Every year,
we retell the story: Caesar Augustus’s decree, Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem,
Jesus is born, angels tell the shepherds good news of great joy for all the
people, the shepherds come and see and then spread the news about the baby, and
Mary … Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
That’s what
we do this time of year. We treasure and ponder the message of Christmas,
following that virgin mother’s example.
Many of us look
at pictures of the past: when we were children when our children were children,
or even at our grandchildren. Every year, my family gets a picture by the tree
here at church. We see the difference in family members … but now, it’s also
seeing who was there and who was not. Who was home for Christmas? Christmas is
a time that we think of family and friends – some far away, some long dead,
and, blessedly, some right here celebrating with you. And it is a time of
firsts and lasts - baby’s first Christmas, the first Christmas we were married,
the first Christmas without a spouse, the last Christmas with Grandpa because
he has lung disease and he probably won’t make it to next year.
All the
thoughts, the feelings, the joys, the sorrows, they all mix together, and it
even gets reflected in the music of the season.
Think of the
message behind “I’ll Be
Home for Christmas” or “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” How
much of those songs deal with the nostalgia and memories of the holiday? Or how
about “Where Are You
Christmas?” from the 2000 soundtrack of Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole
Christmas? Sung by Cindy Lou Who in the movie, the song observes then asks, “My
world is changing. I’m rearranging. Does that mean Christmas changes, too?” as
she laments the different feelings she has toward the season and the day we
call Christmas. Those can be some deep thoughts to ponder in one’s heart!
But these
are not the deepest and most needful thoughts to ponder in our hearts at
Christmas. These find their place next to the true message of this day. Christ
the Savior is born!
Some of our
modern Christian musicians draw on this treasuring and pondering of the events
of the first Christmas. “Breath
of Heaven” by Amy Grant imagines the thoughts of Mary as she goes through
her pregnancy, praying for God to hold her together as she walks forward in
faith, trusting that she will truly be the mother of the Son of God who would
be born from her to be the savior of the world. Imagine wrapping your mind
around that! Or Michael Card’s “Joseph’s Song,” which,
although less well known, treasures the image of this man holding a baby that
he knows is not his but has been told by the angel that this baby is the Son of
God who was born to redeem humanity. “How can a man be father to the Son of
God?!?”
Our hymns
are part of the music that moves us to treasure and ponder our Savior’s birth.
We were just engaged in pondering that gentle Mary laid her Child
lowly in a manger, asking with all of humanity, “Can he be the Savior?” and
then proclaiming that all these years later, “He is still the Undefiled, but no
more a stranger. Son of God of Humble birth, beautiful the story!” as it calls
us to praise the King of glory. The revelation has come that God comes to save
His people in this frightfully humble way! And having received Jesus’ salvation,
we praise Him and proclaim His grace and glory!
During
Communion, we will sing, “What
Child is This.” As we do, we will wonder again that Christ the king, whom
shepherds guard and angels sing, would sleep nestled against Mary’s breast. The
song even draws us further into his life with the terrible knowledge of what is
to become of this baby. Good Christians are called to fear because, in this
child, we see the silent Word made flesh pleading for us sinners, knowing that
“Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you.”
Salvation is at hand in the Christ child, and it is that salvation that leads us
to “bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,” or in other words, to claim Him as our
God and savior as we worship Him.
Of course,
we will sing Silent Night,
and it will draw us into a quiet pondering and treasuring of that first
Christmas. It is a peaceful image of the birth of the Prince of Peace – and
don’t our hearts need peace, especially the peace that flows from knowing that
our Savior comes to us?
At the end
of the service, we will sing Joy to the Word - as
exuberant as Silent Night is calm! But this is appropriate, too! Christ’s
coming as King shows that He has set Himself against the curses of sin and
death. He doesn’t send pawns or lackeys to die for His plan. He comes and wins
the salvation, and now he rules in truth – hard truth that condemns our sin –
and grace – beautiful grace that fills us with joy because He gives us His
glorious righteousness, which reveals the wonder of His love.
How has God
been stirring your heart this Advent and Christmas season? What are you
pondering and treasuring? Who are the family or friends in your heart and mind?
What are the firsts brightening or diminishing your Christmas? As you ponder
these things in your heart, be sure to ponder the treasured message of the
original Christmas. In the midst of the joys of life and its sorrows, Christ
the Savior is born. Ponder the angel’s message, “Unto you is born this day in
the City of David, a Savior. He is Christ the Lord.” This is good news for all
people because God came for you. He came in gentleness and humility. He left
His glory and might behind so that you could know He came for You in love to
redeem you from sin and death.
And this is
why, no matter what is happening in your life, you can have a merry Christmas.
It might not be happy. Or it might be overflowing with wonderful things. But at
the heart of this holy night we celebrate that God loves us so much that He
comes to us – and that is good news which is worthy of music!
As we gather
our offering tonight, we invite you to treasure these things of Christ as we
listen to:
7 – our
handbell choir plays How Great Our Joy and Still, Still, Still.
9:30 – this
duet of Rose of Bethlehem.
Christ the
savior is born. Amen.
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