The Nativity of Our Lord
As we think back over the past year there are some things that stand out in our lives: moments of excitement, times of goodness and love. In our families we might have had the baptism of a child, wedding of a son or a daughter etc. but there are other things that make us shake our heads and wonder: times of difficult moments, sickness, war, death etc. this is the backdrop of our Christmas celebration. Christmas is a feel-good time, the time of joy and laughter, singing and gift giving. But none of this changes the pain that we and the rest of the world are facing.

It was in this kind of world Jesus was born. People were poor, oppressed and killed by the Romans; children were killed by the soldiers of King Herod. I wonder if Mary and Joseph ever wondered why God would send such a special child into a place like Israel – a place where there was so much of oppression, violence, death and poverty.
If they ever had asked this question their wonder would have stopped when the shepherds told them that night out in the field. This angel delivered a message straight from God himself, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”.
I would like to reflect with you on three words of the angel’s message: you, born and Savior. First of all, the word “you”. Here God is saying that He gives you and me someone special. God is coming down to earth to live among all oppression, violence, death and poverty. This is so ungodlike. God is supposed to be different, set apart, separate, far removed from the dirt of sin. When God says “you” in the announcement of the angel he indicates that what has happened in the birth of Jesus is something that is intimate, personal, and direct. This baby born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago is
for you, you shepherds,
for you, people of Bethlehem,
for you, King Herod,
for you, astronomers from the east,
for you, Mary and Joseph,
for you, world,
for you and for me.

In Jesus God is reaching out and touching us and saying: I know your life, I know the things you love and things that make you happy, things you struggle with- I know all about you. Whether you are absolutely convinced about God or not sure about God, whether you have been regular to the church or not been for long time – God says: to you is born this day, a Savior, Christ the Lord.

Secondly, the word “born”. God being carried in Mary’s womb for nine months. God going through the process of child-birth just like every one of us. This is too much to comprehend. If I was writing a story about God coming to live among us, I might have made it more spectacular.
but born out the back,
no room in the inn,
unnoticed by many people,
laid in the animal feeding trough. This is extraordinary. It shows how much God wants to come close to us.

He is born in to a family: a mother who held him to her breast, loved him and cared for him like any other mother would do, a father who gives a godly model for his son to follow. Like any other child, Jesus grows up, learns, watches his father in the workshop, and listens to his mother all stories about his ancestor King David. God does not need any of that. It is not for his sake that he is born, but for us all. God who is without beginning takes on a beginning, God who is all complete goes through the stages of growing up, learns from his teachers, God who is eternal and cannot die becomes human and is subject to death. For you he is born.

Thirdly, the word “Savior”. In some countries Saviors are at work on the beaches. They are the life savers who rescue those in danger of drowning. Sometime they need to breathe life back into the almost dead person. To you is born this day, a Savior. This child whom the angels announce is the one who will save you from guilt that weighs you down. He saves you from meaningless existence. He is your Savior who has come to give life, life in all its fullness, and also eternal, ongoing life, life with God as life is meant to be.

To you is born a Savior who says, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, who says, ‘Be healed, who says, ‘ be still’, who allows his hands to be nailed to rescue you and me from our sins, who conquered the last enemy, death itself. He gives us life. That is the greatest miracle of all. Sometimes we look at the world, our lives and wonder what is going on, why is life so confusing, so demanding, so difficult. When we look at the baby in the manger we wonder why God would go to such extreme for you and for me. There is only one answer – God is Love.

Jesus is connecting with you, wanting to give your life purpose, wanting to help you when it seems life is tearing you apart. Can you do without this gift from God? Can you ignore this message from God Himself?

“To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord”.