Eve of the Nativity of Jesus Christ - December 24, 2011

The Church Season of Christmas
Eve of the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 24, 2011)

Readings:    Matthew 1:18-21   

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 1st chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verses.

Matthew 1:18-21 (NIV)
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.”(v.18) On this evening of blessed expectation these words recorded by St. Matthew give answer to countless questions which mankind has asked for centuries. “How could [One who is]infinite reside in a womb? How could He that contains all, be carried as yet unborn, by a woman?"(Chrysostom) It is unfathomable to our minds, that the Virgin Mary held in her womb what the whole world, the whole universe, could not contain. Yet so many years ago on this very night the unimaginable became reality, the Father sent His Son, the infinite had became incarnate, and now the timeless was born into human time.

Jesus, “was appropriately born contrary to the law of human nature because He was beyond nature.”(p. 13 Ancient Christian Commentary Vol. I-a, Mt. 1:18) Christ was with the Father and the Holy Spirit from infinity and so He was with the Father when all of King David’s Fathers were begotten. Now Joseph the Son of David hears news of the Son who had begotten him.

But Christ came not to be the son of these Father’s. Rather Christ the son, the child of Bethlehem chose to adopt the people of His family.  Not only Joseph and Mary, not only the Jews but the Gentiles, Christ who came once for all people.  He was the one of whom Isaiah spoke who would be called Immanuel, “God with us.”(v.23) The Christ child was born to save His fathers and us His sons and daughters.

Is that enough for you for this night to recall the Christ child or is it that you want your Christmas back?  The one from your childhood, the one you can’t seem to find anymore? The one lost as you lose the race for a spot at the mall.  The Christmas that slips away as you become busier than ever, but satisfied less and less each year.  Where has that Christmas of old gone?  It is still here and it comes for you in a form most unobtrusive, small, and weak.

On this night as we recall the holiest of holy nights, cast your eyes upon a manger.  Cast your eyes on the glow of a child who brings wonder and joy to you.  Stop and look at the lights, smell the aroma of the Christmas celebration.  The child in the manger is Jesus, Immanuel.  The glow of the child is from the dimly lit manger.  The aroma of Christmas is that of Frankincense and myrrh. 

You are His people. He is God with us.  The Christmas of your past is not lost, it never was, it never will be. This Christ child, is Immanuel, “God with us.”  Mary this day gives birth to Jesus Christ and He gives us new birth in His Name.  Though our memories of the joy of Christmas past may fade away.  We know that there was joy there in family, friends, and tradition.  But even more so, the Christ child brings you into His eternal family, God With Us, God will never leave nor forsake us, Jesus who will be with us to the end of the age. Oh holy Child of Bethlehem, cast out our sin and enter in, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.  Amen.

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