Pastor Rich's Christmas Eve Sermon, 11 pm December 24, 2004

Christmas Eve, 11:00 pm Service
December 24, 2004

Luke 2

”Mary pondered them in her heart.”

How many times do you think you have heard this story in your lifetime? Through the beautiful anthems song by our choir and through the carols that we have sung we have already heard the story at least a half a dozen times.

As one of the daily readings for Advent pointed out it is a beloved and familiar story that we never get tired of hearing. It is a story that has been told, sung and reenacted for almost 2000 years. When I begin planning for Advent and Christmas in October each year I play Christmas carols to get in the spirit of Christmas.

Our reenactments, playing of carols, our attending candlelight services help to heighten our expectations and increase our joy. Unfortunately for some people these activities are painful reminders of Christmases past, of happier days. It is safe to say that for some Christmas is the highest of highs and for others the lowest of lows.

I suppose this should not come as a surprise to us for the story of Christ’s birth certainly had it drastic highs and lows. I tend to think because of our reenactments and beautiful carols we have blocked out the harsh realities of Christ’s birth.

I remember when Diane and I found out that she was pregnant. We were overwhelmed with joy. We couldn’t wait to tell our parents. We probably told everyone we met, the people she worked with, the student I went to seminary with. I would not be surprised if we told the check out person.

But this wasn’t how it was for Mary. My message tonight was preceded by the carol What Child Is This. I have to believe that Mary’s parents were asking Mary, “Whose child is this?”

Let’s remember Mary and Joseph lived in very different times then ours. Nothing brought more disgrace to a family than a daughter being pregnant before marriage. Unlike today being engaged didn’t mean having a sexual relationship was permissible. Living together wasn’t even thought of.

If you take all of this into consideration you have to look at Christmas with different eyes. It may end with angels singing in the sky. It may end with shepherds praising and wise men traveling to see this child. It may end with Mary pondering all that was said to her.

But before you get there you have to wonder what was Mary thinking when she agreed to give birth to the Son of God. Did she think about what her parents would say and do? Did she think about what Joseph would think or what the neighbors would say?

As I looked at the events leading up to Jesus birth this year I found myself, more than ever before asking WHY?

Why was Mary betrothed to Joseph?
Why did Mary go see Elizabeth?
Why did Mary travel to Bethlehem with Joseph?
Why was there no room in the inn?

Allow me to share with you my thoughts to these questions.

Why was Mary betrothed to Joseph?
The odds are very great that the parents arranged Joseph and Mary’s engagement because that was the custom. The odds are also very great that Joseph and Mary were never together without one of their parents being present.

It is possible that Mary went to Elizabeth’s even before telling her parents. Perhaps she went there for Elizabeth’s help and advice. I am sure Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s arrival, “You’re so blessed among women and the babe in your womb, also blessed.” was affirming, but that didn’t help her come to terms as to how to tell our parents and Joseph.

Did she go to see Elizabeth because her parents threw her out? Such a response would have been common in those days. I doubt very much that her parents would have bought into the idea that the baby she was pregnant with was the Son of God. I tend to believe that her parents disowned Mary.

This is not so outlandish. Let’s not forget that was what Joseph’s plans were when he heard about Mary’s pregnancy.

“Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream: ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. She will bring a son to birth, and you, Joseph, will name Him Jesus
– God saves –
because He will save His people from their sins.”

Joseph didn’t buy her story either. If it wasn’t for that dream their engagement was over. Her parents had no miraculous angelic intervention so it is more than likely her parents disowned her.

This would explain why Mary traveled with Joseph to Bethlehem?
First of all betrothed couples always had a parent present when they were together. Secondly, Joseph and Mary were not married so there was no reason for Mary to accompany Joseph. Nor would her accompanying him been acceptable. Thirdly, why would a woman in her third trimester subject herself to such a journey? I feel Mary had no choice but to travel with Joseph. She was homeless.

This would also explain why Joseph and Mary could not find room in Bethlehem. We have a tendency to think that there were commercial inns in Bethlehem similar to the Hyatt or Marriott or Holiday Inn as there is today. Truth is there were no such establishments. When Joseph returned to his hometown of Bethlehem. He most likely went to his relatives’ homes looking for a room.

What he found was not just that the doors to his relative’s homes were closed to him and Mary but their hearts as well. While they may not have been allowed in I am sure that Mary and Joseph were the topic of conversation behind those closed doors. For Mary’s pregnancy would have brought disgrace to Joseph’s family too. Opening the doors to Joseph and Mary would have implied some endorsement of their situation.

While one family member did offer Joseph and Mary space in the barn, don’t get all warm and fuzzy. This was not an act of kindness but rather an act of cruelty. The family who offered their stable was making a derogatory statement. They were telling Joseph and Mary where they belonged.

We do a disservice to Christ when we attempt to sterilize the Christmas story. When our image of this night is found in the artist’s beautiful portrayal of his birth that graced the cover of our Christmas cards.

Jesus was born into a broken and fallen world. It was a world in need of peace, in need of hope, in need of reconciliation. The world has not changed much since His birth.

Every character in the Christmas story from Mary’s parents to the Wise Men can be found in today’s society. People reject Him. People ban Him from public places. People equate Him to other deities. People give Him a passing glance. People embrace Him as their Savior and will be glad to ride his coat tails into heaven. People acknowledge Him as their Lord and daily surrender their words, attitudes, actions and behaviors to His Lordship.

It’s been 2000 years since the angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus saying,

“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace among those whom He favors.”

Throughout those 2000 years the world has seen, as we do today, war and unrest in every area of life. Why is that?

Is it possible that there is a direct correlation with Giving Glory to God and Peace on Earth? Is it possible that if we give more glory to God we will experience more peace on earth? Think about it, have you ever asked God what He wants for Christmas?

God wants you to know Him and to love Him.
God wants your arms to be a manger to serve the New Born King.
God wants your heart to be a shepherd’s fold where angels join to sing.
God wants your life to be traveling ground where the wise seek the Son.
God wants your heart to be an open inn to welcome the Christ child.

Christmas is about God saying ‘I love you.’ It is also about you and me saying ‘I love you, too.” Are you willing to give God what he wants? Not just tonight, but everyday for the rest of your life?