In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:1-20 NIV)
Two weeks ago, we had “Christmas for Kids” here at Christ the King. There were crafts and cookie decorating and Christmas music and the Christmas story and, of course, a bounce house. A good time was had by all! Almost. A few families came up to me and our volunteers visibly disappointed. Can you guess why? They asked, “Where are the gifts?” “What gifts?” I said. “You mean you don’t have any gifts for us? That’s the reason we came. Where are the gifts?” “No,” I said. “We don’t have any gifts. The crafts and the cookies and the music and the bounce house and the story of Jesus our Savior—that’s our gift to you.” “Oh.” They left disappointed.
I don’t tell that story to shame them. Because you and I are exactly the same way. Aren’t we? How many times have you unwrapped a gift and thought to yourself, “Oh.” How many years have you gotten a dozen things, but not what you really wanted? How many times have you torn open a Christmas card to find a picture inside, instead of a gift card. “Oh.” How often have you been left thinking, “Maybe next year…” Somehow, Christmas has become all about the gifts. In fact, some of you right now are thinking, “When is this going to be over? We want presents!”
That’s not all wrong. Christmas is about the gifts. What gifts do you think the shepherds wanted? Can you imagine living out in the fields, keeping watch over your flocks by night? What gifts do you think the shepherds wanted? How about a four-wheeler? I bet they would have loved a four-wheeler. Maybe a bathroom. With heated showers. Wouldn’t that have been great? How about an electric fence? Then they wouldn’t have had to worry about their sheep wandering off in the first place! Maybe a space heater. On a cold winter night? Wouldn’t it be great to go back in time and surprise those shepherds with all the things we have today? We could give some great gifts!
But none of those gifts—not even a four-wheeler—none of those gifts would be better than what God gave them. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” God had a greater gift planned for them. A Savior from their sins. The promised Messiah. The Lord—God himself! That was God’s gift at Christmas.
It was so needed. As much as they might have enjoyed a bathroom or a pickup truck, a Savior was so much more needed. Why? Look at their reaction. When the angel appeared to them, how did they react? “They were terrified.” Every time an angel appears to a human being in the Bible, the person is terrified. Why? Nothing will convince you of your sin like standing face-to-face with perfection. Like mice when you turn on the light go scurrying to hide, sinners in God’s presence are always terrified. That’s why people don’t like to think about God. Why people avoid church. “Maybe if I ignore God, maybe if I avoid God, then I won’t feel so afraid of God.”
But avoiding or ignoring or hiding won’t take that fear away. Do you know what does? God’s gift. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Instead of coming in his glory to judge us, God wrapped himself up as a little baby to save us. Jesus turns our fears into joy. Instead of punishing us as our sins deserve, God came to save us from our sins. To be punished for our sins on the cross. So that you can have peace with God. Jesus turns our fears into joy. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
This is the gift of Christmas! I’m going to say something that’s going to be hard to hear, but I have to say it: What you need most at Christmas isn’t an Xbox. There I said it! It’s not a new car. Do people really get those? It’s not even peace in your family. An Xbox won’t make you feel good about yourself. A new car won’t calm the discontentment in your heart. Even a peaceful family won’t take away that gnawing feeling in your soul. You need a greater gift: A Savior.
Jesus is the gift. We couldn’t go to God. So God came to us. We couldn’t save ourselves. So God saved us. There is someone who loves you enough to die for you. There is someone who has perfectly planned out every moment of your life. There is someone who has created a place in heaven for you. There is someone who is always with you. There is someone who takes away all your guilt and fear. Isn’t that good news? Jesus is the gift! As I talked with those families at Christmas for Kids, my heart hurt. “A toy isn’t what you need. It’s Jesus!” Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Jesus is the gift of Christmas.
But he’s not the only gift. Actually, Jesus might not even be the greatest gift. Does that sound wrong? Long ago, a Christian named St. Bernard said there was more than one Christmas miracle. He said, “It was a miracle that God could become a human being in Jesus. That’s a miracle! It’s a miracle that the Virgin Mary could give birth to a child. That’s a miracle!” That’s usually where we stop. God became a man. Mary gave birth to Jesus. Amen! But St. Bernard said there’s an even greater miracle: That Mary and the shepherds and you and I have faith to believe it. The most amazing miracle of Christmas is that God gives people the faith to believe it.
