The text this morning is from the Epistle to the Hebrews, the first chapter:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”Thus far the text.
My dear friends in Christ,
Last night we began the celebration of our Lord’s nativity, the moment our Lord stepped into history and took on Himself human flesh. Today, we continue that celebration as we look to that which He shall do through His life, through His death, and through His resurrection. We give thanks to god that He has brought us here, that we should delight to see Him and receive all that He would give us.
After all, through the centuries, we were content to hear from God through His prophets. These holy men, and some women, of course, spoke on behalf of God as He spoke to them. The Word they would speak must come from the Lord, else nothing would, could be believed. We were content with this.
When the Lord came to Adam and Eve in the garden after their sin, they hid for fear of Him, but through His promise to them, they knew that was all they needed. When the Lord appeared on Mount Sinai, the Israelites trembled in fear and told Moses that he could go and talk to God, they’d just listen cowering back on the ground. When the Kingdom of Israel divided and the people of God were confronted with their false idols, they repent to the prophet, begging him to appeal to God for them.
The reality is, it’s really difficult to stand before God. Even Moses had to be hid in a rock face, covered with God’s hand, and only then was he able to glimpse the backside of God. When Moses encountered God in the tent of meeting, where he would sacrifice for the sins of the people, his face was changed to a brilliant white, so bright that he had to wear a veil when he was out in public lest he blind somebody. So, encountering God… difficult and probably not a whole lot of fun.
No wonder we were so content with having the prophets do it for us. But the prophets all longed to see this day, the day in which we live. Abraham rejoiced that He would see the Christ, if not just through His prophecies, but when Abraham was taken to the Lord. And so now, you have a better day. You have a better way. You live in the day of the Lord. You live in the day of His glorification.
You may not see Him with your physical eyes this day, but all that you do see is here because of Him. All that is here is because He has lived and died and was resurrected for you. The air you breathe, the food you eat, the water you drink, all given to you because Jesus has made satisfaction with His Father through His blood. And the prophets longed to see this day, the day when the Lord has come.
You will see Him with your eyes, soon, however. You will see when He returns to this earth, when He opens your grave, when He welcomes you to eternal life. And there, He shall give to you everything that you see. He will invite you to reign with Him and rule over all that is seen that He has created, the air, the bread, the water. Yet you rule only by His will, because He has received all things from His Father.
How should we think about all this in light of Christmas? Firstly, you have to remember that the incarnation is about the holdable, hearable, touchable Lord. You don’t have to fear seeing God, for He has enshrouded Himself in our flesh. We may look upon Him and live. We may hear His Word and live.
Because of this, I think that our Christmas devotion must, by necessity, start at the cross. The Lord took upon human flesh in order that through His death He might save all mankind and redeem all that they experience. This thought then takes us to the manger, as we witness Mary nursing the sweet baby at her breast and Joseph standing guard, and both of them worshipping this small newborn infant who is the King of the entire universe. This takes us to creation, where we see all that God created was corrupted by Adam and Eve’s fall into sin. What must be redeemed? All things, all creation. It will be destroyed and brought back to its perfect state when our Lord Jesus comes again.
As for Christmas, the first time our Lord came in the flesh, there is joy in the world for the Lord has come. There is joy for the Lord who created this world has come into it, to be a part of creation. He shares with us our flesh that He might live forever with us. He lived in this world that He might make us pure, that He might atone for our sins. He died in this world that this may be won, and He rose in this world that we might have eternal life. And when His work was accomplished, when He was able to declare, it is finished, then our Lord ascended to the Father and from there He rules and reigns over all things unto all eternity.
And there He waits. He waits for the day appointed by the Father that He might return to judge the living and the dead. Our Father is pleased with His Son, our Brother. He desires to be His Father. He places all things under His feet. He commands the angels to worship Him. And through the Father, the Son has inherited all things. He has been given all that you might be given all. This is the day He is waiting for, and so do we.
In fact, this is the day that all mankind has been waiting for. From the prophets and priests and kings and apostles and disciples to you, and even to the unbelieving soul, we’ve all longed for a day of reconciliation, a day when all is made well. And we shall all see it. But you, you shall be welcomed into everlasting life for you have seen this day from afar because you have been welcomed through Christ’s first coming in the flesh.
The Light of the World has come and we have seen His glory. It looks like a baby, wrapped in the cloths they use to clean the animals, the cloths you wrap a dead body in while preparing for burial, the cloths that are filthy and dusty. Yet, these cloths will serve as Christ’s glory and your glory, for by His blood they are made into robes whiter than the snow, brighter than the sun. And every prophet longed to see that day. We glimpse it now, and we shall see it fully. The day is coming, and that is what we celebrate this Christmas Day, the day is coming, the King is coming, and He comes to make all thing, He comes to make you new. You no longer need to go through a prophet to hear from God, for He calls you by name. You no longer need fear God, for in His flesh, He calls you friend. He is with you, He is yours, now and forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord! Amen.
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