A few weeks ago, I started reading C. S. Lewis’ classic book, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” and fell in love with this phrase that describes the mythical land of Narnia. It goes like this: “It is always winter but never Christmas.” That is the description of life under the White Witch’s rule. There is no joy and no peace. Narnia has become a land of despair and defeat. “It is always winter, but never Christmas.”
Sometimes, that can be a description of life this side of heaven, can’t it? Life can be cold and dark from tragedy, loss, and pain. Joy seems to run low, and peace in mind, body, and soul can be fleeting. Despair and defeat might be sitting on the horizon. “It’s always winter, but never Christmas,” except….for today. It is Christmas. The angel proclaims, “Christmas is here, and the winter is ending.” Tonight, we’ll hear the Christmas Angel as we sit in the depths of winter.
Could you imagine being a shepherd that first Christmas evening. The night shift would be dark, and pitch black. Two weeks ago, we were driving back through rural Wisconsin after celebrating Christmas with my family. The only light at some points on I-94 was the red glow of brake lights, or the soft rays of headlights passing by on the other side of the road. Otherwise, without them, it was pitch black. The field those shepherds found themselves in must have been similar. They could only see the faint twinkling of the stars, the dim glow of lamps in far off Bethlehem, the yellow of the moon, and the soft flicker of their fire’s flames. Imagine the surprise they had when the sky exploded and burned with a great light! An angel of the Lord appears, and the glory of the Lord shines around them in the darkness of night. It is in this setting that the Christmas Angel shares the message.
He starts, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news…” When the sky explodes with you light, you have a reason to be scared, but the angel says, “Don’t worry! I have something great to say!” And what is it? “Good news.” The word for “good news” is where we get the word “Gospel” from. Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, and ascension for you and me is good news-it is the Gospel. The Gospel is good news for those burdened by sin, and the weight of conscience. The Gospel is good news for those feeling the effects of sin, whether in their body, by disease, illness, or injury; whether in their mind because of depression, anxiety, trauma, or paranoia; whether in relationships or life-things aren’t how they should be, right? The Gospel is good news for those who experience sin’s greatest effect and price: death. Christmas can remind us of the empty spot of the person who should be there, but who isn’t with us anymore. The Gospel is good news. It proclaims that the separation is only temporary! There is a future resurrection and reunion for all believers. It gives hope in the Lord Who does all things for our good, and Who will one day restore all things (our bodies, minds, and lives included!). It gives grace and forgiveness. The Christmas Angel proclaims the Gospel, good news.
It continues: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy….” Andy Williams is famous for his song It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, where he sings, “It’s the hap, happiest season of all.” And he is right. It is a happy season. There is the thrill of opening gifts, the rush and excitement of giving, the feeling that being with family creates, the overload of the tastebuds with the Christmas meal and cookies. Unfortunately, though, these things won’t last. The gift we open might lose its luster by the time the crinkled wrapping paper hits the garbage bag. The rush of giving can fade when a hint of disappointment touches the recipient’s face, or the next gift is opened. The heart can empty once the last person leaves, and the taste can disappear as the last bite is swallowed. Christmas happiness is fleeting, and needs to be replenished.
Christmas joy does not. The Gospel gives joy. Our Christmas joy is dependent on what Jesus has done for us (be born to save us), and what He does in us (renew us by His Holy Spirit; strengthen and preserve us; lavish His love and grace on us). The news of sin forgiven, a future life in heaven, and Jesus coming for me gives a lasting joy all my days. It outlasts any Christmas present, meal, or party. It lasts in any trouble, heartache, lows, or high.
The angel isn’t done: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you….” The Gospel is for you. The Gospel is intensely personal. It is intimate and individual. It is pointed and particular. It isn’t just for him, her, them, those, and us. It is for you, you singular. It is one thing to say, “Jesus lived, died, and rose.” It is another thing to say, “Jesus lived, died, and rose for me.” That is the application of His work for me by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel is for you. It is for you with the bad back and broken heart. It is for those who have it all together, and for those who don’t. It is for the innocent, the guilty, and their victims. It is for those who think they are “good,” and for those who know they aren’t. To put it in Christmas terms, it is for those on the naughty list, and the nice one. The Gospel is for you! Don’t believe me? Hear how it is proclaimed.
At the beginning of our service, the pastor proclaims: “I forgive you all your sins…” At communion, we hear, “Take, eat, this is the body and blood of Christ…for you.” At baptisms, we hear, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The Gospel is always for you, always!
The Christmas angel keeps speaking: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born…” About 20 years ago, my Mom contacted the toy company Mattel about getting a special Barbie for my sister. At the time, she was going through chemo. They said they would take care of it, and they sent a huge box of toys to our house, and even a few things for my brother and me. In that box, though, was a special Barbie, a Barbie no one could buy. It was a bald one, just like her. My little sister was excited to have a Barbie just like her. The mystery and marvel of Christmas is that God takes on human flesh. He looks like you and me.
The One Who spoke creation into existence has hands and feet. He has a nose, eyes, ears, mouth, and toothless smile. The God high above the heavens knows the plight of His people down below. He has experienced a stomach ache, the sting of pain, the weight of a broken heart, the coolness of a tear and its salty taste, and the gnaw of hunger. He knows the rush of excitement, the warmth of love, the joy of friends, the relief of a laugh, the feeling of a smile, the chuckle that comes from a joke, or the happiness that music brings to our ears. He knows the frustration of work, the challenges of family, a sore back, and tired feet. He knows the weight and depth of temptation. The wonder of Christmas is that Jesus knows. He has experienced it Himself. He says, “I know what you go through: I have experienced it myself!” Christmas proclaims how God has taken on human flesh for you and me.
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior…” Over the next few days, we will get lots of present. Some we will enjoy. Others, we might return or place in the closet. Some we will remember, others we will forget (can you name three presents you got in 2019?). The best presents are those that will last, those that are used, and needed.
I remember my first Christmas when I was in college. My Grandmother got me the new Lutheran Study Bible, and being honest, I was a little bummed by it. I really liked my other study Bible, and just purchased it a few months prior. I wasn’t sure how much I would use the new one because I really liked and used my old one. So I said, “Thank-you,” and set it aside. However, after writing over 500 sermons, and over 240 Bible Studies with the one she got me, I can tell you which one I like and use more. The best presents aren’t always the ones we want; rather, they are those the ones we need, and that will be used.
That is what God does. He gives us a Savior at Christmas. That is what I need. That is what you need. I need to be saved from sin and its enslaving power. I need to be freed from sin’s devastating effects and wage: death. I needed to be freed from Satan’s bondage and released from his kingdom. I need to be freed from my own evil and selfish desires. I need to be freed from a life lived for me, and only for me. I need to be saved from my sin. And Jesus does all that for me. He saves me. He saves you. He releases me. He releases you. God gives us the gift that we need, a Savior.
Now, the Christmas Angel tells us one more thing: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.” Only Jesus can save. Only Jesus can release. Only Jesus is Christ the Lord. Only He can. Only He reverses the curse. Only He can undo creation’s bondage to sin. Only He can destroy the shackles of sin and the hold of death. Only He can restore the brokenness of fallen humanity. Only He can hush the whisper and lies of Satan. He is the Savior, Christ the Lord. Only He can end the winter and usher in peace, joy, and grace. And what does that mean? It is truly Christmas! “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.”