Keep the Devil in Christmas
Luke 2:1-20
Sermon idea from Rev. David Peterson, Redeemer Fort Wayne
Keep the Devil in Christmas. I know it doesn’t rhyme like “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It isn’t as sensible as “Keep Christ in Christmas.” My favorite Christmas catch phrase comes from our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, “Keep the Mass in Christmas,” which we Lutherans would translate. “Go to Church on Christmas because that is where the Christ-child is for you.”
Tonight I’m opting for a new phrase, not nearly as catchy or rhythmic or sensible but vital for Christ to be born in you by faith. I read the phrase in another pastor’s sermon and it struck me. He defended his recommendation by pointing out six pieces of evidence for the Devil in Saint Luke’s record of Christ’s birth.
First there’s Caesar Augustus. Caesar was the first emperor of the Roman Empire and ushered in an almost 200 year reign of peace for the civilized world. But Augustus, like many politicians, ruled the world for himself. His peace came at the end of a Roman spear. If you didn’t revere Caesar as God you died. Joseph and Mary weren’t free people – they were subjects of Rome and Caesar.
Second, there was the tax grab. Taxes are not sinful, but they result from sin. If you and I were not sinful there would be no need for taxes. We would gladly and willingly give from our abundance to those in need and for the common good and the government would be out of business.
Third, there was no room in the inn. It is possible that Saint Luke is not referring to the Holiday Inn Express Bethlehem. He might indicating that Joseph’s own relatives turned him and his pregnant fiancé out. You can’t stay in the guest room, but you can have the stable. Either way, there’s the devil at work – the night manager of a hotel not having room for a woman about to give birth or their own family giving them the barn. But living in a country where our tax dollars are used to force about 3000 infants out a day of their rooms (their mother’s wombs), perhaps we better not judge Bethlehem too quickly. Our mature and advanced society has less and less room for infants and children in our lives and families.
Fourth, this birth was dangerous to Mary and Joseph. They had to travel about 75 miles to Bethlehem from Nazareth in the last days of pregnancy. There was no Centracare birthing center yet. Joseph was the attending physician and perhaps a sheep or a cow was the mid-wife.
Fifth, the Shepherds had to keep watch over their flocks by night. Why? Because there were predators. There were wolves and bears and poachers looking for wool to knit their ugly Christmas sweaters and mutton for the family feast. Creation is a violent place, and humans are the cause of the chaos, conflict, and coveting.
Sixth, the Shepherds are afraid of the angels. Why? Because angels are holy and shepherd are not. You all know this to some degree. If God sent you a memo that He wanted to see you in His office you would assume you’re in trouble because you know you’re not the father, mother, sister, brother you should be. You know, in your heart, you’re a sinner inclined to serve yourself.
I hope you see the Devil there and the darkness of sin and death, because if you don’t then Jesus in the manger just becomes a hallmark greeting card about fuzzy love and fake peace. It masks the reality that your brother is an alcoholic or your dad is dying or your children want nothing to do with the church. It masks the reality that life is filled with sorrow and sadness and suffering.
The Son of God has come into the darkness to dispel it with His light. He doesn’t come to compete with Caesar. He comes to free you from the tax of the Law. The debt you owe because of your sin is death. You’re captive to the Devil and you cannot pay the ransom price, but Jesus Christ can. The little boy in the diaper lying on a bed of straw is the Son of God in human flesh. He will not sin. He will surrender nothing to the Devil. He will bear your sin and go to the cross and win victory, not by might but by suffering and sacrificing Himself for you.
You’re not out in the cold because of your sin. You are not an inconvenience to your Father or too costly for Him. On this night, Mary and Joseph and the Shepherds saw heaven opened. The Savior of the world had been born – the Savior of Shepherds who drank too much Jaegermeister, the Savior of women and men who consider children an inconvenience, the Savior of us who have an abundance of riches but won’t open the door to those in need. We ought to be out, but Jesus brings us in. He takes our place at the cross. He is thrown out by His Father, forsaken for our sins, so that we can be brought in by His forgiveness. The Son of God dwells in human flesh, that we might dwell in resurrected flesh with our Father in heaven for all eternity.
When angels show up in the New Testament their first words are usually “Fear not! Stop being afraid!” God has not opened heaven to scold you or damn you. He has opened heaven to forgive you and have mercy upon you. Gabriel told Mary, “Fear not! You will give birth to a son who is the Most High God.” The angels told the shepherds “Fear not! A Savior has been born to you. You’ll find Him in a diaper, in a barn, down in Bethlehem.” The angels told the woman at the tomb, “Fear not! Jesus is not here. He is risen, just as He said.” Fear not! The Son of God has taken on human flesh for your flesh. Fear not! The Son of God has died your death, forgiven your sin, and delivered you from the Devil. Fear not! Christ is risen just as He said. Your salvation is finished. That baby in the manger who is God died on the cross and rose again. You’re forgiven. Death will not hold you. Satan has lost.
Keep the Devil in Christmas because if you’re not a sinner, if you always open the door to the needy and gladly give more than you are taxed, if you’re not dying, then Christmas means nothing more than Santa and his gifts, and that will last less than 24 hours. But if it’s been a tough year, if your conscience is troubled, if you need to forgive or be forgiven, if death is near, then behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Amen.