Community Covenant Church - Sermons - A Most Unexpected Gift

December 24, 2006

Community Covenant Church of Hopkinton, MA

“A Most Unexpected Gift”

Luke 1:39-55

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

46And Mary said:
   "My soul glorifies the Lord
    47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
      of the humble state of his servant.
   From now on all generations will call me blessed,
    49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
      holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
      from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
      he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
      but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
      but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
      remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
      even as he said to our fathers."

Let me ask you a question this morning which I am sure you’ve heard quite a lot lately: What do you want for Christmas?

Perhaps you are a practical sort.. aware of the times; sensitive to the tightness of money. Maybe you’ve asked for practical gifts: socks, underwear, shirts or pants.

Perhaps you’re a bit more adventurous. Knowing that Christmas inspires giving, maybe you’ve boldly asked for something expensive or rare. Maybe something everyone else wants but few will find: The latest Tickle-Me Elmo doll, the latest game system for your TV, a shiny new car with a big red ribbon on top.

But whatever you’ve asked for, my guess is that you did not ask for a baby, did you? Unless you’re a desperate grandparent-want-a-be, or a couple looking to start or expand a family, to hope for a baby at Christmas is probably not something on your “wish list”.

But that is exactly what God has given us. The “original” Christmas gift offered in the Town of Bethlehem to all people was a baby!

Now I am not telling you something new. I believe we all recognize the gift we have been given in Jesus. But the problem is that when we reflect upon that gift.... the gift of God incarnate, like the Gospels themselves, we tend to hurry ahead in Jesus life.

- Suddenly we jump from His presentation in the Temple at 8 days old, to a 12 year old lost by his parents in the same temple.

- And then, we jump quickly to the 30-year old carpenter being baptized by John and accepting his calling from the Father to preach and teach, to heal us spiritually, emotionally and physically, and them to die and rise from the dead.

At Christmas we recognize the value of the child because of what He will become to us, but today I am asking for a true reflection upon the baby Jesus; I am asking you for an answer; “Why did God come to us with His salvation in this form; why did God answer the prayers of desperate people with a baby?”

When we think of salvation, do we not want, like the Jews of Jesus’ day, God’s salvation to come more as a “shock & awe” than as the tender coos of a baby? After all, God has delivered His people with “shock & awe” so many times in the past:

- When David killed Goliath and sent the Philistine enemy a-running.

- When the waters parted for the Hebrews during the exodus, but crashed down upon Pharaoh’s army.

- When a judge named Sampson toppled the enemy’s temple killing their leaders,

- When another Judge named Gideon took only 300 men and defeated the enormous Midianite army, or

- When by favorite judge, Ehud, killed King Eglon quietly in his chambers, then rallied the Israelites to destroy 10,000 Moabite oppressors.

No wonder those of Jesus’ day were looking for a conquering leader; a King or Messiah who would somehow overthrow their Roman oppressors! That is what they wanted.

What do you want for Christmas?

God gives to us, what He gave to them: a baby; conceived in a young woman without human desire or will, a baby who would find support in a poor but righteous carpenter; a baby born away from home in a smelly stable in Bethlehem. Hey... you know the story!

Why did our great and glorious God of heaven and earth, creator of all things visible and invisible, almighty, all-powerful and all-capable God give us the gift of salvation in a baby?

Because, salvation begins in relationship with God, and nothing invites us into a loving and trusting relationship more so than a baby. A baby’s needs:

- their vulnerability,

- their innocence,

- their size.

A baby makes even the most paranoid or egotistical or busy among us willing to interact with this living being.

I suggest this morning that the gift of the baby Jesus is the gift of God’s salvation made approachable. Because He has come to us as a baby, we more willingly come to Him in relationship, and receive His salvation.

And as we accept the gift of God’s presence, and grow in that relationship as this baby grows, we will increasing see more of God’s wonder and power, His holiness but also His love for us. As we grow in the Gospel stories with Jesus we will be challenged to become His followers and to allow his Holy Spirit to transform our lives, choosing to live more as the Children of God than the Children of men.

But it all begins with our willingness to accept God’s gift this Christmas; the gift of relationship with Him. What do you want for Christmas? What do you need for Christmas?

God Almighty has come to us in such a way that we can have what we cannot obtain on our own. Now that is a Christmas present!

Let’s just make sure we don’t miss it this year, for the gift of “God with us”; the gift of God’s salvation, is wrapped up in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, waiting for your response.

Do you hear the ancient Word proclaimed? Will you act upon that Word, and come and see what has been told to you?

Luke 2:8-20

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When 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."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (r).