{"id":20556,"date":"2024-12-18T10:59:45","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T09:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/?p=20556"},"modified":"2024-12-18T10:59:45","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T09:59:45","slug":"luke-21-20-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/luke-21-20-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke 2:1-20"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas Eve | December 24, 2024 | A Sermon on Luke 2:1-20 | by Luther H. Thoresen |<\/h3>\n

Luke 2:1-20\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Text New Revised Standard Version copyright \u00a9 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.)<\/h2>\n

1<\/sup>In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.\u00a02<\/sup>This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.\u00a03<\/sup>All went to their own towns to be registered.\u00a04<\/sup>Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.\u00a05<\/sup>He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.\u00a06<\/sup>While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.\u00a07<\/sup>And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.<\/p>\n

8<\/sup>In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.\u00a09<\/sup>Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.\u00a010<\/sup>But the angel said to them, \u2018Do not be afraid; for see\u2014I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:\u00a011<\/sup>to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,\u00a0the Lord.\u00a012<\/sup>This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.\u2019\u00a013<\/sup>And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,\u00a0praising God and saying,
\n14<\/sup>\u00a0\u2018Glory to God in the highest heaven,
\nand on earth peace among those whom he favors!\u2019<\/p>\n

15<\/sup>When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, \u2018Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.\u2019\u00a016<\/sup>So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.\u00a017<\/sup>When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;\u00a018<\/sup>and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.\u00a019<\/sup>But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.\u00a020<\/sup>The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.<\/p>\n

Note: <\/strong>The initial paragraphs in italics<\/em> of this sermon might be used as the basis for a Children\u2019s message. If not used that way, one might adapt it as the beginning of the \u201cusual\u201d sermon, or insert part of it later in the sermon\u2026or later in the service. These words are a description, not a \u201cscript\u201d for this, except for the prayer at the end.<\/p>\n

This evening read a 1<\/sup>book called Humphrey\u2019s First Christmas.<\/u> (I read the book. It retells the events of Luke 2 and Matthew 2\u2026and when Humphrey the camel wants to offer a gift to the Christ Child, he offers a blanket from his back). <\/em><\/p>\n

Would you pray with me? God, thank you for the gifts we give and receive among family and friends. Thank you for the gifts we receive from you every day. Thank you for sending your Son as a baby wrapped in bands of cloth. Thank you for the gift of your Son so that we might receive Life now and forever. Amen<\/em><\/p>\n

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.<\/p>\n

And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth <\/em>(v.7)<\/p>\n

This evening or tomorrow in many homes there will be gifts under a tree. These will be distributed and pictures will be taken. Children and adults will unwrap gifts and share \u201cthank yous\u201d and maybe hugs of gratitude. The unwrapping of gifts is a highlight of the season for many folks.<\/p>\n

Anyone here enjoy wrapping gifts? Anyone in your family use excessive amounts of tape? Do you wrap with colored paper? Newspaper? Brown paper bags? Do you use gift bags with tissue paper? Something about us likes the mystery of a wrapped gift! What if nothing was wrapped? The mystery would be gone\u2026no suspense\u2026no surprises.<\/p>\n

And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth <\/em>(v.7)<\/p>\n

Someone said that Mary wrapped the first Christmas gift \u2013 a child wrapped in cloth. Who is this? There is a sense of mystery with the wrapped child in this story.<\/p>\n

A few years ago I heard about a two year old child 1<\/sup><\/strong>that was playing with the pieces of a home nativity. The \u201cbaby Jesus\u201d was naked, so what to do? The two year old got out some Play-Doh wrapped the \u201cbaby Jesus\u201d in a Play-Doh blanket. That\u2019s what. The \u201cbaby Jesus\u201d needed to be wrapped. Later the mother took the Play-Doh and put it away.\u00a0 Guess what? The two year old got out the Play-Doh again to make a blanket! What did Humphrey give the \u201cbaby Jesus\u201d in the story book? A blanket.<\/p>\n

Have you sung the carol called 3<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cThe Friendly Beasts\u201d? Many of us have. In that Christmas carol, we are invited to imagine that each animal at the stable offers a gift to the Child Jesus. I won\u2019t quote the whole of each verse, but a portion. The carol begins<\/p>\n

Jesus our brother kind and good, was humbly born in a stable rude.
\nThe friendly beasts around him stood. Jesus our brother kind and good.<\/p>\n

\u201cI,\u201d Said the donkey, all shaggy and brown. \u201cI carried His mother uphill and down.
\nI carried her safely to Bethlehem town\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI,\u201d Said the cow, all white and red. \u201cI gave Him my manger, for a bed.
\nI gave Him my hay to pillow His head\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI,\u201d Said the sheep with the curly horn I gave Him my wool for a blanket warm.
\nHe wore my coat on Christmas morn\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI,\u201d Said the dove from the rafters high. I cooed him to sleep so he wouldn\u2019t cry.
\nWe cooed him to sleep my mate and I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Every beast by some good spell In the stable dark was glad to tell
\nOf the gifts they gave Emanuel\u2026<\/p>\n

There are also many legends told as Christmas stories. With these, a character often gives a gift to the Christ Child. An example is legend about a little \u201cdrummer boy\u201d who has no other gift, so he plays his drum for the Child. This legend even became a song.<\/p>\n

Christina Rossetti was a faithful Roman Catholic lay woman who lived a couple of centuries ago. One of her poems is called \u201cIn the Bleak Mid-winter\u201d4<\/sup><\/strong> and it is sung as a Christmas hymn or carol. It begins like this:<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind make moan<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Snow had fallen snow on snow, snow on snow.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the bleak midwinter, long ago. <\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Then, other verses follow \u2013 one about the birth of the child, one about the angels appearing to the shepherds, and so forth. Then, the final verse is sung:<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What can I give him, poor as I am?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If I were a wise man, I would do my part.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yet, what I can I give him, give my heart.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

It is good to consider what we might give, even give our heart to Christ. Yet the Good News is about God\u2019s gift to us!<\/p>\n

And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth <\/em>(v.7)<\/p>\n