Christma Eve Candlelight Carol Service, 7 PM Central Standard Time, 2017

The Nativity by Norma A. Boeckler

Christmas Readings and Hymns

Bethany Lutheran Church

Christmas Eve Service, 7 PM Central Time, 2017.

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Hymn #81         O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is

The First Gospel
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

KJV Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

The Place of Jesus’ Birth
KJV Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Hymn# 102                   O Come All Ye Faithful

KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Virgin Birth
KJV Isaiah 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Incarnation
KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Hymn#109              While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

KJV Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.


Sermon –  Promises of God and Faith

Everything that is good comes from God. We have plenty of opportunities to mess up what God gives us, but He still generously and patiently provides for us.

Most people will attribute various blessings to God. They see the wonders of Creation and also the special blessings of human life. God has provided and arranged an intricate combination of dependencies, which are worth dwelling on, because each depends on the other. Our medicines came mostly from herbs until WWII. Those herbs provide medical properties on one hand (foxglove for the heart) and generally favor poor soil. Some herbs will not grow in good soil.

My favorite butterfly plant is not butterfly bush or butterfly weed, but Joe Pye Weed, which attracts them better than anything else - and JPW was discovered and used as a medicinal herb by... Joe Pye.

Our miracle drug penicillin is bread mold, used by my kin, French peasants, for infections. It was not discovered by Fleming so much as re-discovered when the mold spores killed bacteria in his messy lab. How many lives have been saved since? Scientists took note and began sifting through molds and soils to find additional antibiotics.

Faith, Which Is Good, Comes from God
Faith is a universal quality, which changes thoughts and actions based upon the object of that faith. Some have faith in magic and the occult. Others have faith in science alone. Still others believe in a tyrannical government like Stalinism. It is said that more Communists live in California than all of Russia.

When Christians use the term faith, they mean faith in the Holy Trinity, especially faith in Christ - the human face and voice of God.

This faith does not come from intellectual pursuits or from making a decision. Those who imagine this are bound to fall into all kinds of errors. Anyone who thinks of faith in a distorted way with have a distorted faith. That distortion is why people promote the idea of selling people on Christianity or telling them they have to make a decision.

The Promises and Blessings of God are the work of the Holy Spirit in the Word to plant faith in our hearts and to strengthen and nurture that faith.

Anyone who disparages faith in Christ is simply attacking the work of God in the Word. That is how Jesus identified His mission so many  times in John's Gospel - the work of God. So the disciples asked, "What is our work?" And Jesus said, "To believe in Me."

Just as Creation shows us an infinite number of dependencies, so the Scriptures show us an infinity of passages that relate to many other passages. In fact, they are all linked as one, but we need to study and remember them to see how vast this relationship is.

Hundreds of Promises in the Old Testament show us fulfillment, but also many other relationships, such as among the 500 references to shepherds and shepherding, sheep, lambs, and so forth. How can we not think about the the binding of Isaac and the ram substituted for him. A male sheep substituted for the first-born son. And then later, the blood of the lamb was put on the doorposts, and the spotless lamb was sacrificed for each Passover meal.

So people do not need more persuasion or more incentives (like popcorn and soda during church) but more Promises and Blessings of God.

That is why the Easter Vigil service struck me as so powerful in years gone by. Most of that service consists of readings from the Old Testament leading up to the resurrection of Christ. The readings alone provided the awe, majesty, and power of Jesus rising from the dead.

Likewise, great hymns put these thoughts into condensed form that we can appreciate as we sing them to ourselves or remember them during the week.

We should remember that when we hear the word Gospel. The Book of Concord authors liked to say the Promises of God when they referred to the Gospel. God promises -
A Savior, God becoming man, having both natures, human and divine.
Forgiveness of sin through faith in Him.
In parables, various blessings from remaining in the Means of Grace - fruits of the Spirit, bearing fruit, growth in those Gospel attributes: Galatians 5, John 15, Matthew 13.
Eternal life with the blessed Trinity and fellow believers.
Joy and peace on earth from the power of the Gospel in our lives.

Hymn # 646                                     Silent Night

Heavenly Host
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

The Prayers and Benediction


Hymns # 87                              Joy to the World

 Norma A. Boeckler

Christmas Eve Carol Service, 7 PM Central Time, 2016. Christmas Day Will Be the Holy Communion Service at 10 AM

The Nativity by Norma Boeckler

• Norma Boeckler has a Christmas birthday - December 22nd.
• Carl and Lynda Roper celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

Christmas Readings and Hymns

Bethany Lutheran Church

Christmas Eve Service, 7 PM Central Time, 2016.

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Hymn #81         O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is

The First Gospel
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

KJV Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

The Place of Jesus’ Birth
KJV Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Hymn# 102                   O Come All Ye Faithful

KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Virgin Birth
KJV Isaiah 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Incarnation
KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Hymn#109              While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

KJV Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.


Sermon –  



Luke’s Account
KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The Angels' Song

KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 

Luther:
1. It is written in Haggai 2:6-7, that God says: “I will shake the heavens; and the precious things of all nations shall come.” This is fulfilled today, for the heavens were shaken, that is, the angels in the heavens sang praises to God. And the earth was shaken, that is, the people on the earth were agitated; one journeying to this city, another to that throughout the whole land, as the Gospel tells us. It was not a violent, bloody uprising, but rather a peaceable one awakened by God who is the God of peace.

The Virgin birth of Jesus is a great proclamation, where God became man and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. His divine nature is often denied by the scoffers, which makes people a little wary of emphasizing His human nature. Nothing illustrates this more than His birth.

Joseph and Mary had to be obedient to the Roman Empire for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, which has two names - House of Bread, and Fruitful. The name Bread reminds us of Jesus being the Bread of Life, and the manna coming down from Heaven. It all goes together.

When Moses asked for food for the Israelites, God gave them manna - bread from Heaven - feed them and keep them alive. Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life.

If Joseph and Mary had disobeyed the government, or events had turned out differently, the Bethlehem prophesy would have be wrong. But it was not.

The journey they took was difficult, far more than we imagine, because Mary was close to term and walking uphill. If they had a beast of burden, that would have helped, but the fruit trees did not bow down to feed her, as the Roman Catholic myths claim. 

The entire emphasis is upon the way God works among the humble, to shame the great, powerful, and wise, who gain all their glory on earth.

Even today, people wonder, "Why does no one notice what is being done in quiet humility to glorify God?" That is the way it was and always will be. People appreciate what matters least in the long run. They glorify the fleeting, the material, the temporary. They ignore the eternal.

But this paradox, a seeming contradiction, is shown us with the birth of Jesus so that we see -  it was that way then and will always be, so that fact encourages us to realize that God knows all and rewards in secret. Often His greatest rewards and miracles go without being noticed at all by unbelievers, scoffers, and apostates - that is their punishment.

Every year I see a post about thanking the people who are working on Christmas:

• Police
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Firemen
• Emergency personnel
• The military.

That list is completely true, and we all appreciate that - or should. But what is missing? Who is working 100% on Christmas, not swapping vacations or getting substitutes? The Gospel ministers. I find that hilariously ironic that at Christmas so many secular job holders are praised and nothing is said for the labor involved in getting the Advent and Christmas services organized, with children's programs and everything else. The word itself means "Holy Communion Service for Christ" - Christ-mass. (I do not like the term mass, even though Luther used it. Too many Lutherans want to sinuflect to Rome, starting with calling themselves "Father" and emerging in clouds of incense.)

Why is everyone noticing this and writing rather sad posts about the sacrifices? - Because people party at Christmas, take vacations, and do not pack the houses of worship for Christmas even while praising sacrifices for Christmas.

 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 

For this to happen, all of world history had to form the events making the prophesies come true:

We should not overlook the frequent title of Jesus - Son of David, which was the same as saying Messiah, Anointed-with-Oil King, or Christ, the Greek version of the same title.

David's Kingdom came upglued after Solomon and began a long decline, which included the long Babylonian Exile and the Return.

When Alexander the Great rose about 300 BC, his conquests included Israel in the trophies collected.

When the Maccabeean Revolt took back Israel for the Jews in 165 BC, many rejoiced and treated Judas Maccabeus as the Messiah, the Son of David. But that did not last.

By 60 BC, the Roman Empire was asked to be peacekeepers in Israel, which led to Herod, the non-Jew becoming the the head of the shattered, battered remnant state of Israel. The prophesy was fulfilled, the throne had departed  from the House of David. The Messiah would come. The Star would appear.

So when we read about that little shepherd boy David, coming from Bethlehem, I ask children, "Why does that matter?" Because Jesus was born in that tiny town, due to David being from that town. And that fulfilled the Old Testament Promises, but far beyond what the people expected.

Luther:
8. The Evangelist shows how, when they arrived at Bethlehem, they were the most insignificant and despised, so that they had to make way for others until they were obliged to take refuge in a stable, to share with the cattle, lodging, table, bed chamber and bed, while many a wicked man sat at the head in the hotels and was honored as lord. No one noticed or was conscious of what God was doing in that stable. He lets the large houses and costly apartments remain empty, lets their inhabitants eat, drink and be merry; but this comfort and treasure are hidden from them. O what a dark night this was for Bethlehem, that was not conscious of that glorious light!

See how God shows that he utterly disregards what the world is, has or desires; and furthermore, that the world shows how little it knows or notices what God is, has and does.

9. See, this is the first picture with which Christ puts the world to shame and exposes all it does and knows. It shows that the world’s greatest wisdom is foolishness, her best actions are wrong and her greatest treasures are misfortunes. What had Bethlehem when it did not have Christ? What have they now who at that time had enough? What do Joseph and Mary lack now, although at that time they had no room to sleep comfortably?


Luther:
11. But the birth itself is still more pitiful. There was no one to take pity on this young wife who was for the first time to give birth to a child; no one to take to heart her condition that she, a stranger, did not have the least thing a mother needs in a birth-night. There she is without any preparation, without either light or fire, alone in the darkness, without any one offering her service as is customary for women to do at such times. Every thing is in commotion in the inn, there is a swarming of guests from all parts of the country, no one thinks of this poor woman. It is also possible that she did not expect the event so soon, else she would probably have remained at Nazareth.

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I remember a New Testament "scholar," a rationalist, saying, "There is no record of a tax." In fact, many of the problems associated with this have been addressed. One is the loss of 99% of all ancient history - and we should be grateful for that! Beyond that point, there are many special taxations and tributes mentioned at that time. Many times people get stuck on names, because people have more than one name, or on other facts.

Scoffers never mention that every single detail where we have a historical record is 100% in agreement with the Word of God. Luther sensed that long ago. Centuries of archaeology have shown him to have been correct. The Bible judges all books.

Jesus was born with more neglect than any of us can imagine. We are used to hospitals, doulas, midwives, painkillers, special rooms and clothes, attendants, helpers, prepared food.

But this birth was special. Jesus was born without sin. The Immaculate Concept applies to Mary - not Jesus - as most know. The Immaculate Conception was part of the Mary mythology that developed in the Middle Ages.

The Virgin Birth is Biblical, and the Two Natures in Christ mean that Jesus could be tempted and could sin, but did not sin because of His divine nature and will.

We are born with sinful natures, which reveal themselves at all times. We want the bigger piece of pie, the greater praise, the better life, whatever suits us at the time. That Old Adam is tamed but never conquered as long as we live. As Luther said, we live - always repentant, always forgiven through faith.

Jesus' birth swallows up ours, as Luther says, so His birth becomes ours. Whatever blessings we have come through Him - from the forgiveness of sin to eternal life, and all the fruits of the Gospel in our lives.



Luther:

38. In the third place, it is shown by the light that shined around the shepherds, which teaches that here there must be an entirely different light than that of human reason. Moreover, when St. Luke says, Gloria Dei, the glory of God, shone around them, he calls that light a brightness, or the glory of God. Why does he say that? In order to call attention to the mystery and reveal the character of the Gospel. For while the Gospel is a heavenly light that teaches nothing more than Christ, in whom God’s grace is given to us and all human merit is entirely cast aside, it exalts only the glory of God, so that henceforth no one may be able to boast of his own power; but must give God the glory, that it is of his love and goodness alone that we are saved through Christ.

See, the divine honor, the divine glory, is the light in the Gospel, which shines around us from heaven through the apostles and their followers who preach the Gospel. The angel here was in the place of all the preachers of the Gospel, and the shepherds in the place of all the hearers, as we shall see. For this reason the Gospel can tolerate no other teaching besides its own; for the teaching of men is earthly light and human glory; it exalt the honor and praise of men, and makes souls to glory in their own works; while the Gospel glories in Christ, in God’s grace and goodness, and teaches us to boast of and confide in Christ.


Hymn # 646                                     Silent Night

Heavenly Host
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

The Prayers and Benediction


Hymns # 87                              Joy to the World

Christmas Week Worship Schedule

Christmas Eve Carol Service - 7 PM Central
Christmas Day Holy Communion - 10 AM Central

Because of Christmas Eve falling on Saturday, we will have our Christmas Carol service on Saturday instead of the Wednesday mid-week service.

Christmas Day is Sunday, so we will have a Christmas Holy Communion service.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - 2014. 7 PM Central Standard Time.

The Nativity, by Norma Boeckler.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Christmas Eve Service

Christmas Eve Service, 7 PM Central Time.

Christmas Readings and Hymns

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Hymn 77:1-6 All My Heart This Night Rejoices 2.25

The First Gospel

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

KJV Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

The Place of Jesus’ Birth

KJV Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

#102 O Come All Ye Faithful                                                    1:7

KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Virgin Birth

KJV Isaiah 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Incarnation

KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

#109 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks                             1:35

Matthew's Account

KJV Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Luke’s Account

KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

The Sermon - The Humanity of Christ

The divinity of Christ is so clear throughout the Scriptures. The Messianic prophecies teach His divinity. We see it in His miraculous Virgin Birth, throughout His ministry, in His death and resurrection and His Ascension.

But today I would like to emphasize His humanity, since both Natures are united in Christ. His humanity is a constant source of great comfort, often forgotten when people feel weighed down by sin. Others feel ignored by God, although God knows and sees all.

KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 

This is human. No one can tax God, yet the family of Jesus had to trudge uphill to be taxed by Caesar Augustus. The Jewish Messiah was a subject of the Roman Emperor, certainly a great irony. But this had great implications for all people. By God's design, the Messiah was born in a corner of an civilization that reached across the world of that time, an empire that absorbed all the best from the ancient Greeks and other subject people. (Ancient history saying - The Romans had the drains, but the Greeks had the brains.)

Although this baby would be nothing in the eyes of the great, wise, and powerful, His ministry and message would be at the crossroads of history, the tipping point in time where His followers would be able to travel everywhere, and would be chased everywhere. In a small, closed country they would have been cornered and liquidated. Instead, they were spread across the continents, by roads and by sea.

If we wonder about God's compassion - what indignity did the Son of God not face? It began with the circumstances of His miraculous birth. If everyone had known - what a crowd of nobles and teachers would have been there. The entire village would have been blocked off by soldiers. But just the opposite was true. Our cul-de-sac knew more about the baby born a few months ago than Israel knew about Jesus' birth. 

