"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The word translated "word" here is the Greek word "logos". It means much more than a label that denoted a particular object or action. In some Greek philosophies every object has a Logos behind it. For instance if I said "tree" you could picture anything from a miniature bonze tree to a giant oak to a palmetto tree. The "logos" for a tree was the basic treeness behind it. Everything has a logos.
Logically this led to the idea that there was a LOGOS for the entire universe. This was more than a thing it was an intelligence. This was the closest that Greek philosophy or religion every came to believing in one God.
When John set out to write his Gospel about Jesus, he began by saying you know that LOGOS for the universe? That intelligence that existed before time and is the origin of all things? Well the Word, the Logos, was with God and was God. And that infinite all knowing LOGOS became a human being. Oh, by the way, his name is Jesus.
But what did shepherd know of the Logos from Greek philosophy. They were familiar with sheep and goats and fields and wild animals and the stars of the night sky. And in the middle of that night they became acquainted with angels. And angel said "I've got good news for you and everyone! God has sent you a savior. He has just been born in Bethlehem and you will know you have found the right baby when you see him lying in a manger." Then a whole angel choir appeared praising God!
The shepherds were familiar with stables and mangers. So, following the words of the angels, they made their way to Bethlehem. They found Jesus and Mary and Joseph and they left the manger glorifying God and telling everyone about this Jesus.
The shepherds didn't need to know about Greek philosophy or what the Logos was. They had seen it with their own eyes. They had watched the Words made flesh sleeping and nursing. And they had greeted the newborn Messiah's mother Mary and Joseph.
And what did Mary know of the Logos? As a young girl in 1srt century Palestine her education would not have included Greek philosophy. But she knew about angels. Gabriel had personally visited her to tell her that she, a virgin, would bear the son of God. She had also become acquainted with censuses and the arbitrary edicts of kings who demanded people be relocated against their wills. And she knew about giving birth in a stable after a long journey.
If there was anyone who knew what was going on with Jesus' birth it was Mary. Gabriel had personally explained it to her. She had felt the Messiah growing within her. And she had personally delivered the Savior of the world.
But when the shepherds told her about the angels and what they had been told it says something interesting. It says, "Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart." Mary who knew who Jesus was better than anyone else "Pondered" these things. What? She didn't understand them? She had to ponder them?
If Mary had to ponder these words, perhaps we should not be too quick to think we have this who Jesus born in a manger thing figured out. Maybe like Mary we should take time to ponder this word - these words in our hearts. Sure we can consider with John the idea of the intelligence of the universe taking human form. We can contemplate the mysteries of the incarnation of the Word of God.
But let's be sure to meditate on the shepherds looking to the skies and seeing angels. And let's remember a poor homeless Palestinian girl giving birth in a stable. And let's ponder a little baby wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.
Treasure these things and ponder them in your hearts!
Luke 2:1-20
(Cover head with a shawl like a shepherd) I can imagine that a shepherd's life can be pretty boring. Staying up all night watching your sheep. I Imagine the shepherd spent time talking and telling stories to stay awake. I mean it wouldn't do to nod off and wake up to find that your sheep have been scattered. Let's listen in as one shepherd tell his story.
(laughter) That was a good one Daniel. So who here has a story to top that one? What? Me? No. Oh the night of the Angels. But all of you have heard that one so many times.
Well I guess some of you haven't heard it. O.K. O.K. you don't have to twist my arm. It was a night not unlike this one. The stars were bright and a group of us were grazing our sheep in a little valley like this one, so that we could make out any sheep wandering out over the crest of the hill.
Well all of a sudden there was a bright light. We shielded our eyes. It was as bright as the sunlight. We could see that the source was hovering over our valley but it was so bright that it took a while for our eyes to adjust. Then we could make out the figure of a man, with wings. Yes I said wings. And it was hovering over the valley.
I looked away because it was so bright. And I saw the sheep. They were all coming to the center of the valley right under the light. To the angel, yes, it was and angel. I have only seen sheep act light that when they were being called by their shepherd. It was like the light was calling to the sheep.
Then the Angel spoke. His voice was light the sound of a waterfall and like the singing of a dove at the same time. He said "Don't be afraid, I bring good news for everyone." I think he said it because Daniel here was face down on the ground by then. Then he said, "Tonight the Messiah has been born for you in the city of David." He also said that we would know the baby because it would be wrapped up and liking in a manger. I mean who would put a baby in a manger?
