Exordium
What an interesting role the angels have played in the history of the world. They were there at the creation of the world (Job 38). They saw Satan rebel against God. They were there barring the reentry into the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve fell into sin. They saw the wickedness of man and the destruction of the world. Yet, while the angels always behold the face of the heavenly Father in heaven, they were not ashamed or embarrassed about God’s plan to save mankind. In fact, we are told in I Peter 1, that concerning the things which the prophets foretold, the suffering of Christ and the glories that would follow, the Good News that has been preached by the Holy Spirit—these are all “Things which angels desire to look into” (I Peter 1:12).
The angels look with wonder on our salvation. They are not embarrassed to speak of the lowly circumstances in which the Savior was born, circumstances hardly fit for even a peasant child, let alone the King of kings. They are not ashamed. They are full of joy. God became man. They were the first messengers of this lowly King’s birth which was “good tidings of great joy!” They knew what this act of love from God meant for the world and could not hold back from singing God’s praises!
What about us? Will we hold back this morning because of the humble setting of our Savior’s birth? Do you know why this birth happened in this humble way and why it is truly good news of great joy? If you do, please rise and sing with joy and mirth in your heart our festival hymn #142, “Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn!”
Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn!
A Savior unto us is born,
The Christ, the Lord of glory.
His lowly birth in Bethlehem
The angels from on high proclaim
And sing redemption’s story.
My soul,
Extol
God’s great favor;
Bless Him ever
For salvation.
Give Him praise and adoration!
John 1:1–14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but came to bear witness about the Light.
The true Light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)
The Savior Born for All People
1. No Exclusions
2. Full of Grace & Truth
In Christ Jesus, who became flesh and dwelt among us, so we might have the right to become children of God, dear fellow redeemed!
“In the beginning was the Word…” with these simple words John is proclaiming that the Word is eternal. He existed from all time and eternity. The Word was both with God and was God. He was with the Father as a distinct person from the Father. When the Apostle John tells us that nothing was created without the Word, he is saying with extreme clarity that the Word, Jesus, is God. All that exists is either the Creator or the creation. Since the Word creates, he is God. God alone is eternal. God alone is uncreated.
The good tidings of great joy is that the Word, who was with God and was God, through whom all things were made, became flesh. No wonder the angels sang! The Son of God, who holds the world in his hand, comes as a helpless baby, held in arms of the virgin Mary. This alone is a wonder! A miracle! The reason this news is so great is that it is for you. For this Child, born in a manger, came to save the world. He came to live and to die for you. He came to take away your sins and give you the right to become children of God. To live in heaven where there is no darkness, no sin, no sorrow, but eternal joy and peace. Jesus loves you and has done everything for you. It’s all by grace!
Sounds good, doesn’t it? Maybe too good?
Most people are skeptical of deals that sound too good to be true. I enjoy good deals as much as the next guy, but there does often seem to be a catch. You find something that you would like to get someone as a gift and then are excited to see that it is on sale. But then, sure enough, when you get to the check-out you find out that the deal is only valid if you purchase this and that and this along with the item, which is less than all the rest. There’s the catch. Exclusions may apply. The item is only on sale if you are 7 feet tall and over 100 years old. Don’t forget to read the fine print.
John writes, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.” Why would people not receive Jesus? Why would people reject the free gift of salvation? There are many reasons why people reject Jesus. Of course, there are some who don’t think they need Christ. They are content with their own lives and don’t want to be bothered. They ignore their sin, their real problem, and focus on this life instead. They are blind to their dire need of saving. There are also others, who know they need a Savior, that they need help, but they think this deal sounds too good to be true. They think there must be a catch! They reason that in order for this promise to be true, that I can go to heaven, there must be something I must do. They make God’s gift into their work.
Just imagine that you got a gift for someone this Christmas. Hopefully, this is not too hard to imagine. And you worked hard for this gift. You worked extra hours during the year so that you could afford it. You knew this was something they really needed, and so you were happy to do it. Finally, before Christmas, you purchased the gift and wrapped it beautifully. There is a glorious ribbon and bow on top. You think, “Wow! They are going to love this gift!” Finally, the day arrives for you to give them their present. But a strange thing happens. As you are handing them the gift, that you worked hard to pay for and wrapped so carefully, they don’t thank you for the gift. Instead, as you hand them the gift, they reach out their hands and say, “I am accepting your gift. I am taking it into my hands and putting it into my lap. I am unwrapping the gift. I will make this gift my own.” You are completely stunned. What? Did they just take some credit for the gift I gave them?
This is exactly how we look like when we try to act as if there is something we must do or contribute, no matter how small, to receive our salvation. Now maybe you’re thinking, when do I ever do that? Every time we compare ourselves to other people, we are taking credit from God. Every time we think, “I would never do that.” “I know I am not perfect, but at least I don’t get angry like they do, act like that Scrooge, wear that to church, or do that bad habit.” Anytime we are prideful in what we do or do not do, we are attempting to validate our place before God. We are trying to contribute and take credit for God’s free gift of salvation.
Scripture says, “Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us.” God saved us completely by his grace, by his mercy. We did nothing. And this is how it had to be, because we couldn’t do anything to save ourselves. Just listen to how Scripture describes our fallen condition: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matt. 15:19); “you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1); “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus Christ was born to give us hope—to give us light and life.
Jesus Christ became a human being, so that he could take upon himself our sin, our death, and our hell and give us, in exchange, his forgiveness, life, and salvation. We call this the joyful exchange. Like a groom who takes the debt of his bride, and who then gives her the right to all his possessions—Jesus took on our debt of sin and death, and gave his bride, the church, his salvation which he earned through his holy life and death on the cross. Scripture says, “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might [a]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25–27).
What love, what mercy God has shown to our race! The Father gave his only begotten Son so that he could save us from sin and death. We couldn’t go to God, so God came to us. The child in the manger, the little Lord Jesus, is the almighty, who comes to save. He came not just for the good or those on his nice list. Jesus came for all people. For all sinners, that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life.
We are saved by grace. A good acronym for G.R.A.C.E. is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. God saved us for Jesus’ sake alone—he lived a perfect life for us from the cradle to the cross where he would then pay for all our sins. This is not a gimmick, there are no exlusions, no fine print. Jesus is full of grace and truth. And this grace is for you. “All who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Not by our efforts, but by God’s grace who earned our salvation and creates the faith in us to receive it through the Holy Spirit.
The incarnation shows us the love of God and the lengths to which he would go to win our salvation. Yet, we do not just celebrate Christmas as a past event that has no bearing on us today. By no means! In our world full of despair and anxiety, the Holy Night offers hope! Regardless of our burden there is hope. This holy Child is God incarnate. He became as we are, suffering death so that we might become children of God. If he loves us that much, then we can be confident that he will be with us in all the other problems of life, working all for our good. Because he shared this life with its struggles and toils, trials and temptations, he can sympathize with us and gives us the strength to be more than conquerors in him. He gives us the strength we need in his life-giving Word and blessed Sacrament. In his Word and Sacrament, the Christ-child and his manger are present for us today.
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). And he gives us the greatest gift, himself, his body and blood under the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of all our sins. As we receive his body, we make a manger, and sit in wonder in awe, that God would serve us with the meal of everlasting life. Here, in this church, before this altar, we receive the greatest gift we could this Christmas. Christ is with us. He is for us. He forgives us. May we keep all these things and ponder them in our hearts. Merry Christmas! Amen!