Christmas Eve 2021

Intro

Light of the World

Merry Christmas to all who are in person or online

One of my favorite Christmas stories of all times takes place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 1914

It was the first large scale and modern war.

At the time it was called the Great War because never before had people been shipped from all over the world to fight

and never before had fighting happened all over the world.

In four years 40 million lives would be lost

In four short years 500 year old monarchies and royal dynasties would fall

It would cause the fall of the Russian Tzars, The Ottoman Empire, The Austro-Hungarian Empire and the German Empire

the boarders of the whole world would be re-drawn due to this war.

It was the first war that was fought on 4 continents

It was the first time that 100 different countries would pass a declaration of war.

It was the war that started with horses and ended with tanks

This war was so universally brutal, that the end of the war was really just a 20 years cease fire and the next war that would take place would take upwards of 75 million lives.

World War one was a harsh start to the 20th century

It's a war where all sides rushed so fast to invade each other that what happened that wasn’t really planned for was something called: Trench warfare.

This is where the war would stall out and men would spend the whole war a couple of feet below the ground being shelled mercilessly

It would become a brutal war of attrition

The land in-between where these trenches were was called, “no man’s land” because if you tried to go retrieve a friend, there was a 100% chance that you would end up dead

No man would walk in that land and still be alive

In one of the worst battles of the war, the battle of Verdun Just the French side fired over 10,000,0000 rounds

You can still find videos on YouTube of people who were “shell shocked” because of all of this

There are videos of these people trying to walk down the street just shaking uncontrollably… why? They were in a trench and years later their bodies still experienced a physical reaction to the trauma of the war

Trench life was horrible.

There were freezing temperatures, rain that lasted for days and the bitter wind and cold.

Often times these troops stood in water for days…

Because of the snow and the rain and the high water table of the area, these trenches were almost always flooded and the soldiers contracted something called trench foot…

This was not a pleasant condition…The constant water simply killed the toes and they would fall off…

Gangrene would begin to creep up your leg…

In 1914, a trench anywhere in Europe was the worst place to be in the world.

To make matters even worse, morale was low on all sides so both the Germans and the English had major campaigns to send your soldier gifts at Christmas time, they thought it would give the soldiers needed a boost…

Probably unsurprising to you and to me…This had the opposite effect…Soldiers broke down because of they became so homesick…

But on Christmas Eve 1914, 107 year ago tonight, something miraculous happened….And instead of telling you the story…The British Grocery chain Sainsbury’s made what is probably the best and most historically accurate commercials that I have ever seen about what happened in a field in France on Christmas eve 1914

Let’s take a look….

Video 3:10

Can you see why this is one of my favorite Christmas stories of all time?

This is a true story, it really happened

In the midst of the Horror of trench life, the Prince of Peace showed up

Because in the middle of Darkness a light has dawned.

While none of us have been in Trench Warfare...

We all have our trenches where it feels like we have been sitting in mud up to our knees for days

We all have our no-man’s land where it feels like we can’t even move forward

We all have times of darkness that we deal with, times when it just never feels like it is going to get better.

I love this story because it is hope full in the midst of hopelessness

I love this story because these Soldiers experienced a glimpse of what true peace can do.

I love this story because these soldiers experienced Joy in the middle of a time of great mourning

I am enamored with this story because of the great love that grew between enemies

After the Christmas Truce of 1914, men refused to fire on their enemy because they no longer considered them enemies...

The Commanders had to split up the regiments so that they would actually fight again...

I love this story because it is almost like God himself came and stood in no-man’s land and enabled these people to see their shared humanity

This is what Christmas is

It is the coming of God to us

It is God coming in the form of a child to meet us where we are at

Its the story of God coming to sit in your trench, in your darkness…in your no mans land

Jesus’ good friend John wrote about the life of Jesus. And instead of writing like Matthew or Luke who were a little more literal with times, events & genealogies.

John was a bit more poetic

He didn’t care about capturing the shepherds and the manger scene…Matthew and Luke had that down

John wanted us to get the cosmic significance of Christmas

so this is what he wrote John 1:1-5 NIV

Jesus’ friend John wrote this about him.

The New International Version Chapter 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

This verse isn’t angels singing

Its not shepherds rejoicing

its not any of the story that we are used to.

