Christmas Day, 2011
“Good News and Great Joy for ALL People!”
Luke 2:1-20
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
People seem to be skeptical these days when they hear good news. Maybe it’s that people are just cynical. We often hear and live by the saying “if it sounds too good to be true…it probably is.” Isn’t that right? How often do you think that same thing when you open your mailbox to find this nice sized letter that announces that you may have already won ten million dollars? How often do you pass by a stand at the mall where you can enter to win a new car? While I have never won anything that valuable…I did, on numerous occasions, win tickets to both the Cubs and Sox games from my local grocery store when I was younger…at least…I won them using my parents name as I entered them. While we don’t expect to win valuable prizes or millions of dollars…that doesn’t stop us from trying. But once again…“if it sounds too good to be true…”
If only Adam and Eve would have known that saying. Who can tell me the name of the first angel to appear to humans? It was Satan. He appeared to Adam and Eve as a serpent. Do you remember how Adam and Eve were tempted? Remember the fruit? “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5) You will be like God. That message was not sent by God…but by the father of lies. Maybe that was when the phrase began that we have mentioned this morning…“if it’s too good to be true…”
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)
The Shepherds were out watching their flocks when an angel appeared with the most wonderful message “a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) Can you imagine what the Shepherds must have thought? Obviously they were terrified by the angel’s appearance. What a message. The Messiah…the Savior of the world…has been born! Do you think they doubted that this message was true?
Times were tough. The majority of people earned just enough to support their families and give offerings to the church after paying high taxes to a government that didn’t represent the people. Not only were taxes high but those in charge of them were corrupt to the core. There were three classes of people…the wealthy, the poor and homeless, and a middle class that really was just surviving. Only the very wealthy could afford any luxuries. Diseases were rampant and without cures. People seemed to lack hope. Sounds familiar doesn’t it. You might think I’m talking about our own time…and in a way I am…but I’m actually describing life in Israel at the time of Jesus birth.
Things today are much like they were back then. Many are just making it in this economy. We have a government that often looks after its own interest. There are leaders who are corrupt. We have people today that are poor and homeless. Diseases are still rampant and many still don’t have a cure. People still lack hope. And many today doubt that a Savior has been born to them. The reason…is the worst disease man has ever known…it is the disease of sin. Sin has corrupted each of us and everything in this world. Sin causes us to have doubt and lose hope. Sin causes us to reject and ignore God’s Word. Sin causes us to fight with others and those we love. Sin causes murder, rape, adultery, fornication, war, disease, heartache, trouble, and death.
God didn’t create or want sin in this world…but when it did happen…He had a plan to save the world from this terrible disease. That plan came to fruition the very day the angels appeared to the shepherds.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)
The shepherds went to see the baby Jesus and found everything to be just as the angels said. They worshiped their Lord and Savior, departing they went and proclaimed all they saw and heard, and they praised God.
Today we have heard the same wonderful news that a Savior has been born to us…and He is Christ the Lord. The same Scripture that foretold of the Savior being born of a virgin has come true and tells us that our Savior born of the virgin died on the cross and was raised by our Heavenly Father.
The reason that Christmas is so joyful is because Easter is joyful. They go hand in hand. While it might sound too good to be true…it is true: The Savior has been born, He is Christ the Lord. He was born to die for you. He was raised from the dead for you. Because Christmas is all about Christ and what He has done…it is also all about YOU. Christ was born for YOU. He was born that you would be saved from the disease of sin. How wonderful is that?
In the gift of this baby…is the healing of the world. This is the love of your Heavenly Father. This is the Christmas message. A Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. He brings healing from sin in the gift of faith. He comes to take your sins upon Himself to the cross. Eternal life in heaven are yours. While times are tough and it often seems that your just surviving…look with joy at the cradle, receive faith at the font, receive strength and forgiveness at the altar…and with hope look forward to heaven where there will be no disease, no heartache, no fear, and no problems.
“Today…a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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Posted by: Sales management consulting | December 30, 2011 at 11:45 PM