Sermon

December 24, 2005
Christmas Eve
Luke 2:1-20
Pastor Ben Berger

The Savior is Born

What's your favorite Christmas hymn? "Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emanuel?" Organ plays. "Silent Night! Holy Night!?" Organ plays. "Joy to the World?" Organ plays. "Gloria in Excelsis Deo?" Organ plays. We love Christmas music because it helps us express our emotions. Tonight, as we listen to the angels sing their song again, we will experience two emotions: glory and peace. The angels sang: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests (14). But, we will not only listen to their song, we will also sing with them as they proclaim: The Savior is Born. His birth brings 1) Glory to God and 2) Peace to men.

The angels couldn't wait to give glory to God. They must have been crowding heaven's door, waiting to burst forth in song. They angels watched Joseph and pregnant Mary make the three day trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Their hearts ached as Joseph went from inn to inn but couldn't find a room for his wife to give birth. Then their sympathy turned to joy as they watched Mary give birth to her firstborn Son, wrap him in cloths and place him in a manger. The angels turned to God the Father and said, "Now? Now can we go?" He said with a smile, "Now you may go."

The angels went and they displayed God's glory to the shepherds. The shepherds didn't know what hit them. They had a busy day, carefully guarding their flocks with all the extra people in town. Night had fallen, the hustle and bustle had just begun to quiet down and the shepherds were relaxing. Then out of nowhere an angel of the Lord appears and the glory of the Lord shines all around the shepherds. Their hearts begin thumping in fear; they had never seen God's glory before.

Then the angels proclaimed God's glory to the shepherds. The first angel said, "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" (10-11). And the other angels weren't going to let him have all the fun. Suddenly an entire army of angels filled the sky and proclaimed God's glory. The Savior is born; "Glory to God in the highest" (14).

The angels proclaimed God's glory but the Savior's birth actually gave glory to God. The very fact that the Son of God willingly became a son of man gave glory to God. Jesus also gave God glory by fulfilling God's promise to send a Savior. The angels called Jesus "Christ the Lord." Christ is the name of the OT promised Messiah. Jesus fulfilled God's promise when he agreed to be born as the Christ who would become the Savior.

Jesus' work as the Savior also brought glory to God. Jesus was not born to save us from boring lives or stressful days or difficult decisions. He was born to save us from sin. God needed someone to provide holiness for sinful men. Jesus was born as a man under God's law so that he could keep the law perfectly and credit his holiness to us. God needed someone to suffer and die as punishment for the sins of the world. Jesus was born as a man so that he could die, go to hell, and present payment for every sin of every human. Jesus was born to live and die for you and me and every sinner. When Jesus was born to become our Savior, he gave glory to God.

When the shepherds heard the good news that the Savior was born, they wasted no time in giving glory to God themselves. The angels' message did its job. The shepherds believed. They knew the OT promises that the Messiah-Christ would be born in the town of David. The angels had also given them a sign: "You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (12). In faith the shepherds quickly went to search for their newborn Savior. When they found him, they believed. They stood beside the manger, marveling at the sight of their Savior. And in their hearts they sang with the angels, "Glory to God in the highest."

With faith in their hearts, the shepherds also glorified God by sharing the good news of great joy for all the people that the Savior was born. When they finally pulled themselves away from the babe, they were so excited that they told everyone they saw, "The Savior is born." They didn't stop to ask if others wanted to hear. They didn't hesitate. They just told everyone they saw, "You won't believe it. We saw God's glory. First, one angel appeared to tell us that the Savior was born. Then angels filled the sky singing God's glory. The first angel told us where to find the baby. And we just came from the stable. His name is Jesus. He's the Christ, our Savior. The Savior is born, the Savior is born. Glory to God in the highest."

Tonight we join the angels, the shepherds and the Christ-child in giving glory to God. We hear once again that the Savior is born, our Savior, from sin. We believe the angels' announcement. In faith we search for the Christ-child. When we see him, our hearts marvel at the sight. We're so excited that we can't wait to tell everyone we see. We don't hesitate or politely ask. We just sing, "The Savior is born; glory to God in the highest."

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." The first half of the song proclaims glory to God; the second half proclaims peace to men. The Savior's birth brings peace to men on whom God's favor rests.

We are certainly born without peace. Now I'm not talking about a quiet, calm feeling inside of us. I'm talking about confidence that everything will be OK, trust that nothing can harm us, and certainty about our future. Such peace comes only from knowing God's attitude toward us. When we're born, we think that God hates us. We know that we have sinned against God, and we expect him to punish us for our sins. That makes us angry at God. We resent his Judgment against us. We blame him for sin in the world, even for our own sin. We accuse him of not loving us when he doesn't sweep our sins to the side. In reality, all of our hostility toward God is the result of fear. We are simply afraid of what might, should or will happen to us because of our sin. Because of sin we have no peace with God.

Jesus' birth changes attitudes and brings peace. First, the Savior's birth offers peace to all men. The angel told the shepherds that his good news of great joy was for all the people. The angel foresaw that news of the Savior would be spread to all nations. He knew that Jesus was born to live and die for all people. Because of Jesus, God has declared the entire world not guilty of their sins. He reconciled the world to himself and no longer counts men's sins against them. God declares peace and assures men that they do not have to fear his judgment. They do not have to worry about death or hell or their eternal future.

Yet, in spite of the angels' proclamation, peace does not rest on many people in this world. Though God has offered peace to all people, many have rejected his offer. They do not believe the angels' news of the Savior's birth. They do not search for the Christ-child. They never see him, never believe in him, and never find his peace.

On the other hand, the Savior's birth gives peace to all men on whom God's favor rests. The shepherds and all who believe the angels' good news of the Savior's birth receive God's favor and peace. When believers see Jesus, they forget their sins. They know that although they could never satisfy the Judge themselves, not with gold or silver or an eternity in hell, the holy, precious blood of Jesus has taken away their sins. They no longer fear death because the birth of the Savior turns death into eternal life. They no longer worry about their future because they trust that as God kept his promise to send the Christ, he will keep his promise to make everything OK. Jesus' birth brings peace to believers because it removes their fears and gives them faith to see Jesus as their Savior.

God's favor and peace rest on us. Just as the light of the angels and of God's glory shone around the shepherds on Christmas Eve, so tonight the Holy Spirit shines God's light and glory in our hearts. Close your eyes. See the light of God's glory and hear the angels proclaim, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Now run to the stable and see your Savior wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. As you stand there, give thanks to the Holy Spirit for giving you faith to believe in that baby as your Savior. Now open your eyes and let the Holy Spirit give you faith to live in peace. He says, "Do not be afraid. Jesus has taken away your sin. The next time you see him, he will take you to heaven. In the meantime, trust that he will provide for your every need."

When we live in peace, that takes us back to giving glory to God. Others will want the peace we have with God. Tell them. Share the good news of great joy. Sing with the angels. The Savior is born. He brings glory to God and peace to men.

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