The Nativity of our Lord, Christmas Eve

"Spending Christmas with Jesus This Year"

December 24, 2003

The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel

Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Lessons:  Isaiah 9:2-7;  Titus 2:11-14;  St. Luke 2:1-20

     Have you seen the poem that's become quite popular, since it was written in 1990--titled, "Merry Christmas from Heaven"?  It's a touching thought--a message from a loved one who's died, and now is in heaven, encouraging those still in this life not to worry, to carry on as faithful believers.  It concludes, To my family and friends please be thankful today;  I'm still close beside you in a new special way;  I love you all dearly now don't shed a tear--Cause I'm spending my Christmas--with Jesus this year!

     I'm sure the reason this poem is so loved, is because there's no more comforting thought at Christmas-time, after the loss of a loved one--after the loss of a mom or dad, a son or daughter,  a husband or wife, or dear, special friend--than the reassurance that, we need not grieve or mourn unduly, because, truly, they're not really gone, they're in heaven, spending Christmas with Jesus this year!  And--who wouldn't want to spend Christmas--with Jesus?!  At least for Christians, that would be the culmination of everything we've hoped for, lived for, sacrificed for, believed in--our whole lives--being with Jesus, in heaven.  And what a celebration there must be, in heaven, at Christmas-time!  In a sense, you might say we Christians are "dying to get there"!  Until you stop and think--"Hey, I'm spending Christmas with Jesus, this year, too!"  Not because we expect to pass from this life, before midnight tonight--but because Christmas is all about--not us, dying to celebrate Christmas in heaven necessarily;  Christmas is about God, becoming human in Jesus Christ, to be with us, here on earth!  So that every Christmas, what we celebrate is Emmanuel;  God--with--us!  And isn't that good news?

     Indeed, this is the good news proclaimed by the angel of the Lord, who appeared to Joseph in a dream, to reassure him that all that would happen would be in accordance with the Lord's will, quoting the prophet Isaiah, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel, which means, God with us."  This is the good news the angel shared with Mary, when he told her she would conceive by the Holy Spirit, and bear a son, who would be great, who would be Son of the Most High God.  This is the good news an angel proclaimed to the shepherds, as they watched their flocks by night;  the good news of a great joy that would come to all the people;  for to you," said the angel, "is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." And why is this good news?  Why did God send his Son?  Why is it so important that we have an Emmanuel; a God who is with us?

     Isaiah prophesied that this child would come to be a light, to those who live in darkness;  a great light to shine on those who dwell in deep darkness.  God sent His Son to be Emmanuel, God with us, because we live in darkness, and need the true light to show us the way.  We need this light because we have lost loved ones, because we grieve and mourn; because we fear death, because we are sinful people.  We need this light because we who are still in this world, are often disobedient and on the wrong track--are often struggling with right and wrong, are often confused and led astray.  We need this light, because the darkness of violence, evil, war, terrorism, threatens to overcome us, and we find ourselves afraid of life, and of living.  A God, dwelling in the heavenly places only, would be of little use to us.  When we perceived God as far off, distant, unapproachable, we got ourselves into an awful mess.  Sin and disobedience and religion as a mechanical system, religion as rewards and punishments, not love and mercy, took over our world--and the darkness only deepened.  So, God sent His prophets to tell us that He would be distant no longer.  He would not allow himself to be viewed as far-off.  The people of the world, dwelling in darkness would no longer have to stumble along, alone.  For He would send us a Savior, a Light, that would shine in the darkness, and the darkness would not overcome it.  He would send, not another angel, or prophet--He would send His Son--the Son of the Most High, and He would be "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace".  But above all else, he would be God-with-Us.  He would be God-with-you, and me.  The angel of the Lord proclaimed, "For to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior."  For to YOU.  This light, is for you.  Jesus came to spend Christmas with you!  Martin Luther wrote,

     "For unto you is born this day,"  that is, unto us.  For our sakes he has taken flesh and blood from a woman, that his birth might become our birth.  If I tell you that someone on a certain mountain peak has picked up a hundred gulden, you will say, "What is that to me?  Luther asks.  But if you are the one who has picked it up, you will be joyful.  What is it to me if someone else has goods, honors, riches, and a pretty wife? That does not touch the heart.  But if you hear that this Child is yours, that takes root, and a man becomes suddenly so strong, that to him death and life are the same.

     This child, this God-with-us, is for you--and for all who live in darkness.  He is for you, if today you are struggling with feelings of loss and grief, because you have lost someone dear to you.  He is for you, if today you are dealing with fear of the future;  loss of a job, the end of a marriage, uncertainty about what the near year will bring.  He is for you, if you are facing surgery, or cancer--or despair or loneliness.  He is for you, if you are unsure of the path you are on in life;  for you, if you are wrestling with alcohol or drug abuse;  for you, if you are having family problems, strains in your marriage, difficulties raising your children or teens.  He is for you--and me--tonight, because He came to be, God with us.  He came to spend Christmas with us this year, and every year, and every holiday, and every day--of our lives;  and yes, he will be with us at the time of our death, to be the light to lead the way, through death, into eternal life.  Because, indeed, through his death and resurrection, as Luther said, "if you hear that this child, this Savior is yours, that takes root, and a man becomes suddenly so strong, that to him, death and life are the same." 

     And it's fair to ask, then, where is this child, this Savior, tonight?  We want to take hold of him, that his presence may "take root" in us, that we may become strong, and not fear darkness and death.  But, where is He?  There in the nativity--the cold ceramic figure?  There on the cross--the carved wooden representation--that's his image, but, that's not really him.  Where is He, tonight, that we may take hold of him, and that He may take root in us?  I've always noticed, that the veil that covers the communion vessels on the altar, lays across the vessels, and looks something like folded paper, waiting to be wrapped like a present.  Something like this.

     God is with us--tonight, certainly present, in the community of believers, and in the Word, written, read, and preached.  But He is present, in particular, tonight, for you, in the Lord's Supper;  in His own meal of bread and wine, that become, His body and blood, for you.  It is a Christmas gift--THE Christmas gift;  the gift of God's self, God's very presence, incarnate, in the body and blood of Jesus Christ.  And this is important--because it is God for you.  The community of believers is here, for all of us--the Word is proclaimed, in general, in a sense.  But the Lord's Supper, offers each, individually, the baby of Bethlehem;  indeed, "Bethlehem" means, literally, "House of Bread".  God has given us His Son, and His Son, gives Himself to us;  to each of us, so that, as we receive His body and blood, His presence takes root in us, His presence unites with our body and soul, His presence enters our blood system, His presence coursing through our every vein and vessel and brain cell--so that, this Child, who is truly yours, strengthens you--so that you become so strong, that death and life are the same--you need not fear death any more than life;  you need not fear the darkness, because the Light of Christ, is in you;  the Light of Christ illumines you;  the Light of Christ, lights your way.

     Tonight, as we gather at the Table of the Lord, we gather around the very real, true, presence of Jesus Christ--Jesus is spending Christmas with us, this year.  But at that table, we gather together with all the souls who have gone on before, in this great Church that transcends time and space, that transcends, even life and death.  So that we all, can say, together, "We're spending Christmas with Jesus this year!"  And for that, let us all say, Amen!

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen