"Three Reactions to the Christmas Message"

Sermonettes on Luke 2:15-20

December 25, 2000

(Pastor Karl Walther)

Saint Mark's, Watertown

Sermonette #1 -- Proclaim Him, As the Shepherds Did!

Dear brothers and sisters-- who celebrate today the Festival of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Well, Christmas Day is finally here! Isn't it a happy and exciting day? And it's not just the Christmas presents, it's not just the little bit of time off school or work, and it's not just the opportunity to see family and friends that has cheered and energized us today. For you who are here today, and for me, it's especially the fact that we are celebrating the birth of Christ that has us happy and excited.

In fact, that's such a big message that it's worth asking, "What effect will this Christmas message have on our lives-- not just today, but day by day?" How about after the presents, and after school and work resume, and after family and friends have returned home? What will Christmas mean for us then?

Well, we might take our cue from witnesses from the very first Christmas. Let's turn our attention first to those shepherds. Luke chapter two, verses fifteen through eighteen, says: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

So, what was the very first reaction of the witnesses of the very first Christmas? -- The shepherds spoke to one another.... And: They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child....

Brothers and sisters, we've got to do the same! What I'm saying is this. No matter what you do in life -- whether you're a shepherd (!), a student, a worker, a housewife, a parent, or a retiree -- your job is to speak about Jesus and to spread the word concerning him. And it's your job to do that all the time.

Students: it's your job to speak about Jesus, like the shepherds did-- and not just when you're called on in class, but also at recess when you restrain someone from doing harm to somebody else because of Jesus. Singles: it's your job to spread word of Jesus-- and not just when you're in church, but also on the job when you invite people to investigate Christ. Parents and grandparents: it's your job to speak about Jesus-- and not just by bringing kids to baptism and to Sunday School, but also by reading them Bible stories every day at home. Retirees: it's your job to spread word of Jesus-- and not just to those who are already Christians, but also to those who are aging rapidly without Jesus.

Why, though? I mean: all of this is quite an operation; it's actually a change of lifestyle to start talking about Jesus. Why would you go so far as to start speaking up about Jesus? Well, consider the experience of the shepherds. They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Brothers and sisters: through the eyes of Spirit-inspired faith, we've seen no less. We've seen the baby lying in the manger. But we know that there's more to the story than that. What we've seen is the almighty and omnipotent God: taking on frail infant flesh-- such is his love for us! What we've seen is the all-knowing and omniscient God: taking on a baby's brain, to grow and to learn and to excel-- for us! What we've seen is the never absent and omnipresent God: occupying a manger, a cattle feed box, a sloppy animal trough-- such is his grace to us! What we've seen is the eternal God: being born to expire and to rise and to rule-- for us!

Wow! How can we fail to proclaim as superb a salvation as this?

Amen!

Sermonette #2 -- Ponder Him, As Mary Did!

Dear brothers and sisters:

Today we're considering briefly our enduring reaction to the Christmas message. We've begun by considering the reaction of the first witnesses to Christmas. And we've seen we need to proclaim Christ, like the shepherds did.

What else? -- Well, Mary the mother of our Lord displays another appropriate reaction for us to emulate. Luke chapter two, verse nineteen says: Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Literally: Mary kept guarding together all these things.... And: She kept throwing them together in her heart.... You see, Mary continually occupied her mind with all that she had witnessed.

Brothers and sisters, we ought to do the same! This Christmas message can't be something we bottle away and compartmentalize into one tiny little space in our heads. No! We need to keep considering Christmas, and keep considering Christ's life, and keep considering Christ's tragedy and triumph for us.

Now, how's that going to happen? Well, it's not going to happen by my saying, "You know, you really ought to think about these things once in awhile." You'll forget to do it, and I'll forget to do it. But if we start studying the Scriptures every day, it will happen. In fact, that's the only way we will mull these things over on a continual basis.

So, you need to read the Bible every day, or have it read to you. Maybe you have small children; then your Bible reading can be a matter of reading them Bible stories from a Bible story book every night. Maybe you have children in catechism class; then your Bible reading can be a matter of reading them their assigned chapter of the Bible every night. Maybe you're in organized Bible study; then your Bible reading can be a chapter a day in connection with that class. Maybe you like to read the Meditations booklet; then do so, but be sure to read the Bible readings on the bottom of the page in connection with that. Maybe you just like to read a chapter of the Bible, beginning with Matthew or Acts or Genesis; then that's good. Or maybe you don't like to read; then get the Bible on tape -- our church office can help you -- and listen to that every day.

But why? I mean: all of this is a considerable job; it takes a little bit of time, and a quite a lot of diligence. So, why would you begin to study the Scriptures daily? Well, consider Mary's experience....

The angel Gabriel had brought Mary the news of Christ's birth. No less has God dialed you up and spoken to you in his Word. Mary had witnessed the growth of God's child in her womb. No less has God made you witness of the same miracle. Mary had experienced the birth of the Christ child. No less have we -- repeatedly -- celebrated his nativity. And that means for us nothing less than eternal life.

How can we fail to ponder as superb a salvation as this?

Amen!

Sermonette #3 -- Praise Him, As the Shepherds Did!

Dear brothers and sisters:

Today we're considering what the Christmas message means for our lives day by day. Already we've seen that: Christ's birth means we need to proclaim him, as the shepherds did. Already we've seen that: Christ's birth means we need to ponder him, as Mary did.

Is there anything else? -- Sure! Let's turn our attention again to the shepherds. Luke chapter two, verse twenty says: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. That means that: The shepherds kept declaring the uniqueness of Christ.... And: They kept ascribing excellence to God....

Brothers and sisters, we've got do the same! Now, there's no doubt that we do this in our day to day lives when we vacation to mountainous expanses, or witness a baby's birth, or marvel at a gorgeous sunset-- and we thank God for it. Nevertheless, where is it that we glorify and praise God most? It's got to be here at church....

So, get to church every week-- and even every extra service. Come to church well rested-- even if it requires planning to get to bed early. Come to church unhurried-- even if it requires planning to get up a couple extra minutes early. If you have a nice voice, sing loudly while you're here. If you've got a good speaking voice, speak loudly while you're here. If you have nice clothes, dress up for your Lord. If you have a nice smile (and all smiles are nice), display your happiness lots for your Savior.

Why? Consider the experience of the shepherds.... The angels had terrified them with their holy presence. God's law has terrified you; it damns you for your sins. On the other hand, the angels had encouraged the shepherds with the news that a Savior had started his life for them. You, though, know the rest of Christ's story. His eyes have kept watch over you. His ears have listened to you. His voice has warmly whispered the withholding of your sins. His hands have held up you. His feet have hurried to rescue you. His heart bled -- and his body bled -- for your salvation. His attention rose -- and his body rose -- for you.

How can we fail to praise him for as superb a salvation as that!

Amen!