Have you ever thought about that? God gave two gifts at Christmas: The gift of our Savior Jesus and the miraculous gift of faith to believe in him. Last month, I was talking with a pastor friend, and he had something to get off his chest. He said, “People are hearing God’s Word, but it’s not sinking into their hearts and lives. They say it’s all about Jesus, but then they work themselves to death. They say it’s all about Jesus, but then they stress about money and stuff. They come to church, but then they go home and spouses refuse to talk to each other. Children complain about everything. How is that? Why is that? They hear God’s Word, but nothing changes.”
As I listened to him talk—maybe rant would be a better word for it—do you know whom I was thinking of? You’re afraid I’m going to say your name, aren’t you? No, I was thinking of me. Everything he described, that’s me. I can write a devotion about peace in Jesus and a minute later get so angry with someone I can’t even think straight. I can preach a sermon about hope in Jesus and walk away feeling hopeless. I can counsel a couple and then snap at my wife or kids. That’s me. I know that Jesus came to be the Savior. But there’s another gift: To believe he came for me.
Think back to the shepherds. The angels told them to go look for the baby—the Savior! Notice what the shepherds didn’t do: Check their schedules. “Let’s see. Maybe a week from Tuesday we can squeeze him in over lunch break.” No. They didn’t check their schedules. They also didn’t say, “We’ll see how the game goes. If it’s a blowout, we’ll head over.” Do you know what they did? They believed it! They left everything and went. They saw Jesus. They returned with joy. They still slept on the ground. Life was still hard. But they had joy in Jesus. What gifts God gave them! The gift of a Savior and the gift to believe in him. Do you see what St. Bernard meant?
Think of Mary. Imagine what her Christmas night was like. We sing, “Silent night. Holy night. All is calm. All is bright.” Except, she gave birth to a baby. Without anesthesia. In a stable. What was Christmas night like? Pain. Blood. Tears. Silent night? No way! Lots of screams and cries. Then, when things finally settled down, some strange men barged in: “Let us hold your baby!” I would have been so mad! Not Mary. “She treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” God had given her two great gifts. The gift of a Savior and the gift to believe in him.
I want that for you. If you leave tonight just knowing the facts about Christmas, you’ll miss it. It’s not enough to just hear the story again. If that’s all it is, then you’re going to leave tonight and go right back to searching for some gift to make you feel good. For some job that will give you a sense of purpose. For somebody who will make you feel loved, at least for a while. You can come to church on Christmas Eve and still miss the gifts of Christmas. It’ll show. It’ll show in the way your work becomes your obsession, in the way you treat people like objects, in the way you buy stuff as if it lasts, in the way your whole life is a sad search for something more.
Before you do that, listen to the two words that make all the difference in the world: “To you.” Did you hear that in the Christmas story? Listen whom it all is for: “I bring you good news…. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you…. This will be a sign to you.” See a repeating theme? To you. To you! Jesus didn’t come so that you’d have something to do before you eat and open presents. He came to change your life. This Savior is your Savior. His salvation is your salvation. His peace is your peace. “A Savior has been born to you.” Do you believe that?
Here’s a test: Soon you’re going to take the Christmas decorations down. Too soon. If it feels like Christmas is over, then you never really celebrated Christmas in the first place. Soon all the relatives will go home, and you’ll go back to life. If it feels like Christmas is over, then you never really celebrated Christmas in the first place. If it feels like the joy is gone the moment the tree comes down, then you didn’t really have joy in the first place. Because these gifts of God never go away. You never have to put Jesus in a box. His forgiveness never ends. His promises never fail. His faithfulness continues. God gives the gift of a Savior and the gift of faith in him.
“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” There were more dark nights coming for Mary. Soon she and Joseph and Jesus had to flee to Egypt in the middle of the night. On another dark day, she would watch her Son die on a cross. What did she have left? This gift: “A Savior has been born to you.” In your life, there will be dark nights and lonely days. Times when all you have is this: “A Savior has been born to you.” That’s the gift! One day, you will stare the deepest darkness in the face—death itself. Everything else will fall away. All power and strength will be gone. What will you have left? “A Savior has been born to you.”
May God give us the gift to believe in him. Tomorrow, our Christmas Day service will end with these words from an old hymn: “The world may hold Her wealth and gold; But you, my heart, keep Christ as your true treasure. To him hold fast Until at last A crown is yours and honor in full measure.” But you, my heart, keep Christ as your true treasure. That’s the gift of Christmas.
Upside-Down Savior 