Then the whole sky lit up and there was a whole flock of angels. They were praising God and singing. Did we go? Of course we went. An angel tells you to go, you go! The sheep? Yes we left them! The angels could watch over them for us.
So we went to Bethlehem and we looked. We told people what we had seen and many thought we were drunk. But one innkeeper told us that he had sent a woman about to give birth to the stable. There we found a baby lying in a manger. His mother and father seemed like average people. I think he was a carpenter. We told them what we had seen and they just took it in. But we could tell that this was an exceptional child. And we had seen him!
We told others as we made our way back to the fields. Some went to see for themselves others just scoffed. Some believed and some didn't. You believe me don't you? About the angels and the Messiah and the baby? Sometimes I have trouble believing it. I am and Old man now and I was so young then. Sometimes I have to ask Daniel here if that is what we really saw. It has been thirty years now. I wonder where that baby is now? He would be a full grown man.
(squinting at the distance) David, is that you prize ewe about to wonder off over there? You'd better go catch her, or you will be buying next years Passover lamb from Daniel or me. Angels, what a night!
When I was a child Christmas was always glorious. I remember the lighted tree and the tinsel. I also remember going to church on Christmas Eve and singing Christmas carols and lighting candles. I imagine there are a number of young people here tonight feeling those same feelings. Not merely the anticipation of gifts in the morning, but a sense of the glory of Christmas.
As I grew the tinsel tarnished and the glory faded. Occasionally I catch glimpses of it. This was especially true when my children were little. But I have discovered that if I look in the right place I will always find that glory again.
Not simply the wide eyed wonder of a child seeing bright lights. Not merely the anticipation of undisclosed treasures in brightly wrapped boxes. But the glory behind all that glory.
Christmas has always been glorious. The problem is that people just have not known where to look for the glory. People looked in palaces and temples and fortresses. They may have discovered from time to time fleeting glimpses or reflections but not the glory itself.
Where do we look to find it? And there were shepherds abiding the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night. Not a very glorious place. Darkness and animals and shepherds watching in the starlight for wolves and wandering sheep.
But then and angel of the Lord stood among them and the glory of the Lord, I said the glory of the Lord shined around them. It was so bright that it terrified them. The angel said "I bring you good news for a messiah has been born to you." And where will you find him? "You will find him wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And a multitude of the heavenly host appear and what did they sing? What did they sing? "Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among all people."
The glory of Christmas is where it has always been. All the tinsel and the ribbons and the lights are just reflection of that glory. It was wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. That is basically what John said.
The Gospel according to John begins "In the beginning was the Word and Word was God and the Word was with God." Then it says that this Word became flesh and dwelt among us. This Word is more than a spoken word. It is the power behind the words that spoke the universe into existence out of nothing. This is the mind of essence of God.
And John says that this Word or mind became human. And we have seen his Glory. They glory of the Heavenly Father's only begotten son!
But most people don't see it. He came to his own and his own people did not accept him. The glory shined and people were blind to it. They groped in the darkness not seeing the light.
Where is the glory of Christmas? It is here! Jesus came to bring glory into the world. His glory is revealed first by angles and then in a babe lying in a manger. But now it is in you.
Open your eyes. See the glory of God. Don't be frightened by it. Glory to God in the highest!
John 1:1-14
"What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us Just a stranger on the bus Trying to make his way home. If God had a face what would it look like? And would you want to see If seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints and all the prophets."
These words are from a popular song. And it is an interesting idea. What if God was one of us. Well, that would change everything. If God had to ride the bus and go through the daily hassles we have maybe then God would understand our troubles and our lives better.
Maybe then we could believe. We could believe because we could see God and point to God and relate to God. We could believe because God would not be so remote but would be one of us not just some ethereal idea in eternal celestial realms. God would be one of us common everyday people.
God had the same idea long - long ago. In the church we call it the incarnation. It literally means "in the flesh." It is based on the same Latin word from which we derive carnivorous, flesh eating. To incarnate means to put something "in fleshly form." It can also mean to give form and substance to an insubstantial quality. Hence an extraordinarily giving person may be called the very incarnation of generosity. Their actions give substance to the quality. Theologically the incarnation is the essence of God taking fleshly form in Jesus. John said, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The "Word" John speaks of is more then the things God says. It is the very mind of God Almighty. The character of God including God's love, righteousness and mercy.
