Glory to the Newborn King

Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2012 Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20 Year C The expectations of the couple waiting for a baby I am sure when the couple found out that they were expecting, they were overjoyed. When they discovered that their first born would be a boy, they waited in anticipation. And as they raised him, they already knew that he was destined for greatness. They never knew that the government would be on his shoulders, they never dreamed that some people would call him wonderful counselor. They never guessed that people would celebrate his birthday the world over. Obama was a special baby His birthday, August 4th is certainly a date that lives on in history, and Barack Obama has certainly achieved great goals by becoming the most powerful leader in the world. But of course he is not the baby that we gather to honor on this special night. Every baby is special The coming of every new baby into a family is a wonderful occasion. Every child who comes into the world – is a special child in the eyes of God. Every child has a special purpose for their time on earth. Jesus is more than a baby in a manger The Lord Jesus Christ whom we exalt at Christmas is not just a baby in a manger. He is not a character in a children’s story. He is far more. The first time he came, he came veiled in the form of a child. The next time He comes, and we believe it will be soon, He will come unveiled, and it will be abundantly and immediately clear to all the world just who He really is. The first time He came, a star marked his arrival. The next time He comes, the whole heavens will roll up like a scroll, and all the stars will fall out of the sky, and He himself will light it. The first time He came, wise men and shepherds brought Him gifts. The next time He comes, He will bring gifts, rewards for His own. The first time He came, there was no room for Him. The next time he comes, the whole world will not be able to contain His glory. The first time He came, only a few attended His arrival – some shepherds and some wise men. The Next time He comes, every eye shall see Him. The first time He came as a baby. Soon He will come as sovereign King and Lord. (Autoillustrator.com, CHRISTMAS) We should all know the story of salvation On this night we retell the story of Jesus’ birth because it is an important story for us. It is a story that combines heaven and earth, it is a story where the rich and the poor come together, where darkness in our lives encounters the light, where our despair can meet our hope, and we can know that whatever challenges we have in life, if we have God in our lives, they come to make us stronger, not to hold us down. It is important to tell this story of salvation each and every year, because sadly there are so many people in our world who don’t know the story – and who don’t know the real gifts of Christmas for us. A Russian Orphan’s version of the story In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program occupied the orphanage. A Christmas story from their experience has been circling the globe since 1994. It was nearing the holiday season, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square cut from yellow napkins I brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following the instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away when she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately—until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.” “I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I keep him warm, that would be a good gift. “So I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?’” “And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody every gave me.’” “So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him—for always.” As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him; someone who would stay with him—FOR ALWAYS. This story came by email with no source given. Isaiah 9 says that a child has been born just for us, just for our lives, just for our struggles, just for our salvation. Obamas time will come and go, but Jesus time will be forever. His gifts are for us and for all who come after us. And if we are able to receive those gifts, we will stay with Jesus forever. Jesus came to the earth to be a ransom for many who chose to live in sin, to provide an example of what it means to live a righteous life, to bring salvation to our dark lives, and more importantly to give us eternal life. How do we accept that gift? What does it mean to us tonight. The baby on the alter You can see that I have found a baby to put on the altar, to represent the newborn king coming into our lives. I am going to have to find someone to build me a manger for the baby. But I put him in a moses basket. And a receiving blanket instead of swaddling clothes. The legend of the swaddling clothes Of course the swaddling blanket it a lot bigger that a receiving blanket. There is a tradition that when a family was traveling – the swaddling blanket was made out of gauze. The gauze was used to mend the wounds of those who were hurt. If someone died, they could also be wrapped in gauze. It was used to take care of the community. Lay your burdens on the child Luke says that the baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes, scripture eventually says that he was bruised for our iniquity. He took our wounds, our hurts, our sins upon himself, so that we can heal. Tonight, I am going to invite you to once again write your hurts, your struggles, your wounds on a piece of swaddling cloth and put it in the basket. Knowing that there is no pain that Jesus cannot bear for us, there is no healing that God cannot do. As you put the piece of cloth in his bed, no that God hears your prayers, and that this baby has to the power to heal and make life all better. Let us listen to this carol during this time of prayer… THIS BABY IS FOR YOU Pastor and author Richard Foster writes about genuine, joyous giving. "Giving with a glad and generous heart has a way of rooting out the tough old miser within us. Just the very act of letting go of money or some other treasure does something great within us."1 Such genuine, joyous giving awakens us to the true message of Christmas and reminds us of God's free, unconditional gift of Jesus to us. God generosity toward us in Christ opens us up to new possibilities of being generous with others. It was like a beautiful tale from a storybook. The young couple had found each other and began their marriage together full of hope and anticipation. It all seemed so perfect. They were happy, with good jobs, a nice home, and a loving relationship. In time, they celebrated the incredible joy of the birth of their first and only child. They were loving, caring, and devoted parents. Life seemed rich and complete. They were a family. Then the unthinkable happened. The beautiful little baby who had filled their lives with so much joy died suddenly. Their lives turned from hope and joyful anticipation to numbing emptiness and pain. They were devastated and agonized over their loss and wondered what they could have done to prevent such a senseless tragedy. Life no longer seemed complete. Instead of the excitement of new beginnings they were consumed by endings, darkness instead of light, as they struggled to hold their fragile love together. It all seemed hopeless until a simple knock on their door changed their lives forever. There at the door, stood a Native man holding a small baby. He reached forward, handing the child to the couple. "Here, this baby is for you," he said and then he left. I still feel my tears as I think about th It all seemed hopeless until a simple knock on their door changed their lives forever. There at the door, stood a Native man holding a small baby. He reached forward, handing the child to the couple. "Here, this baby is for you," he said and then he left. I still feel my tears as I think about the young Native mother who gave her own baby to fill the lives of the grieving couple. Native people call it custom adoption. For me, it is much more. It is the ultimate gift of love. Christmas is our celebration of God's ultimate gift of love. God saw our pain, our devastation, our hopelessness, our brokenness, and our fragile love and he loved us so much that "...he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus is God's ultimate gift. "Here, this baby is for you."2 "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us." Jesus, the greatest gift of Christmas--for you, for me, for everyone. Amen. (1 Cited from: Clergy Talk, December 1998 (Sequim, WA), p. 11. 2 Cited from: Lee Barry, "This Baby is For You," in: Come Let Us Adore Him: LAMP 1995 Advent Devotions, p. 30. From a sermon by Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, Christ is the Greatest Gift, 12/20/2010 )