Wednesday 25th December – Christmas Day – Pastor Adrian Kitson

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Luke 2:8-20

And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Friends, I don’t want to preach a sermon that is dead on arrival today. I just want to bask in the mystery and joy of this day.

Luke’s telling is not some quiet gentle song by which you can fall asleep after lunch today. His telling of the day God entered our human pain and weakness is a cymbal-crash.

The Almighty God explodes this world’s mundanity. It all begins very mundane. God comes to our mundane ordinary everyday …

  • The fields outside Bethlehem (Luke 2:4) might as well be Dullsville, SA. Watching over sheep all night (2:8) is tedious.
  • Registering taxpayers in your little canvas booth in town all day (2:1-3) is dreary.
  • Fully booked motels are monotonous (2:7).
  • Before her pregnancy an angel visited Mary (1:26-38), but Gabriel never showed up when she gave birth in that shed. No light, no water, no beds….. Just a feeding trough for a cradle (2:7), amid mule poo. Not the stuff of romance or excitement.

But then, ‘BOOM’! Not only one angel but like a rolling lightening and thunder storm rolling over you – an entire celestial chorus electrifies the night sky before a handful of outliers (2:9-14) who know nothing of what happened before all this;

  • Foretelling of John the Baptist’s birth.
  • Foretelling of Jesus’ birth.
  • Elizabeth and Marty’s baby bump visit.
  • Mary breaking into song
  • John being born
  • Zechariah breaking into song. Luke 1:5-80

From a single candle flickering in a shed to a blinding light that would blow out the motherboard of the Torrens Island power station, it is clear: God has decided to invade our tired, banal lives with a vision and message so spectacular as to be incredible. Can we be like those shepherds and seize it and believe Him

“… the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby … manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, (Luke 2:15-20).

Of course, this is not science for the logic but miracle for the believing. None of this makes logical sense. The great heavenly host did not appear outside Caesar’s palace (neither the real ancient one or the casino n Vegas!) or Governor Quirinius’s mansion (Luke 2:1-2).

The news is delivered to a bunch of nobodies like us. “I am bringing you good news” (2:10). “To you is born this day” (2:11). “This will be a sign for you: You will find” (2:12). This message comes to us.

What is the message? This is the birthday of “a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

This is frightening news. Everyone knew that declaring that a King has been born – a divine King – a ‘Lord’ means that the current ones are not going to like this.

All the ascriptions Caesar made of himself on buildings and coins are bogus.

Even more astonishing for Jewish hearers – Many of the attributes of God himself — “Saviour” (Isaiah 43:3; Hosea 13:4), “the Lord” (Psalm 30:4; 135:1) — are now, by God’s own decree, concentrated in a single newborn baby, whose only power at this moment is to suck his mother’s breast, poo, pee, and puke.

I find it surprising that the parents are silent. Mary and Joseph make no claims of their child. They say nothing at all. It is actually those shepherds reveal to the parents, and to anyone else whose paths they cross, just what God revealed to them,

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.                       Luke 2:16-18

This is unbelievable!

But Luke tells you today that God’s news is incomprehensibly good. It is “great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

Do you notice that in this moment there is not one shred of judgment, wrath, anger, or punishment — for us or anyone else.

If you are looking to get out from under that guilt, rid yourself of that shame, remove the pain of that regret, untie that shackle that is binding you, today is the day!

Peace and that buoyance called joy are to be found here

Do you really want these gifts today? In this boy, God’s peace — whole, sound, irrepressible, permanent — is available “on earth to those whom he favours” or “who know God’s good pleasure” (2:14).

But let’s be sure: God does not force us to yield to this. God gifts us the freedom to respond. And there are different responses on show here. I wonder how you find yourself responding today?

Terror. There was terror when standing before God’s sheer radiance (Luke 2:9). An angel allays the fear (2:10), but ridding it is hard. When the curtain is pulled back to reveal a platoon of angels in front of us, the sight is unnerving. Who knew that God lives so close to us?

Outbursts of praise: “Glory to God in the highest heaven” (Luke 2:14). That is the angelic response. The Revelation to John (4:8) reminds us that the angels hymn God’s majesty nonstop day and night. The shepherds in Luke 2:20 have learned the music and continue to sing it.

Stimulus to tell: “Let’s go and see” (Luke 2:15). “They made [it] known” (2:17).

Amazement (Luke 2:18). It could be focussed on lots of things. Luke reminds us elsewhere, an experience of amazement may lead to no firm conclusion:

6 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’ (Luke 5:26).

Some are amazed and baffled with this Jesus.

36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, ‘What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!’ (Luke 4:36).

Some are amazed and judgmental

“… a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. (Luke 11:38)

Others are astounded by God’s greatness

“…  everyone was marvelling at all that Jesus did … (Luke 9:43).

Still others are amazed, and then turn violent

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.

23 Jesus said to them, …27 … there were many in Israel with leprosy[g] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed – only Naaman the Syrian.’

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious … 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff … (Luke 4:22-30).

Even young Jesus’ “father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him” (2:33). That astonishment moved into reprimand soon after;

48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ (Luke 2:48).

Acceptance with deep pondering: That’s Mary

“Mary stored up all these things, tossing and turning them over in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

I find this the most intriguing response.

Mary has received more inside information than any other person involved (1:26-45). Mary is the one who bursts into song at the wonder of it (1:46-55). Even she cannot take it all in. A few days later, while in the temple (2:21, 27), old Simeon will give her more to toss and turn over. He will say that by this child

“… the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul, too” (2:35).

So, what are your inner thoughts and what is piercing your soul today?

Terror. Hard to see that in anyone. Although, you might be recognising that if this Jesus is truly the King of life, you might be feeling a bit threatened as the king of your own life. That can happen.

Outbursts of praise: We might find a few of them in you – especially as we sing together.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven” (Luke 2:14), we sing.

A new stimulus to tell. You might find that burning fire within you among your people today.

Amazement (Luke 2:18). Can we be? It is so familiar and we have dressed it up in so much colour and story…. But God did enter our humanity – and not to condemn and shame but to free and save. I hope there is a hint of genuine amazement at that truth today, and that the amazement gets clear – it turns to joy!

Some are amazed and judgmental. That might be you or it could be among those you love.

But where I always find myself going in terms of responding to this great mystery of God becoming human with me and us is Mary.

I hope you go with her too into that acceptance with deep pondering.

You can.

You have got all the inside information.

You have got the story of who this boy became and what he said and did and how he came to you and baptised you into his life and hope, and how he has kept you afloat with that underlying hope and joy through all the tossing seas you travelled.

A’ Mary’ kind of response for you:

Verse 10 of Luther’s famous Christmas Hymn, From heaven above to earth I come…

Hope you find a space today somewhere to pray it, and enjoy the joy he brings

Ah! dearest Jesus, holy child,

Make me a bed, soft, undefiled,

Within my heart, that it may be

A quiet chamber kept for you.

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