The incarnation is a mystery that theologians and philosophers have pondered for millennia. How is it possible for the God of the entire universe to take fleshly form. Some argued that it was impossible. God could give special guidance or possess someone in a special way like a prophet or holy person. But God could not be limited in the way humans are. So in the past some said Jesus was really and angel or a great prophet.
Consider the dilemma involved. How could an all knowing God live like a child having to learn how to eat and walk. How could the one who constructed the foundations of the mountains and the seas learn to stack toy blocks. Could God experience fear and ignorance like a person? Could God be diapered or scolded by parents?
That is the miracle of Christmas. God became one of us. In Jesus, born a homeless refugee, suffering under the tyranny of the Roman government, God came to earth to experience our frailties and weaknesses first hand. And for 30 years he lived that life. God rode the bus and did all of the other things that we mere humans do.
But then he died and rose and again and ascended into heaven. What if we could still run into God on the bus or at the mall or at school or on the shop floor or in the office. But we can. The incarnation started with Jesus' birth and his life, but it continues in us.
We are the body of Christ. The same Holy Spirit that lived at Jesus lives in all who give their lives to Christ. God is one of us - God is in us. Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit we are all little incarnations of the God. Maybe if people can see God in us, they too can believe in Emanuel - God with us!
Narnia was a land where it was always winter but never Christmas. How many of you have seen the movie "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe?" Or better yet how may of you have read the book by C.S. Lewis? C.S. Lewis the author of the book was a Christian theologian. He set out to write books that communicated Christian ideas to 20th century people. The result was a number of fictional and nonfiction books. Some of the most famous were his Children's books the "Chronicles of Narnia" of which "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" was one.
In the book the White Witch had put a curse on the land of Narnia. As a result it was always winter but never Christmas. What a curse, and from a child's perspective the worst of dilemmas! To endure cold and not even have the celebration of Christmas to look forward to!
About half way through the book Christmas finally comes. And Father Christmas, Santa Clause in the American Context, gives each of the children who are the main characters gifts to prepare them for the battle against the white witch that is coming. From that point on the witch's curse on Narnia grows weaker and weaker. In the end spring comes and the curse breaks. So Christmas is the point at which the curse begins to break.
As I said C.S. Lewis was a theologian. The Land of Narnia is a metaphor for our spiritual situation in this age. Just as the White Witch had a curse on Narnia, the Devil has a curse on this land. That curse is called sin. Sin has frozen this world, putting it into the cold and dark like a spiritual winter.
God began to break that curse of sin at Christmas. By sending his son to live among the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve, he began to thaw the human race. The Bible tells that when Jesus was born angels came from glory to tell the shepherds. Here the shepherds were in the cold and dark, living under the oppression and the Romans and of sin, and the light of heavenly glory came upon them.
Usually in the Bible there are one, two or maybe three angels, but here was a multitude of the heavenly hosts! Heaven was invading earth. And from that point on God began to bring the light and warmth of grace and forgiveness to the world. The curse of sin was lifted one life at a time. And it all began with Christmas.
Outside it is cold and dark, inside there is light and warmth. I am not talking about the weather or the temperature of this room either. I am talking about the spiritual state of the world. In Christ there is light and warmth, while outside of him there is cold and dark. At Christmas God sent light and forgiveness to the world. We are celebrating that gift of freedom for the curse of sin and death at this service.
But the world out there is still under the curse. Take the light of His love out into the world. Bring the warmth of the Christ Child to all to thaw their hearts.
With Christmas God began to break the choke hold that Sin and Death had over this world. And God is continuing that break that curse one soul at a time. You have been given the gifts you need to carry on the job. By the power of the Holy Spirit spread the news that Christmas has come. The long winter of sin is ending. Christ is born! Alleluia!
The incarnation: that is the theological term for the birth of Christ. It literally means "in the flesh." It is based on the same Latin word from which we derive carnivorous, flesh eating. To incarnate means to put something in fleshly form. It can also mean to give form and substance to an insubstantial quality. Hence an extraordinarily giving person may be called the very incarnation of generosity. Their actions give substance to the quality. Theologically the incarnation is the essence of God taking fleshly form in Jesus. John said, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The "word" John speaks of is more than the things God says. It is the very mind of God Almighty. The character of God including God's love, righteousness and mercy.
