Prophet's Story:

See, Your Savior Comes!

Christmas Day - December 25, 2005

Isaiah 62:10-12

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ. Amen.

What is Christmas all about? I remember over-hearing some kids talk one Christmas Eve as they were getting ready to put on their Christmas pageant, “So, what are you getting for Christmas? I asked for a Game Boy.”

Another responded, “I don’t know, but I’m hoping for a BB gun.”

This year, I am guessing that some adults will have another conversation. They will be talking about their hope for a Packer victory later today. Others will hope that they lose; that way maybe we’ll get a early draft pick.

Amazingly, if you have watched the news, there are even some churches today which have their doors closed, the lights are out, and nobody is gathering in them. Their reasoning for doing so? This is a day to celebrate family - good food and fellowship.

Is that what Christmas is about?

Indeed, Christmas is wonderful when celebrated with family, but is there more? Indeed, the gifts given and received reflect the gift of peace which God gave mankind, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And enjoying a moment of sport and fellowship with family and friends, watching the Packers -whether they win or lose - can be a God-given break from the daily grind.

But, if these things are the central focus of our Christmas, then something is drastically missing. If such is the case, then Paul’s words to Titus are not true, that at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. Instead, it would mean that we are still foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.

The things of this world are subtle temptations, leading us away from God. This age is no different than any other age. As we can see in that letter to Titus, the passions and pleasures of the world easily enslaved the people of Paul’s age. Isaiah was sent to prophecy to the people of his age because they too were caught up in the passions and pleasures of their world. And today, God still sends out those who bring His Word, to warn the people to avoid the passions and pleasures of the world we live in.

But there is more to Paul’s message, more to Isaiah’s message, and more to the message you came to hear today.

Paul proclaimed these words, But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

That was the prophet Isaiah’s story too, the Word from God which he was to proclaim. The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’” They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.

Some two thousand years ago, on a winter’s night on a Judean hillside, an angel proclaimed the same message to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night. The angel heralded, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Today, this Christmas Day, I have been called into your midst to proclaim that same message - See, your Savior comes! He comes to bring you His reward. He comes to bring His recompense. He comes to proclaim to you that you are a holy people, the redeemed of the Lord. You will be called the sought after, the city no longer deserted.

Yes, Christmas is about a gift - a gift given to you. Today, that gift is wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Do you see the prophet’s promise in that Child? Do you see your Savior?

In those swaddling clothes we don’t our Savior. But today, we want to remember Jesus that way. We want to celebrate the birth of a little baby boy. We don’t want pastor to tell us that this child was born to die upon a cross on a Jerusalem hillside to redeem us from our sins. We don’t want to hear that, not today, today is Christmas. Too many people think it ruins Christmas if we think about this baby's death. Today we want to rejoice in His birth.

But, dear friends in Christ, that is exactly why we rejoice in His birth. God Himself took on human flesh, was tempted by the same passions and pleasures of the world that have so easily enslaved so many since the beginning of time, and overcame them all.

That innocent little child truly was, unlike you and me. That innocent little child remained innocent. He remained focused upon His Father, and His Father’s will, despite the temptations to turn away from His task and get caught up in the world.

It was specifically this innocence and perfect righteousness that was needed as a sacrifice on that Jerusalem hillside. That is the kindness and love of God our Savior that appeared, and was laid in a manger. That innocent Child came to save us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

But His coming wasn’t just to appear, walk the earth, suffer, die, rise again, and then ascend into heaven. No, my friends, Your Savior comes - He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. You were baptized into that death. You were united to Christ, so that, having been justified by his grace, you might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

That is the gift you receive this Christmas. See, your Savior comes! He comes to speak His Word of forgiveness and peace into your ears.

See, your Savior comes! He comes in the forms of bread and wine, His body and blood given to you under earthly elements to free you from the fetters of your passions and pleasures in this world, and give you the hope of eternal life.

It is just as Isaiah foretold it, See, your Savior comes! Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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