The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all +

The word of God for the 1^st Christmas Holiday is by the prophet Micah 5:1-4a.

Let us pray: O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He  comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [Collect for the Nativity of Our Lord from LSB Pastoral Care Companion Pg. 540]

Dear friends of our Lord Jesus Christ: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6 ESV) That ancient prophecy was fulfilled on Christmas Day in Bethlehem. Praise God together with all angels and archangels with that old hymn, which we still use today: Glory to God in the highest … (Luk 2:14)

It was then and there in Bethlehem with the birth of that little baby boy Jesus Christ that all the divine promises given from on high from the very beginning were fulfilled in the most extraordinary way imaginable. That was the godly plan from the very beginning: He was to come as savior of the world and redeemer of mankind. God had promised that. That is why from the most ancient of days people like Adam and Eve believed this good news and waited for it to happen and they waited for him – the one and only promised one – to finally come. And now on Christmas it happened. God kept his promise and made it come true. The blessed virgin and holy Mother of God – St Mary – was the first to behold it. Countless others would follow: St Joseph, the nameless shepherds, the countless angels from on high, the wise sages from the East, St.Hannah and St. Simeon in the holy temple. Together with the evangelist St. John this cloud of witnesses proclaims: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Joh 1:14 ESV Watchword for Christmas).

Oh – what a great wonder and miracle. The divine majesty God himself becomes a little baby boy snuggled up in the arm of his mother Mary and nurses at her breast – he who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The mystery of Christmas: The God and Messiah Christ Jesus “clothed in our poor flesh and bone” [LSB 382,2] incarnate for us and for our salvation! “He whom the sea and wind obey doth come to serve the sinner in great meekness, Thou, God’s own Son, with us art one, dost join us and our children in our weakness.” [LSB 372,2] He did that so that by his weakness we might be healed, saved and justified eternally : “The very Son of God sublime entered into earthly time to lead us from this world of cares to heaven’s courts as blessed heirs. Alleluia” [LSB 382,5]

Even the prophecy by the Prophet Micah was fulfilled then and there. The true Ruler of Israel, the Church and the entire universe was born there in that too little township, that insignificant village on the hills of Judah, that place called Bethlehem [House of Bread]. He, the bread of life, who gives his own life willingly as a ransom on the cross so that the sinful human race be redeemed from the power of the devil, all evil and sinfulness, is born there not in a fancy hotel or another notable address, but rather on the outskirts of that rural community in a manger – because there just was no room for him amongst the townspeople. He who rules heaven and earth dwells in the most shabby place on the fringes of Bethlehem. Throughout his faithful life he will remain thus – an outcast, without a place to put his head or to find solace and peace – until he is crucified outside the city of Jerusalem, banished to die in exile and to find his grave amongst robbers and other evildoers. From the beginning that is his mission – not to seek his own glory and fame – but rather to seek and find and save the lost, those without hope and to return them to the heavenly realms with his father. And in that mission he was successful: “In poverty He came to earth showing mercy by His birth; He makes us rich in heav’nly ways as we, like angels, sing His praise: Alleluia!” [LSB 382,6]

This mission he carries out not only for the Israel of old, but also for the new Israel – the one, holy Christian Church – throughout the world. He is the good shepherd stands in the centre of his flock, all his people from all nations around the globe, who are gathered around him – like today, when we kneel at his manger and worship him as our Lord and Savior, who took on himself our miserable, broken and corrupted life so that we might share his blessed, eternal and holy life. He is leading, guiding, ruling and shepherding us even today with his holy word – giving our lives direction, orientation, meaning, grace, peace and eternity.  That is the purpose of his divine rule and majesty.

However that is not everything. He is not done yet. He still calls and invites those siblings, who are not part of the Church yet. He calls the lost to return to the divine family! His call goes forth without fail as long as it is still day of grace and mercy: Come – all you who are burdened and heavily laden – I will give you rest! On Christmas that holiday becomes reality for many, many people, who don’t even believe in him as their savior. Yet Jesus Christ is so good and friendly, that he spreads his kind rule and rest, peace and joy even to those outside the Church. It is Christmas worldwide and he brings his gifts this wonderful holiday for us and our salvation. Today everybody should taste and see how friendly our Lord the Savior of the world Jesus Christ is. It’s his birthday – and everybody is invited to join the celebration and be part of the party.

Therefore join me and sing his praise:

Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn, A Savior unto us is born, The Christ, the Lord of glory! This lowly birth in Bethlehem The angels from on high proclaim And sing redemption’s story! My soul, extol God’s great favor; Bless him ever for salvation; Give him praise and adoration! [LSB 391] Amen.

Let us pray: O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [LSB Pastoral Care Companion Pg.541]