The incarnation is a mystery that theologians and philosophers have pondered for many centuries. How is it possible for the God of the entire universe to take fleshly form? Some argued that it was impossible. God could give special guidance or possess someone in a special way like a prophet or holy person. But God could not be limited in the way humans are. So some said Jesus was really an angel or a great prophet.
Consider the dilemma involved. How could all knowing God live like a child having to learn how to eat and walk? How could the one who constructed the foundations of the mountains and the seas learn to stack toy blocks? Could God experience fear and ignorance like a person? Could God be diapered or scolded by parents?
The Incarnation is a mystery. But it was not handed down to us as a theological discourse. It was given to us in the form of a story. The most theological the Bible ever gets about the incarnation is the introduction to John. And that is merely an introduction to a story. The Bible doesn't try to work out the details of how God did it. It merely tells the truth in story form.
The story is familiar. We have heard it over and over. Nothing changes yet each year we listen again. We tell it and hear it until it becomes part of us.
How does it go? Here we go again. An angel came to a maiden, a virgin, and told her she would give birth to the Son of God. She and her fiancé were forced to go on a long journey. At the end of the journey she went into labor in a strange town where there was no place to stay. And God's Son was born in a stable and was cradled in a feeding trough. God was a poor homeless refugee, already the victim of a ruthless government. Common people and wise religious men were the only ones to recognize him.
Why do we repeat this seemly absurd story over and over? We do it so that the story becomes part of us. Stories are like that. They don't contain the rigid logic of the theologians work. But they can contain the truth. And in some way this story contains the truth in a way no theological treatise can.
What is the truth? That God is with us, Emmanuel! God is not merely in the center of the temple. God is not merely on a holy and inaccessible mountaintop. God is here. God is with the poor, the blind, the widows and orphans. God is with the refugees and the persecuted. God is even with shepherds in a barn among the dispossessed.
So we repeat the story so that the truth becomes part of us. We repeat it until we can see God among the unwanted and unneeded in our world. We repeat it until we begin to live that story. We repeat it so that it is ground into our conscience. Until it governs our actions, and like our Lord we go to the slaves and dispossessed of the world.
We repeat the story until, by the grace of God, we become incarnations of the truth it tells. Until our actions give form and substance to the truth of God. Then the story is so much a part of us that we become little incarnations of God. We become sons and daughters of God; not like Christ was the only begotten son of God, but in the only way that it is humanly possible to become God's child. Tell the story; live the story; be the story.
Luke 2:1-7
"And she gave birth to her first born son and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn."(Luke 2:7) These are the most tragic words in the Christmas story. They conjure up within us images and feelings of abandonment and aloneness. John expressed this same thing when he said that Christ "came to his own and his own would not receive him."(John 1:11)
Here was the sprout off the root of Jesse, a descendant of David, who the Prophets had foretold would save God's people. And the city of David had no place to put him. His mother should have been given a suite at the best hospital in town in which to deliver him. Instead he was born in a barn.
Luke reports this tragedy in less than half a verse. But we read a lot of meaning into it. We focus on it so much because it touches something deep inside each of us. Each of us has felt abandoned and alone. We have all had that feeling, and in a very real and human way we feel for the Christ Child.
In Latin America, where people often experience poverty and are often abandoned by their governments, they have developed a Christmas ritual called the "Las Posadas," that is Spanish for "the Inn." It is a kind of religious drama that is at the same time an act of devotion and worship. It acts out the scene where Mary and Joseph come to the inn. And the members of the congregation become involved in that event.
It is acted out in front of a church member's home. A woman on a donkey and a man, followed by a group of people from the church, approach this home in the evening. When they get there Mary and Joseph, the woman of the donkey and the man leading it, knock on the door and ask for a room. The people inside tell them to go away.
At this point the crowd outside gathers in and by quoting scripture they plead for the holy family. A dialogue takes place between the Christians in the house and those outside. All the time those outside are trying to convince those inside to give lodging to Mary and Joseph. Finally the owner of the house turns on the lights and invites them in. Worn down by the pleading of the Christians they give lodging to the Holy Family, but more than that they pledge to open their hearts to Christ.
