Jan 5

Written by: jyankey
1/5/2012 11:45 AM 

Christmas Eve Meditation 2011

Rev. Ted Jansen

 

1.)    John's Gospel give us a picture of God and His purpose as it relates to the birth of Christ. Mark's Gospel give us not details on the birth but begins with the ministry of Jesus. We look to Matthew and Luke for birth info.

    John writes in the opening words in John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

    Two chapters later Jesus says in 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life."

    That is what we focus on as we celebrate Christ's birth in this place tonight.

 

2.)    I remind each of us that we accept the love of God as a gift; we do not earn that love from God. We forget that truth or let it fade. It is a gift given; God's gift of love given to the world.

 

3.)    There was a Bishop in Myra called Nicolas. He was a very caring and loving man, faithful to God and serving the needs of others. He lived around 300AD. He was believed to give gifts secretly to children and poor people out of his loving and generous faith. His loving spirit and character grew out of his faith in Christ. Bishop Nicolas gave to others freely because he was one who had the gift of God's love in Christ in the heart.

    The emphasis in our culture for the last several hundred years has moved from the gift of God's love in Christ that Saint Nicolas had to highlighting Santa Claus who checks on us to see whether we are naughty or nice! This shift emphasizes how we have lived this past year.

    This theology, or understanding of God, based on Santa Claus, is that we only get a gift based on our behavior, our works, our good deeds. If we have been naughty, have been bad, have sinned, then we get punished; we are not given good gifts. This shift in emphasis makes us think more about ourselves, and our character rather than on the giver of the gift, God Almighty.

 

4.)    So, I remind you that God has given you his very best gift, His Son, whether you have been naughty or nice, whether you have called on His name in prayer and praise or you have cursed Him.

    The truth is that we are all naughty, we all are sinners, we all have failed to measure up, we are not on the good list, none of us have attained the glory of God, we have missed the mark. On the measuring stick of "nice" there is no one that deserves the gift of Christ.

Yet, do not focus on your deeds but on the divine love of God that gives to all people.

 

5.)    The divine calls us to pray and receive the gift of love. The prayer of accepting God in Christ is needed each day. Some of you might have prayed a prayer of belief 25 years ago and are committed and vital in the life of a church. Some of you have never prayed a prayer asking Christ to come into your heart. Some of you have been connected to the church in the past but it was more out of duty than devotion. Some of you have a true hunger in your heart. Some of you have been focusing on your self too long and you are empty. Some of you are hurting and in need of God's gift right now.

    Faith in Christ is real each day, it is a daily decision. It does not matter what you did yesterday or last year, or 25 years ago. Do you want the gift of God's love in your heart? I ask all of you repeat after me this simple prayer.

 

    Almighty God I believe that you love me. You gave your one and only Son for me. I am not worthy of your love. I am a sinner.

Yet, you love me. I ask you Jesus, to come into my heart. Forgive me for my sins. Live in me. I praise you for the gift of love. Amen.

 

6.)    As a symbol of the love of God that is in your heart receive the light of Christ. We have received the life of Christ in prayer, so let us receive the light of Christ in practice. Make this a new beginning in your heart and faith.