Christmas Eve 2023 Good News of Great Joy: A Savior Has Been Born FIRST LESSON
Good News First Shared
Genesis 3:8–15
I often try to put myself in other people’s shoes, to try to think like they might think, ask the questions I think they might ask, imagine how they might feel. I suppose we all do that sometimes. I find myself doing that at Christmas. For lots of different reasons, people find themselves here in church on Christmas Eve—even if they usually don’t go to church. Some people might come to a service like this and not believe what the pastor says and the people sing. I get that. There are other reasons to be here tonight. Family is a good reason. Nostalgia drives some; curiosity others. We’re usually a mixed bag here on Christmas Eve. When it comes to this night, no matter whether church is not our thing or church is our everything, we at least expect certain things. We expect to hear the sweet songs: O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, and the precious and peaceful story of Jesus’ birth from the Bible. But then…we hear some words that I suspect not everyone is prepared to hear though—because they are not happy words. In fact, they’re the worst. I promise we’ll sing those songs and we’ll hear the beautiful words of Luke chapter 2, but first this from Genesis chapter 3, because you can’t understand Christmas or feel its impact on your heart if you don’t know WHY Jesus had to be born. So, we hear about how human beings rebelled against God, knowing that we do the same. But the glimmer of hope for us all—the Good News—is found in the last words here—a promise that’s a little cryptic, talking about someone who would come to crush the devil, who led people into sin. The promises and prophecies about the Savior who would come to do that become more and more clear over the years—and we’ll hear some of those tonight. But first this: 8
They (Adam and Eve) heard the voice of the Lord God, who was walking around in the garden during the cooler part of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9The Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13The Lord God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14The Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all the livestock, and more than every wild animal. You shall crawl on your belly, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel.
HYMN 357 A Glory Fills the Midnight Sky
SECOND LESSON
Good News in an Impossible Sign
Isaiah 7:10–14
Gift-giving can be stressful for some of us in the weeks leading up to tonight. We might not be good at thinking of things to buy or make for someone. Or we might have a person or two who are just impossible to buy for. When it comes to the first Christmas, God was the gift-giver. We were easy to “buy for,” so to speak. He, of course, knew exactly what to give to you and me and all people. But long before he wrapped up that present in swaddling cloths, God made a promise and what he promised seemed impossible. The LORD’s interaction with Ahaz, a king that didn’t have much use for God, is pretty interesting. A lot of the details will have to wait for another time, but this much is helpful to know so that we can understand our second lesson this evening: God gave Good News to his people when he promised the impossible—a virgin would give birth to a son whose name would indicate just who he would be: Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” The Lord spoke to Ahaz again. He said, 11“Ask for a sign from the Lord your God. Ask for it either in the depths below or in the heights above.” 12 But Ahaz responded, “I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.” 13 So Isaiah said: Listen now, you house of David. Is it not enough for you to test the patience of men? Will you test the patience of my God as well? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give a sign for all of you. Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and name him Immanuel. 10
HYMN 330 Peace Came to Earth
Vocalist stanza 2
THIRD LESSON
Good News from a Little Town
Micah 5:2–5a
It’s fascinating, isn’t it, when we hear that a wildly famous person comes from a small town? The odds are not great, so when it happens, a little town gets a lot of attention. Not many people in the world right now are more famous and popular than Taylor Swift. She’s one of those who grew up in a small town—Wyomissing, Pennsylvania— and, as it so happens, on a Christmas tree farm! But the most incredible small town achieving fame because of someone far greater who came from it, is the focus of this evening and the center of our faith. Jesus was born in a small, insignificant town: Bethlehem—a tiny little village in the shadow of Jerusalem, the Holy City. Someone notable had come from there once, before Micah promised that Jesus would come from it, but it had been a very long time—over 250 years. That was King David. And it would be a very long time before Micah’s prophecy about Jesus was fulfilled—like another 700 years! As famous and important as David was to God’s people as they thought about their history, the One who was to come would be greater: eternal, majestic, a peaceful ruler of the Lord’s people. And he would come from that little town on the outskirts of Jerusalem. These are the prophetic words of Good News for God’s people from the mouth of the prophet Micah: 2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel. His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity. 3Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when the woman who is in labor bears a child. Then the remaining survivors from his brothers will return to the people of Israel. 4He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth. 5This one will be their peace.