This is John screaming to the world…Do you get it? The creator God is with us

John uses the words, “in the beginning” You have to think, where have I heard that before? Oh yeah! Page 1 of the Bible...

John wants you to know that his account of Jesus is the account of the creator God coming to life in the person of Jesus

He wants you to know that the story of Jesus is a New Beginning or a new creation

He wants you to know that when you follow Jesus you can have a new beginning too

If you were to look back at Genesis 1 you would see that all of creation was formed and made by the breath or the word of God.

Its that same “word of God” that is alive and active through the person of Jesus

In the beginning was the word and the word was God and with God.....He made everything and then John says…In him was Life

John is just screaming now…Look back at Genesis! God is the one who spoke life into existence and breathed into the nostrils of humans...

The one who gives all life is with us and his name is Jesus.

And then I love how John says…That life was the light of all mankind

In the creation of the world…God says, “Let their be light”

But God’s light in the created order is such a strange thing. It’s actually a kind of a cosmic light

Why? Because it wasn't till day 4 that the Sun, the moon and the stars were created...

So for the first three days there is a light source for the earth is essentially God himself...

God himself actually gives true light to his creation…Light and life

Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus would heal a blind man and then he would declare, “I am the light of the world”

Then John says…The light shines in the darkness and darkness has not overcome it.

What Jesus wants you to know and what John wants you to know is that Jesus is the embodiment of “Let there be light. He is the cosmic light” The one who gives light to the whole earth.

Just like now, back in John’s day

Light meant good

Darkness was evil

So what is John saying?

Jesus is the creator God becoming flesh to bring true life to humanity...

Jesus is the light of the world that drives out darkness.

(Pivot back to video example)

The reason why the the Christmas truce of 1914 is just so powerful to me is that 1914 was steeped in darkness and death and just for a moment

LIGHT BROKE THROUGH THE DARKNESS

LIFE TRIUMPHED OVER DEATH

Its as if God stepped out into no-man’s land and made the truce himself

And you have to understand, this is what Jesus is pleased to do!

(Make it personal )

Maybe this year has felt like trench warfare for you, one step forward, two steps back

Like you don’t even have the courage to stick your head out through the trenches

Maybe there is a darkness that has been surrounding your life

Christmas is about Jesus stepping out of his pristine world intentionally.... into darkness …On our behalf

Christmas is about Jesus bringing life to a humanity steeped in death

Christmas is about Jesus coming to the battle fields of life…walking out of the trenches and making peace

Jesus is the light of the world and this is what all of Christendom proclaims on Christmas.

Light is available to you today...

Maybe your here and you got dragged by a family member or a neighbor…And church isn’t something you’ve done before, God hasn’t been even on your radar…

But you have been on His radar

The God of all creation wants to make a new creation out of you…He has plans for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you…He has a new beginning for you

The God of all light, wants to come into your life and eradicate the darkness

The god of all life wants to come make you alive again.

And I’ll say this

Its a risk to poke your head out of a trench

It feels like a risk to say yes to Jesus

But maybe right now God is having a moment with you and you know it.... He is whispering to you that he is the light and the life!

And there are some of you here who just know..its time…

Christmas Eve 2021 is the time to surrender to the one who can make you new

Christmas Eve 2021 is the time to say yes to Jesus...To poke your head out of the trench that your buried in and to surrender all...

Maybe for you Christmas Eve 2021 is the time to extinguish the darkness and to welcome the light of God

So as the band comes forward, I want to pray with you

If your here today and you need a new beginning with the light of the world. If you need the darkness to be driven out of your life…if you need the prince of peace today. Would you just raise your hand?

Let’s Pray

Candle Lighting

A long held tradition of the church is to sing silent night with our candles lit.

Silent night was first sung in a little german church in 1818

We light our candles from the Christ candle to remember that Jesus also called us the light of the world. So as you get the light, share it with those around you.

So wherever you are at I want to pray with you and encourage you…Maybe you want to put your trust in Jesus for the first time

Pray::::

Candle lighting

Silent night

Isaiah 9 was written in a turbulent time.

The New International Version Chapter 9

2 The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation

and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you

as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice

when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle

and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning,

will be fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty

will accomplish this.