The Gift That Came At Night

Opening

Blue Christmas Notes:

Darkness is not in itself a purely bad experience, it is in the darkness we experience the earthly acts that push against the reality we know and project the reality we long for.

It is in the darkness that we must look for the light as the Israelites did in the wilderness. It was at this time they had to learn to trust God.

Cognitive Dissonance takes place when our lived reality does not line up with God’s stated promise.

A group of shepherds watching their sheep. These shepherds were not in the hustle and bustle of city life. The city was filled with light because of all the extra activity that was taking place. People were traveling long distances and families were coming together so great reunions were taking place. There was laughter, embraces, excitement, and love shared by all in this joyous time. But this group of shepherds were outside of the light in the darkness with their sheep. The shepherds sat outside in the shadows of joy, reunions, embraces, and gatherings at this time. They were doing only what they knew– watching their sheep.

It can be hard when you are the one on the outside sitting in the darkness when you are the one sitting in your grief, when you are the one who is isolated and alone wondering if you will ever be cheerful again. When it is your routine that is different, when it is your table that has an empty chair, or when it is your house that is filled with silence. When it is your phone call that is no longer answered, the one you can’t physically see or embrace when you are the one standing in the darkness just doing what needs to be done–when you feel like an outsider in your very own life.

The first time I experienced grief was a teenager. I remember it so well. Looking back on it now it seems so trivial. Autumn and I were dating and we had a massive teenage argument and I was pretty certain that it was all over. I stormed out of my room and down to the basement and shut off the lights. I just wanted to sit in the darkness. I remember picking up my harmonica and playing some sad tunes to accompany my pity party. After a time I looked into the darkness and I could see this light glowing. Its very presence irritated me so much. I got up and stormed across the room to squelch it. I reached out and took hold of a small keychain, one of those glow-in-the-dark ones, in the shape of a cross. Almost instantly I remembered God’s promise and the light returned.

My next grief came from what was supposed to be a moment of celebration to welcome my first nephew into the world but that celebration became quickly a place of mourning as my new nephew lived only a few hours after his birth. But it would not be long before my life was filled with

It was my father’s death that I can only describe as ripping the song out of my life. It was a darkness I had never known before. I put away my singing voice and my music for well over a year. It was an odd time as the day of my father’s viewing Autumn and I had to arrive late because we were finding out that we would soon have a little girl to welcome into the world.

My most recent grief is still being processed with this first Christmas without my mother. In which everything makes me feel like an outsider.

Our relationships are our greatest opportunities for joy and for grief. In fact the strength we have in our relationships is equal to the weakness we have in our losses. But this is the risk we have to take to let love break into our lives. Each of us gathered here today has experienced grief in some way. Whether the loss of a child, a sibling, a parent, a friend, a career, incarceration, or a loved one battling dementia and Alzheimers. Each of us can not only hear the psalmist but feel it as he writes:

Psalm 22[a]

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.[b]

Psalm 44

Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.

Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you,

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

What is the Gospel? God does hear us and not only that God sees us, and even more so God is with us. Especially in our darkness. In our mourning we have a promise— that God is there. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall see God. God interupts our darkness with His light and we will witness His wonderous presence.

The greatest gift God could ever have brought to humanity came at night, in the middle of the darkness.

God does not shy away from the darkness. God conquers it. In the beginning, God saw the void, God looked into the chaos, and said “Let there be light” There was light. God Looked into the lifeless womb of Sarah and brought forth life. God looked into the tomb of Lazarus and brought life. God died on the cross and through his death and a mother’s grief hope came to the world.

The Bible does not hide human anguish. The Bible doesn’t ignore the struggle, hardship, and pain that is the human experience. Because God doesn’t need defending. God does what God does through our experiences and through our lived reality so that we can arrive safely on the other side of our grief. It is not a question of “if only” For God it is “even if”

The darkness does not disqualify us from receiving God’s light; it is the backdrop for His glory!

The shepherds sitting in their darkness received a great gift. In fact all the world received the greatest gift, for the child Jesus was born that night. The angel appeared to the shepherds who were on the outskirts of the town. Above them in the sky light pierced the darkness. It was unexpected and sudden. The messenger’s first words were “do not be afraid”

The Shepherds knew strange things happened in the darkness. Predators would attack the sheep and they would have to defend their flock, theives may come and try to steal the sheep and attack the shepherds. The words of the angel addressed their immediate fear that this light was not a threat. They needn’t fear for their safety. Everything was going to be okay.

That assurance is for us as well as we hear the words of the angels. Here we are in our darkness of grief and the light of hope breaks through and we are offered a message to let us know that in our isolation, in our darkness, and in our fear God comes to us. God does not shy away from the hurting and the broken.

God brings hope even when the circumstances are challenging.

What is this gift?

The gift that came at night is Christ the LORD. The one who rescues us from our sin. The one who offers, hope, promise, and a future through our faith in him comes to us humble and lowly lying in a manger.

God came to us. We did not have to find a way to elevate ourselves to God. God came down. Simply and in humility to lift us up. Before you could put yourself together, before you can even think about functioning normally, before everything feels right God has given a great gift to you and to all of us! It is a reminder of God’s promise to us and for us. That light is coming, has come, and will always be for us. We are not forgotten. God is near.

In the nativity of Jesus comes the corporeal promise of who God is to His children.

Jesus is God’s gift to us—a source of comfort and peace in our darkest moments.

Here is the Invitation:

The angels declared God’s promise to the shepherds. God interrupted their circumstance to give them a special message. God has shown light into their darkness and surrounded them with His divine presence. It was to them the promise was first declared. God didn’t go to those in the town to see this great wonder first but God went first to those who were in great darkness and outsiders. Those who could not participate in the normal God gave the promise. Why? Because it is against the darkness that the Light shines the brightest. The angelic message was that God has brought peace to people. The Peace of God is the wholeness, healing, and restoration offered to a world that knows brokenness, struggle, hurt, and conflict– a world in need of a savior so that it can experience grace.

The shepherds received this announcement and despite their circumstances and as a result declared “We must go and see” They left their darkness behind. Not that it was gone but because the promise of light was so much brighter. They went in wonder and marveled at this great miracle that God had done.

Conclusion:

The gift of Jesus is intimate and brings transformation. It brings light to a life filled with anxiety, grief, hopelessness, and despair. Why? Because we can trust in God’s promise. Whatever “night” you are facing, remember that God has come near.