“Amazing!”     Christmas Eve Sermonettes

Pastor Thomas Kock and Vicar Jon Kehl     December 24, 2011

Amazing Promise – Luke 1:26-38  ~  Pastor Kock

Every aspect of the Christmas account is amazing, and it begins with the promise made to Mary, Jesus’ mother.  The angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced to her that she was going to have a child.  Mary has a very reasonable question: “How will this be since I am a virgin?”  (Luke 1:34 NIV)  Virgins don’t have children!  How could this promise come true?  The angel then explained that the Holy Spirit was going to cause Mary to become pregnant miraculously.  And so, yes, this virgin became pregnant miraculously, and had a baby, just as the angel had promised.  For after all, “nothing is impossible with God.”

Do we believe that?  Do we believe that nothing is impossible with God?  Or do we try to put God into our own little human box, limiting Him to what’s scientifically feasible, or logical, or even what we might prefer?  Really?  That we would limit God to our understanding?  How sinful on our part to do so! 

But thank God, your God isn’t limited!  NOTHING is impossible for Him, and we see it in this amazing promise made to Mary: the virgin will be with child.  That promise came true.  It happened.  That’s amazing!  And if that promise could come true, then every promise which God has made will come true.  His promise that your sins are forgiven?  True.  His promise to take all His believers to heaven?  True.  His promise to be with you always? True.  His promise to guide all things for your good?  True.  For nothing is impossible with God! 

Amazing Names – Matthew 1:18-25 ~ Pastor Kock

It’s pretty easy to read over the names which are given to the Savior and to sort of go, “ho-hum.”  So let’s take a moment to remember.  Emanuel.  What does it mean?  It means “God is with us.”  Now stop and think about that.  GOD ……… was willing to come and be …………. with US!  GOD ……….. was willing to step into our world!  GOD ………… was willing to become a human being, one of us!  That’s astounding!

And for what reason did He come?  He came in order to save us!  And that’s the name “Jesus.”  The name “Jesus” is from the Hebrew word “yashah,” which means, “to save.”  So every time we hear the name “Jesus,” God wants us to hear, “I have come to save you.  I have come to rescue you.” 

Could there be anything more amazing than that?  Sinful human beings which we are, God wasn’t okay with us being sent to hell.  God wasn’t okay with us spending eternity separated from Him, in suffering.  So, God did what was necessary.  God Himself came to our world, God Himself became one of us, all so that He could save you and save me.  That’s amazing!  And you hear it every time you hear the names, “Emanuel,” and “Jesus.” 

Amazing Circumstances – Luke 2:1-5  ~  Vicar Kehl

Wow, did Caesar have bad timing or what?  Mary was pregnant, really pregnant and now she had to travel to a small town that was at least a few days journey away. Wasn't Caesar aware that she was carrying the Messiah?  Didn't he know that too much stress on the mother could bring harm to the baby? Obviously he wasn't concerned about that.  There's a very good chance that he know nothing about them.

Yet what Caesar did fulfilled prophecies about the coming Savior. God had set in place a plan concerning the coming of his Son; that he be born in the city of David, a town called Bethlehem. Did Caesar know this?  I think that was one of the last things on his mind at that time, but we see how God worked through him to direct history for God's will.

Caesar's timing was impeccable! He didn't know it, but God did. God directed the course of history so that the Christ child would be born in the proper place and in the proper circumstances.  What god is a God like ours?  He molds history for the good of His people, so that His will be done.  It's amazing how God works. We may not see it, but God directs our lives too!  He directs the course of history for you, because He loves you.

Amazing Humility – Luke 2:6-7 ~ Vicar Kehl

Mary, a first time mom, did what any other mom would do back then.  She wrapped the child in cloths to keep her child safe and warm. Was she doing it right?  Was she going to be a good mother?  Well she started off by laying the child in a manger/ a feeding trough, but that's all she could do.  That was the only space that was left for her to lay her child.  A stable was the only place Joseph and Mary could find to stay in an overcrowded city.

How ironic is it that the King of Kings is born in such humbling circumstances? There was no room in the inn for the creator of all things! The only place for ruler of all things was a stable/ a barn.  Just think about a barn. Are they clean and tidy? No, more likely they are smelly, unsanitary, noisy and uncomfortable.

This wasn't irony though.  Jesus willingly set aside the fact that he was kings of kings to be born in a stable and placed in a manger.   Why would he do such a thing?  Because he loves us and came to suffer for us!  He was willing to suffer things he shouldn’t have suffered so that we can be with him.  It’s not too often that you see someone giving up everything to help others, but that is was Jesus did.  The love He has for us must be pretty strong, and it is. How can a God love scum like me?  He just does! It doesn’t make sense to us but it’s the truth.

Amazing Relationship – Luke 2:14  ~  Pastor Kock

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men, on whom His favor rests.”   That’s what the company of angels said as the skies burst open with angels praising God!  The Greek word which is translated, “favor” is a word which means, “to like something or someone.”  It’s a subjective opinion.  For example, you have certain foods, certain TV shows, certain colors, certain songs which you like.  There isn’t necessarily any rhyme or reason for your opinions; they’re just your opinions.  And, no one can argue with your opinions, because they’re your opinions.  That’s what that Greek word “favor” means. 

So, look back at the verse again.  What does it say God “favors”, what does it say God “likes”?  It says that God likes ……… us humans!  It says that God likes us! 

And how could God show that any more brilliantly than the Christmas account?  God liked you so much that He became one of you, to eat our food, drink our water, die our death, all so that you and I can spend eternal life – all of eternity! – with Him.  I don’t know about you, but it strikes me that God likes us humans …. A LOT!!!!

And that’s amazing.  With all our failures, all our foibles, all our rebelliousness, God still likes you and me.  The Christmas account proves it.  It leads us to bow our heads in amazement and say, “Thank you, God, for Your amazing love for me!”