Carol Service – Sermon 122

Introduction

What do we find wonderful and exciting about Christmas? –

The decorations – the party atmosphere – the rich food – the holidays off work – being with our family and friends? – over-indulging in a little wine or spirits?

If you ask many families what they think makes their Christmas enjoyable and exciting – they will probably answer – the children – seeing their faces light up as they open their presents – giving and sharing time with them –

Having children in our homes can help make things special – having one child in particular – can change our lives

 
point 1 

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus – the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Messiah – a Saviour – a descendent of David whose kingdom shall never end –

In the verses we heard – Luke describes the Annunciation – the first hearing of Jesus’ arrival – by His chosen mother Mary –

He tells us of the greeting from the Angel – and the news that she would have a Son – the protest that she was not yet married – and the reply that it would not be a man who came to her – but the Holy Spirit of God Himself –

The expected event was to be unique – something wonderful – a new human being – but one whose origins are with God Himself – literally the Son of the most high –

Most of us would have said that a girl so young and inexperienced as Mary– could not possibly have known her own mind – but Gabriael approaches her with all deference and respect. Confident that even this teenager is capable of responding to God’s will –

That confidence rests on 3 qualities – which shine through –

Mary’s humility – she is astonished to be greeted as one who is specially favoured

Her Honesty – she is not afraid to question the Angel as to how his promise to her can possibly come true –

Her affirmation of life – having asked her question and expressed her doubts – Mary then says “Yes” – she still does not know all that lies ahead but accepts God’s will for her life – and so becomes the bearer of the world’s saviour –

“I am the Lord’s servant” said Mary “Let it be as you have said”

How many of us have watched in amazement as children open their presents – at Christmas – take a quick look at what’s inside – and then start to play with the paper or the box –

Do we ever stop to wonder then – what God must think of us – when we – spend so much time playing with our Christmas wrappings – our parties – our drinking – our present buying – only to ignore the real gift – the real reason – behind it all – Jesus Christ –

Mary wholeheartedly accepted Jesus into her life – yet we find it difficult – to make Him part of ours

Maybe we need to look again – at the reasons why Jesus came – and what difference He can make to our lives and our world today

point 2       God comes into History

Some modern glass buildings – have a picture of a bird in flight – on their large glass sections – this is to stop birds flying into the glass and killing themselves –

It seems that the only thing that will persuade them to change direction – is to see one of their own kind – doing the same –

Well it’s a bit like that with God and us –

God wants us to change our direction – and follow His –

For years He has tried to communicate with us – through miracles and prophets – and has largely been ignored –Until finally God decided to come down as one of us – and helps us to change –

In John’s Gospel – Jesus is described as “The Word made flesh” – Jesus came to tell us about God – to show us what God is like and what He wants us to become

In other words – Jesus’ life is an illustration of God’s nature – and a blueprint for us to copy and follow

In Jesus God shows us too – that He is prepared to experience every aspect of our lives –

He sent Him into the world as a baby – the most vulnerable time of our lives – and chose a 14 year old girl – from a poor family – and from one of the most oppressed peoples of the world – to bring Him up – its certainly not the start we would have chosen – for the King of kings –

Jesus will rule over Israel forever – but not like any king before Him – He will be a true example of God’s grace –

He came to live – and experience – our disappointments and failures – to help us to see God at work even in our most difficult times –

He came to express God’s love in the most needed places – to heal the sick – give sight to the blind – enable the lame to walk – put His life on the line – in order to show us that He understands and cares for our individual needs –

In an act of pure love – God sent His only Son – to die for us on the cross – so that our sins can be forgiven –

We celebrate Christmas and the gift of Jesus in a manger – but its not the manger that gives us a restored relationship with God – it’s the cross and the empty tomb –

Sin means missing the mark – falling short of what God expects – we allow – our pride – our fears – to take control – and lead us into actions we know are wrong –

It leaves us with feelings of guilt and helplessness – that leave their mark – on our lives –

We all know about computer – viruses

If they go unchecked – they worm their way in – until the performance is affected – and until one day – everything comes to a crashing halt

Sin is like a virus – it eats away – at the heart – getting a foothold where it can – if it doesn’t get checked – it won’t stop until our relationship with God is completely – severed

The scars of our past sins can run deep within us – and we can’t remove them by ourselves –

Jesus came to take away those scars – so that we can start again –

When we accept Jesus as our Saviour – because of His death – we are brought closer to God – and our sins no longer separate us from Him –

The empty tomb symbolizes Jesus’ resurrection – and because Jesus – rose from the dead – we know that death is just the removal of the final barrier between ourselves and God – and there is something more marvelous and everlasting to come –

Jesus gave everything for us – so that we could receive everything from God –

 
point 3      What it means to say Yes –

A little boy was with his Father – at church looking curiously at the Nativity scene – “Dad – look at the manger – is Father Christmas there? – “No” said his Father – it’s the Kings giving presents to Jesus – remember we told you – that Christmas is really about – a celebration of Jesus’ birth –

Will Christmas herald in a new beginning in our lives

Many people believe Christmas is about children

Well it is – its about the children of God – you and me – and our relationship with Him –

God calls us –like Mary – to accept our part in His revelation – and to receive Him and reply in faith as she did –