Luke 2:1-20 vs.
"Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen."

People were arriving earlier than usual. The bells of the bell choir reflected glittering gold rays as the light shined on them. The adults and children in the choir beamed as they took their places in the elevated choir loft in the front of the church.

Accompanied by a brass ensemble, the pipe organ bellowed the introduction to O Come All Ye Faithful. The congregation stood and united their voices in praise to the new born king. As they sang amen, the pastor, stepped to the brilliantly finished pulpit. With a smile, no match for the Cheshire cat, he welcomed the overflowing congregation of 2,000 strong.

Suddenly the doors of the church swung open with a loud slamming noise. Two gunmen burst into the congregation wielding semi automatic machine guns. The one gun man shouted, "Remain seated if you will take a bullet for Jesus!"

Mass hysteria erupted. Crowds of people scrambled for the exits. Some parents grabbed their child and ran. Others threw themselves on top of their children. When the commotion settled all that remained was the preacher and some three dozen or so people.

The gun man removed his mask and asked the preacher, "How come so many believe, yet so few are willing to take a bullet for Jesus?"

I realize this is not your typical warm and fuzzy Christmas kind of story. I don’t know if the story is even true. Regardless since I received it via e mail at the beginning of Advent and I haven’t been able to let it go. I found myself asking, what would I do? Would I take a bullet for Jesus? I found myself wondering what would happen if such a scene occurred here tonight? What would you do?

Surely the 2,000 people in that congregation, were no different than you or me. Since Thanksgiving their lives, like ours, have been altered by preparations for Christmas. There were cards to be sent. There was shopping to do. Menus to plan. Baking to be done. Gifts to buy and wrap. Several days spent putting up the decorations and trimming the tree. Reading the Advent booklet on the run or when we could find the time. And let us not forget the last minute running around which we did yesterday and even earlier today. And the final preparations awaiting us later on tonight.

Considering all that has been done, all the time, energy, and dollars spent for Christmas. One has to wonder why one would not take a bullet for Jesus?

As I contemplated that question I remembered a story which might explain why some Christians would say no.

During the Junior sermon on Christmas eve the pastor asked the children to help him construct the manger as he asked the children some questions about the Christmas story.

"Who journeyed to Bethlehem? he asked.

"Mary and Joseph," the children replied.

So he put the figurines representing Mary and Joseph in place.

"Who else was present at the manger?" he continued.

"Shepherds," answered one. "Wisemen," said another. "The innkeepers wife?" one suggested. This went on adding figures and animals until the entire stable was filled and last but not least the baby Jesus was placed in the creche.

As he was about to dismiss the children back to their pews, a little seven year old asked a most crucial question. "Why did you wait to put the most important one left until last? Shouldn’t Jesus be first?

Shouldn’t Jesus be first? Is it possible that, like most two and three year olds who will play more with the boxes and wrappings than the gift, we get more excited about the wrappings of Christmas and less about the gift of Jesus?

Think about it, did you prepare your heart and mind as much as you prepared your home? Did you spend the same amount of time praying that Jesus would be born anew in your life, as you did shopping? Did you come here tonight more out of a sense tradition or more out of desire to experience what Mary and the shepherds experienced.

Christmas has come and gone many times in my life to know that with the passing of Christmas, comes the return to everyday routines. We will be thrust back to the reality of laundry and bills and work that has piled up, while we prepared and celebrated Christmas. Yes, we will return to our routines, but the question is HOW?

Will you have not only heard the story of Jesus’ birth but treasured it and pondered the miracle of Jesus’ birth? Will you wonder about Jesus as you wander through life? Will you contemplate what His birth means to you? Will you consider His Word and His Will when making your decisions? Will you examine how His love, His grace, His presence could enhance your relationships? Will you deliberate on ways to be deliberate in making Jesus first in your life? Will you return to your routines as the shepherds did glorifying and praising God, for all the things you heard and saw this Christmas?

Hopefully you will never have to answer the question, "Would you take a bullet for Jesus?" However the death of a loved one, the pain and suffering of illness, the heart break of a broken relationship, the unexpected twists and turns, bumps and potholes will penetrate your life. For these times and for ordinary times, you will need more than just a merry Christmas. You will need the hope, the love, the power, the forgiveness and the freedom that no gift under your tree is capable of giving you. You will need the only Christmas gift that can help you and me, the gift of His Son, Jesus. God sent Jesus for you, for your salvation, for your benefit, you may glorify and praise God all the days of your life.

amen

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