A sermon for Christmas

Luke 2.1-20 (NRSV)

The Birth of Jesus

²In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.¹⁰But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds 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.’ ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

These verses relate the story of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Everybody loves this story and so they should because the story of any birth is always beautiful and moving. The story of the birth of Jesus has become part of western culture and many droves of people flock into churches on Christmas day to be reminded of this wonderful story.

Every birth of every child is ‘wonder’ full. That there is little that can compare with the intimacy and extreme emotion that is coupled with this event. Even midwives and doctors often say that no matter how often they witness a birth, nothing can take away the sense of wonder and joy that always accompanies the entry of a baby into the world.

This passage tells of a birth that was more wonderful than any other before or since. While every birth is a miracle, the birth of Jesus was the greatest miracle of all as God was being born into the world. The author of the first letter to Timothy explains: 'Here is the great mystery of our religion: Christ came as a human ...'

We all know the story so well, but allow me focus our attention on a few important truths.

Firstly, notice where Jesus was born. The prophet Micah had prophesied that the event would take place in Bethlehem - and sure enough, it took place in Bethlehem. This reminds us of the wonderful truth that God is ultimately in control. He controlled the secular ruler Augustus and directed him through thoughts, events and ideas, to decree that all people needed to be registered. As a result, he, Augustus decreed that Mary and Joseph should travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Roman emperor did not know that he was a pawn in God's hands and that he was only doing what God was allowing him to do.

Especially in our troubled times in Britain today, we should take heart that God is in control and can intervene dramatically into our situation and change things. There are tremendous problems in our country at this time. Morally and ethically there is a drastic decline. This is manifest in many ways, not least in the erosion of the family, the discipline problems in our schools, the increased incidence sexual promiscuity and perversion, substance abuse - the list is endless. In a sense we are witnessing the steady decline in standards and I would not be surprised if we were witnessing the decline of western civilization - like Greece and Rome before us. This can be for many reasons - not least being the conscious and wilful decision of many people to deliberately reject God and the way of life he has decreed for all people in his word, the Scriptures. Things will continue to get worse until people make a conscious and wilful decision to turn away from sin, accept Jesus and the way of life laid down in the word of God. When this happens God will respond by transforming our society into one of peace, prosperity and order.

God is in control. As God intervened and changed the course of history using Caesar Augustus as a pawn to do what he willed, so can he intervene and use earthly rulers and others as pawns to bring about his purposes on this earth. But people need to respond in obedience.

Secondly, notice who the first people were who received the wonderful news of Christ's birth - simple ordinary shepherds, not priests, rulers, theologians, scribes or Pharisees. This is not meant to imply that people who are learned or who have position were excluded. The visit of the Magi - the wise men who followed the shepherds - bears testimony of this. But all too often, simple people, poor people feel that they do not know enough to be able to draw close to God. Nothing could be further from the truth. What is important is not wealth, position or knowledge - but faith.

God offers to all people faith as a free gift. All people have to do is respond by accepting it. Whether you are a university professor, a mechanic, housewife, millionaire, street-sweeper, unemployed - no matter what one's station in life is - all people are afforded the opportunity to draw close to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, notice the message the angels brought with them. They said:

‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people ...’

The spiritual darkness that had covered the world for thousands of years was about to be rolled away and God was to be revealed in all his fullness through Christ; the way in which sin could be forgiven was to be made available for all people; people can defeat the power of Satan, temptation and sin in their lives and so be enabled to experience wholeness and restoration while living on this earth; people were about to be enabled to experience peace with themselves, peace with others and peace with God. Indeed, the birth of Jesus is 'good news' and should make 'everyone happy'. Because of Jesus there is hope, because of Jesus there is power, because of Jesus people can be restored to God.

The angel was joined by many other angels who sang a beautiful hymn of praise that explains in detail the wonder of Christ's birth. We read in verse 14:

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

The greatest praise to God in heaven happened through the birth of his Son. His life, death, resurrection and ascension revealed in detail God's justice, holiness, mercy and wisdom. Jesus made it possible for peace to be restored between sinful people and the Holy God because he paid the price for the sins of humankind. When people accept the forgiveness of their sins and the peace of God that passes all human understanding by faith in Jesus, it also enables people live at peace with one another. O how the world needs Jesus.

Lastly, notice how prompt the shepherds were in responding in obedience to what they were told. We read in verse 16:

¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

They responded immediately. They never debated, questioned, doubted or even hesitated - they did something - they hurried off to find Jesus. Let us all follow the example of the shepherds by responding immediately. Let those who have never come to Jesus, come to Him today, accept the free gift of forgiveness and enter a new life through faith. Let those who have already accepted Christ, come to him afresh today and invite Him to fill them with peace towards themselves, those we know and love and all the people they have contact with.

I close with an illustration from www.esermons.com that epitomises the way Christ’s incarnation can be a reality in the world today when people respond in faith to the message of Christmas. It is written by Erskine White in his book entitled Together in Christ, where he writes:

“As some of you know, Fiorello LaGuardia was mayor of New York during the Depression, and he was quite a character. He would ride the city fire trucks, take entire orphanages to baseball games and whenever the city newspapers went on strike, he would get on the radio and read the Sunday "funnies" to the children.

At any rate, one bitter cold winter's night in 1935, Mayor LaGuardia turned up in a night court that served the poorest ward in the city, dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. After he heard a few cases, a tattered old woman was brought before him, accused of stealing a loaf of bread.

She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick and her grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, insisted on pressing charges. "My store is in a very bad neighbourhood, your honour," he said. "She's got to be punished in order to teach other people a lesson."

The mayor sighed. He turned to the old woman and said, "I've got to punish you," he said. "The law makes no exception - ten dollars or ten days in jail."

But even as he spoke, LaGuardia was reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ten dollar bill. "Here is the woman's fine," he said, "and furthermore, I'm going to fine everyone in this court room fifty cents for living in a city where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Baliff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."

The following day, the New York Times reported that $47.50 was turned over to the bewildered old woman. It was given by the red-faced store owner, some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations and city policemen - and they all gave their mayor a standing ovation as they handed over their money.

That's how it will be with God's world. Just when it seems that all hope is lost, and goodness and mercy shall never win, the Great Judge will come to set things right, deciding for the hungry and the meek of the earth. Yes, there is also an Christmas promise for the nations of the world in perplexity and distress: "Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."