When I first read this ritual a part of me said, "No!" That is not how it happened at all. No one pleaded for Mary and Joseph. No one spoke God's Word of their behalf. They found no lodging in the Inn. Jesus was born in a barn.
But then I realized that it is only human nature to want to make a happy ending. We say to ourselves, "If I were there I would do something." I would speak up for Mary and Joseph. I would give them lodging. I would speak God's Word on their behalf.
The "Las Posadas" gives Christians that opportunity. The congregation gets the chance to plead for Mary and Joseph and the unborn Christ. Oh, they are just actors, but they plead just the same. In the process they practice the skills needed to make sure that this same needless tragedy never happens again.
"There was no room for them in the Inn." This is more than an historical footnote. It is an indicator of our spiritual condition. Humans often turn God away at the door instead of asking him in.
Every day Jesus says, "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you and you with me."(Revelation 3:20) And we Christians who are watching think, "Who will give lodging to these pilgrims who are weary of traveling the roads?" But those inside reply, "Although you tell us that you are weary, we do not give lodging to strangers. We don't care what your name is; let us sleep. We are telling you that we will not let you enter."
Christ is always at the door of peoples hearts asking to come in and keep us company. That is what Christmas is about; Christ coming to us. Will you open the door and let him in? Will you plead on his behalf when he stands at the door of someone else's closed door? Do you feel at all the tragedy of the Christ Child being abandoned by the world? If you are saddened by it, then let him in and plead on his behalf so that others will let him in also.
Luke 2:1-20
It is only half a verse, but it says so much. "And they laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inn. That verse conjures up images of the holy family going from Inn to Inn looking for lodging. And it resonated with our own feelings of aloneness and abandonment. The ultimate humiliation - the epitome of the world's rejection of the Messiah - the Lord of the Universe born in a stable.
But If I had been the Innkeeper - if I were the innkeeper I would do it differently. I wouldn't have turned the Holy Family away. I would've made room for them. I would've given them the best suite in the house and called the best midwife and it all would have been on the house.
If I were the innkeeper things would've been different.
But with all due respect to that innkeeper. You have to admit he tried. The Bible says that there was no room in the inn. All the space was taken and there were probably people sleeping on the floor of the Inn. And who do you think he should have thrown out into the street to make room for this young family. Would it have been right to throw someone out to whom he had already promised a place.
I think we sell the innkeeper short. We often depict him in plays and movies as being short and abrupt with the Holy Family. He is portrayed as a cruel and heartless fellow. We imagine him saying, "I have no room so get out of here." And maybe some of the innkeepers in town were like that.
But at least one paused. I imagine he came to his door and began to repeat the speech he had already recited a hundred times, "Due to the census we are all filled up and you should try the Holiday Inn down the road." But before he could say much he saw Mary as the Bible says, "great with child" and the pain on her face. It wouldn't be right to throw someone else out into the street but he couldn't just let that baby be born in the street either. So he says, "Look, I don't have any room in here but if you go to the barn in the back we can clear out a place and I will make sure that no one disturbs you."
A compromise you say? Well I guess it was. But what would you have done? We can't find righteousness by being just to some and unjust to others. After all that Innkeeper did more than any one else did. Others just looked away and tried to ignore the difficult situation. The Innkeeper that pointed them to the manger at least dealt with the people and tried to find a way to help them.
Would we do the same? I confess that most of the time I just shut the door and hope the problems of the world will go away. But God didn't do that! He opened the door wide and found a difficult way to correct a difficult situation. He sent his only begotten Son to be rejected and despised.
I would like to think I would find a way to welcome the Holy Family if I had been there. But I wasn't there. I'm here. I can't set the wrongs of the past right, but I can respond in the here and now. We may not have been an Innkeeper in 1st century Bethlehem but we are Innkeepers of God's love here and now. Which of God's holy families, which of God's sons and daughters will you show love and hospitality to this year. Will you open your heart wide to let the Christ Child in and then will you open your door to a hurting and difficult world?
Luke 2:1-20
I'm a Simon and Garfunkle fan. They were a little before my time but I appreciated the combination of lyrics and melody that they put together. There is one piece they did that really hit and haunts me. It's called "Seven O'clock News / Silent Night." It begins with the beautiful tones of "Silent Night" being played on a piano as Simon and Garfunkle sing. But very slowly and almost imperceptibly the sound of a reporter reporting the news comes in. At first it is in the background but then by the end you can't hear the song and all you hear is the news reports about Vietnam, riots, unrest, murder and poverty.
