St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill

Blake Heffner December 24th, 2006

“Christmas Wonder” December 24, 2006

Texts: The Christmas Stories in Luke and Matthew

[Sing] I wonder as I wander out under the sky

How Jesus the Savior did come for to die

For poor orn’ry people like you and like I

I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

This Advent I’ve watched with awe as the characters of the Christmas story seemed to come to life before my eyes…

Joseph. We know him as the carpenter, the artist with handtools. Joseph is the provider, who told the angel, “I’ll take the job! I’ll take care of God’s Son and his mother.” Over the years, our nativity figurines have become worn and weather-beaten. This fall a handful of artists offered many hours of careful labor to restore and repaint them. Take a close look when you get the chance; they are absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful gift!

Mary. We see her as a young woman, maybe a mere teenager. Yet, she was willing to believe the angel Gabriel, that nothing is impossible with God. Mary offered herself as the Lord’s servant: “Here I am! Let it be with me according to your word!” This past week I was touched as a young husband and wife offered themselves to the Lord just as freely. They recognized their need for a Savior and a new beginning, and – like Mary – they invited Jesus Christ to live in their hearts. How priceless is that?

The Shepherds. They witnessed the angelic host, then hustled to Bethlehem to find the baby in the manger. The last thing we hear about them is “they returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” Last Sunday afternoon, it seemed like a motley crew – over thirty of us, of all ages, gathering to sing Christmas carols. We visited a nursing home where one woman had her daughter push her wheelchair behind us – just to catch more of the joyous songs. It was a special evening; so many hearts were touched. And, I believe, like the original shepherds, the singers themselves returned home glorifying and praising God for the wonderful things they had heard and seen.

The Magi. Certainly they’re the strangest characters of the nativity scene. We don’t know exactly where they came from or where they went. But we do know that they followed the light of that star over Bethlehem and brought their precious gifts for the infant King. This week, I was fortunate enough to travel with three wise people. We came from the East too and visited a young, unmarried mother of four, bearing gifts for their Christmas. She graciously welcomed us in and then told us all about her kids and their trials as a family. She expressed gratitude for all the presents she could not have provided. It was a sacred and wonderful moment.

Many others joined in this magi-like giving - albeit indirectly - through the gifts to Northampton County residents and the Operation Christmas boxes. How marvelous it is that Jesus said, “As you have done it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you have done it to me!”

The Innkeeper. We have no idea who was on duty that night, minding the inn in Bethlehem. All we know is that business was so good there were no vacancies. Well, not exactly – there was some space round back where the animals were. They would provide warmth, and the manger could serve as a basinet. Just like an innkeeper, our Consistory is usually all business, especially this time of year when we have to create a new budget proposal. This past Monday evening, though, it was amazing. In spite of the business at hand, the meeting turned into a conversation about the vitality of our church family and the need for us to stoke the flame of love and fellowship in the months to come. Oh yes, we eventually did crunch some numbers, and nobody got home much before 11. But, like that original innkeeper, we came away with the wonderful insight that business isn’t everything; it’s not even close to the most important thing!

The Angel. Angels are God’s messengers. I suspect that they come in all shapes and sizes. One of them came up to me this week and said the most unusual thing: “I can’t wait until God comes and fixes all this… and you especially!” I did a double-take and started to grin. We both knew what she meant, but it came out a little funny. It was a priceless moment of laughter.

You know something, that angel really hit the nail on the head. Christmas is all about God coming to fix things… you and me especially! It’s captured so well by that carol “I wonder as I wander… how Jesus the Savior did come for to die for poor orn’ry people, like you and like I…”

When we are utterly honest, won’t we admit that we are the ornery ones who need some fixing? We’ve needed it since our ancestors ate that fruit and were unceremoniously escorted from the Garden. The little word for it is “sin” – something we don’t often connect with Christmas. Yet, sin is the very reason God sent his Son into this world – to fix it! We are the lost sheep that the Good Shepherd comes to gather in his arms. We are the anxious ones to whom Jesus says, “My peace I give to you, not as the world gives.” We are the ones with so many ailments and conditions; to whom Isaiah declared, “By his stripes we are healed.” Oh, my friends, we are the ones with broken hearts to whom Jesus calls, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” We are the ones who find ourselves shackled by old habits and dim outlooks; to whom Jesus says, “If you continue in my word… you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

All this began in that humble stable long, long ago, when [as Paul proclaims] the Son of God laid aside his crown, “emptied himself and took the form of a servant, being born in our human likeness. He humbled himself in obedience to the Father, even to the point of death on a cross. There-fore, God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name. One day, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and even under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This is why George Beverly Shea, that great singer, once wrote:

“There’s the wonder of sunset at evening,

The wonder as sunrise I see;

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that God loves me.”

Have you taken the time lately to marvel at how much God loves you? He knows all about you – and still says, “I love you! I forgive you! I need you to show my love to others!” Jesus’ love is the wonder of all wonders! Tonight, I invite you to volunteer to become a character in the story of that great love.

We began with an American folk hymn, let’s end with another.

[Sing] “What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this

That caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.”

Please turn to number 177. As Richard brings us into the right key, let’s sing verses 2-4:

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down Beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing, To God and to the Lamb I will sing, To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am,” While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, and thro’ eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and thro’ eternity I’ll sing on.

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