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 

And we still have this imperial taxing today. We changed counties, and our new county made sure they got their $10 personal tax from us for owning the Town Car limousine. If I had not paid it, I would not have received new plates. And I did pay it late, so there was a bonus for the county executives. Taxes are for us humans. Jesus became 100% human in His Incarnation, remaining 100% divine as well.

The taxing and other details fix Jesus' birth at a specific time in history. He is not a mythical figure. In some world religions, there is uncertainty about whether the so-called founder ever existed. Their writings are completely confused about who wrote what. Biographical details are from centuries later (in other world religions) and do not really matter very much, because the person is usually not central to the religion. When the person matters, there are fantastic details from the world of magic or the occult. They are not historical. 

The Christian Faith is grounded in history and attested by many historical sources.

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

The Roman Empire did not take rejection from anyone, so its people were used to obeying orders. Roman justice was swift and brutal, so there was no debate about obeying or not. Thus the census and taxation brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, to David's city, since the Promise of the Savior was rooted in David, his line, his past glory, the village of the little shepherd who defeated Goliath with a slingshot.

We saw the slingshot demonstrated in Eureka Springs, not far from us. American kids think of a Y-shaped weapon with a big rubber band, but David used more of sling that could be fired with remarkable accuracy, as we witnessed. "Never bring a sword, spear and armor to a slingshot battle," they would say later. That showed that a little one could defeat a giant with the right weapon.

This foreshadowed a little baby defeating the entire Roman Empire and Pharisaical Judaism with the Word. All the powers of earth were marshaled against Him, but He won, defeating sin, death, and the devil, spreading the Faith throughout the Roman Empire, first through Jews, then through Gentiles as well.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Joseph was obedient and took his wife from the lowlands to the highlands of Jerusalem/Bethlehem. We experienced that (by car) in Arizona, with Phoenix in the valley and Flagstaff up in the mountains. No telling what that kind of trip by foot would be like.

They had to return to their native city, in terms of lineage, a clever way for Rome to keep track of everyone. But it also meant crowded conditions. Certain conditions had to be met for the Savior to be born. One was that the throne had to be held by a non-Jew, which was true of Herod. That was the first time.

People do not believe the Old Testament prophecies, but Herod did. He was afraid, for good reason. He was not from David's line and yet the Great King (Messiah - King anointed with oil) would be from David's line.

Why not Jerusalem for the royal birth? Because David was not from Jerusalem but the little village of Bethlehem. Jesus would be born in a little village made doubly famous by King David and by the Savior, the Son of David.

David was born in a palace. God made him king. Jesus was born a king but He was not born in a palace, only in a rented room. Nothing good can happen if it starts in a rented room - so the great and wise tell me. They rely on the guilt-offerings of the unrepentant wealthy (like Marvin Schwan) and the bribes of insurance companies (like Thrivent) to make a big impression.

We went to the dedication of the glamorous new chapel at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. So much money was spent on it. They did not worship before? They did, but that was not adequate for the shrinking neo-Roman seminary. They needed glamour, so they sought out a gift from Marvin Schwan, who was thanked ostentatiously in the narthex. What would have Samuel said to Marvin? Not thanks for the loot, but "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12.7) And to robed ecclesiasts gathered to celebrate their glory, "Brood of vipers." Jesus said, "White washed graves full of dead men's bones."

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

The Christmas pageants spend a lot of time on the refusal of the innkeeper to take in the Holy Family, but it is revealed in a simple phrase here - no room at the inn. No room at the relatives? Nothing is said here, but one imagines many possibilities never realized. The Gospel is not warmly welcomed by everyone. Opposition and hatred is common. Sometimes it is just indifference. 

Family members are often the cross to bear, especially when they have a religious background of sort. Our Asian friends were converted by evangelism, by a Billy Graham event in Hong Kong. Their families responded by saying, "You have deserted the culture and faith of your family." They were not congratulated but condemned.

