Emmanuel Has Come.

Reading of Luke 2:1-20.

   I fear we too often take for granted this passage I just read. We have become so familiar with it. The purpose of this service is not to just sit and watch the kids perform a program. It is not just to sing our favorite Christmas hymns. It is not just to participate in a tradition that has been done here for generations. These things are wonderful, but they are only good in so far as they stir our hearts up to the true purpose of this celebration. If our only purpose tonight is to sit in a form of spiritual gluttony where we just consume, we just watch and laugh along with the kids, or we just sing songs we like, or any other reason, it would be better if we went home and never held a Christmas Eve service again. It would be better if we did not even have this evening.

   So what is the purpose? Why are we here? Why should we be here? We are here for one reason. We are here to celebrate the birth of the Lord of the Universe, Jesus Christ. We are here to worship Jesus Christ, who is “the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.” (Nicene Creed)

   Our purpose is to marvel in the fact that God the Son, second member of the Holy Trinity, took on flesh and became a man. Jesus Christ, “6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Phil 2:6-11)

   When is the last time that we marveled at this? When is the last time we were speechless at the fact that the eternal Word, God of God, Light of Light, took on flesh? When is the last time that you were stuck dumb at the reality behind this word “Emmanuel.” God with us. God came to earth. God became a man.

   Think of this. Jesus Christ, Eternal Son of God. He was there in the beginning. In the beginning, when there was nothing, there was God. Before light, before space, before time, before reality itself existed, before the worlds were made, there He was. He is the One who created our world. Out of His will came the stars. At His command, light leapt into being. He spoke and time began to tick. He spoke and the greatest of the planets sprung into being in order to please His will.

   He was there at the beginning for He was the one who began the beginning. He was there in the garden with Adam and Eve. He walked with them in the cool of the day. He was the One who clothed them in the animal skins. He is the one who told them of the coming day when the Seed of the Woman would crush the seed of the serpent.

   He was there with Abraham. He is the One who blessed and covenanted with Abraham. He is the One who sat and ate with Abraham. He is the promised Seed of Abraham. He is the One who rained down fire upon Sodom.

   He is the One who was there with Moses. He is the One who told Moses that he was standing on holy ground. He is the One who lead our fathers out of Egypt, through the Red Sea. He is the one who stood with Moses on the mountain and gave the Law.

   He is the One to whom the host of supernatural creatures cry out day and night “Holy, Holy Holy, is the Lord God Almighty.

   He is Almighty God. The government IS be upon His shoulders, His name IS called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There IS no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, He orders it and establishes it with judgment and justice forever.

   This is the One who we celebrate tonight. This is the One we worship tonight. And think of this, this is the One who came down to us. Almighty God, stepped into history. He took on flesh and became a man. He humbled Himself. He condescended to become mortal. The infinite God to whom all glory is due humbled Himself to come to His own.

   And think of how He came down. He became an infant. Conceived in the womb of a young virgin of no repute from a town of no significance. Our God stepped into history in complete humility and lowliness. He was not born in a royal palace. His mother did not even have a bed. His birth was relegated to a stable. His cries were stilled by the sounds and smells of animals. The creator of the Universe did not even have a bed to lie in. He was laid in a manger, a common feeding trough. He was wrapped in rags.

   We know the scene. Caesar Augustus, the king of all the world at this point, issues a decree forcing all his subjects to return to their ancestral homes. This was the power of Caesar. With one decree the entire civilized world moved to accomplish his bidding. But little did Ceasar know that he was accomplishing the will of the true King of kings. He was merely a pawn in the story of the true King. For it was said of old by the prophet, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” And here, the king of the world accomplishes the bidding of God said hundred of years before.

   The holy family prepares their journey to Bethlehem. Joseph prepares the trip to be as easy as possible on the very pregnant Mary, his beloved new wife. He is probably concerned. She is very pregnant, and now must travel a long distance. What if there are bandits who will take advantage of all these people traveling? What if the child comes on the trip? What if this, what if that? On top of all the concerns there is the knowledge that this child in her womb is no ordinary child.

   This is the promised Christ child who will save His people from their sins. Joseph is the chosen protector of this child. But on this journey, how can he function as a protector? The couple prepare to depart. As they do, they pray and ask the Lord for His protection. What else is there to do? The Lord, Himself must guard them.

   They travel the 70 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. We do not know how. It could have been on the back of donkey, or even on foot. They had to stop often to allow Mary to rest. And at last, they arrive. But now new problems arise. Little Bethlehem is far busier than it has been in centuries. Where will they stay? And now, Labor is nearing. What will they do? How will Joseph protect his wife and this new child that is coming? But the city is far too full. There is not even a single room for them to stay in. And now, labor is beginning.

   They finally find a place. But it is no inn. It is no home. It is a stable. A barn, or a cave. A place of animals. Dirty, smelly, as undignified as it is possible to be. It is here that the baby will be born. It is unclear if anyone was even with Joseph and Mary. It is entirely possible that Joseph had to deliver this child by himself. Loving and coaching Mary through the contractions and birth pains.

   Is this how we would expect the King of kings to be born? Is this how we would expect God Himself to step into human history? Certainly not. And yet this is how it happened. In that small stable in Bethlehem, surrounded by the sounds and smells of animals, an entirely new sound was heard. A cry. But no normal cry. Certainly infants have cried at their birth for all of human history. But never was there an infant like this. This was the first human breathe of the Lord of creation. This is the first cry of the God who spoke the universe into being.

