Christmas: The Meaning and The Experience

Text: St. Luke 2:1-20
Theme: “Christmas: The Meaning and The Experience”
The Nativity of Our Lord/Christmas Eve
December 24, 2011
First Presbyterian Church
Denton, Texas
Rev. Paul R. Dunklau

IN THE NAME OF JESUS

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.

A blessed and most Merry Christmas to all of you! Whether you’ve traveled hundreds of miles or just driven a few blocks; whether you’ve worshipped in this sanctuary for years, on only a few occasions, or if this is your first time, welcome one and all in the Name of Jesus Christ, our newborn Lord, Savior, Brother, and Friend.
No matter how beautiful the wrapping paper, no matter how lovely the bow, eventually it is time to open the present. That time is now, as we have come to hear the Christmas Gospel and, in minutes, receive, at the Lord’s Table, the gift of Christmas itself – even Jesus Christ the Lord.

The story of Christmas, as we’ve heard it once again in the familiar and best-loved words of Luke chapter two, speaks for itself. There’s something in it for everyone. For children, there’s a newborn baby. For mothers, there is Mary. For fathers, there is Joseph. For folks embroiled in politics and captivated by governmental affairs, there is the mention of Caesar Augustus and Quirinius of Syria. For workers who are now (hopefully!) getting some holiday time off, there are the shepherds. For families, you have the holy family itself: Mary, Joseph, and the baby. For you holiday travelers, the entire story reads like a travelogue. Yes, there is something for everyone.

But the question is: what does this mean? Would it surprise you to know that the Christian faith can be written down on a half-sheet of note paper? That’s what a professor and mentor of mine once suggested long ago, and he’s right. First, there is a God, one God. God created the world. God created human beings in God’s own image. God created us to live in a holy, blessed, joyful, happy fellowship with Hi
But something went dreadfully wrong – and we’ve been paying the price ever since. We’ve even been complicit with what went wrong. Basically, quoting the Bible, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Despite the advancements of the human race, regardless of humankind’s long march from the swamp to the stars, the fact is that the human condition, in view of the holiness of God, is in far worse shape than we could even begin to realize. If we sin – and the Bible makes no bones over the fact that we do (we are “born in sin” and daily sin in thought, word, and deed), we get a paycheck, a wage. The Bible says that “The wages of sin is death.” There is nothing more universal in the world than that. Even though our hearts our beating, our lungs are breathing, and our brain waves are registering, the message of Christianity, to begin with, is this: all of us are “dead in our trespasses and sins.”

But hold on to your pews, Christmas worshippers, because this is where it gets good, really good. There’s one part of the Christmas story we can’t relate to. We’re not the herald angels. They were, in a sense, the alien invaders we never saw coming. But they came not to destroy, not to commence the war of the worlds, but to announce. They announced exactly what sinners need: a Savior. “I bring you good tidings of a great joy that shall be for all the people: Unto you is born, this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord!”

This heaven-sent Savior didn’t just solve our problem by fiat or by executive order. The demands of God’s justice and holiness wouldn’t allow for that. So, as the Gospel goes on to declare, the Son of God lived a holy life in our place. He died the death, the ultimate death that we were destined to die, and, through it, He paid the price for our age-old alienation from God. Then, He rose from the grave and gave the world a triumph, and a hope, and a future that it, heretofore, had never known. The meaning of Christmas is that darkness has given way to light, sin has given way to grace, ultimate death has given way to never-ending life. We have a Savior; we have a new beginning; we have a new life to live and a message to proclaim!

So we’ve heard the story of Christmas. I’ve tried, as best I can, to explain the meaning. But now, what about the Christmas experience? Consider the viewpoint of Susan Less, a divorced mother of three who lives in New York City. To the extent that she’s able to do it, she doesn’t want the Christmas experience at all -- what with the lists, and gifts, and shopping, and partying, and the imposition of holiday expectations impossible to meet. She told a USA Today reporter: “No Christmas for me – no gifts, no turkey, no tree, no kidding.” The Christmas experience is too much for her. It has trumped the story and true meaning of Christmas, and she can’t take it. Many factors, including a bad economy, figured into her conscious decision to not “do” Christmas this year.

Oh, and there are other factors that influence how we experience Christmas. Allow an historical reference. There’s this Christmas song that many famous artists, beginning with Bing Crosby, have given their rendition of. It’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The lyrics are simple enough; they convey the desire and intent to be home for Christmas. But then come the last lines: “Christmas Eve will find me where the love-light gleams.” That sounds good but hold on for this: “I’ll be home for Christmas – if only in my dreams.” It ends on a sad and wistful note. But then we must remember that it was written in 1943, at the height of World War II, when countless Americans were separated from their homes because they were away defending the country.

On a personal note, I remember how powerful my first experiences of Christmas were. We’d go to church on Christmas Eve. While there, Santa would come. After church, we’d drive around looking at lights. Then we’d head home and open presents and eat a late dinner. As a youngster, this was what Christmas experience was all about. I thought that I could always count on it. I thought, mistakenly, that it would never end. But that experience did end, and I still, to this day, carry moments of grief for the Christmas experience that was and is no longer. But now I have new experiences, new traditions. As I grew older (and hopefully a bit more mature), it dawned on me that the “experience” of Christmas always changes.

But there are two things, to be sure, that do not change. First, the Christmas story itself; and second, the true meaning of the Christmas story itself. Look upon my right hand. Let it represent the Christmas story and its true meaning. Now look at my left hand. Let it represent your “experience” of Christmas this year. Whether it be Christmas past, present, or future, this one (left hand) will always change. But this one (right hand) will not.
My hope, for you and for me and for us all, is that tonight this will happen (clasp hands).

Be near us, Lord Jesus.
We ask Thee to stay
Close by us forever
And love us, we pray.
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care,
and take us to heaven to live with Thee there.

Amen.