Christmas Eve 2015
Christmas is Receiving
St. Luke 2:15
Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church
Saint Cloud, MN
Christmas is a lot more fun when you’re a child. Children know the true meaning of Christmas – it isn’t about giving. It’s about receiving. No child says, “You shouldn’t have” when he opens a monstrous gift – he rejoices in the gift. A child doesn’t feel she has to pay you back. I mean seriously, how is a seven year old going to repay you for a couple hundred dollars worth of toys, games, and clothes? And also, most kids, know that Santa Claus is a big liar. Children know they are naughty – and they still expect gifts. Children are banking on mercy and grace, not on their works.
Christmas is about receiving, not giving. It is far better to receive, than it is to give. Now, lest you think I have gone over to the dark side of greedy consumerism, let me prove my point from this evening’s Gospel reading according to Saint Luke. Christmas, the real meaning and joy of Christmas is in receiving – receiving Jesus.
Mary received. She received the fertile words of the angel Gabriel. She received the Holy Spirit. She received the only begotten son of God in her womb. Joseph received. He received a pregnant fiance. He received the birth of Jesus. He received the Son of Mary as his own. The shepherds received. They received the heavenly visitation of the angels. They received the directions where they could find their Savior. They received the good news from heaven that even manly men need a Savior.
There’s nothing harder than receiving. Your mother writes you a $500 check for Christmas. Your young daughter crafts a homemade, priceless gift in school, and it is all wrapped up in her love for you. Your spouse gives you something you’ll treasure and use. What are the first words out of your mouth, “You shouldn’t have.” What do you think? “I don’t deserve this.”
What’s behind your reluctance to receive? You may find this an odd answer, but it is your pride. Pride says, “I want to earn what I receive. I don’t want to owe someone for their kindness. I know what I need and I’ll buy it myself. I don’t want to feel guilt because I haven’t done what I should. I, I, I – that’s Pride with a capital I.
Mary knew she didn’t deserve to be the mother of our Lord, but she received it, “May it be to me as you have said.” Joseph had to set aside his pride to take Mary to be his wife – imagine how the gossiping gals of Nazareth loved to talk about Mary being pregnant before the wedding. The Shepherds cast aside their manly pride to come running down from the hill country to burst into that makeshift maternity ward in back of the Motel Bethlehem.
Jesus once said, “Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Children are better receivers than grownups. Tonight you won’t hear any little children say, “Boy, mom and dad, you bought me way too many presents.” And after you spend three hours putting together that Lego Star Wars Millenium Falcon, your child will not say, “You know dad, I think I’ve taken enough of your time. You’d better rest and have some dad time.”
Growing up, in many ways, is not good for our receiving. Satan uses our grown-up-ness to convince us we don’t need God’s care or God’s gift. The birth and gift of Jesus teach us otherwise. There are many troubles in life that you are not big enough or strong enough or independent enough to handle. You don’t have to look any farther than the pew in which you are sitting and the family with which you’ll celebrate Christmas. Your marriage is in trouble. Your daughter has cancer. Your own health is declining. Your first sin, worst sin, or favorite sin is an ungodly stain on your conscience. God tells us in His Word that all this brokenness and pain and guilt and fear has but one source – our own sin.
The Virgin Mary believed she was a sinner in need of God’s Savior. She confessed, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God My Savior.” Joseph believed the same of himself. He took Mary to be his wife, because the Angel told him that her child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that Jesus had come to save the world from sin. The Shepherds believed the same. What else would explain leaving the sheep, the bottle of Southern Comfort, and their card game, to receive what God sent in that little baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
Children are better at receiving help. When your son cannot solve a math problem he asks for help. When your daughter’s check engine light comes on, she calls for help. When the Legos aren’t going together right, children ask for help. A child in trouble has faith that someone bigger, greater, will help them and they are glad to be helped. That is where God’s Word tells us we are because of sin and death – in need of help. We cannot undo our sin and therefore we cannot stop death – check out the cemetery if you don’t believe God’s Word. Tonight God’s Holy Angels tells us where help is to be found – our Savior was born in Bethlehem.
God gave His Son into the world for one and only one reason – to save us. God Himself came. He is greater than sin, and death, and suffering, but He became little – a little baby born in a little town to the little clan of Judah. He came to bear our sins in His body, to be God’s own offering for sin. Christ Jesus died for the sins of the world. That and that alone is how He saves. God on the cross is as odd a gift as God in a diaper – but that’s the gift God gives to save you. God in the flesh. God on the cross. God in the grave. The God/Man risen from the dead. Jesus seated at His Father’s right hand. If you believe you are a sinner, then Merry Christmas, God has delivered your Savior. Christ Jesus died for sinners, He died for you. You are forgiven, you will live forever, your conscience is scrubbed clean, and Satan can’t lay a single sin at your feet on the last day. Jesus did all of that for you.
A few years ago I wrote a sermon entitled, “What does God want for Christmas?” In that sermon I answered “he wants you.” This year I would probably change the sermon and say, “He wants you to receive His gifts.” The greatest worship of God is to receive what He has done for you. The greatest Christmas party is the one thrown by the angels in heaven when one sinner repents and is forgiven. God ‘s greatest delight is when His children receive Jesus, when your sin is forgiven, when your fear of death is removed, when you look forward to life and the resurrection. Christmas is about receiving, not giving, so receive the forgiveness of your sins, receive life everlasting, receive the resurrection. Those are the gifts purchased by God Himself and delivered to you tonight by His Word. In the name of Jesus. Amen.