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Christmas Eve — Proper I
December 24, 2007
The prophecy of Isaiah is very clear. The people of God were walking in great darkness and a light was to come to show them the way. Think about the names that the Messiah is called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Yesterday in my pastoral prayer, I prayed that we might get to know this Prince of Peace. Our world is sure in need of it. From Isaiah we move to the singing nineties. The psalmist writes to sing to the Lord, for the King is coming and he will judge the nations with equity. I think we all long for a day when that will happen — a day when there is peace and we are not at war anymore. I long for a day when people will truly know the Prince of Peace (Jesus) and he’s coming to judge the nations some day.
Yesterday morning, Pam taught our Willing Workers class — we are the youngsters in that class — sometimes I feel inadequate to teach them. They have many more years of experience and they have seen pastors come and go and yet they love us. Pam shared most of us who grew up in church have heard the Luke passage over and over again and the saying goes that familiarity breeds contempt. It’s easy to gloss over this passage, but here is the beginnings of the gospel — that Jesus came to earth as a baby — a baby important enough that the angels sang about his birth — they were excited — these next few days should be an all out celebration — Jesus is born — God has come — God is with us. I say it’s the beginning because Paul finishes it up in Titus:
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Christ has been revealed to the world once, and He will be revealed to the world again. Celebrate the Christ who has come to save His people from their sins
