"Share Hope"

So,

Do you believe in the Christmas story?

I know that might seem an unfair question considering that all you folks are here in a church on a Sunday morning, and that you have brought your children, or that you have intentionally found for our online worship on Youtube or Facebook.

But it’s really an important question. Because it really is a window into what your expectations are for the child that comes by birth through Mary into a manger somewhere in the little town of Bethlehem, the hometown of King David of Israel.

Do you believe in the Christmas story?

I know, the Christmas story is warm and fuzzy, so that it is hard not to believe that a warm cuddly baby was born to Mary and Joseph.

But perhaps, some other things are harder to believe. Or perhaps understand. Like the shepherds in the fields being visited by an angel chorus.

And later Magi showing up at the door of where Mary and Joseph were living with Jesus in Bethlehem, bringing crazy gifts. I mean really!

Gold we can relate to, but Frankincense, what is that? And Myrrh, no idea!
We can relate to a baby being born. We know that babies are cute and innocent. And in this deeply conflicted world we need more of that cute and innocent.

So yes, we believe in the Christmas story. At least that part of it. 

But what about the rest of the story?

On this third Sunday in Advent, the season of preparation for the nativity, we’re confronted with a story that just doesn’t fit the Christmas narrative.

Or at least the Christmas narrative we are comfortable with! The story about the baby. 

You know, the story that fits best with our comfortable moments on Christmas morning with the children finding presents under the tree, eating Christmas cookies and happily playing with those cute new presents.

Now, I am not at all sure about our Christmas morning. 

Brian and Rachel have made the wise decision to not try and come down to Otisville for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning and instead allowing Noah and “wreck it Ralph” Emma to open presents at home before Sue, Katie and I arrive.

To be clear I love, absolutely love those warm fuzzy Christmases!

But Advent 3 reminds us that Christmas is just the beginning of the story.

And Mark reminds us in just his second chapter that the nativity is just a hint of what is to come.

By the way, my original bulletin cover was rejected by some of the staff. It wasn’t “Rejoice: The light has come!” as it is now. No!

Instead, it was a pair of abandoned crutches.

Because the Christmas story, isn’t the Christmas story until the water becomes wine, the fish overwhelm the nets, the leper is set free, and the paralytic man picks up his mat and walks home.

It’s when the adult Jesus shows up! 

When all that we thought we knew about God’s love is made flesh, incarnate, real, as Jesus sends the demons fleeing from Mary Madeline, tax collectors and sinners are invited into the kingdom of God, and the religious snobs, who were sure they had a lock on faith, meet God.

Not a God who confirmed their prejudices, but a God who openly loved the unlovable, a God who could love us, even when we are not perfect, but rather very real human beings.

And it was into the presence of Jesus, some friends who loved their paralytic friend so deeply that they tried to get him to the healer! 

Tearing through the roof on the house Jesus was teaching in, they caught the eye of Jesus, who saw not just a paralyzed man - but the amazing faith of his friends

Friends, who the religious Pharisees and scribes and others thought were outside the righteous people of God.
But they, misunderstood God’s love. 

Because these friends were amazingly uncommon, in fact, amazingly amazing, and moved heaven and earth in the incarnate son of God who  gave their friend the blessing that would change everything.

For you see, Christmas is not really about the baby, but about faith in God’s provision. 

The faith seen in the shepherds, and the Magi who traveled for weeks, possibly months, and in the friends who lowered the man through the roof - and in Mary and Joseph.

The faith found in any of us who choose to believe in the love of God for those who most need God’s love.

Christmas is us loving – just like Jesus - those around us who most need to feel and know him!

For its in Jesus we see the real meaning of Christmas!

So…

Do you believe the Christmas story?

Amen.