Sermon 12-15-24
Lord, help us to be actively waiting for Your return. Turn this season of anticipation into a time of praise, a time for service, an opportunity to prepare this world for Your truth and love. Amen.
Are you excited about Christmas? The children can hardly wait, but do the adults here feel the same way? Maybe not so much. Children are thinking about the gifts they might receive; adults are still thinking about buying and wrapping them. There are a ton of things to do: decorating, baking and shopping, along with concerts and events to attend. Adults may look forward to Christmas, but sometimes they are even happier when Christmas is over. Yet many, maybe most, adults have to admit that they get excited too. Families are gathering, loved ones are returning home; we are enjoying the lights and decorations—it is a time of joy.
The season of Advent, the four weeks right before Christmas, is a season of repentance and self-examination. It is a time to remember that we are sinners who need a Savior– the Savior who was born in Bethlehem for us, the Lord who came to lay down his life for us. But Advent is also a time of anticipation—that feeling experienced by children and adults alike. That sudden burst of joy, in the midst of contrition, is represented by the pink candle in the Advent wreath. Today is the Sunday of joy, the Sunday of anticipation, the “I can hardly wait!” moment. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” from Philippians 4:4 as we anticipate the birth of Christ to come.
The shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem were not waiting for Christmas. They had no idea of what was about to happen. We don’t know if these shepherds were devout Jews who were waiting eagerly, for God’s promised Messiah to come. Maybe they were waiting,–just too busy with everyday concerns to even think about the Messiah announced by the prophets centuries before.
But maybe those shepherds longed for the day when God’s Anointed One, would come to save them. The prophet’s spoke of a child, a son, when most of the Jewish people hoped for a powerful king, a mighty conqueror who would destroy the occupying forces of Rome and restore Israel to power. They longed for a great king, like David; they were waiting for the Son of David. The shepherds never expected a baby, an infant –to be the Messiah. But very likely they did not expect any sort of Messiah to come on their watch! Isn’t that our thinking too? Jesus won’t return on our watch, or will he?
More than likely those shepherds that night when Jesus was born outside of Bethlehem were probably waiting for daylight, waiting for the darkness to come to an end.
What are you waiting for? Beyond Christmas, into the New Year, what are you waiting for? Are you waiting for some financial worries or problems to be resolved? Or some other struggle to come to end? Maybe you’re waiting for a potentially strife-filled family gathering to be over. While others having no family at all, and only anticipate a deep sense of loneliness magnified at Christmas. Outwardly people may appear joyful, but inwardly have regret over things wrongly thought, done or said; or those things left undone. Guilt and shame are never far away.
That’s why Advent is a time to bring those sins, regrets, painful memories to the manger, turning them over to the Lord God who was born to carry our sin and guilt to the cross. That’s the message of great joy that those sleepy shepherds were about to hear.
Even though the angel would bring them good news, the first reaction of the shepherds was not of joy but of absolute terror. Who can blame them? The dark fields around them suddenly became as bright as day! and in the center of that unearthly light was an angel, a messenger from God himself. The first words from the angelic messenger were: “Fear not!” The angel continued with news that would shatter even greater darkness, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
This good news of great joy was not just for the shepherds. It was not just good news for Israel; it was good news for “all of the people.” including us. Christ the Lord was born. The long-promised Messiah had come. The Lord God Himself had come to His people. The angel gave them directions to find the Messiah, “This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Then an angelic chorus of praise sent the shepherds on their way joyfully to Bethlehem.
This is the good news of great joy. Christ has come! He has come to lift away the darkness of fear, sin, guilt and regret. He took that darkness from us, carrying our sin and shame in His body to the cross. In exchange He gives us forgiveness and the very joy of life in His presence. When Christmas this year is past, we may still be waiting, waiting for the Savior who has promised to come again. His first Advent, His first coming was in Bethlehem; His second Advent–His second coming, will be on the Last Day in Jerusalem.
Until then we wait filled with hope because our Savior has come, having the reassurance of peace, with joy transcending all of life’s circumstances. We wait with joy because we are a people of faith and Jesus our Lord has promised to be with us, not just for Christmas, but until His return. We wait for the night to end and the eternal day of endless joy in His presence. And we pray: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Loving Lord, we delight in Your word, and we give You thanks for Your coming into the world. Abide in our hearts that we might know love and joy that we may share You with someone else. Our lives are only complete through You, Jesus. In whose name, we pray. Amen.