You know sometimes we get lost among the candles and decorations and angels singing. All seems so bight and wonderful in the Christmas season. "All is calm, all is bright" and we forget. We forget the real world. The place beyond the carols where people are sick and in pain and emotionally distraught.
Even in the church we focus on God coming into the world. We tell of and sing of angels from the realms of glory coming to earth. We speak of the Son of God the King of Kings coming from heaven to earth. We paint idealized images of Mary and Joseph and babe lying is a manger amidst the friendly beasts. And angels hover over their heads while shepherds and wise men come to worship a child as the anointed one of God.
We get lost in the story and forget that Jesus came in to THE WORLD. He came into a real world. A world full of poverty and injustice. A world full of sin and sickness and death. He came into a real world not some idealized image of the world. He became a part of a world of darkness and pain.
But while we remind ourselves of that, let's not forget the angels and that some saw a miracle. Common everyday real world shepherd trying to feed their families left the flocks in the field to see the thing that the angels told them about. And let's remember how they went and told everyone all that they had seen and heard. And it says that people were amazed. Even Mary pondered these things in her heart.
Of course they were amazed. It isn't everyday that you hear angels and see light from heaven and find God laying in a manger crying. This is not real world stuff. This is something from another dimension and other realm. And so all were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
Jesus came from realms of glory into a real world. A world like ours. A world where people are sick and hurting and distraught and depressed and oppressed... But he came bringing life and light.
You have heard reports of amazing things tonight. Testimony of Angels and stars and wise men and God becoming a human baby. When you go forth people will be astonished and unbelieving. "What, angels and God in the flesh?"
But go forth and tell them anyway. We will sing silent night as we conclude this service and you will walk into a seven o'clock news world. Don't let the real world troubles drown out the songs of holy and silent nights. At the same time hear the troubles of the world. It was for the salvation of that real world that Jesus came on that silent night so long ago.
Isaiah said, "The people who dwelt in darkness have seen a great light" But who are these people who dwell in darkness? Well, for Isaiah and his contemporaries the easy answer would have been "The people of Zebulun and Naphtali." Zebulun and Naphtali were tribes of Israel in the northernmost part of the country. The Assyrian Empire was expanding and had overrun that area and its people.
To these people Isaiah prophesied the coming of a light. This light would bring them great Joy. It would break the rod of oppression that they were living under.
Isaiah prophesied the birth of a King who would who would bring Peace. This King would be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." And the Glory of God would rest on him!
Who are the people who dwell in darkness? The easy answer was "the people of Zebulun and Naphtali." But that was not the whole answer. All of Israel was dwelling in the shadow of the Assyrian empire. It was only a matter of time before this 8th century BC superpower decided to overrun their land too. So while they were not conquered yet, they lived with the threat of oppression.
But there was still more. The full answer to the question "Who are the people who dwell in darkness" is "everyone." It is true that some people were not under political oppression. But all were under oppression to sin and death.
To them Isaiah spoke a word of hope and joy. He says that a King like no other was coming. Instead of oppression this King would free people. This King would not only free them from political and economic oppression, he would also free them spiritual and emotional oppression.
Who are those who dwell in darkness? The easy answer for us is "Those sinners out there." They live by crass materialism. They seek meaning in drugs and carnality. They look for love in all the wrong places.
But what about the people in here. Sure every true believer has been forgiven of their sins and has eternal life, but we still live in a sinful world. We are still oppressed by the evil of our age. We still dwell in the darkness of the shadow of sin.
To us God though Isaiah sends a word of hope. It is a word of joy that God will redeem his people. A word that a light has come.
Christmas is the fulfillment of that prophesy. It was in the midst of darkness that God sent the light of the world. Under oppression by the Roman empire shepherds gathered on a hillside watching their flocks. And in Joy and light angels broke forth from the sky. And these messengers told them "Unto us a child has been born unto us a child given." And he will save his people.
And today that light still comes. To people everywhere who dwell in darkness the word of God prophesies, "Unto us a child is born and he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." In the midst of the darkness of our lives the joy and hope of Jesus is born!