We have enjoyed sharing the presents we have received.  Each one of you will have a number of presents and enjoy the fact that you are loved and remembered this Christmas.  You are special because you are loved.

 

First part of the reading is entirely normal. In the middle of the run of the mill complications of everyday life, a baby is born.   The Guardian reports from Bethlehem that Jesus would not even get into Bethlehem today without Israeli permission. Little has changed.  Luke is at great pains to pin done the date but unfortunately we do not have sufficient other records to verify his historic dating. Nevertheless we know there were censuses around that time, we know that there was a Quirinius, maybe two, governors of Syria. It was an historic fact, Jesus was born. Just like everyone of us.

 

 That is where normality ends. Suddenly we have angels visiting shepherds and choirs of them singing about the uniqueness of this birth. That’s not all, Mary and Joseph had both had visits from angels to tell them that this birth was different. Jesus was not just special, he was God’s Son. And for his birth, God brought on the biggest show in town, to a bunch of shepherds.

 

 Whatever else you take away from this service today, note this: God reveals his salvation to artisans. Not politicians, or celebrities or bankers or religious leaders or leaders of any kind, just to plain ordinary working people.

 

We may not be visited by angels today but the message is for us.

 "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

 

The best free gift cannot be bought because it is a person.

 ¹¹Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

The best gift of all is Jesus.

 

And we can receive Jesus.

 

 Why is Jesus the best gift of all? Because God sent him and he came willingly to die for our sins.  So this Christmas Day being Sunday we will celebrate not only his birth but also his death in the way he taught us.

Jesus was born to die. That is true of all of us but Jesus’ birth was special because his death was special.  He was born Saviour and he died as our Saviour and he lives now as our Saviour in heaven.

 

 So today as we open the presents we have received, we are reminded of the greatest present of all. The love gift from Heaven to a dying world. A baby born in Bethlehem who was to be the Saviour of all who believe in him.

 

Have you received your present from God? Have you received Jesus?

 

 Then lets celebrate his birth, life, death and resurrection today!

 

 O what a mystery

 

God becomes a baby place in a feeding trough for animals.

 

Meekness and majesty

 

 he is both Mary and Joseph’s baby boy and the eternal God come to save us.

 

Shepherds went and worshipped so we can join them and

 Bow down and worship

 For this is our God!

No longer up there and detached but here vulnerable and human, in time to be brutally executed so you  and I can have life.

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