Psalm 97, Luke 2:1-20, Titus 3:4-7
Summer is here. The pohutukawa is red, the tea tree is white, tui are about and the night sky is full of stars when you”re out of the city. This is a beautiful land and this is the season for celebrating Jesus’ birth.
What gifts were you blessed with this Christmas?
The way we do Christmas in this country is very much about gifts.
The reason is that we are celebrating God giving us the best gift of all – Jesus. Probably the best-known Bible verse is John 3:16, “God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.”
The verse reminds us that believing in Jesus is the most important thing. That God isn’t like Santa, asking have you been naughty or nice? God knows we’ve been naughty and he forgives us, when we’re sorry, because of what Jesus did for us.
Today is a day for joining the shepherds in wonder and praise, the angels in singing ‘Glory’ and Mary in quiet reflection. It is a tragedy that much of this will be lost in the celebration and that even our worship may be invaded by the superficial focus on the presents we have received rather than the wonder of the incarnation. Paul helps us in our reflection as he points out exactly what God has done, underlining the message of Luke – that in his love God has sent Jesus to ensure that we can be his friends. This is the truth to grasp today and hang on to throughout the year.
The story from Luke’s gospel is familiar to everyone. It’s about the birth of Jesus which was announced to the shepherds. God’s gift of his only Son to the world was happening in a very ordinary place very near to them. Well, it was ordinary I some ways but quite extraordinary in other ways. It was not extravagant or plush or rich, just very basic. Yet the announcement was so amazing that the shepherds felt compelled to go and see for themselves. They found the baby just as they had been told.
Did you ever open a present and you thought, “That’s not much.”? If you said anything like that someone probably reminded you that It is the thought that counts. At least it was a gift which is better than nothing and may well have been given with more love than something lavish. One might wonder whether the shepherds had a similar thought when they found the baby and wondered why so much fuss over a baby. Luke tells us they left the manger praising and glorifying God so that tells us they weren’t disappointed.
Paul reminds us that God poured his love on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Jesus showed us amazing love. What he did for us was over-the-top extravagant. God was generous beyond anyone’s expectations. Think of the most fabulous Christmas present you’ve ever received. Combine together all the presents you’ve ever received and God’s gift outshines them all.
We don’t give presents to people because they deserve them; we give presents to people we love – and maybe one or two we’re obliged to give to. This too reflects God’s giving. None of us deserve God’s gift. He gives because he loves us. He sent Jesus, our Saviour, into the world, as a baby, not because we deserved it, but because of his great love.
That is why everyone has come today and why this is the day we celebrate – Jesus’ birth was the most amazing outpouring of God’s love to us. And his love keeps pouring into our lives and overflows into other people’s lives. It’s worth thinking about God’s amazing gift to us – so undeserved yet given in his mercy. I challenge you to think of this through the rest of today – when you eat, when you open gifts, when you watch other people open gifts, when you play, when you sleep, whatever you do let the whole celebration remind you of God’s great love and God’s wonderfully generous gift. We need to keep Jesus at the centre of all our celebrations, just as we would treat the birthday boy or girl in our own family.