Christmas Eve 2023

Introduction

Opening Illustration: Today we have come together to celebrate Christmas, which is a moment where the Church reflects on the birth of Christ. Today's text, our focus is going to be on the theme of peace. At Christmas, with the help of slick marketing the general sense of sentimentality it is easy to deceive ourselves into feeling a sense of peacefulness. But as we begin I want to ask you if your life is marked by steady, consistent, peace of the soul. We must not settle for sentimentality, when glory and majesty beckon us. And so, let us turn to the Word and read the story of the birth of Christ as told the great historian Luke.

Luke 2:1–20 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for …”

Meaning & Application

What Was God Up To? This story is filled with surprises to say the least. Mary, the mother of Christ, being forced to travel while eight months pregnant across Israel. What was God up to? The child Christ, God in the flesh, the one who spoke creation into being entering into his own creation, and there’s no room at the inn? What was God up to? The long awaited Savior who had been written about for centuries, born and laid in a manger? What was God up to?

Sheperds in Context: Of all the curious circumstances of this birth, one of the greatest has to do with these shepherds. While many of you might be familiar with nativity scenes and shepherds beside the manger of Christ, I wonder if you’ve ever thought how strange it is that they’re there. Think about the juxtaposition in that room. The prophet Isaiah, writing about 700 years before the birth of Christ wrote about this infant,

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

If Jesus is who Isaiah spoke about than certainly the world can never be the same. And… it hasn’t. Interestingly, when He who was “Mighty God” finally came, the first visitors on that night were lowly shepherds. In order to appreciate the juxtaposition here we have to consider the stereotype of a shepherd in first century Israel. Shepherds were largely treated as outsiders to normal society. Most people were somewhat afraid of them. And many of them were unable to participate in most of the religious ceremonies of day to day life in Israel at the time. Here’s three reasons why:

Violent & Tough: First, shepherds fairly and tough men. They were outdoorsmen who were physically strong, doing a lot of manual field labor. But also their job required them to physically defend their flocks from animals and from thieves. These were tough fighters who were often skilled with weaponry.

Animals Giving Birth: Second, the regular religious life of Israel at that time had all sorts of rules about being clean or unclean. If you became unclean you were not allowed to participate in religious ceremonies. Well the shepherds life often had them directly dealing with unclean things. Very often, a shepherd would have to help one of their flocks give birth. This would make them unclean. Very often, it was cold at night, and the most common way for a shepherd to build a small fire was to use dried animal dung. This would also make them unclean.

Uneducated: But third, the shepherds were typically considered ignorant, because they never went to school. The religious leaders of the day were all schooled by the best rabbis in the best institutions, but shepherds had been sheperding since they were small boys alongside their father.

To put it simply, all of their life, they had been told they were unclean, uneducated, and unwelcome. And of all the people in Israel that God could have sent his heavenly choir to announce the birth of Christ to, he chose those men. Why? Is it just to humor us? No, remember there are no accidents, there is only providence.

Great Fear (9): We are told when the angels first appear, the shepherds are terrified, which makes sense. It’s not just others who believe the stereotypes, they believe the stereotypes. Which means if angels are appearing to them, it’s probably not the best message coming their way. But the angels quickly remove their fear and announce the birth of Christ. They send the shepherds to go find the child wrapped in swaddling cloth in Bethlehem. But before they go, a “multitude of the heavenly host” appears in the night sky saying

Luke 2:14 ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!””

Well Pleased: That verse alone, we could go word by word and give a sermon on. The shepherds would be familiar wtih “Glory to God in the highest.” The shepherds would be familiar with the passages that spoke of the Christ brining peace. But look at that last phrase, “with whom he is pleased.” How do you think that phrase hit those shepherds? All their life they were considered unclean, uneducated, and unwelcome. And in this moment, their Heavenly Father announced his pleasure in them. They find their way to Bethlehem. They knock on the door. And behold, a child wrapped in swaddling cloth just as the angels had said.

Luke 2:17–20 ESV

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

What do the shepherds have to teach us this Christmas Eve?

The Peace of Christ: The shepherds are in this narrative because they tell a story of what Christ was about to accomplish. The Christ has come to offer true lasting peace to men like these shepherds. Not all will receive it. In fact many will reject it. But the offer that was made, and I believe received joyfully by the shepherds, is made to you tonight as well. What is this peace? Let me offer you three ways you might consider that peace.

An Inward Peace: Christ offers an inward peace. These shepherds had been treated as ignorant outsiders their entire life. I wonder what kind of inner turmoil they experienced. I wonder if they ever worried about what others thought of them? I wonder if they ever believed the gossip abotu them? I wonder if they ever truly did feel like an outsider to the religious people who said they were unclean and could not participate? Many of us might have thought or felt something similar, perhaps even often. See Christianity heals this. How? At the heart of a disquieted soul is a lack of assurance that there is soul is good standing. See if you don’t know where your soul stands with God, then you’ll be looking for that assurance from others. But there are two problems with that. First, everybody on this planet suffers from the problem of sin. And no matter how hard you try, how much you think your life is all together, you won’t please everyone. But secondly, you also are sinful and make mistakes. What Christ offers is a peace that surpasses understanding.

Philippians 4:7 ESV

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In Christ, God the Father is perfectly pleased with you, not because of your performance, but because of Christ’s. He transfers Christ’s righteousness to your account. This is a confident soul who has this kind of perfect love! Bring what you will, make your mistakes, and

A Relational Peace: Second, Christ offers a relational peace with others. So much of our life is spent with in an inward hostility towards others. Even when we put on smiling face and laugh with them, sometimes our souls are inwardly judging them, critiquing them, ridiculing them. You see in Christ, this is done away with. Because to come to Christ you must accept that you are the chief of sinners, that you are unworthy of God’s love, that your mind, your heart, and your affections are misguided, and only if Christ gets ahold of your life can they be set straight. Consider

Philippians 2:3 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Very few Christians I have met truly live this out, but when they do, it is beautiful. It is strength through meekness. God begins this new work in you the moment you come to faith in Christ.

An Eternal Peace: Lastly, Christ offers an eternal peace. For, while this life is important, and what we do with the few short years we get has significant value. This is not all there is. This infant Christ is truly the King of Kings. Heaven and salvation are in his hands. Justice and righteousness are the foundations of his throne. And one day, each of us will stand in judgment before Him to give an account for our lives. Each of us will be found wanting. Not one of us will be without plenty to be judged for, for we have all fallen short of God’s standard. But consider the Apostle Paul’s words,

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This infant that we celebrate on Christmas, would grow to be a man who would have a singular mission. To take our place underneath the wrath of God on the cross. This he did joyfully. And we are told

John 1:12–13 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

This is the hope of Christmas. This is what those shepherds were celebrating.

Conclusion

As I close, I want to invite us to reflect on the infant in the manger. And to hear one more time, the precious words of those angels to the sheperds that night.

Luke 2:14 ESV

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”