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him
Born the king of angels:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
A very Blessed and merry Christmas, it is good to be gathered here tonight. Christians the world over gather on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to remember that all that we may be joyful tonight in Jesus Christ. Jesus who was born of Mary 9 months after the messenger of God, Gabriel, announced the into flesh visitation of God’s Son through her. A baby boy who would be named Jesus: literally “Yahweh saves”. In the town of Bethlehem, the city of David was born and gulped his first gasps of air, the Savior of all humanity. As we sang in verse 2: “born of a virgin, a mortal He comes”. The everlasting light, the immortal Divine, Son of the Father now places Himself in flesh that not only with a potential to die, but He has come for that very purpose: to die. To for us. To die for even us who have not been faithful to God’s Word, It is in Him that we can be joyful and triumphant, because as we will sing: “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Him tonight.”
Every child conceived in this world is fragile and precious. Why? Because they are born under the curse of sin, hence the fragility, for sin comes with the curse of death. A descendant of Adam and Eve we have an inborn fear because there is an immediate knowledge of death, therefore fear often controls and motivates a desire to live only for self, and in living for self, we sin. This selfish perspective is an attitude that only can inevitably leads to disappointment and sadness, anger, strife, despair, and emptiness and finally that feared death. Without true hope, this life can be wearisome and full of fear.
But tonight we are reminded that there is hope outside us, there is reason to live in joy. A hope that the Old Testament believers ached and yearned to see, a hope that comes from God as He had promised so many many years before. Instead of death and separation, God promises life, reconciliation, and unity with Himself for those who do not refuse His grace. That is why we rejoice in awe and wonder this night. The salvation of mankind through the flesh of Jesus Christ began to be realized here in time on this day.
So we by faith behold Him in the manger: The eternal Son of God, now a Son of Man: fragile and soft, like every new born baby of all times in all places. This fragile flesh of this new born baby Christ child, so much like every baby we have ever seen, this fragile flesh came to be fragile for you and me. He came in fragile but sinless form, to give of Himself, to be broken so that you and I and all believers would no longer have to be broken in our sins, our heart ache, our broken dreams and hopes that were placed in and for ourselves. No longer destined for eternal death, we have a hope far greater and far more eternal, because that new born babe of Bethlehem was fragile for you and me. He grew up sinless in our stead to be broken and die on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. The immortal one dies in the place of mortals so that by His sacrifice, we might gain eternal life by faith in Him. To show His power over death, Christ was raised bodily from the dead, to show the resurrection that believers shall also receive.
Our troubles, our sins, our failures and fears and all that would overwhelm us from the past and even the future when they cast upon and meet Jesus, they are overcome. Sin, death, and the power of the devil are also overcome and crushed by Jesus the Christ. The same baby voice which cooed and cried from the manger now speaks with command over our spiritual enemies. In the voice and comfort of His Word as He speaks to us giving us already a peace on earth and in our hearts by the forgiveness of our sins.
So we laud and worship, adore and give thanks to God as we marvel at the miracle made known to the Shepherds. On this Christmas night we think on this, that God did not forsake His people of old; He will not now forsake His people today. Jesus comes into the darkness of our sin and our clouded minds and becomes our light of hope. Baptized into Him, with the Word of God coming to us, we may be startled at first, and our flesh like the shepherds may become afraid at His light dispelling our darkness, but the message of Jesus Christ born, crucified and raised is glad tidings of great joy. It is the message of courage, of life, of hope. Listen and hear the voice of the Angel who speaks from God to you: “Fear not!” Let go of the fear. Hope in Him: for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. Tonight, by the power of the Holy Spirit let the Christ be born anew within you by faith as when you were first baptized. Let His peace envelope and swaddle you by the forgiveness of sins and be warmed by His love. You have seen and do see this Savior in the sacraments in water and bread and wine where the Christ comes to you and continues to enter in. He promises to abide with us as our Emmanuel through these means throughout the year and our lives to eternal life.
Tonight, as we ponder the mystery of God’s love, the wonder of the angels and shepherds. As we sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Silent Night”, listen to that sound which speaks in the silence: peace, love, joy with God in Jesus Christ, your Savior, your hope and the answer to all your fears, not only for tonight but for all your years until we meet Christ at the last. He will take us to heaven to live with Him there; to abide with Him and sing forever with the angels: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men and women who are made faithful believers for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen
Pr. Aaron Kangas
Luke 2:
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.