1 The Nativity of our Lord 2014 Christmas Eve 4:00pm Isaiah 7:10-14, 1 John 4:7-16, Matthew 1:18-25 Text: Isaiah 7:10-14 Title: When Christmas doesn’t go our way

INI Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!

The virgin conceives and bears a son, Emmanuel. He is a sign against Ahaz and a sign against all fallen man, beginning with Adam. That is not how we are used to hearing these verses, but it is true. The virginal conception of Jesus Christ is a sign against our impotence, our standing by idly while Eve is seduced. So we are all sinful, and everything we conceive is full of sin- even saddest of all, our children. So also does everything we conceive fail and die. For we humans are selfish, wanting all our ways and plans to work our way. As it happens, Christmas doesn’t happen the way that we want it to, by our plans. There always seems to be a glitch, a hang-up. While TV Christmas shows and specials always iron out their problems just fine, we know better, don’t we. Some problems aren’t solved by the Christmas holiday. There’s always something- a hospitalization, bad traffic, kidney stones, dogs/children tearing apart the wrapped Christmas presents, the flu, a family dispute, an overcooked, or undercooked Christmas ham, an empty spot dinner table where a loved one used to sit. When perfectly laid plans fail even in the tiniest bit, we are left in shambles, and we feel like failures. Yet how quick, surrounded by disappointment and shame, do we dare to speak a word of blame, but not on us, right? “It’s not my fault…” We may try to convince ourselves of this, but neither Adam nor Eve were faultless when they tried to pass-off the blame for the wages of sin… The world’s checklist for the Christmas Holiday is masked with simple plans: do good deeds, make the bi-annual appearance at church, put on happy face, celebrate Holiday parties, give gifts, and enjoy the Christmas spirits… I mean, spirit, whatever that means. And, while we’re at all this merry making, let’s keep that Jesus guy at an arm’s length. Let’s remind ourselves that God is a commodity for us to call upon in bad times to make everything better, and until then, He should let us live our lives as we want it. The devil and the world makes 2 such sinful indulgence, our sinful flesh rejoices in these plans of celebrating Christmas by leaving out Immanuel. The whole concept of Christmas, Immanuel, Jesus, is actually quite frightening to selfish sinners, as king Ahaz found out the hard way. When God told him to choose a sign in order to prove his faithfulness, he refused. His own plans got in the way… He refused to acknowledge he needed help… or even needed God. Ahaz, according to his plans, demanded God stay away at arm’s length as if he could handle the enemy himself. Then, as God gave the sign, the virgin conceived and bore a son… and Ahaz’s kingdom toppled. This is hard news… The sign, Immanuel, is set for the rise and the fall of kingdoms, and to reveal the thoughts and hearts of many. To acknowledge that our plans will be ruined and that we need saving is to fight against every fiber of our idolatrous body that screams out “Ahaz was just dumb. We’re fine just the way we are! Leave us alone as we hide behind the bushes.” We demand that God meet us according to our own terms and plans, or else we won’t listen to him, hear his word, or even attend church. WHY? Because it hurts… it hurts to acknowledge there’s a problem. It’s painful to come forth before God, let alone one another, and confess we are sinners in need help. That a child is born of a virgin, who bears the very name “Immanuel” is God acknowledging that all creation has a problem, and even we selfish humans, needs a Savior. Thus, tonight, you hear once again the plans of God; not plans to harm you, but to rescue you; not plans for your folly, but for your salvation. God’s plans are to bring you to Him by breaking and hinder every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh that do not want God’s Kingdom to come among us. This is according to His mercy and love that has been all part of God’s plan from of old, as first promised to Adam and Eve. His plan from the beginning to become incarnate among us… not to make us fear, but to bring us peace. “So,” says our God, “I will come to them in ways they can comprehend and understand. I will speak tenderly and plainly to them. I will show them their errors and correct their ways and teach them my ways. Yet for their errors, there must be punishment. So I will send my Son to be the payment for their sin, and He will overcome the plans of the enemy.” 3 And He made it happen in ways we would never plan… from an ancestry of broken sinners, incest, prostitutes, foreigners, God takes humanity’s imperfections and makes them work for His perfect plan- the birth of Immanuel… the virgin conceived and bore a son. Jesus broke forth the light of life in the darkness of sin and unbelief. God emptied Himself of His glory and submitted Himself to the frailty and pain of your flesh. Almighty God in His pure, unbound holiness, is unable to suffer- thus Jesus was born to suffer. Almighty God does not submit to the laws and ways of men, thus Jesus was born under the Law of God and man. The Son of God came not to avoid suffering the pain disappointment, depression, and anger from broken plans. He was born to submit to God’s will, bearing all the suffering, the cross, the pain… even in the Christmas season we look to what will play out according to the plans of God… “nails, spears shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you…” We would avoid all of this… these aren’t our plans. Jesus, though, submitted to the will of God, bearing the full brunt of the punishment for sin… all for you. Despite our sin, our rebellion, our lies, our hatred, our brokenness, God is with us. That you would find comfort in the midst of your toppled plans, God’s plans have been fulfilled. The child, Jesus, lies in the manger- already the Savior of the World… already your Savior. All God’s children go the way of Christ. St. Mary is your mother, for Christ is surely your brother. You were not born by the will of a man. You were born in water and in Word, as Jonathan was just this evening… born from above according to God’s will, and by His grace you are now pure, even as Jesus, your brother, is pure. So you are given to see the truth clearly at Christmas, from a humble stall, a manger, a cross… All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. And this is his purpose, that through faith in Christ, your sins are forgiven, and you will be with Him always. And, lo! Immanuel is always with you, especially where you kneel and worship the Savior with the shepherds at His Cradle, His Church, where you find His presence wrapped up in His holy signs of Word and Sacrament. Merry Christmas! In Jesus Name. Amen. SDG ______Some thoughts and even quotes (some italicized) are humbly borrowed from a Sermon by Rev. David H. Petersen from his book of sermons “God With Us”