God With Us | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (ELCA) Manchester MO

Pastor:

Pr. John Gerike

Sermon audio:

Christmas Eve Sermon: “God With Us”

December 24, 2011

Luke 2:1-20

There was a little boy

who was in his first Christmas program.

He was one of the shepherds.

Bathrobe…

…a piece of cloth tied around his head with a string.

This little boy wasn’t a lead shepherd,

just a regular old shepherd,

following the others around.

But when it was time

for everyone to gather around the manger,

he crowded to the front so he could see.

And when he saw what was there,

he walked far enough toward the congregation

to see his parents.

And he waved to get their attention.

And he called out to them:

“Mommy. Daddy.

Mary had her baby.

And it’s a boy.”

It was a boy—Jesus.

A boy who came—

--and was born for you and for me.

God is with us.

Why?

Why do you think God became human for us?

Because we deserve it?

I don’t think so.

In fact, I know we don’t deserve it.

Jesus came and was born for us.

Why?

Because he loves us.

That’s what we see from the very beginning.

It’s not something we earn.

It’s a gift.

Who were the first ones to learn of Jesus’ birth?

Shepherds.

Shepherds, in Jesus’ time,

were considered unclean.

They weren’t permitted to enter the synagogue.

They weren’t permitted to give testimony in court.

You didn’t want to hang around with shepherds.

And yet, the first ones to hear the news were shepherds.

The angel of the Lord came to them and said:

“Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy,

for unto you is born this day a Savior,

Christ the Lord.”

Jesus came for shepherds.

Jesus came for you and for me.

God is with us.

Remember those collections of letters

that children write to Santa Claus?

Here are a couple of letters:

Dear Santa,

You didn’t bring me anything good last year.

You didn’t bring me anything good the year before that.

This is your last chance.

Signed, Alfred

Dear Santa,

I’ve been really good this year.

But don’t ask Mommy and Daddy if it’s true.

Signed, Sarah

Dear Santa,

There are 3 little boys who live at our house.

There is Jeffrey, he is 2.

There is David, he is 4.

And there is Norman, he is 7.

Jeffrey is good some of the time.

David is good some of the time.

But Norman is good all of the time.

I am Norman.

But you know what?

We’re not Normans.

We’re shepherds.

We need a Savior.

We need Immanuel.

God with us.

You know what else is interesting

about the shepherds.

They were ritually unclean.

And to be clean again—

--you needed to go through a ritual

and be declared clean by the priests.

I don’t think they did that

before they visited baby Jesus.

At least we don’t hear about it.

What does that say for you and for me?

Does it say something about

how Jesus loves us—

--even though we’re sinful?

Does it say something about how Jesus comes for us—

--even though we don’t deserve it?

Does it say something about God’s love for us—

--even in the midst of our sin?

We are shepherds.

And still God loves us.

And still Jesus is born for you and for me.

Folks in Jesus’ time probably said:

“Why this big deal for shepherds?”

“Why would the angel come to the shepherds—of all people?”

Why would the angels come to the shepherds in the field and say:

“Don’t be afraid;

for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people:

To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,

who if Christ, the Lord.”?

But maybe there’s a reason this good news came to the shepherds.

The good news of great joy for who?

For who?

For all people.

Even for shepherds.

Even for you and for me.

For God so loved the world,

the whole world,

even shepherds,

even you,

even me,

that God gave his only Son…

Someone said,

“People need love,

especially when they don’t deserve it.”

We need God’s love all the time—

--especially because we don’t deserve it.

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.

But God comes to us,

because we can’t come to God

God comes to us as a little baby—

--Jesus.

Immanuel—

--God with us.

That’s how God says,

“I love you.”

God becomes one of us.

God lives among us,

lives our pain,

feels our need,

suffers and dies for you and for me.

For God so loved the world

that he gave his only son,

that whoever believes in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

I read about two sisters,

both in their 80’s.

Living in North Dakota.

On a farm in North Dakota.

And as they were slowing down,

the farm was falling apart.

The chicken coop was falling down.

The barn was tilting way to one side.

The machinery was broken and rusted.

Their nephew came to visit one day from the city.

And he wanted to take a picture

of his aunts with the chicken coop

and the barn

and the rusty machinery

in the background.

And the aunts stood there,

straight and tall for the picture.

And the nephew took the picture

and sent them a copy.

And they loved that photograph,

and they decided to use it for their Christmas Card that year.

And at the top of that picture they put the words

“Merry Christmas”—in bold black letters.

And at the bottom of the picture, in bold black letters were the words:

“God is with us in our mess.”

Instead of worrying about their mess,

they gave thanks to God

for coming and being with them

right in the middle of it.

And that’s what Jesus does tonight—

--he comes to us right in the middle of our mess.

God doesn’t wait until we have it all figured out.

Because then God would have to wait and wait and

wait and wait…and wait.

“While we are yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”

Jesus comes to us

right in the middle of our mess.

Jesus says to you and to me:

When you are sick,

I’m there for you.

When you are alone,

I’m there for you.

When you feel guilty,

I’m there for you.

When you are dying,

I’m there for you.

Even when you turn away from me,

I’m still there for you,

calling you back,

loving you always.

When you feel pain,

I hurt with you.

When you feel joy,

I rejoice with you.

When you need a Savior,

and you do need a Savior,

I’m your Savior.

When you need God,

and you do need God,

I’m the way, the truth and the life.

Jesus was born for you.

Jesus lived for you.

Jesus died for you.

Jesus rose for you.

And Jesus is here with you now—

--giving and loving.

Jesus—

--Immanuel—

--God with us.

For everyone.

Even shepherds.

Even you.

Even me.

That’s good news of great joy.

Jesus—

--Immanuel—

--God with us.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen