December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve
Now Appearing!
Titus 2:11-17
Christmas is the “Grand Premier”
If the life of Jesus were a movie, then Christmas would be the “Grand Premier.” The great opening. And thanks to the angelic host, there would be a brilliant sign across the sky far better than anything George Lucas has ever invented: “Now appearing. In human flesh. The grace of God.”
And I can see it now. The original cast present for this great opening. The leading character, God, playing himself in the little baby Jesus. And Mary the leading woman, amazed, exhausted, dumbstruck—treasuring all the words being said about her newborn child and pondering them in her heart. And Joseph, of course, the strong, silent type in a lead supportive role.
And then there are the extras. The Shepherds, those startled shepherds, who were simply trying to do their job and keep awake at night; and who ended up praising and glorifying God for all that they had heard and seen as it has been told them. And Wisemen opening up their treasure chests of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
And the music. Oh, the music! Composed by God and performed exquisitely by the angelic host: “Glory to God and peace to God’s people on earth.”
Christmas in a Nutshell
Towards the end of the bible there is a tiny book called “Titus,” which is the Apostle Paul’s letter to his favorite apprentice by that same name. His name is Titus. And in the second chapter, Saint Paul has a line that captures Christmas in a nutshell. It is the shortest lesson that you will ever hear on Christmas Day: This is “the grace of God appearing,” Saint Paul says, “bringing salvation to all.”
How could we say it any plainer? This is God appearing! This is God now appearing in human flesh & blood. This is no stunt man standing in for Jesus, especially when he dies upon the cross. This is no “body double.” There is no trick photography or a computer generated image. This is God himself “who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people who are zealous for good deeds.”
And we need to say that loud and clear this Christmas Eve. For certainly this is not what anyone expected. No one expected God to come in human flesh and form. No one expected God to be wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. No one ever expected God to have a birthday. What kind of a God ever has a “birthday?”
Holy Family from The Nativity Story
And what kind of God puts himself into the place of sinners…and dies upon a cross…and suffers sin away? A loving one. A gracious one. A God who is on a mission to save us from ourselves and bring a loving peace on earth. Which means we have a mission, too.
Meant to be the Best Supporting Actress or Actor
Oh…you thought that you could just slip in here on this silent night now did you? You thought that you could get lost in the crowd and hidden in the pews? Oh, no. You are part of this cast. You have a role to play. You are not just part of the audience. And you are not an extra standing in the background pretending to ignore what is going on in front. You have a supporting role to play. You are meant to be the “best supporting actress or actor.”
Maybe on this holy night all eyes are on Jesus cradled in the manger—the way he was when he first came to us. But for the rest of the year all eyes are on YOU. People judge Jesus by looking at you—at your ethical or your unethical behavior.
And when Christians behave badly it is a pretty poor witness. It scandalizes Christ and people dismiss him. But when Christians behave with kindness and compassion, Jesus is praised and glorified just as he was on that first Christmas night: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth.”
You are the Movie Christ is Making
And so it is no wonder that in the book of Titus and the other books around it, there is page after page of ethical urging and instruction. And these books get very pointed and specific. Duties for elderly men and elderly women, the gray hair set —that they be godly in their conduct, sound in love and faith, teachers/models/ mentors for the younger generations.
And duties for young men and young women—that they model the life of Christ and give no one any cause to say anything bad about “us,”—that is, something bad about Jesus and his mission. And duties for children—that they obey their parents and grow in bonds so that parents and children have full respect for one another.
The way that Christian people behave has a bigger reflection on Jesus that even this “holy scene”—the manger scene— that we ponder on this holy night.
For in the end you are what the baby Jesus is all about. You are the movie that he is making. Jesus is out to make a godly people. People who renounce impiety and worldly passions. Jesus is out to make a “people of his own” who have become zealous for good deeds” because they have been redeemed and purified for Christ.
Zealous for Good Deeds
Are you zealous? Are you zealous for good deeds? Are you ready to give witness to Jesus, not only in your heart and on your lips, but also by your behavior and your life? The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all. It appeared the night that Jesus was born. And it appeared the day he died and rose again for you and for me. And it will appear again on the day of his great coming. The only question that is left is: Does it appear right now TODAY through YOU?
Be a person zealous for good deeds so that you might be another epiphany, another revelation, another witness, another star, another light, another baptismal candle, another manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
For this is what we want people to know that in Jesus Christ “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.”
Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth.
© 2008 Pastor Paul Jaster