Sermon - Christmas Eve 2018

“Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” What things do you treasure up and ponder in your heart? Today it’s December 24th, the end of a long year. As you ponder back on the happenings of the last 12 months, what things run through your mind? Maybe the birth of a child, the death of a loved one; a move to a new house, selling an old one; an 18th birthday or an 80th birthday. Maybe nothing’s really changed, it’s the same old same old, and now at the end of year you’re tired of the grindstone and need a break. 

In the midst of the shortest and darkest days of the year, tired from the happenings of the last 12 months, Christmas comes. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”In the midst of such a dark and tired season, a light shines in the darkness. What things do you treasure up? 

Maybe it’s the chance to see family again today or soon. Maybe it’s the good old nostalgic Christmas hymns, like singing Silent Night by candlelight. Maybe it’s the oyster stew and eggnog, the caramels and fudges, the Christmas feast that awaits us tomorrow. While those treasures do bring smiles to our faces, they pale in comparison to the treasure Joseph and Mary, the shepherds and angels pondered in their hearts. The great treasure of Christmas is that unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

“And the angel said to them, “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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.””

The treasure given to you this evening cannot be bought nor found but in Christ Jesus alone who became man for your good so that you would be saved from the darkness in this world. For unto you is born a Savior. A Savior is born who rescues us from the greatest darkness and gloom known to man. No, I’m not talking just about seasonal depression caused by a lack of sunlight, I’m talking about the darkness of our sin and the reason for this day which celebrates Christ. 

Thousands of years ago, shortly after God created this earth, man fell into sin and consequently the curse of death. This sin has been no small thing, for ever since we’ve worked by the sweat of our brow, toiled and labored, with thorns and pains increased for all. The life we’re given comes with an unknown expiration date, sooner than later, usually with increased pain and suffering for all when each person is torn in two, body and soul. 

You need a Savior, we all do, that much is painfully clear. As such our dear Heavenly Father made a promise as soon after as giving the curse. To Adam and Eve, He declared, a Son to be born who would crush the head of the serpent of sin. From then on every pregnancy, every child, every birth should be met with great joy remembering the promise: “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.” Every pregnancy, every birth, is made holy by Christ.

But one conception, one pregnancy, one birth is above all the rest. In Bethlehem, the city of David, a carpenter named Joseph and a poor pregnant maiden named Mary found lodging in a stable one night. “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

This child was born, naked as a babe like all other newborns, but here God is clothed in human flesh. This one is our Savior, who is Christ Jesus our Lord. Born not for angels, nor the perfect and sinless, but for poor miserable humans like us. Laid in a feeding trough, wrapped in swaddling cloths, He came for us. 

Make no mistake, God came for you. He took on your flesh, He became human like you, He knew the pains of childbirth, and suffered sin’s darkness. So on this Christmas the treasure we celebrate is that Christ became man for sinners such as us. The light that shines in the darkness, who saves us from sin, is but a poor humble babe sleeping in a bed of straw beside cattle and donkeys. 

At the sight of such a simple thing, even the whole heavenly host of angels descended to sing the most beautiful song to poor shepherds in fields as they lay: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” The church sings this song every Divine Service to rejoice that God is made man for us in the person of Jesus. 

But the story of Jesus doesn’t end on the lap of His poor humble mother. While the angels sang and the shepherds rejoiced, Mary quietly sat, treasuring these things up in her heart, pondering them all. For there in her arms lay her Savior and God, the one who would die for her and the world. If Mary were to answer the popular song, Mary Did You Know, she’d surely answer a silent yes. She knew what the prophets foretold and the angels announced: Jesus, her child, her baby, would suffer and die for all people. 

This sad truth is also her joy, and yours too, for this is the treasure Christ has come to deliver: His life. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people...our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Jesus came to die, and His death redeems us from all sin. You’re forgiven. Death is no more.

Our nativity scenes come complete with the body of baby Jesus to remind us that Christ came for us in the flesh. So too, our crosses come complete with the body of Jesus to remind us Christ came for us in the flesh to die for us too. But both the nativity scene and the crucifix is but an image of that great treasure. This treasure of the season, which you’ve come to receive, is found here for you in the most miraculous means. 

The treasure, the mass, of the Christ is here in His body and blood shed on the cross for you. In just minutes the mass will begin when Christ comes not into a little stable, but under the roof of our mouths. He makes a bed, soft undefiled, not in the straw of a manger, but in the hearts of His people. This is the joy of the world and the treasure of God’s people, that here in this sanctuary Christ comes for us. So do, sit here and ponder, treasure these things up in your hearts. But then let us stand and rejoice with the shepherds and angels, glorifying and praising God for all we’ve heard and seen.