Christmas Day 2007
Luke 2:13-14
Immanuel Lutheran Church of Frankentrost
Saginaw, Michigan
Pastor Mark A. Loest

12-25-2007 audio

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ—whose birth once again we celebrate this Christmas morning.

Scripture for our sermon this morning is from Luke, chapter 2, verses 13 and 14:

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 among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)

Prayer: Ah, dearest Jesus holy child Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled, Within my heart that it may be A quiet chamber kept for Thee. Amen.

Today all the earth celebrates with the holy messenger sent to the shepherds and the accompanying choir of the heavenly host the news that “a Savior is born who is Christ the Lord,” all the while joining in singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The Church rejoices today that we are among those with whom God is pleased. And it is by God’s pleasure in His Son, Jesus Christ, that we are considered among the people of God. Paul says in our Epistle reading this morning our Titus, chapter 3,

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)

Christmas is about what God has done, not what we have done. Christmas is about God’s attitude toward mankind and his dealing compassionately with us and not as our sins deserve. Christmas is about God changing His plans for our future.

God intended when he created us that we would not need saving. The Bible tells us that in the beginning God made us perfect—in God’s image. In Eden we had unlimited access to God, our first parents walked with Him and spoke freely with Him. It was the bliss of paradise. After all, God had crowned his creation with the glorious creation of man and his helper, woman, and the divine assessment was that it was all very good. Perfect.

Even today, so many things that involve human beings are quite good. Most arts, sciences and human endeavors produce much that is useful. This is reflective of how we were created in the beginning by God. We can create—which animals cannot. We can express in abstract—visually and verbally. We even make music—the only other creatures which can do so are angels. All of this is more than the refinement of the “brute beast” evolving to something higher. It is reflective of God, who created us to be creators also.

But we also know that sin taints everything we do. Art becomes pornographic. Science constructs weapons. Knowledge leads to moral dilemmas concerning the conceiving of life, prolonging of life and ending of life.

We humans take every good blessing with which God has provided us and we use them against one another and to the dishonor of His holy name. We create idols, curse God and one another, blaspheme His name, despise preaching, dishonor all forms of authority, disobey parents, murder, commit adultery, steal, betray, and covet. We’re constantly inventing new ways to sin against God and have taken all that is good and turned it to evil.

Our human situation is such that even unbelievers see that something is terribly wrong: today they preach environmental issues and global warming—which is about as helpful to our human dilemma as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic after it struck the iceberg. Yes, it’s a mess…but the problem lies a lot deeper.

But while all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, God also knew that at the start the blame lay elsewhere. Adam and Eve may have disobeyed God when they delighted in the forbidden fruit and ate of it, but they were led and tempted by the devil.“The devil made me do it” may have been an unacceptable excuse with your mother when you broke the favorite lamp or were caught tramping dirt in the clean house, but God accepts it because He knows what the devil is like and even warns us to watch out for his tricky ways.

When our first parents sinned, God first cursed the devil, not Adam and Eve. He was to lie on his belly eating dirt. His head would be crushed. He would be at deadly odds with mankind, and One Seed of the Woman would come and destroy him.

Adam and Eve were never cursed. Rather everything around them—the whole of creation was ruined and the bearing of children was made painful. The human role in bring about the Savior would not be easy. Redemption required divine intervention. God was willing to help. He would come into our human flesh. Paul tells us in Galatians chapter 4,

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)

God’s timing is perfect timing we might say: but it often seems that His timing is off when it comes to so many matters in our lives.

Cancer is diagnosed too late. Sickness is too far advanced. Recuperation takes seemingly forever. Upon her brother Lazarus’ death Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21 (ESV)

But it is not God who delays, but us. We dally in keeping His Word. We doubt. We act against His will. We put off prayer or wonder if it is even worth the bother. We refuse to see the Lord’s hand in things and we take maters into our own hands. Families try to determine quality of life. Young people adapt permissive lifestyles and fornicate before marriage.

The rich become miserly. The poor resentful. The doubting question the Word of God. And God’s answer to all this and much, much, more remains the same: a baby. God starts were we start, so that he can sympathize with us all. We are told in Philippians chapter 2,

Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV)

And in this way then we must learn to regard and to know our Savior. He did not come to us only to be a great teacher or example. Neither has he left us like the saints. But He is the One who is and remains always at your side and within you. This is especially true when we die.

And how do you know He is yours? Believe what the angels say and join the angels in their singing. He is Christ the Lord. He is Christ your Lord.

He died, and rose for you, and has ascended to the Father in heaven; and when you believe in Him He will take you there too. That is the right Way, the Way we must take and travel from this to the life beyond.

This journey begins in Baptism. And as long as there is faith, you will continue on this course until He completes it through your death. This faith is fed in the Supper and your soul and body are strengthened and preserved. This faith does not walk away, but must be and remains wherever Christ is found, especially in preaching. And the stronger the faith is, the more surely this Way is traveled. For this walking the Christian way is nothing but a constant growth in faith and in an ever-stronger assurance of eternal life in Christ.

If you persist in this faith and death attacks you and throws you down, if it chokes you in your prime or takes away all your powers or senses or life itself, then the journey is over, and you have arrived and you will be with him heaven.

And really, this is no different than what the angels sang long ago to shepherds on Bethlehem’s plain. That God has favored us highly.

And it is also what little children pray when they sing:

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with thee there. Amen.