The Work of Christmas

The story of Christmas to the Work of Christmas

Last Sunday we gathered with family and friends in churches and houses and remembered the story of Christmas. This Sunday the song of the angels brings in a New Year. The shepheards are back with their sheep making resolutions, and us today remember what the work of Christmas is all about.

For me the story of Christmas begins where most stories do, in the beginning. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void and darkness covered over the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be Light” and there was light.

In the beginning was the word. The word was with God and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Fathers one and only son.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

We like to watch Charlie brown Christmas every year and towards the end after getting frustrated with all the business of the Christmas season, Charlie Brown finally exclaims can someone please tell me what Christmas is all about. While Linus gives a great answer from Luke 2 today the answer comes from Hebrews 2:10-18. This is where the story of Christmas and the work of Christmas begin. This is what Christmas is all about.

God With Us

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 1 Pastoral Perspective

These verses from the Letter to the Hebrews do as much as any other text to help us to know the meaning of this holy mystery:

—In Christ, God became one of us.

—In Christ, God is with us in our suffering.

—In Christ, we have been freed from the fear of death.

The incarnation has a twofold purpose: First, negatively, to destroy the one who held the power of death. Second, positively, to deliver those who were held captive by the fear of death.

Hebrews 2:10 begins our scripture reading with a brief reminder of creation. God, for whom and through whom everything was made...

Hebrews: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition b. Jesus’ Identification with Humanity (2:10–18)

That is, in God may be found the origin and destiny of all things. The human tragedy of sin and death did not derail God from “the unchanging nature of his purpose” (Heb 6:17). The death of Christ was in accordance with the express will of God (10:5–10).

-In Christ God became one of us.

God who, first turned the lights on in creation, with the words let there be light, came and lived as one of us. He experienced all of being fully human. In Hebrews we see a God who suffers even to the point of death.

Hebrews: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition b. Jesus’ Identification with Humanity (2:10–18)

the preacher now turns to an explanation of why it is that the Son became fully human—even to the point of death.

In the time Hebrews was written it would have been improper to identify God with suffering humanity.

Why would God come and join a people who constantly live opposite how he intended from creation? God became like us, that we can become like him.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 1 (Pastoral Perspective)

It is remarkable, really, that God would choose to become a human being and not be ashamed to do so. Given our history of rejecting God’s way and choosing instead to follow the lure of the tempter; given our history of violence, abuse of creation, pride, and vainglory; there are plenty of good reasons for Jesus to be ashamed to become “one of us.

Despite all this God in Christ became one of us. The Word became flesh and made his home among us. Why? Hebrews gives us that answer as well. God chose to bring many into glory. Christ in his suffering was made a perfect leader fit to bring us into his salvation.

Hebrews 10:14 NLT

14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

Hebrews 2:11 NLT

11 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

-In Christ God is with us in our suffering

Hebrews 2:18 NLT

18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Jesus in his life was tempted, tested and suffered just like we do. On the night our Lord was handed over to suffering and death he prayed in agony in the Garden, Luke 22:42

Luke 22:42 NLT

42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

In Christ God is with us in our suffering.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 1 Pastoral Perspective

God is therefore with us in the midst of our sorrow: in the midst of earthquake, fire, and flood; in the midst of our illness, our pain, our grief. God is with us, and we are with God. This is good news indeed.

Because the word became flesh, because Christ was faithful even to the point of death on a cross, because the grave couldn’t hold him, Christ in his rising to new life blazed a trail, for us to follow into glory. We have been liberated from the fear of death.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 1 Pastoral Perspective

that in Christ—the merciful and faithful high priest—we have been liberated from the fear of death. Christ endured suffering to death on the cross. His subsequent resurrection and ascension make plain that death was not the final victor, though. Through our oneness with him, death no longer holds the power over us that it did before.

This is what the work of Christmas is all about.

The Work of Christmas

As we begin a new year lets remember the work of Christmas. Let’s remember the same God who first turned the lights on at creation, who breathed life into humanity, became one of us. Aleluia God is with us! Lets remember God suffered and died for us and that he is still with us in our difficult times. Lets remember God blazed a path through the grave for us to follow Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Aleluia! God is with us! The work of Christmas continues in through each one of us.