HYMN 333 O Little Town of Bethlehem
Choir stanza 3
FOURTH LESSON
Good News: He Is Born
Luke 2:1-7
Luke chapter 2: a decree went out…the first census…each to his own town…Joseph went up…he went with Mary…expecting a child…firstborn son…swaddling cloths… manger. This is what you came for isn’t it? This is what tonight is about. This is why we smile. This is why we sing. This is the Good News of Christmas. In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3And everyone went to register, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family line of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. 6And so it was that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. CHOIR: Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
FIFTH LESSON
Good News of Great Joy
Luke 2:8-14
I can’t imagine it, really. Can you? You’re out there in the fields in the low hills just outside little Bethlehem, wrapped up to endure the cold, faithfully watching your sheep who are tucked in for the night. Even though on this Christmas Weekend, the weather in Bethlehem is nearly identical to ours here in Tucson—both temperature and rain—AND we have rocky hills and fields as we travel just a bit outside the city—it’s still hard to imagine sitting out there, then looking up into the sky and seeing…and hearing…angels! What must it have been like to have to be told, “Do not be afraid…” when you’re sitting there terrified because you’re seeing something you had never seen before on your nights out there—and something few people had ever seen—and something straight out of heaven?! More importantly, what must it have been like to have been told the thing that you and the rest of God’s people had been waiting to hear for centuries? I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. A Savior. This is what they knew they needed. They knew about Adam and Eve and their rebellion against God. And they knew God’s promises about sending a Savior. Census workers, pregnant young couples, shepherds, kings, and priests, all needed someone to pay for their sins, to bring forgiveness, and to give salvation. There are no exceptions to that need here tonight. This night is special because of the message of the angels to the shepherds: in Jesus, we have a Savior from sin. He brings peace and good will between God and us. This IS Good News, and it brings us Great Joy! 8
There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock 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. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11 Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” HYMN 346 Angels We Have Heard on High
SIXTH LESSON
Good News to Share
Luke 2:15-20 (EHV)
What an amazing thing to witness—those angels. And they were not even the most incredible thing the shepherds would see that night. The sheep would be without their night guardians for a while, because the angel’s Good News prompted those men to hurry off to see their newborn Savior—the one who had been promised for so long and was now here! I don’t know how long it took them to get to the manger. I have no idea how long they stayed. And I can’t tell you who all the people were that they shared the Good News of the Savior’s birth with…or how long they spent doing that before returning to the cool calm of the fields where their sheep were sleeping. But this I do know—when they finally tore themselves away from staring down at the actual Son of God lying there in that manger, they had the greatest news to share. It was—and still is—literally the greatest news in the world! And if this news of God’s love in the sending of his Son, and Jesus’ love in coming to bring forgiveness and salvation is for the whole world, then this news is for you. And if you believe this Good News, it means someone told you. Think about that. The angels told the shepherds. The shepherds told other people. Those people told others. And when Jesus preached and taught and died and rose and ascended, people saw him as their Savior then too. And they told people, who told other people…and this Good News has been shared ever since, right down to you as you sit here tonight. I don’t have to tell you what to do with that news. You have seen this baby in the manger—and you know who he is. You know why he came. You know what he did. He means the world to you. And the world will be amazed when you tell them who Jesus is and why he came. 15
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they told others the message they had been told about this child. 18And all who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. HYMN 341 Away in a Manger
SEVENTH LESSON
Good News of Eternal Life
Titus 3:4–7 (EHV)
You know, thinking back to where we began tonight—with Adam and Eve—God could have rejected the world that had rejected him. But he didn’t. In these last words of God we hear tonight, the Apostle Paul explains why. In these gospel-soaked verses, you’ll hear it in words like kindness, love, mercy, grace. The love of God appeared in the person of his Son, the Rescuer who came to save people from their sins. When I read these words, you won’t hear a lot of detail about all that Jesus did as our Savior, but you may know those details. So, when you simply hear that Jesus “saved us,” what will flash through your mind are these things: his cradle…and his cross…and his crown of victory. What you have by faith in him are these things: his love…his forgiveness…and his promise of eternal life. There is no better news than this and it is ours on this Christmas Eve and always! 4
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared, he saved us—not by righteous works that we did ourselves, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs in keeping with the hope of eternal life. 5
HYMN 335:1-4 To Shepherds as They Watched by Night
Vocalist stanza 1