Christmas Day 2022

Text: Luke 2:15-20 “15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

I want you to consider the shepherds in our Gospel lesson for this morning. We heard a little bit about them last night. These guys were the very first ones God told about the birth of Jesus. That’s pretty miraculous in itself. These guys were on the low end of society. They didn’t count. Historians tell us that they weren’t counted in the census. They weren’t even counted for taxes, and that’s saying something. That’s how low and insignificant they were to the rest of mankind. And yet…God tells them first, and He makes this Good News known by filling the night sky with bright angelic choirs, all singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.” God pulls out all the stops to let some insignificant shepherds know that He loved them and counted them as worthy of being saved; worthy enough to send His Son to live and die for them.

Now what? Well…they do exactly what humble, saving faith does: They hear this Good News and immediately say to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.” St. Luke tells us that they immediately went with haste. Contrast that with our own reality. How many Christians all around the world heard the Good News last night proclaiming the birth of Jesus? It’s really quite sad to think about how many people rushed to the living room this morning to see if Santa had come. And how few ventured out to come here and see this thing that has happened.

Now. Obviously I’m preaching to the choir, so to speak. So I’d like to take the point a step further: Notice what these shepherds do after hearing the Good News and after they worship Christ in His presence—they go back out into the world. They go back into the same world that shunned them. They return to their vocations, and they glorify and praise God for all they have heard and seen, making known to everyone what had been told to them and what they themselves had witnessed and beheld and were a part of.

It’s absolutely true: on this day, roughly 2,000 years ago, a baby was born. Mary’s little baby boy would, one day, walk on water; He would give sight to a blind man; He would calm a storm with His hand. The helpless Baby she held was Lord of all creation; He had walked where angels trod; when she kissed her little baby, she kissed the face of God. And, as if that weren’t enough, Her Son would save our sons and daughters; the child that she delivered would soon deliver her; her baby Boy had come to make us new.

He is heaven’s perfect Lamb— the Great and final Passover Lamb who would be sacrificed so that, by His blood, He would set His people free from their enemies and deliver them from death.

What now? Go! Return to your vocations. Return to the callings and offices God has placed you into in order to serve Him and make Him known. Go serve God by serving your neighbor just as He has served you. Go and tell what God has done for you!

Unfortunately, that’s something that a lot of 21st century American Christians with big hearts and good intentions often struggle with. You and I are easily deceived into believing that you need to find the “secret, higher purpose” that God has for you. You’ve been led to believe the lie that your everyday vocations and callings are somehow “less holy” and if you really want to serve God and make God happy, you need to step up your game. “Here is God’s secret, higher purpose for you.” Ordinary life just doesn’t cut it.

Well…that’s not how God sees it. These lowly shepherds return right back to their lowly vocations. They return to nomadic shepherding, only now they’re filled with awe and wonder; their lives are filled with new meaning; and yes, they’re evangelizing, telling everyone about the Good News of Christ in the flesh as they go.

Today is all about Christ coming to you. He was born in a stable so long ago, but He comes to you here every week. He was there when you were brought to this font, He was there, giving you the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit so that, having been justified by his grace, you might become and heir of heaven having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7).

He gives Himself to you from this altar—inviting you to eat and drink of His body and blood and receive, in the process, the gifts of eternal life and salvation.

Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Behold! The Word of almighty God Himself, who became flesh and dwelt among us, to live and die and rise again for us. Behold! This same almighty God still abides with you and dwells among you, to feed you, forgive you, nourish you, protect you, and deliver you from all evil. Here is almighty God—the same almighty God these lowly shepherds worshipped so long ago—holding out to you His real and tangible gifts of grace, mercy, and peace; gifts that He gives to you in His Word, His body, and His blood. Here is what the angelic hosts sang about! Here is God’s peace on earth, with you and for you, right now!

What now?! Repent and believe the Good News that your Savior is here— and that He is with you always, to the very end of the age!

What now?! “Take and eat. Take and drink, for the forgiveness of all your sin.”

What now?! Go and glorify and praise God for all that you have heard and seen and received from the hand of Christ Himself this very day. Go, and serve God by returning to the very good and God-pleasing vocations that He has called you into in order to make Him and His salvation known to all people.

It’s that simple, and it’s a profound, yet simple joy that has never been intended to be restricted to one night or one day out of the year. It’s a profound, yet very simple Christological joy that is yours each and every day in Christ. That’s what today is all about. Today is yet another opportunity our Lord gives to us to be in His presence, to receive from His own hand, and to celebrate all that He has done for us out of His great love, grace, and mercy for us.

You have been called by God to serve Him and given something truly beautiful and wonderful to the world. Do you realize how special these things are that you’re called and gathered here to do? How special these things are that you come and do regularly? Singers who gather and practice and work to be able to offer beautiful praises. A care and share group that, just a few days ago, delivered boxes and boxes of food to people who needed it right here in our community. Groups of men and women who dedicate themselves to praying for those with specific needs. Do you have any concept of the blessings that have come from your prayers? One of the things I’m looking forward to the most when we get to heaven is being able to see all the blessings that have come from those prayers. All the things that are invisible to us in this life, but we will sing and praise God for on that day. And we could go on and on even with just the groups in this congregation.

But it goes way beyond just what happens here inside our walls. You have been called by God to serve in your homes, in your families, everywhere you go. To love and serve those around you with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And you don’t need any kind of class in “lifestyle evangelism,” in finding opportunities in everyday life to share the gospel. Luther is quoted as saying that a Christian shoemaker carries out his vocation, his calling, not by putting crosses on all the shoes he makes, but by making the absolute best shoes he can. Because you have received the gift beyond all other gifts: the love of God in Jesus Christ.

You’ve heard the good news. This morning you’ve come and received your Lord and Savior in His Word, in bread, and in wine. May this gift of Christ to you; the gift of your salvation; the gift of knowing and trusting that God is reconciled to you and at peace with you because of the all-atoning life, work, and person of the Word made flesh and hung on a cross for you; may this gift of God be your joy, your peace, and your reason behind all that you say, think, and do in your daily God-pleasing, neighbor-serving vocations, now and into all eternity.

Amen.[1]

[1] Based on “Now What?” A sermon for Christmas Day by Pastor Jason Zirbel, Grace Lutheran Church, Greenwood, Arizona. December 25, 2016. Used with permission.