Carry Christmas With Us - Sermon for Christmas Day (December 25, 2024)

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 62:6–12 | Psalm 97 | Titus 3:4–7 | Luke 2:1–20

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11).

Merry Christmas everyone! 
Jesus Christ is born. Heaven’s glory has entered into Earth’s dark night, in the tiny body of Mary’s boy. Today we celebrate the birth of our Saviour. The first breaths of the One who has come to be our Saviour… and the Saviour of our world.

Of course, we still have so many reminders all around us that our world is still longing to be set free. To be delivered from the darkness and selfishness and sin that continues to wreak havoc among us. In many ways, our world ignores the Good News we celebrate this day. But we who believe that in Jesus, who is God Himself right here with us, in the flesh… we celebrate despite the darkness, because we know that the Saviour has come… that at the cross, He has won… and in Him, our world’s deliverance is forever assured. 
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In our Gospel reading today, we hear of the shepherds, out in the fields late at night. Everyday people, just going about their lives, with no sense that anything strange and wonderful was in the works. 

They were people living far from comfort… sleeping rough out in the fields with their sheep… living in a troubled corner of the world, far from the centres of power and influence… mostly preoccupied with simply making it through to another day… perhaps with a sense of longing for the ancient promises of God to be fulfilled.

And then, there in the darkness, God’s brilliant and terrifying glory suddenly bursts into their little world! Angels announce the Good News that the Christ has been born… that God has given to us a Saviour at last… and then the heavenly choir bursts into song, praising the Lord , and proclaiming peace on earth.

Imagine the shepherd’s sudden excitement! The hope that was suddenly lit within them… the promise of peace at last for their troubled and oppressed people… the joyful realization that the Living God was at work in their little corner of the world… that this Good News was for them to share in… and that God’s faithful love was reaching out to rescue and to embrace those sitting in darkness.

“the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11).

Good News of great joy for all the people: a Saviour has been born this day. The Child King of God’s eternal Kingdom has come to set them free. To set us all free.

And so they go. They hurry off to see the One all this Good News of great joy is about.

And they see Him. And they believe. And along with Mary and Joseph, and maybe a few animals, these unknown shepherds are the only ones on earth who celebrate the very first Christmas… humble witnesses of the Son of God beginning His saving work.

And then they go again. As wonderful as that moment was, they could not stay in that stable forever. They have to go back to their sheep, and their fields, and their everyday lives, carrying the Good News of the Saviour’s birth with them. 

And this Christmas, as we celebrate the Good News of Christ’s birth, so many centuries later, and in our own quiet little corner of the world… we too must soon go back to our lives. But we need not go back unchanged. Untouched by the Good News we celebrate this day. Because the Good News of Christmas is the Good News of Christ: the Saviour who came to set us free. Who gave His life at the cross, and rose again from the dead to deliver us all from the powers of darkness, in all of its forms… and to bring God’s glorious light and eternal life to us forever.

So may we go with the Good News of Christmas always: with our hopes rekindled… with God’s peace calming our troubled hearts… with joyful expectation… and with full assurance of God’s faithful love… carrying the story of Jesus, God’s Son and Saviour of our world… and may we share this blessed story with all those around us. Amen.