   And there were Joseph and Mary, holding the small hands of the One who holds the Universe together.

   But unknown to Joseph and Mary they were not alone. Think of what this scene would have looked like if only we had the eyes to see it. How many divine angels were there? How must heaven itself have leaned forward in anticipation as the child was birthed. How must the angels and watchers and living creatures, the seraphim, the cherubim have looked into these things. Eagerly leaning closer to see this, to hear this. At last, it was happening.

   One can almost hear them. “There He is! There He is! Look, He has arrived! There is the Seed! The Seed! Behold, the Seed of the woman has been born! Glory! Gory! It is finally happening!”

   At once, the Father Almighty gave the charge. “Go now! Go! Announce the news! The Christ has been born!” And like lightning, an angel of the Lord flashed through the heavens. Faster than light he shot through deep heaven to earth. Beyond comprehension, he sped to the city of Bethlehem, to a hill just outside the city.  The entire heavenly army streaks in his trail. Where are they going?

   And once again the mystery of this account shines forth. Where are these beings of incomprehensible glory going? To shepherds. The lowest of all the social class. Men of disrepute. So hated by the people that they were forbidden from even entering the city. Men who were forbidden from giving testimony in court. This is who the angels go to.

   These shepherds, lie with their sheep, blissfully unaware for the moment of the glory happening in the small town outside which they stay. Then in a twinkling, in the blink of an eye, the heavens light up. But is this light? Is that the correct word? No, it is not just light. The heavens are filled with the blinding glory of the holiness of God. Standing in the heavens above these rabble rousing ruffians is an angel of the Lord terrifying and awesome to behold.

   I cannot fathom the fear that must have overtaken these men. Pure shock and unabated terror. What will this being of incredible power say? Will they be judged by God and struck dead on the spot even for looking on the glory of this being?

   No. The angel speaks words of comfort. “Fear not! For behold, I bring you good news!” Literally, I bring you the gospel-good news. What is this good news? Today, in Bethlehem, there has been a birth. A Son was born. But not just any son. No, this was the Savior of the world. The Christ has come. The One who will save man from sin and hell. He has been born, and is right now lying in a manger.

   Then in deafening glory the entire army of heaven arrive. No longer is the sky just filled with the glory of one being who lives in the presence of God, it now erupts with glory. Countless angels now fill the sky. Where moments before there were innumerable numbers of stars, now there are innumerable numbers of angels. Heaven is filled. Heaven has come to earth. And these angels begin to sing. “Glory to God in the Highest!” “Gloria in Excelsis Deo!” Glory! Glory! To God! Glory to God and Peace on Earth!

   And just as soon as they came, they leave. Heaven and earth now separate once more. Angels replaced by the familiar constellations of the night sky. Although there is one difference. There, hanging in the sky over Bethlehem is a new star. A new heavenly host remains in the sky. And countless miles away, in the far east, the Magi look to the sky. There it is. The long awaited new being in the sky. They remember the ancient prophesy of the promised King of the Jews. And they rush to make the two year journey to Bethlehem.

   But there in Bethlehem, the shepherds, after calming themselves from their near deathly shock, take council. Only, there is no need to take council. They all know what they must do. They must go and see this thing. They leave their flock, their livelihood behind them, for nothing could possibly be more important than this. To see this child.

   And they scramble to Bethlehem. They search everywhere a manger could be. One can see the confusion that must have been caused all across Bethlehem as dozens of shepherds pour into the city speaking of angels, visiting the stable of every inn. Then at last, they find the holy family. And they hesitantly come in.

   Man after man, coming into this precious moment where Joseph and Mary marvel at the Lord in their arms. And these men give reverence as only rough men can. Bowing before the Lord Jesus, there in the manger, there in arms of the blessed virgin. One after another, bowing to this new King. For they knew, they all knew. This at last was the promise in the flesh. Here is the Seed of Abraham, the Seed of the woman. The Messiah is here.

   And the shepherds leave. They leave and they spread the news of what they have seen and heard to any who would listen. These become the first evangelists of Lord Jesus.

   This is what we celebrate. We celebrate Emmanuel. God has come to us. He came to us, a child in a manger. The King of kings and Lord of lords come to us. He humbled Himself. He condescended to the least of us. All of us are here welcomed to Him.

   Just as with the shepherds, the announcement is made to us. Come, come, for the Lord is here for you. He welcomes you. Come to Him. Fall at His feet. Fall to your knees before the Lord. He became a man for you. He became a man to redeem you. He came so that He might live and die for your salvation.

   The only question that remains is left to you. Will you bow to the King? Will you cling to His feet? Will you worship this One who came for you? The call is given. Will you repent? Will you run to Christ?

   The question is for you: What do you celebrate tonight? Let me ask it this way: Do you celebrate that Christ has come? Is Christ your life? Your love? The breathe in your lungs? Is Christ your everything? Are you overwhelmed by the glory of the fact that Christ has come? Do you believe that Jesus has come for you?

   I pray that tonight, tomorrow, and through all twelve days of Christmas you and your families are blessed. I pray specifically that during this time you celebrate that God has come to us. Celebrate Christ. It is Christ-mas. We celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the reason we have joy.

   So glory be to God in the highest and earth peace toward us. Hail to the King of kings who was born so long ago in Bethlehem that we might have life. Hail to Him. He is Lord. He is God. He is our everything. Hail Christ! And be blessed in the name of Jesus Christ, who reigns forever and ever! Amen, and Merry Christmas.