Christmas Eve

If there is one word we could associate Christmas with it would be joy. joy is more a state of being than an emotion. Real Joy is not based on your circumstances, your situations, or anything other than Christ. Who no matter what happens in your life is a constant that never changes.

The song we just sang is a song that most Christians would think of if someone asked name a few Christmas songs. But the man who wrote it was not writing it for the purpose of singing it only at Christmas. This song was written by a man called Isaac Watts, an English Christian minister and writer whose sacred words were inspired by Psalm 98 of the Bible.

According to something I read this week, Isaac Watts was one of the great hymn writers in church history, and I guess nothing shows that better than the fact that he wrote one of his most famous hymns by accident. In 1719, Watts published a book of poems in which each poem was based on a psalm. But rather than just translate the original Old Testament texts, he adjusted them to refer more explicitly to the work of Jesus as it had been revealed in the New Testament.

Watts interpreted this psalm as a celebration of Jesus’s role as King of both his church and the whole world. More than a century later, the second half of this poem was slightly adapted and set to music to give us what has become one of the most famous of all Christmas carols:

Its fitting that we sung that song first, because the reality is the joy that comes from his birth does not end there, but continues to this day, because of the Joy Christ life had, and the joy of his resurection, and the joy that will come when earth receives her king Once again, and this is why we are hear today to worship the king who has came, but the king who is coming again.

The Next two songs we will sing a song called what child is this? And O Holy Night.

What Child is this? first appeared as a hymn text in Christmas Carols New and Old (1871) edited by Stainer and the Reverend H.R. Bramley. Apart From "What Child Is This.

It was a combination of a song and a poem interesting enough.

‘O Holy Night’ was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847.

The music was originally set to a French poem, 'Minuit, chrétiens' (Midnight, Christians) and released under the name 'Cantique de Noël'.

The combination of these two songs are filled with Biblical truths. Not just about his birth but about his life, and death. Before we listen to those songs I want to read from you the word of God.

Luke 1:35 “35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”

Tonight we worship the Son of God, who came to this earth.

Listen to Luke 2:1-7 “1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.”

The Savior of the world came into his own creation to be born in Bethlehem. The one who created all things did not have a place to lay his head.

Luke 2:8-21 “8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” “16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”

The night the Lord came was filled with glory. Filled with good news of the savior who came. Filled with Joy that he came. Filled with the understanding that this news what not just great for the shepherds but the whole world.

2000 years later we stand here today worshiping God, because of this great news.

The boy who had been born was not just another child, but as the Angels say the Savior, the Christ that the Jewish people had longed for since the fall of humanity.

They gave the shepherds a sign that he would be in a manger swaddled like most new born babies.

The angels worshiped and praised God for what he had done. Echoing the words Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those whom he is pleased.

The Shepherds could not help but want to go see the Savior of the world. and they went and they saw him, and they told Mary and Joseph these incredible things they just witnessed, and Mary treasured up all these things. pondering them in her heart.

I love that language here, treasuring, and pondering. As we have discussed some on Sunday mornings, the Lord is our greatest treasure. Many of us have gotten or will get incredible gifts tonight, or tomorrow, and they will give us some joy in the moment, but the greatest gift is that the Lord came to us, in the flesh to save us from our sins. Ponder that tonight, tomorrow and for all of your days. The Lord is great and worthy of worship today. The angels knew that true, Mary and Joseph knew that true, the shepherds knew, and so can you.

In Matthews Gospel we see another visit from the wise men, because of the three gifts that we are about to sing about, but in reality we don’t know how many wise men there were, listen the scriptures.

Matthew 2:1-12 “1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”“9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

Jesus was brought gifts, valuable gifts indeed, and as they came looking for him Herod who if you read more than just this in chapter you know he is a bad man. But the wise man didn’t listen to Herods request they went instead to worship him. Giving him gifts with great joy, and going home a different way.

As we looked at these scriptures we see joy and we see worship let us sing some of these amazing truths back to the Lord in worship.

I love Christmas, because it ushers in the reality of a joy that has come. A joy that cannot be taken away. A joy that remains constant whether you have a lot or have very little. The gospel is for all who will believe it. The gospel can be summed up as good news. As we sang those songs. I could not help but think about Philippians 2:5-11 “5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus coming brings the reality of sin, and the punishment for sin, but also provides the way out of the wrath of God, Jesus yes born of a virgin, but also died the death of a sinner though he did not know sin. And every knee will bow to the reality that Jesus Christ is Lord, but salvation only comes to those who repent and believe on earth.

As we are about to sing our final song, Silent night. Silent night was written by a young priest in Austria by the name of Joseph Mohr. He wrote the song after looking out over a very quite, winter laden town, and first sung this song on Christmas even in 1818 with just a guitar and one another man.

The song brings out the reality of Isaiah 7:14 “14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

and Isaiah 9:6 “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.”

many of us have a weight on our shoulders right now, but Jesus birth, gives us a peace knowing what he accomplished.

Ephesians 2:17 “17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”

Tonight take note of wonderful truths that we have heard and sang together, and remember Matthew 1:21 “21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””

After this song is completed you are dismissed and I will see you Sunday for a message titled are you born again?