CHURCH
LUTHERAN
Our Savior's of Elderon
Christmas Day 2016 INI Luke 2:1-20
Today is December 25th, Christmas Day. Today millions upon millions of people living under all sorts of conditions and as far apart in their thinking, as the north pole is from the south pole, are strangely and reverently united at the manger of Bethlehem.
At Bethlehem’s stable, there are no racial or cultural differences. “Silent Night, Holy Night,” is sung by all languages as people humbly worship the Christ Child. Everywhere, today is Christmas and there will always be a Christmas as long as the world stands. Whether the crowds sing :Jungle Bells,” or join in worship by singing, “O Holy Night,” everywhere is Christmas and Christmas will always be until we are all in heaven. Of course, that brings us to the question;
WHO ARE THE KEEPERS OF CHRISTMAS?
First and foremost, the keepers of Christmas are the shepherds of Bethlehem. They were ordinary, common folks. They were the hard-working men and women of humanity that did not enjoy the best life has to offer. They had to accept the hard grind of life, the monotony, the endless sameness of life.
They walked the Jericho road of existence with anxious thoughts about where they were going to get enough food for the family, for themselves and where they would find shelter and protection. They often had to move to the side of the road to make room for greater, more important people. The shepherds didn’t have any estates or large amounts of land they owned.
Imagine what life was like for them. Remember also that to these simple people the Christ Child brings great treasures. Along the weary walk of life, they hear the angels sing, “Glory to God in the highest.”
The Savior brought hope to the poor shepherds. He brings hope to all of us. He brings healing from sin. He brings security that is eternal. The humble shepherds came to Bethlehem because of the angel’s encouragement. They learned through this Gospel that at the end of the trail and all human suffering is heaven which Jesus would purchase for them and us with his own blood.
In heaven, there is fullness of joy. There God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. In heaven, there will be no more pain and suffering. As the shepherd’s trudge along the road of monotonous routine, they see the Christ-Child and their hope.
Of course, it’s true that not all who are weary come to Jesus, even though they should. Some try to drown their sorrows and get away from the drudgeries of life with over-indulgence, by partying and Christ-less living.
But those who do come to the Christ-Child to keep Christmas find that their meaningless life becomes meaningful as the wonderful news that God is reconciled to them through Christ, brightens their outlook on life and puts joy in their hearts.
However, the shepherds aren’t the only keepers of Christmas. Wise men come from the far east to Bethlehem to find something that all the wisdom in the world could not give them. These wise men were the brains of the world, the elite, the cultural. Life had been good to them. They enjoyed the nice things of life. They always had plenty of food and adequate shelter. The wise men were the privileged of society.
So why, then, did they come to the manger at Bethlehem? They came because wealth, learning, success and power had not satisfied the hunger of their souls. They discovered they had been feeding on ashes when they tried to satisfy their deeper longings with gold and the successes of the world.
All the knowledge they had could not find the answer to the souls’ search for peace with God and eternal security. They came to Bethlehem, because there, in the Rock of Ages, they found cleansing and healing from sin and the assurance that salvation is theirs.
Unfortunately, not all who are wise and successful come to the manger. Not all of this type of people are the keepers of Christmas. Some only think of Christmas as a time to make extra money; a time when their friends shower them with gifts; a time for good meals and great parties.
So maybe they aren’t so wise after all. I say that because those who are truly wise come and kneel at the manger. There they find real, lasting peace of heart and mind. There they find a fuller and more meaningful life; life lived in Christ.
Who are the keepers of Christmas? The keepers of Christmas are also the sinful people who make Christmas into a time of partying and feasting in their own sinful way. They want to get away from the daily routine of life. But, in so doing, they give no thought to the Christ-Child who came to enrich their lives with acts of service.
These keepers of Christmas will have a bad hangover tomorrow. They keep counting their gifts, they hurry to town to exchange the things they don’t want for the things they want. That a worldly Christmas. It gives no glory to the Christ-Child.
However, among the sinners there are those today who are on the way back to Bethlehem. They have discovered that the pleasures of sin give no lasting satisfaction. They have come to the point where they regret their past and have learned that the way of the transgressor is truly very, very hard.
They have made terrible mistakes and they want to know if there is a road of beginning all over again. By the grace of God they have been led to see that the road to Bethlehem holds out forgiveness of all sins, past and present. The road to Bethlehem restores self-respect to all who come to the Christ-Child in sincere sorrow over sins; sobbing out the confession of their misspent life.
These keepers of Christmas know the real blessing of being reborn in Christ; of coming to faith in him. At the manger they find peace for the heart and mind as well as newness of life. And so, it is with grateful hearts that they kneel at the manger and give glory to God. They have found the joy of the Lord.
Once more we look down the road to Bethlehem and there, we see the saints, those who believe in Christ, kneeling at the manger in joyous contemplation. They realize that it’s only the grace of God that has kept them from falling from the faith. They testify to the fact that the Lord’s love for mankind was so great that he sent his Son into this world of sin to lift them to his heart.
These keepers of Christmas know that it’s only the Christ-Child that keeps them in God’s grace day after day. Humility and adoration have removed all pride from their hearts. They know all to well that their own accomplishments could never save them from sin and hell. They are rich because the baby became poor; because Jesus humbled himself to the cross. They keep singing all day long as they, along with Mary, ponder this miracle of miracles.
Today, is Christmas everywhere. Today we need to set aside all philosophizing and reasoning and in humble child-like faith, kneel at the manger of Bethlehem.
The keeping of Christmas somehow makes life more bearable. It puts new hope into our hearts as we trudge through life in this world that’s filled with endless problems, hurts and sorrows. Life would be drab, colorless and without hope if there was no Christmas.
That leads to the question; “How can you and I keep Christmas in a way that’s pleasing to God? We do so by coming and seeing for ourselves the wonder of Bethlehem. At Bethlehem we see more than a little baby.
At the manger we see God himself in human flesh. At the manger we see him who is the Wonderful, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace. Unto us is born a Savior who removes sin and its consequences. Here is One who takes away the fear of death and the judgment to come. Here is the One who opens the gates of heaven for us.
However, we must o more than simply come. With the shepherds lets tell everyone the good news, what Christmas is really all about. Christmas means sharing; not just gifts, but sharing the Savior. Sharing will even make us more joyful.
Christmas should also make us more sympathetic. At the manger we become more forgiving. We leave our grudges and ill-will behind. We want others to be happy too this time of year so we become more thoughtful more humane. All this takes the rough edges off of life. Christmas takes the heartlessness and selfishness out of life.
With the shepherds and the Wisemen, with Mary and Joseph, with sinners and saints tell everyone what God has done for you at Bethlehem.
He gave his only begotten Son; he gave Him to be the Savior of all. God the Father reconciled the world to himself through the Christ-Child in the manger. At the manger you and I find peace and reconciliation with God.
Through the Babe of Bethlehem our sins are removed, forgiveness is offered to all who come in faith. Jesus saves us, that’s why he is the hope of the world.
Today, with angels and saints we praise God who has done this wondrous thing. We kneel at the manger and exclaim with the prophets of old, “ His name is Wonderful, the Prince of Peace!” When we do that we too are among the keepers of Christmas. Amen.
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