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Sunday, the 4th Week of Advent: “Christmas Eve For Us”

This year (2023), Advent comes to a close with this Sunday being the only day in the fourth week. In the General Roman Calendar, today is the last day of Advent, Christmas Eve, and also the first day of Christmas time.  Advent may come to a close, but the joy of the Incarnation of Jesus has just begun.  While families – yours perhaps – busily prepare for Christmas gatherings, dinners, and church services, the scriptures remind us of what the significance of this Christmas Eve means.

Matthew 1:23 
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

 Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

What are the most significant words in the Christmas Eve announcements?  “Unto you is born this day…a Savior, Christ the Lord…”, and “they shall call his name Immanuel, which means God with us”.

Jesus didn’t come to make a show, to raise an army, to declare his might.  Jesus came for us.  God is “with us”…a Savior is born “for us”. 

This was the message the Shepherds got that first Christmas Eve:  “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."  (Luke 2:15).

This is the message of the Bible from beginning to end: “God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

God to us is not a remote divinity…not a “god” like the Romans or Greeks had who was removed from his people, petty, distant, and unknown.  God entered the world to be “among us”…

“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…  For from his fullness, we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:14-16).

This is the story of Christmas…this is the story of the Incarnation.  God did not send his Son into the world for the rich and the powerful, for Caesar or High Priests.  He sent his Son into the world through the anonymity of a poor peasant couple.  Those whom he announced the good news of his Son’s birth were “night shift” workers.  It is what the Apostle Paul described to the Corinthians:

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.   He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (1 Corinthians 1:27-30).

“For us, a child is born…Immanuel, God is with us”… that’s the message of Christmas Eve.

Over and over again, Jesus is personal, relational, present then and now for his people – the flock he shepherds.  He came to us, because he loved us, and is for us. 

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person, one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8).

The Incarnation not only reminds us of God’s great love for his creation, but it also predicts the restoration and reconciliation of all things in Christ – especially in our faith.

“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?  Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.  Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword…?  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ( Romans 8:31-35,37).

They named him Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins.  They called him Immanuel – for he is God among us.  Tonight, and tomorrow, gifts will be given and received.  We will be overwhelmed by some, and hopefully, thankful for the love on display.  Yet, as we open gifts, let us remember that God gave the greatest gift – his Son.

 “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift”! (2 Corinthians 9:15).

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appears.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

Peace on this Christmas Eve!

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