Christmas Eve 2013

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti Amen. +

Text: Luke 2:14
Theme: “Peace On Earth”

Dear Travelers to the Manger,

That first Christmas the news was announced by melodious, angelic voices, “A great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and ….peace.”1 Celestial beings heralded an event beyond earthly understanding. God had broached the dimensions of time and space. Christmas is about all things heavenly confronting all things earthly. In the person of Jesus, light meets darkness, good meets evil, grace meets sin, truth meets falsehood, life meets death.

There are many emphases of Christ’s presence that could be the focus of a Christmas discussion. This Christmas Eve, one particular word of the angels will not escape our notice: peace. “Peace to men on whom His favor rests.”2 How are we to understand this peace? Because of sin, there will always be conflict. Christmas is firstly and primarily about the resolution to the greatest conflict. Through Christ, every human being can have peace with God. It is this peace alone which is indispensable for our salvation.

The struggle that took place to win that peace is what fills our Christmas with the deepest and most mysterious love and drives our hope for the future. Underneath the Christmas tree in the Copper family home in Winona Lake, Indiana sits a token that symbolizes, in a very small way, the struggle to share that peace. Under their tree sits a prominently displayed piece of red cardboard. It says “Merry Christmas” and has clippings of the three wisemen on it. The cardboard card has been placed under the tree every year for 45 years. The Cooper’s only son had made the card for his father in school when he was a young boy. On his way home some bullies threatened to tear it up. Though not used to fighting, he fought them off to save this gift for his dad. His parents never knew until a neighbor told them what happened. And so in deep appreciation that only parents can know, that old card has been set in front of all others presents under their tree for nearly half a century.

There may be many gifts under our tree this Christmas, but all that matters is what we treasure in our hearts. Because of a great and cosmic struggle, a struggle involving the greatest sacrifice, we have secured for us an eternal peace. The prophet Isaiah gave lofty titles to the coming Messiah, “He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”3 Of the fulfillment of this prophecy, the New Testament says, “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”4

Who could have guessed that we would have peace because Christ left the world with even greater humiliation than that with which He entered? The wood of His manger was made into the beams of His cross. His death was consistent with His birth. The King of Kings was not born in the temple palace. His subjects were not royal officials. No fuss was made over His needs. There was a celestial choir of angels to announce His birth, but only to lowly shepherds in the field. In just this way, God begins His great reversal of the world’s decay. In this humble way, as a helpless and vulnerable child He enters the kingdom of mature spiritual darkness. He comes as the Prince of Peace to a world of turmoil and division.

His is a divine power to change hearts and minds, to mend lives, to impart peace.
If there has been unfaithfulness in your marriage it can be restored with healing. If there has been falsehood in your words, it can be forgiven with repentance. If there has been bitterness in your heart, it can be drained of its potency. If there has been anger in your actions, it can be pacified with love. If there has been despair in your thoughts, it can be replaced with hope. If there has been doubt in your mind, it can be overcome by faith. It there has been selfishness in your life, it can be replaced with sacrifice for the Savior. There is nothing done that the Christchild’s forgiveness cannot undo. There is nothing lacking that His grace cannot supply.

Dear friends, our lives are never completely restored until the life to come. But we are in the process and we can have peace. Even as recovering sinners, we are called to add flesh to the words of Christmas joy and peace. At the manger Christ was born into our physical world to bring spiritual peace. At the baptismal font, we are reborn into His spiritual kingdom to embody that peace. We are given new life to address physical and spiritual needs. We are His agents to rescue souls and secure hearts. We do this as He did. Not with force. Not driven by self-interest or in hopes of recognition. Not to ease our guilt over some quota we think has been levied on us. Not with pomp and circumstance, but with humble bearing of our cross.

Dear friends, Christmas is not an excuse to indulge in excess, but an occasion to be immersed in essentials. The essentials are not expensive gifts, extravagant parties, and showy decorations. The essentials are purity of heart, integrity of will, and humbleness of mind displayed in gathering around the celebration of Christ’s birth. The true gifts of Christmas are not what we buy or construct or accomplish, but what we receive from His grace. The Christchild says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”5

May your Christmas this day and the whole season through be filled with the abiding peace and joy that comes only from the Son of God born into human flesh. Amen.



+ In nomine Jesu +

Christmas Eve
24 December 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Luke 2:13-14
2 Luke 2:14
3 Isaiah 9:6
4 Colossians 1:19-20
5 John 16:33