Sermon: Not-So-Silent Night Not-So-Silent Night Luke 2:1-20 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. I. Introduction Have you ever stopped to really reflect on the words of the hymns we sing at Christmas? Have you ever wondered about the background of these songs, or what led their composers to write down these words and put them to music?
Just a couple of weeks ago I was having a conversation with June Jenkins about the song The Little Drummer Boy, and I confessed to June that it has never been one of my favorites. Then she surprised me by really explaining the words of the song, and how they represent the desire of the little drummer boy to offer up, with praise and thanksgiving, the only gift he had to give to Jesus; the gift of his drum. This new understanding opened my eyes to the reality being conveyed beyond the music. And I can tell you that I have a newfound appreciation for that hymn. In fact, we will be listening to a beautiful version of it this evening at our candlelight service. The funny thing is that I have been a student of hymnody for years. I even once wrote an academic paper about the role that Wesleyan hymns played in the development and transmission of theology in early Methodism. Our tradition has long been known for the songs that we sing. Methodists have often been referred to as a singing people, and Charles Wesley, one of our founders, is believed to be the most prolific hymn writer in history. Scholars estimate that he wrote an average of ten lines of verse every day for fifty years. And those verses that were put to music tell the sweeping story of God and creation, of humanity s need for a Savior and Christ s willing sacrifice for sin. They describe our bondage to sin, the freedom offered through the cross, and the holiness of life that is found in the Spirit. The songs that we sing as Christians should all convey our understanding of where we come from, what God has done for us, and who we are called to be in Christ. And yet I often forget to pause and think about the words I am singing, particularly around Christmas time, when my familiarity with the tunes takes over, and I sing without really considering what I am saying. Over the last few weeks, I have found myself thinking about the lyrics of the song we just sang: Silent night! Holy
night! All is calm, all is bright. On the surface, they convey such an overwhelming sense of God s peace; that somehow, all is now right in the world, because of the birth of this special baby. They indicate that everything was tranquil and calm on the night that Jesus was born, as though a perfect peace had fallen over the earth. But when I read the Gospel accounts in Matthew and Luke of Jesus entry into our world, they don t fill me with a sense of peace and quiet. I don t imagine baby Jesus cooing quietly in a cradle as all the animals stand around in silent reverence. Instead, Luke paints a picture of uncertainty, loneliness, and fear leading up to and surrounding Jesus birth. While we now know that Christ s birth was indeed the herald of a new promise of peace with God, Mary and Joseph were experiencing a reality that did not promise a silent night, when they arrived that evening in Bethlehem. So, maybe the author had something else in mind, when he penned these words. What if he wasn t attempting to illustrate the events of the evening, so much as the expectant pause, the sharp intake of breath, and the ensuing silence inspired by awe at the presence of the miraculous? What if he was describing the only plausible response of creation to the news that God has entered human space? Perhaps, this song is echoing the words of the prophet Habakkuk, The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. (Hab. 2:20) II. Not So Silent For every breath, held in awe and anticipation, there must eventually be an exhale. Our reading this morning from Luke, chapter 2 tells us the story of that exhaled breath. It describes the events surrounding Jesus birth, which marked
the fulfillment of God s promises to Israel and the end of their four hundred year wait for the Messiah. The only fitting response to such a momentous event is not silence, but praise! And this is exactly what we find in the text. Luke 2:9 tells us about the first public announcement of Jesus birth, when an angel of the Lord visited nearby shepherds to declare the miracle of the incarnation. As with every other appearance of an angel in the Bible, the shepherds were terrified. But the angel s very first words were Do not be afraid. God s message to them was not one of doom and gloom, but rather one that would generate joy. And to prove that this good news would be for all the people, the angel announced it to shepherds in a field, men on the lower rungs of societies ladder, instead of giving the message to the cultural or religious elite. Then immediately following the announcement, we are told in verse 13 that a great company of angels began singing praises to God for the message that was just delivered. Its as if a message this good has to be delivered right away, because the messengers are just bubbling over with enthusiasm, and can t wait to give thanks to God. As soon as the shepherds received the good news of Jesus, they hustled off to do exactly what they just saw the angels do. Verses 16-20 say that they immediately went to find Jesus, and after seeing for themselves that the message was true, they began spreading the word about what they had seen. Like the angels before them, once they told others about the good news, they erupted into praise and thanksgiving to God. The reaction of the angels and shepherds in Luke are not the only instances of this sort of response to the good news of Christ. In fact, Jesus arrival is an event that is often accompanied by the immediate proclamation of who he is, which then leads to rejoicing. When Jesus steps on the scene in the Gospel of John, John the Baptist immediately starts pointing
