Pastor Rich's Christmas Eve Sermon, 5 pm December 24, 2004

How many times do you think you have heard this story in your lifetime?
Through the reenactment performed by our children and through the carols that we have sung we have already heard the story at least a half a dozen times tonight.

As one of the daily readings for Advent pointed out, it is a story that has been told, sung and reenacted for almost 2000 years. It is a beloved and familiar story that we never get tired of hearing.

It is story that is very different than your child’s favorite bedtime story. You know the book I am talking about. The one you read every night. The one you try skipping pages. The one that you know what the words on the next page are even before you turn the page. Why is it that we have grown to dislike that book but we never tire of hearing the Christmas story?

If we stop and think about it we would have to ask ourselves why would we? Why would we get tired of hearing the story that tells us God loves us?

I am 53 years old and I never end a phone call with my Mom and Dad with out saying and hearing the words, “I love you.” Diane and I have been married for 32 years and I don’t believe there has been a single day that we haven’t said or written the words, “I love you.” I never end a phone call conversation with Adam or Greg without saying or hearing the words, “I love you.”

I am not telling you this to brag or to put the spotlight on me, I am telling you this because I never get tired of hearing the people, who love me, tell me that they love me. I know that is why I never get tired of hearing the Christmas story. It is more than a story about a young girl becoming pregnant. It more than a story of angels proclaiming Jesus birth. It more than a story about shepherds going to Bethlehem to see this child wrapped in saddling clothes and lying in a manger. It is story about God, the awesome creator of the universe saying to you and me, “I love you.”

Calvin and Hobbes is one of my favorite comic strips. As I was reading through one of my books of Calvin and Hobbes comics I came across a comic strip that appeared several Christmases ago. Calvin says, “This whole Santa Claus thing just doesn’t make sense to me. Why all the secrecy? Why all the mystery? Why doesn’t he ever show himself and prove it? If he doesn’t exist what’s the meaning of all this? Hobbes replies, “I dunno. Isn’t Christmas supposed to be a religious holiday? Calvin is not going to be dissuaded from his point so he responds, “Yeah, but actually I have the same question about God.”

Christmas answers that question. When the disciple asked Jesus what does God look like? Jesus answered, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

What we celebrate tonight is not the arrival of Santa Claus. We celebrate the arrival of our Savior. We celebrate God coming to earth. As John wrote,

“The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.”

I heard a story, which is probably fictional, about a dog that ran onto a football field at half time. Someone standing on the one sideline whistled. The dog stopped, turned toward the person who whistled and went toward him. With that someone from the other sideline whistled. The dog stopped, turned toward that person and began to go toward that person. Within a short time several other people began to whistle. The dog didn’t know which way to turn. Finally a person had to physically lead the dog off the field.

The parallel is obvious. We receive many varied and distorted messages. As one seven year old so rightly put it, “Happy Holidays means nothing.” We are celebrating the arrival of our Christ. Christmas is about God in Christ coming to where we are, being the calm voice of truth and leading us to where we ought to be. Christmas it is about God saying,

“I love you.”

A common question asked this time of year is, ‘What do you want for Christmas?’ Our list varies from presents we hope to find under the tree to being with loved ones, and to peace on earth.

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? Then there will be peace on earth and goodwill.

AMEN