The Grace of God Has Appeared!

Titus 2:11-14 Depending on your family’s tradition, either tonight or first thing in the morning there will come that eagerly anticipated moment when the presents that have been hidden underneath wrapping and bows-- will finally be opened.  The gifts that have just about driven the kids crazy with curiosity and excitement and wonder over the last month, will finally be in their hands-- and if you’re lucky, the “new” will last long enough for you to take a nap without being awakened by those words that we dread to hear on the Christmas break: “We’re bored”.

It’s a rare parent or grandparent who can give a gift to a child that holds their interest for as long as they’ve wondered what’s under the wrapping.  The joy and excitement of those few moments of opening Christmas presents doesn’t last for long–and that’s not just true for the little kids–it happens for us big kids too.

There is so much to do and look forward to at Christmas and then when it’s here it passes all too quickly and often times it doesn’t match up with how we’ve built it up in our minds.  But on this holy night, our gracious Heavenly Father gives a gift that will not disappoint us–that will not wear out or fade away–our gracious God gives us the gift of his own dearly loved Son–and that gift of a Son will continue to give us the blessings of salvation, new life, and hope throughout this new year and into eternity.

The Bible says that:  “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men...”  Our heavenly Father is a God who loves to give gifts to his children–that is what that word “grace” means–a “gift”–and that we have a gracious God means that he is a gift-giving God.

We see those gifts all around this Christmas season.  Precious gifts of home and family–food and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.  But the greatest gift of all–the gift that gives meaning and purpose and lasting value to all the others is the gift of God’s own Son.

The love of God for you and for me (despite our sins and failures) took on human flesh in human history on this night nearly two thousand years ago.  The gift of God that surpasses all other gifts appeared for all to see as a new born baby.

We must always hold this truth before our eyes because there is so much to distract us at this time of year from what is truly important and meaningful and lasting.  It is so easy for us to get side-tracked by the things of this world that will never really satisfy us.  It is so easy for us to be disappointed at Christmas if we follow the ways and thinking of the world.

But the gift of the Christ child will never disappoint us for he comes to us bringing salvation.  The Bible says that, “Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness...”  The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed in art and music and literature as something soft and sweet and gentle and that’s fine and good and right. 

But we must never forget that in the background of that tender stands a cross where this same baby, then a man, would die a horrible death to set us free from Satan’s rule. 

Into a wold broken by sin–filled with death and despair-- came a tiny newborn baby with a life-saving, life-giving purpose–to save us from our sins.  The One who was given in love by the Father, gave himself in love into death on the cross where his shed blood was poured out as the ransom price to free us from slavery to sin and death.

The blessings of this perfect, once for all sacrifice did not end the day of his birth or the day of his death–they have kept on giving God’s grace throughout the centuries down to this very moment--again and again in the waters of Holy Baptism, in the words of Absolution, in the true body and blood of Christ given in the Eucharist—to strengthen our faith and sustain our faith until we enter our heavenly home.  Until that glad and glorious day, the gift of a Son not only gives us salvation—but also gives us a new, changed life.  The Bible says that God’s gracious gift of Jesus:

“Teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age–to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

All of us to love to open presents but as we get older we also come to realize that there is at least as much joy in giving gifts as there is in getting them.  We’re so pleased and thankful when a gift that we have chosen with care and consideration brings joy to a loved one’s life.  And so our Christmas celebrations involve not only getting gifts, but also giving gifts.  So it is with our relationship with God.

Each Christmas season we celebrate once again the glorious good news that he has given us the most precious gift of all in a Son but we also need to remember that we a have remarkable, wonderful opportunity to give him a gift as well, and that is the gift of our lives, given as living sacrifices for the sake of those around us. 

That is God’s purpose in saving us by his son, not that we would be unwilling servants who offer him grudging obedience and service, but that we would be his sons and daughters who freely, gladly, joyously give him the gifts of our loving obedience in service to others.

The gift of faith in Jesus Christ given to us by the Holy Spirit gives us the power to say “no” to sin–the power to live in the world but not be of the world–the power to live a life like God’s own Son, eager to do the Father’s will.

Just think about what a wonderful gift this is, not only to God, but to the world around us! How many countless millions of people are fed and clothed and sheltered and educated around the world on a given day by those who are sons and daughters of the new born king–who have learned to love others because of God’s love to us in a Son.

Think what a blessing it is for our nation that there are Christians who desire to do only what is right in God’s and take courageous stands against those who would misuse the weakest among us through abortion and euthanasia.

Think what a blessing it is for those closest to us as we give the self-sacrificing love of Christ to our spouses and children and neighbors.  Every time an act of mercy and love and care is done in this world in the name of Jesus Christ, the gracious gift of God’s love given at Bethlehem continues to be given again and again.

This world in which we live is a better place because those who have been given the greatest gift of all in a newborn babe, desire to give a gift of their love and obedience back to their heavenly Father.

And as wonderful as it is to know and love God and others here in time, we also know the best news of all: that this love and the new life that comes from it is eternal.

The gifts we give our kids at Christmas work great for a while.  But sooner or later they wear out or break and are cast aside. That is simply a fact of life living in this broken and dying world.  But the gift that God gives at Christmas will never grow old, wear out, or fade away.

The Bible says that:  “We wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”  From the promise of the seed of the woman who would crush Satan’s head that God made to Adam and Eve in the garden, every Israelite woman hoped that her child would be the promised One–right up until this night in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, when as the old carol says, “the hopes and fears of all the years were met in Thee tonight”. 

What the people of God had hoped for thousands of years became a reality in the birth of baby Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary.  His birth continues to be the source of hope for his people today—a sure confidence in the gracious God who keeps his promises.

And because Jesus came as a helpless baby in perfect fulfillment of God’s promises, we know that he will come again as a mighty victorious king–just like God promises.  It is that promise of God that fills our lives with hope.

We know that our Lord’s return in glory will mean the end of Satan’s reign in this world–we know that the sorrow and sickness, death and despair that we still see all around us will be brought to an end never to trouble the people of God again. And because we have this hope, our lives are filled with joy and peace and confidence as we face the future-- because we know the One who holds the future in his mighty, nail-scarred hands.

And so we get up in the morning and go to bed at night in the warm glow of that hope no matter what troubles and hardships we are called upon to endure for a time.  In darkness and disappointment we are not bowed and broken because we know that this life is not all there is–that there is a better day to come.

Our joy and peace and blessedness this Christmas-time is not based upon what presents await us under the tree when go home tonight and get up in the morning.  We have already received the greatest gift that has ever been given and that is the gift of a Son.  Through that one gracious gift we have forgiveness for our sins–a new, holy, life like his, and the sure hope of a glorious eternity in his presence.

May that one gift of the Christ-child given to you and yours keep on giving these blessings of God throughout this new year and even forever more.  Amen.