to him and telling his own disciples that Jesus is the promised one, the Messiah. He can t wait to tell everyone that this is the guy they have been waiting for. Likewise, when Jesus called the first disciples, they response was to immediately run and find their family and friends, doing everything they can to tell them about the good news and invite them to see for themselves. Once we have seen Jesus for ourselves, and heard the good news about him, our natural response should be to go and tell other people the message we have received about him, and then give praise to God. But in order to do that, we have to first remember the message we have received. III. The Message (What is Proclaimed about Jesus?) On the night Jesus was born, the angel declared that God had entered into his creation, and that this event would bring peace between God and humanity. The message was one of a promise not yet fully realized, but guaranteed by God s faithfulness. As those who stand on this side of the resurrection, we have been called to join in the proclamation of God s promises by witnessing to the in-breaking Kingdom of God, even as we wait with expectation for Christ s return in final victory. We are in a unique position, because we know that God has already fulfilled his promises in Christ, even though the implications of his work have not yet fully been realized on earth. So, as those who have received God s free gift of grace, we are called to bear witness to God s faithfulness by telling the world all about Jesus who he is and what he has done. The good news of Jesus Christ is this: God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that anyone who believes in him might have eternal life with God as his adopted child
and heir to his promises of resurrection and new birth. This message begins with Christ s incarnation and birth, and the good news that the Son of God, who is fully divine, became fully human for our sake. The message continues by calling people s attention to Jesus life and ministry as the evidence of God s Kingdom coming to Earth. It encompasses Jesus death on the cross, as a perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins, and announces the freedom he purchased for us from guilt and shame. The message also proclaims Christ s resurrection as the proof that he was who he said he was, and completed the work he came to do. And it explains to people how they can experience victory over fear and death, and gain the promise of eternal life through him. This message reminds us that Jesus ascended into heaven, where he now sits at God s right hand, interceding for those who call him Lord. And it conveys the promise of Christ s return in final victory, when he will fully establish his kingdom on earth. The message we proclaim must encompass all of this, or it does not faithfully tell the story of Jesus or announce the good news of his arrival. But how do we go about spreading the message that we have received? IV. The Church is Called to Proclaim Jesus Arrival The manner by which different people have proclaimed the good news of Christ has varied in different times and places. But the church, throughout her long history, has consistently announced Jesus arrival, and what that means for humanity, with five key practices that we carry on today as the body of Christ. First, and foremost, we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, through the right worship of God. The church is the body of Christ, and we find our identity in him. When we gather together for worship, we declare that Christ is our
head and that God alone is worthy to be praised. We tell the story of God and us, and we join together with the host of heaven to echo the words of Revelation 5:12-13, Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever! Our worship points always to Christ, as we give glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In this way, we transmit God s message of hope and love, the good news of Jesus arrival, as we invite God to make us his image bearers to the world. Second, the church has observed the Sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist as a primary means by which we announce the arrival of Jesus. When we partake in the Lord s Supper together as the community of faith, we remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, until he comes again, and we become recipients of God s grace. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, spoke of Communion as a converting ordinance, by which he meant that God s grace is so present to those who come together to receive the elements, that it may convince them of sin and lead them into a living faith in Christ. Likewise, in baptism, God s grace is poured out by the presence of the Holy Spirit upon the one who receives. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace, and points to the work of Christ for us. Through baptism, God declares that we have died to sin, and have been raised to new life in Christ. When we celebrate the Sacraments in the life of the church, we proclaim Christ s birth, death, and resurrection, along with all Christians, everywhere, and we invite those who are lost into the new life that can only be found through him. Third, the church has always proclaimed the arrival of Jesus through works of mercy. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus instructed
his disciples, telling them that those who welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or visit prisoners do these things as though they are done to him. And those who fail to do these things have failed to do them for Christ. He goes on to say that, at the final judgment, each person will be judged according to how they have treated those who are on the margins of society. The issue here is not whether or not we have crossed certain actions off of our list. A person may very well be engaged in social justice to the poor and marginalized, and yet have no saving faith in Christ. However, those who truly profess Jesus as Lord cannot avoid doing these things, because they are the natural expression of a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit. When the church has faithfully ministered through works of mercy, we have shown the love of God to the world, and have, in effect, done these things for Christ, who died so that the world could be saved. When the church has failed to do these things, we have professed a dead faith, and we have made a mockery of Christ s sacrifice. Fourth, the Church proclaims the arrival of Jesus through evangelism and mission. Just before he ascended into heaven, Jesus came to his disciples and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matt. 28:18-20). The church fulfills this call to make disciples by sharing the good news of Jesus to the communities around us, and by sending missionaries around the world. Each of us is called to engage in the work of evangelism and mission in our homes, our workplaces, and our schools. We are called to share the love of God with a world that desperately needs him with our
