Isaiah 62:10-12/Titus 3:4-7/St Luke 2:1-20
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Christ had hardly been born and laid in the manger in Bethlehem, when outside, out in the fields, an angel of the Lord appeared, the glory of the Lord shone around him, and this mighty messenger proclaimed to the shepherds: Fear not, for behold, I bring you the Evangel, the Gospel good news of supreme joy that is for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!
And the very heavens themselves opened up and the whole multitude of the heavenly host, myriad upon myriad of angels, burst forth into song: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!
It was as if heaven had descended to earth and taken up and enclosed the earth within itself! For all that properly belongs in heaven was now here: the celestial messengers of the Lord, the glory of the Most High filling the Bethlehem sky, heaven’s music and song, and the very Lord of the heavens Himself, enfleshed in humanity, reclining in a feeding trough. The angelic host gaze into this deep and profound mystery and have but one response: Glory to God in the highest!
When Adam and Eve stole from God that which He had not given, they were expelled from Paradise, severed from pure fellowship with the Lord who had created them. A cherubim barred their way back. For this mighty ensign was placed at the gates of Paradise and in his hand a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
Our Lord’s holiness and righteousness must shut the doors of heaven to sinners; to you, Adam’s descendants in the flesh. Of yourselves there is no way back. Not you, nor any creature, not even an angel from heaven, could open them. This is why you sang all those days of Advent, the prayer of all people, “O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav’nly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery” (LSB 357:5).
Rejoice, rejoice, O Israel! For unto you has come Emmanuel, God with you. The goodness and loving kindness of God your Savior has appeared! And He has saved you according to His own mercy! For the Father decreed from all eternity that His beloved, only-begotten Son, would Himself be sent into the world. He would become man.
But not in the same way as Adam who was formed from the soil of the ground. Nor in the same way as Eve who was made from Adam’s rib. Christ the Lord is even more closely related to you than your first parents; He was born of the flesh and blood of His mother, the Virgin Mary. From her virgin womb the Holy Spirit conceived the eternally begotten Son of the Father; the Incarnate Deity who shares in your flesh and blood.
We ought to treasure and cherish this fact and teach our children rightly to esteem it. That the Lord of the heavens Himself has become our brother; that He was born as all our children have been born. There is no difference between His flesh and your flesh, except that His own flesh is without sin. For the Holy Spirit conceived the Lord Jesus within the womb of the Virgin Mary in such a way that no sin was present in His flesh and blood and soul. Aside from that everything was natural in His formation and life. He ate and drank, got tired and slept. He experienced emotion and pain, joy and sorrow, yet all without sin. In all ways like you, except without sin.
The Incarnation and humiliation is not degrading to the glory of God, contrary to what Islam holds, nor an incidental thing as American Evangelicalism seems to teach. Rather this is a high and holy honor placed upon the entire human race: God has become Man. All people everywhere can boast of this honor - and they do. The world will celebrate its Christmas with the Babe in the manger, never comprehending its full meaning.
But only Christians can boast of something even greater - that God became Man in order to bring men back to God. You can boast of this reality for all eternity. For the spiritual and eternal fruit of this birth belongs only to Christians. Do not be deceived: His lowly bed is not a cute little Christmas story. The manger is not meant to be a nice little thing, like Martha Stewart repurposing a wine barrel, it is a sign of His suffering. For the angel says to the shepherds, This will be a sign for you: you will find the Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
The Babe of Christmas shall grow to become a Man. And His tender feet shall be pierced through with nails. His little hand that grasps Mary’s finger shall be fastened to a Tree. His head that rests now on the straw, shall be crowned with thorns. The Child of Bethlehem places Himself in a manger, in a feeding trough, for all you who have become beasts on account of sin, for He is the Bread of Life!
And by His Incarnation, His birth, His life and death and resurrection He has flung wide the gates of heaven for you. This is why the angels sing this Christmas morn! For the flaming sword has been doused by the Blood of the Savior. The way to Paradise is opened once more to all the children of men, all the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. Lord have mercy on those who refuse to receive this Christmas present, their Brother in the flesh, and so rob themselves of such joy.
But to you, dear, holy people, you beloved redeemed of the Lord, rejoice, be glad and sing! For you have been sought out, you have not been forsaken. The goodness and loving kindness of God your Savior has appeared. He has saved you. Not according to your righteous works, but on account of His own mercy and love for you in Jesus Christ your Savior. You are justified by His grace. You are heirs of heaven, having been washed, regenerated and renewed by the Holy Spirit, poured out upon you through the rich mercy of Jesus Christ your Savior.
The gates are open once more. Here you take up the song of the angels: Glory to God in the highest. Here heaven comes down to earth and the Lord humbles Himself in divine service to you. Here is Bethlehem, the House of Bread. Come then with haste; for this is a sign for you: you will find Christ wrapped in the humble means of Bread and Wine, His Body and Blood, and laid upon the Paten and in the Cup. Fear not, for behold, this is the Evangel, the Gospel good news in His Blood - that your sins are forgiven, you are at peace with God once more.
