Christmas Eve 2021

Christmas Eve

john reading

john 1:1-14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcomeB it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the father, full of grace and truth”

Wait, that Sounds glorious…but when I read the story…

Luke 2:1–10 CSB

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

Intro

not glamorous, not regal, not lofty…

expectations and reality are often different…but those differences matter.

This feels like one of those moments. The story is this: a baby was born. Happens every day. All around the world. We forget that every baby will grow, every child will choose, every young person will build a life, a family, and the world will change because of each of those babies.

Here we get the circumstances. They are humble, and there is much to give us pause and consider.

For this was no ordinary baby, these were no ordinary circumstances. God was entering the world to establish his kingdom, and the circumstances around this birth says a lot about that kingdom. As we dwell on the story tonight, consider these things:

1. He became vulnerable for the helpless.

There’s nothing more helpless than a newborn baby.

There’s no one weaker than a mom who has just given birth.

Now remember that they are not at home surrounded by family and friends, but alone, taking refuge in a barn, with only a food trough as a crib.

That’s how this story begins – two frightened teenagers in a barn with a God baby.

2. He was born in obscurity for the forgotten.

Jesus is always looking for the overlooked.

Bethlehem was a forgotten town to the Romans.

No one went to Bethlehem, and no one talked about Bethlehem.

God has a habit of finding people living in obscurity.

We can consider the story of Samuel, in search of the man who would be the king of Israel, is led to the family of Jesse, who has 8 sons.

All strong, all tall, all look the part…but one. The youngest, the one in the fields so the brothers could do the important work. And God chose David.

3. He became human so we could know God.

He was born from a woman.

He grew up.

He became tired and hungry.

He was abandoned by his friends.

He was falsely accused.

He died a real death.

As Paul says to Timothy:

1 Timothy 2:5–6 CSB

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

Jesus represents us to God and God to us.

If we want to know God, we look at Jesus.

Jesus came to an unusual place, to an unusual people and in an unusual way.

All to be the light of the world.

And so we, gather here, remembering and allowing ourselves to be changed in the act of remembrance to light candles. Little lights, reminding us of the great light, Jesus:

who from eternity was God and is God

Who came and used his light to show us what the kingdom of God looked like

and Who made us, like himself, lights in the darkness, transforming the world around us.

As the candle comes your way, parents, help your kids keep safe. And as the flame is passed, let the unlit candle be the one to tip.