When seminarians graduate and receive their first call, they find out that the old congratulations and blessings and gifts have turned into crosses to bear. If they are honest and faithful, that never stops. Luther said he seldom heard a kind word all his life, which is still true today. The non-Lutherans ignore his teaching and the Lutherans despise it. But he did not cling to popularity but the Word.

I always thought The Manger was altogether too soft and appealing in the pageants. Clearly this was in an area reserved for animals. This had to be a side area for sheltering the animals, not appealing to anyone. So the newborn was wrapped and placed in a feeding trough. I have seen those on a farm. The owner tears into a bale of hay and throws some in the feeding trough, where the food is soon chewed by the mules and cattle and horses.

But this is the key symbol of the Incarnation. Jesus the Son of God was wrapped up like any other baby, though born in the humblest circumstances. We are never so tiny and fragile again as we were as newborns. It is always a blessing to hold a newborn. They are light as feathers and rubbery for childbirth. The bones have yet to harden. Sleep overcomes them quickly. They look like strangers in this world, unused to the lights and sounds.

When I ask children about the Savior coming to us as a baby, they explain God's wisdom, "No one is afraid of a baby." So - here is the beginning of the Gospel - foretold in so many ways. The Savior is born. Not only is He human (which they did  expect) but He is born in the humblest and most neglected circumstances. 

Can He identify with our sorrows and difficulties? Yes. I have students who have been homeless from an accumulation of circumstances. One of them wants to work with the poor, because he has also suffered from the difficulties of life and wants to help with the Gospel.


8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

I have explored garden myths. A New Testament myth has this NOT happening in December. Some writers move from one assumption to another and declare an imagined truth. Then they mix in their lack of faith and voila - the Christmas story is celebrated December 25th to keep everyone from the pagan orgies of a Roman festival. As if - people said, "Are you going to the candlelight service or the orgy?" 

But comical fantasies survive through repetitions. 

The first witnesses of the birth of the Savior were working men, and they were given the blessing of the angelic host appearing before them. First one angel appeared, and that was frightening. The meaning of angel (Greek and Hebrew) is messenger. God used His angels to tell these working men about a great message, which is Ev-Angel in Greek - good news.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

The message is poetic and was probably used constantly as a catechism, a teaching passage. It is easy to remember and repeat. The Good News came to working men, not to academics, to priests, to nobles in the palace. Those are often the people who suppress and persecute the Gospel. 

This is a scandalous message, to use the original meaning of scandal. The Greek word meant the trip mechanism in a trap. The Savior in a manger? No, so they walk away without believing. So the modernists are today. They have a thousand reasons for rejecting the manger and the cross.

But God has given us an eternal message of peace and hope - no earthly peace, but eternal peace and hope in God's Promises.

Luther included this message for those who build cathedrals and neglect the needy, good words in an era of cathedral building and naming -

Luther:
59. It is altogether false to think that you have done much for Christ, if you do nothing for those needy ones. Had you been at Bethlehem you would have paid as little attention to Christ as they did; but since is now made known who Christ is, you profess to serve him. Should he come now and lay himself in a manger, and would send you word that it was he, of whom you now know so much, you might do something for him, but you would not have done it before. Had it been positively made known to the rich man in the Gospel, to what high position Lazarus would be exalted, and he would have been convinced of the fact, he would not have left him lie and perish as he did.

60. Therefore, if your neighbor were now what he shall be in the future, and lay before you, you would surely give him attention. But now, since it is not so, you beat the air and do not recognize the Lord in your neighbor, you do taut do to him as he has done to you. Therefore God permits you to be blinded, and deceived by the pope and false preachers, so that you squander on wood, stone, paper, and wax that with which you might help your fellow man.

#646 Silent Night                                                              4:38

First verse - in German

Verses 1-3 - in English

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Heavenly Host

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

The Prayers and Benediction

#87 Joy to the World                                                           1:20