+ Christmas Midnight - December 24th, 2018 +
Series C: Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20
Beautiful Savior Lutheran, Milton
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
When it comes to Christmas movies, it’s hard to pick a favorite. The whimsical Elf. The hilarious trials of Clark Griswold. Ralphy’s quest for the Red-Rider BB gun.
But nothing tops Linus in Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. In the world of Christmas movies, he’s my hero.
For Linus points us to what Christmas is really all about. A humble tree and a simple message of Good News. Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Linus doesn’t tell us to skip the Christmas parties, throw out the presents, or toss the tree to the curb. He simply, yet with reverence and joy, reminds us that the Christmas story is not one story among others. This is thestory. The story of Jesus’ birth of us. The story of our Savior born to rescue, redeem, and restore us. The story of Good News of a great joy that is for all people; it is for you. Christ is born to save you. To live for you. To suffer, bleed, and die for you. To rise and live for you.
We simply cannot hear this story enough. For without this story we would have no Christmas carols or Scriptures like Luke 2 to hear. Without this story we would have no presents, parties, or pageants. Without this story we would remain Charlie Brown trying to put together a Christmas play. We would be helpless, hopeless, and lost forever.
Finally, Charlie Brown cries out, “Isn’t there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is all about?!
“Why yes,” says Linus...
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
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.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
“And that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
He’s right. Christmas is about God’s promises through Isaiah, kept, fulfilled, and revealed in Jesus’ birth.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Christmas is about Jesus who came to help the helpless by becoming a helpless child for us. Christmas is about Jesus who was born to bear our hopelessness, brokenness, sin and death from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, to cross for us. Christmas is about Jesus who comes to rescue and save poor miserable sinners as surely as he came to proclaim Good News to poor shepherds. Christmas is about Jesus who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And that’s what Christmas is all about.
A blessed Christmas to each of you…
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment