ALL THIS TOOK PLACE TO FULFILL

By Dr. Eric C. Stumpf, Senior Pastor

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church – Munster, IN

24 December 2009 + Christmas Eve (C) + Matthew 1:18-25

              Let us pray:  O Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith, and fill us with joy as we reflect on Your Holy Word which proclaims the miracle of Christ’s birth.  Amen.

             Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed.  No I am not confused about which holiday this is.  Because Jesus rose from the dead, as promised, we have a special day called Christmas.  We remember the humble birth of Jesus, because He is God’s promise fulfilled.  God promised through the prophet Isaiah some 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, the Promised One, the Savior, was to be born in a very special way. He was born of a virgin.  Matthew wants us to know this up front.  God keeps His promises.  In this way our faith is built on other promises, e.g., when Jesus said he would rise on the third day – he did!  Also when Jesus promises that I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…. (Jn 11)  Matthew’s Christmas story emphasized this fact, God keeps His promise.

 Do Over

            Every Christmastide I see the same thing.  It happens during the Children Christmas program.  The first groups of children come forward, the bright anxious eyes of the parents and grandparents are eagerly focused on the children.  They are eager with anticipation.  Then I see on a few faces a slight change, a wistful look, almost a sigh.  I know what they are thinking. 

“Oh, if I could only exchange places and be a child again.”  It’s not because they want to recite at the program or take Algebra or American History again.  It would be wonderful to do a “Do Over,” to be young again before all their mistakes were made.   They think, “A Do Over,” but this time with the wisdom of experience to guide me to make better choices.” They could go down another road passed by, and not make the mistakes that still hurt them today.  “I could be a better son or daughter, work harder for the future, now that I know such work counts, be a better parent.”

            I think our first parents wished they could have a “Do Over” when they stood outside of Paradise looking in after they fell into sin, instead of standing in weeds. The easy fruit from God’s garden no longer existed.  They would have to sweat, toil, work, and hurt, for things they took for granted.  They had to live with their sin and it’s after effects.  “What have we done?”  Oh, for a “Do-Over,” now that we know from experience what God had warned. 

            I suppose that is why reincarnation is so attractive to many people today.  In a recent article examining the latest survey of religious beliefs and practices by American, they found that non-Christian teachings such as the occult, eastern religious practices like reincarnation are deliberately chosen by people to be a part of their religious life. Of course, it is not the true Hindu idea of reincarnation they understand.  Who really want to return as a bird, or a worm, or a fly.  No, they like the idea of a “Do-Over,” a second chance to do it right. 

            Nicodemus wondered if that was what Jesus meant when he said, Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. (Jn 3:3)  He shook his head, that was impossible.  But Jesus was speaking of a different “Do-Over,” not going back to the past and starting again, not coming back again as a “Do-Over,” but being remade by the power of God through water and the spirit.

            The Christmas present God has for us tonight far surpasses the gifts one can buy at Target, Meijer, or Sears. Our regrets, our sins, our misspent time, our failures, our poor choices, they are all nailed on the cross by the child born this night. 

For example, perhaps in anger we are estranged from family members.  Christ died for the sins of pride, arrogance, hurtfulness, not honoring our parents.  There is forgiveness.  We can be reconciled.  Perhaps in lust, anger, resentment, disrespect, hurt feelings we broke our marriage vow, broken trust is the result, a shattered relationship.  Christ died for the sin of adultery, selfishness, stubbornness, and anger.  There can be forgiveness and reconciliation. 

He pays for them all and satisfies the perfect justice of God and meets his perfect mercy for us.  Jesus makes us right again, and remakes us as His people full of life and forgiveness.  It is the gift that does not end tonight, as many gifts do or in a short time.

Jesus Is The Gift

This gift reminds us of the extravagance of God gift to us in Christ.  What God gave in Jesus is the one who paid for our redemption as promised.  We have the one who gave us the means to accept the promise and believe.  We have the one who empowers faith in our life so the promise of forgiveness can happen.  We have the one who creates a rebirth in us and brings us into the Kingdom of God.

As I bring this gift down I want to remind you that you received it in your baptism.  Your receive salvation every time you come forward to receive Christ’s body and blood for the remission of your sins.  You receive it when you confess your sins before the Lord’s altar and hear the words from the pastor “I announce the grace of God to you and forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  This gift is for you.  What happens next?  Will you leave the gift here when you leave tonight?  Will you take the gift with you, but place it carefully away in a closet unopened?  Will you in faith receive the gift of God with joy and turn to the Lord for his regenerating grace to restore your life?

            As sinners we wrestle with our problems and failures, our sins and mistakes.  We wish we could have a “Do-Over,” but there is no need to wish for something that can never be.  God in Christ remakes us through the forgiving power of the virgin’s son who makes it possible for us to believe, accept, and receive his promise of forgiveness and new life in him every day.  Amen.

SDG