Why Not Christmas
It is Christmas Eve again. The year is almost gone again but here we sit to celebrate the Birth of our Savior. I start to think of people who have birthdays at this time of year. They recount the years they lived and we recount the years and Christmases Past. We look forward to the Christmases to come.
Is it a gift to have so many people across the world celebrating your birthday or is it just a reminder of how alone we can be on Christmas. These shepherds may have been celebrating years of service. They may have been celebrating another peaceful night with the flock safe. They may have just been one of many sitting out there hoping for some excitement.
I like to thik these are lonely Shepherds that are seperated from their family because they have to watch the flock this Night. They are out in the wold and may be feeling alone or insignificant. But they are not this not. This night it does not matter what they are thinking or celebrating because there is an Angel in the Sky. They see the Angel and start to tremble. They fear the presence of God. They fear their own thoughts and Worries. They fear they have done something horribly wrong.
But this is not the Night to reveal the Sins of the Shepherds to All. This is the time to reveal a Savior to them. They have no reason to Fear because today in the city of David a Savior is Born. They will look at this little Lamb and place their sins upon him. This little Child is the one to be killed for our forgiveness.
This is the Joy we should take from the coming of the Agnel. This is not the Angel that bars us from the Garden of Eden. This is not the Angel that pours out plagues against the Earth. This is not the Angel that tells Mary She must do something and it could mean her death.
This Angel says "Fear not, for Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the LORD." They are told to go and see the great thing the LORD has done. Here this evening we come to see the great thing the LORD has done. He has showed us the forgiveness of our sins in this Child.
This is the Christ who was to be born of a Virgin. This is the Christ who was to be God in the Flesh. This is the Child that would lead the people of Israel. This is the Son of God given to die for our sins. This Christ will live to die so that we might live. Maybe this sounds a bit misfocused, a little too strong on the Death of Christ.
But many come to give this Child gifts. Many will dedicate their life to this child. Many will watch as this child grows and be amazed at his teaching. But we gather together reminding our selves the gifts we give to him of Life, Money, and time can never make up for the gift he has given us.
These Shepherds will go back to their fields. They will go back to work after this Holiday or break in the Evening and Glorify God. They will sing his praises because they have seen their Salvation in this Child.
Is it a gift to have so many people across the world celebrating your birthday or is it just a reminder of how alone we can be on Christmas. These shepherds may have been celebrating years of service. They may have been celebrating another peaceful night with the flock safe. They may have just been one of many sitting out there hoping for some excitement.
I like to thik these are lonely Shepherds that are seperated from their family because they have to watch the flock this Night. They are out in the wold and may be feeling alone or insignificant. But they are not this not. This night it does not matter what they are thinking or celebrating because there is an Angel in the Sky. They see the Angel and start to tremble. They fear the presence of God. They fear their own thoughts and Worries. They fear they have done something horribly wrong.
But this is not the Night to reveal the Sins of the Shepherds to All. This is the time to reveal a Savior to them. They have no reason to Fear because today in the city of David a Savior is Born. They will look at this little Lamb and place their sins upon him. This little Child is the one to be killed for our forgiveness.
This is the Joy we should take from the coming of the Agnel. This is not the Angel that bars us from the Garden of Eden. This is not the Angel that pours out plagues against the Earth. This is not the Angel that tells Mary She must do something and it could mean her death.
This Angel says "Fear not, for Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the LORD." They are told to go and see the great thing the LORD has done. Here this evening we come to see the great thing the LORD has done. He has showed us the forgiveness of our sins in this Child.
This is the Christ who was to be born of a Virgin. This is the Christ who was to be God in the Flesh. This is the Child that would lead the people of Israel. This is the Son of God given to die for our sins. This Christ will live to die so that we might live. Maybe this sounds a bit misfocused, a little too strong on the Death of Christ.
But many come to give this Child gifts. Many will dedicate their life to this child. Many will watch as this child grows and be amazed at his teaching. But we gather together reminding our selves the gifts we give to him of Life, Money, and time can never make up for the gift he has given us.
These Shepherds will go back to their fields. They will go back to work after this Holiday or break in the Evening and Glorify God. They will sing his praises because they have seen their Salvation in this Child.
Comments
Post a Comment