Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) says, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Well it's Christmas morning. By now, all those neatly wrapped gifts under our Christmas trees have surely been opened. But for us Christians, there is still the unfinished business of worship and proclamation. On this day we are reminded that the greatest gifts aren’t found lying under a tree. Rather, the greatest gift is found "on" the tree-- "on" the cross.
On this day Jesus Christ became our gift. He was born in a manger, but died on the tree in order to bring us to God. His body was prepared for burial, it was laid in a tomb among the dead, a stone was rolled in front of Jesus' tomb, and guards were posted to watch the tomb. Jesus' death seemed so final. But on the third day God raised Jesus Christ from the grave. Death no longer had the victory. Through Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we have been born into an eternal hope that is unlike any other. There is no more darkness, only light. There is no more fear, only hope. There is no more despair, only joy. There is no more condemnation, only peace and salvation.
I want to thank all of you for taking time this morning to support the proclamation of the Church. This is the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. What a tragedy it would be if anyone thought that this day was about anything less than God’s gift of eternal life. God's only Son, Jesus Christ, was the gift that was given to us. Your presence here is a powerful testimony of the true meaning of this day.
Last week, I saw an article about the differences between Santa Claus and Jesus Christ. The article reads,
- Santa lives at the North Pole. Jesus is everywhere.
- Santa rides in a sleigh. Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
- Santa comes but once a year. Jesus is an ever present help.
- Santa fills your stockings with goodies. Jesus supplies all your needs.
- Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. Jesus stands at your door and knocks, waits to be invited, and then enters your heart.
- You have to stand in line to see Santa. Jesus is as close as the mention of his name.
- Santa lets you sit on his lap. Jesus lets you rest in his arms.
- Santa doesn’t know your name. All he can say is, "Hi, little boy or girl. What’s your name?" Jesus knew your name before you were born. Not only does he know your name, he knows your address too. He knows your history and future and he even knows how many hairs are on your head.
- Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. Jesus has a heart full of love.
- All Santa can offer is "Ho, Ho, Ho!" Jesus offers health, help, and hope.
- Santa says, "You'd better not cry!" Jesus says, "Cast all your cares on me, for I care about you."
- Santa’s little helpers make toys. Jesus makes new lives, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds mansions in heaven.
- Santa may make you chuckle. Jesus gives you joy that is your strength.
- Santa puts gifts under your tree. Jesus became your gift and died on the tree.
The article concludes by saying, "It’s obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember who Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas. Jesus is still the reason for the season!"
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) says, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
The Church as Part of God's Story
Christmas is about proclamation. On Christmas we become part of God’s story. We are God’s chosen people, his elect, his body, the Church! On Christmas we are no longer passive spectators, waiting only to receive the gift of God through faith. On this day we become active participants. We are going, telling, preaching, teaching, and proclaiming the name of Christ to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 52:7 (NIV) says, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' "
For us this Christmas morning there is the unfinished business of worship and proclamation. A few moments ago we celebrated the Lord’s supper or communion. The Lord's supper is proclamation.
In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV) Paul says, "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."
But the Lord’s supper is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more proclamation to be done this day and every day. In Colossians 1:28-29 (NIV) Paul says, "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." It should be our goal that not one person would get through this day without hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. Unto us a child is born! Do your children know what Christmas is really about? Do your family, friends, and relatives know? Do your neighbors, your associates, and your acquaintances know?
1 John 1:1-3 (NIV) says, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched— this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete."
Our purpose is to tell the world about Jesus Christ.
According to columnist David Waters, Senator John McCain appeared on a National Public Radio program called "This I Believe." He told this story about Christmas as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. "As a scared American prisoner of war in Vietnam, I was tied in torture ropes by my tormentors and left alone in an empty room to suffer through the night."
"Later in the evening, a guard I had never spoken to entered the room and silently loosened the ropes to relieve my suffering. Just before morning, that same guard came back and retightened the ropes before his less humanitarian comrades returned. He never said a word to me."
"Some months later on a Christmas morning, as I stood alone in the prison courtyard, that same guard walked up to me and stood next to me for a few moments. Then with his sandal, the guard drew a cross in the dirt. We stood wordlessly there for a minute or two, venerating the cross, until the guard rubbed it out and walked away."
On this day, our purpose is to go and tell the world about Christ, about the cross, about our resurrection hope, and about the new creation.
In Luke 9:57-62 (NIV) Jesus tells a parable. "As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' Jesus replied, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.' He said to another man, 'Follow me.' But the man replied, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Still another said, 'I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.' Jesus replied, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.' "
This morning we are going to end our service with an old song called "We Three Kings." The song is about the three kings in the gospel of Luke who laid everything down to follow the Christmas star. In the process, they discovered the wonder of Christmas, they became part of the story, and they were the proclamation of the good news of Christ. As we close this service, as we sing these words, we encourage you to bring your tithes and gifts forward and like the three kings, offer your life to God. Become God’s instrument of proclamation. Follow Christ. Proclaim the kingdom of God this day. Now that you have received so much, give generously toward the furtherance of his word to the ends of the earth.
After you are finished placing your gifts in this box, have a blessed Christmas as you celebrate the gift of God.