A blessed and merry Christmas you my friends.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Christ had hardly been born and laid in the manger in Bethlehem, when outside, out in the fields, an angel of the Lord appeared, the glory of the Lord shone around him, and this mighty messenger proclaimed to the shepherds: Fear not, for behold, I bring you the Evangel, the Gospel good news of supreme joy that is for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!
And the very heavens themselves opened up and the whole multitude of the heavenly host, myriad upon myriad of angels, burst forth into song: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!
It was as if heaven had descended to earth and taken up and enclosed the earth within itself! For all that properly belongs in heaven was now here: the celestial messengers of the Lord, the glory of the Most High filling the Bethlehem sky, heaven’s music and song, and the very Lord of the heavens Himself, enfleshed in humanity, reclining in a feeding trough. The angelic host gaze into this deep and profound mystery and have but one response: Glory to God in the highest!
When Adam and Eve stole from God that which He had not given, they were expelled from Paradise, severed from pure fellowship with the Lord who had created them. A cherubim barred their way back. For this mighty ensign was placed at the gates of Paradise and in his hand a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
Our Lord’s holiness and righteousness must shut the doors of heaven to sinners; to you, Adam’s descendants in the flesh. Of yourselves there is no way back. Not you, nor any creature, not even an angel from heaven, could open them. This is why you sang all those days of Advent, the prayer of all people, “O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav’nly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery” (LSB 357:5).
Rejoice, rejoice, O Israel! For unto you has come Emmanuel, God with you. The goodness and loving kindness of God your Savior has appeared! And He has saved you according to His own mercy! For the Father decreed from all eternity that His beloved, only-begotten Son, would Himself be sent into the world. He would become man.
But not in the same way as Adam who was formed from the soil of the ground. Nor in the same way as Eve who was made from Adam’s rib. Christ the Lord is even more closely related to you than your first parents; He was born of the flesh and blood of His mother, the Virgin Mary. From her virgin womb the Holy Spirit conceived the eternally begotten Son of the Father; the Incarnate Deity who shares in your flesh and blood.
We ought to treasure and cherish this fact and teach our children rightly to esteem it. That the Lord of the heavens Himself has become our brother; that He was born as all our children have been born. There is no difference between His flesh and your flesh, except that His own flesh is without sin. For the Holy Spirit conceived the Lord Jesus within the womb of the Virgin Mary in such a way that no sin was present in His flesh and blood and soul. Aside from that everything was natural in His formation and life. He ate and drank, got tired and slept. He experienced emotion and pain, joy and sorrow, yet all without sin. In all ways like you, except without sin.
The Incarnation and humiliation is not degrading to the glory of God, contrary to what Islam holds, nor an incidental thing as American Evangelicalism seems to teach. Rather this is a high and holy honor placed upon the entire human race: God has become Man. All people everywhere can boast of this honor - and they do. The world will celebrate its Christmas with the Babe in the manger, never comprehending its full meaning.
But only Christians can boast of something even greater - that God became Man in order to bring men back to God. You can boast of this reality for all eternity. For the spiritual and eternal fruit of this birth belongs only to Christians. Do not be deceived: His lowly bed is not a cute little Christmas story. The manger is not meant to be a nice little thing, like Martha Stewart repurposing a wine barrel, it is a sign of His suffering. For the angel says to the shepherds, This will be a sign for you: you will find the Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
The Babe of Christmas shall grow to become a Man. And His tender feet shall be pierced through with nails. His little hand that grasps Mary’s finger shall be fastened to a Tree. His head that rests now on the straw, shall be crowned with thorns. The Child of Bethlehem places Himself in a manger, in a feeding trough, for all you who have become beasts on account of sin, for He is the Bread of Life!
And by His Incarnation, His birth, His life and death and resurrection He has flung wide the gates of heaven for you. This is why the angels sing this Christmas morn! For the flaming sword has been doused by the Blood of the Savior. The way to Paradise is opened once more to all the children of men, all the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. Lord have mercy on those who refuse to receive this Christmas present, their Brother in the flesh, and so rob themselves of such joy.
But to you, dear, holy people, you beloved redeemed of the Lord, rejoice, be glad and sing! For you have been sought out, you have not been forsaken. The goodness and loving kindness of God your Savior has appeared. He has saved you. Not according to your righteous works, but on account of His own mercy and love for you in Jesus Christ your Savior. You are justified by His grace. You are heirs of heaven, having been washed, regenerated and renewed by the Holy Spirit, poured out upon you through the rich mercy of Jesus Christ your Savior.
The gates are open once more. Here you take up the song of the angels: Glory to God in the highest. Here heaven comes down to earth and the Lord humbles Himself in divine service to you. Here is Bethlehem, the House of Bread. Come then with haste; for this is a sign for you: you will find Christ wrapped in the humble means of Bread and Wine, His Body and Blood, and laid upon the Paten and in the Cup. Fear not, for behold, this is the Evangel, the Gospel good news in His Blood - that your sins are forgiven, you are at peace with God once more.
A blessed and merry Christmas you my friends.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
RSS Feed