everyday actions, and then introduce people to the source of our hope by telling them about Jesus. Finally, the church, throughout history, has proclaimed the arrival of Christ in our world, through the witness of lives transformed into his image. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and make us more like Christ, we give testimony to the good news that Jesus saves, both now and in the future. We become living proof that the message we carry is true, and we give glory to God with our lives. These are the outworking of our faith, and they are the primary means by which we proclaim the message we have received. If we are neglecting any of these, as the Church or as individuals, we are not fully witnessing to the miracle of Christ s arrival. V. Application It is by proclaiming and celebrating the facts of Jesus birth, his death, and his resurrection that we make known to the world that God has not abandoned us in our hour of need, but has acted in history to restore humanity to holiness and happiness in him. And it is by proclaiming our faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, through both words and actions, that we bear testimony to the world that Jesus, and Jesus alone, saves lost souls from the power and presence of sin and death; that Jesus, and Jesus alone, has made a way for us to become blameless before a holy God; that Jesus, and Jesus alone, has opened the door for us to become sons and daughters of the Living God; and that Jesus, and Jesus alone, has purchased for us salvation, both in this life and the next, through his blood. Jesus Christ is the only way! There is no other. And he offers us all of these things freely by the grace of God. The world asks us how we can place our trust in Jesus, and why
we celebrate his birth at Christmas? How could we not trust and celebrate him? Look what he has done for us! In fact, I want to make this personal for a minute, and look at what he has done for me! He has taken a wretched sinner, who could not love because of his own selfishness, and he made me one of his own. He removed my anger and bitterness and feelings of defeat, and gave me peace and confidence in God. He took the fears that I had about never measuring up to God s holy standard, and placed them on a cross. Jesus has released me from the fear of death that haunted me for most of my life by showing me the beauty of God s promised future for those who follow him. He freed me from the guilt I wrestled with daily, because I knew I was a sinner, and he spoke the most beautiful words I have ever heard four years ago, when he told me that I am his beloved, with whom he is well pleased. The Holy Spirit works in me daily to help me overcome the temptation to sin and to love people as he loves them. Though I am not perfect, he works daily to perfect me in love. My God is so good and so faithful, how could I not trust him? The Church of Jesus Christ stands as witness today that God does the same for all those who, by his grace, place their faith in Christ alone to make them new. This is good news; how could you or I possibly keep quiet about it? As we enter into this holy week of celebration at the birth of our Savior, consider this. When the shepherds hear the news about Jesus birth, they ran to see him for themselves. And as soon as they saw him, they began proclaiming the message they had received to all who could hear them, and then they returned home giving glory to God and praising his name. What will your response be to Jesus arrival today? You have heard the message, but have you ever taken that first step of going to meet Jesus yourself? If not, you can do that this morning, right where you are. The Bible says that we have all sinned and fallen short of God s standard of holiness. We have all rebelled against his desires for our lives. Even so, the
Bible says that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Now, if we confess our sins to God, we are told that he will be faithful to forgive us. And if we profess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved from the power and presence of sin and death into the hope and promise of eternal life. This is the free gift of God, and it is yours to receive this morning, if you will turn control of your life over to him. If you have made that first step of faith, and you have met Jesus for yourself, have you ever moved on from there? Have to been content to stay with Jesus in the stable, where things are safe, or have to followed the example of the shepherds? Has your meeting with Christ filled you with excitement until you couldn t help but tell other people about him? And after proclaiming the good news of Jesus arrival to everyone you meet, has your heart turned to God with joyful praise and thanksgiving? If not, I wonder if you ve really met him? We have not been given a message that calls us to silence, but one that demands to be shouted from the rooftops. Jesus has come into the world, and God has given us the promise of new life in him, if we will only believe. This is good news. Will you share it? VI. Closing Prayer Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we give thanks to you today that the message of Christ s arrival has been passed on from generation to generation until it reached our ears and transformed our hearts. We thank you that we have been given the privilege to become bearers of this message to the rest of the world. As we gather together with family and friends to celebrate Christ s birth this holiday season, would keep us ever mindful of the charge you have given us to go and make
disciples. Would give us both opportunities and courage to proclaim the good news of Jesus to all those we meet, and to witness to your love for the world with our lives. We ask all of these things in Jesus name. Amen.