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"Christmas Signs Pointing to Christ"

Luke 2:8-15

by Clancy Nixon

December 24, 2007

Church of the Holy Spirit

Ashburn, Virginia

www.HolySpiritAnglican.org

Every year, we need to ask ourselves again Charlie Brown's great question:

"What is Christmas all about?" If it isn't about commercialism or bright lights or

shopping season, what is it about? Is it about family gatherings and family traditions, and

goodwill toward men? Is it about cute kids in Pageants, dressed up as angels and

shepherds, as Woodstock and Sally? Is it about giving and receiving presents and cards?

Is it all of these? Amid the overload of the Christmas season, it's worth remembering:

what is Christmas really all about?

In our play, Linus answers these questions for us, in his understated way, by

quoting the gospel of Luke, chapter 2. This brief moment in the play is very special

time seems to stand still as ancient truth breaks through modern spin. Linus quotes the

Gospel of Luke chapter 2, which you can find on page 1014 of your blue pew Bibles.

Please open your Bibles and look there with me, Luke 2:8-12, page 1014. Let's read this

aloud together: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch

over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the

Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be

afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the

town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign

to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12.

The angel said that the shepherds were given a sign of the coming King they

would find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. God's choice of this

particular sign is a curious thing. Compared to the appearance of the awesome Angel of

the Lord surrounded by the blinding glory of the Lord, the sign of the baby in the humble

manger doesn't seem very dramatic. These shepherds have just been so frightened by the

angel that I imagine that their toes went numb and their hair stood on end. These angels

weren't some Hallmark card Raphaelite babies with wings; they are terrifying beings,

huge and grotesque to our eyes. The prophet Ezekiel tells us that the cherubim look

something like these pictures, with four heads, wings and flames all about. Don't forget

the glory: the Shekinah glory of the Lord was there around the angels, signifying the

presence of God himself. Comparatively, the sign of a humble baby, lying in a feed

trough for animals, seems almost anti-climactic. God puts on a light and horror show in

the sky for the shepherds over here; but over there, in the manger in the stable- God says

that that is where the real action is. It's easy to be distracted by the bright lights and

adrenaline rush, isn't it? The angel of the Lord tells us that the baby Jesus lying in a

manger is a sign. The baby is a sign? - a sign of what? I thought Jesus was the main deal!

Yes, he is; the manger is a sign: it points us to the cross. The baby was also a sign of the

grown man to come, the man who would save us from our sins by dying for us on the

cross, and rise again to be our King forever.

What is the meaning of Christmas? Kids, listen to me carefully: Christmas isn't

about family, or about Santa, or about trees, or about giving and getting presents; all

these things are good things, but they are not the main thing. The family gatherings, the

Christmas trees, the presents are just signs. I'm going to ask this question for those who

were not here yesterday they already know the answer! Who knows what a sign does?

What is the purpose of a sign? [Raise hand] The purpose of a sign is to point you

somewhere else. Where do they point? The presents we give each other at Christmas

point to God's great gift of love to us - His Son Jesus, who is our King. Jesus is the

reason for the season. Let's say that together: "Jesus is the reason for the season." It's all

about Jesus.

This Christmas season, so many signs clamor for your attention. The hustle and

bustle of buying presents for family and friends, the preparation of our homes, the

cheerful music... and on and on. They are all enjoyable parts of the celebration. Even so,

we need to be careful not to let these signs distract us from the main event: the Lord

Jesus. It's not that we mean to overlook the newborn king in the manger; it's just that

there is so much else that is going on.

How do you know if you've been successful in focusing on Jesus this Christmas?

When you look at the Christmas signs, if you see things in the light of the manger and the

cross, then you've been successful. Let's consider Christmas cards and Christmas trees.

When you receive a Christmas card, do you consider that a sign from God? Just like

someone cared enough about you to put you on their Christmas list, so God cares enough

about you to put you on His list. He sent his only Son to be born in a humble stable, and

to die on a cross, because he cares that much about you and me to do that for us. When

you see Christmas trees that stay green year round, that is a sign of the everlasting life

you enjoy because Jesus died on the tree for you. Candy canes remind us that Jesus is the

good shepherd; the white reminds us that Jesus was sinless; and the red remind us of the

blood of Jesus, shed for us. The angel on top of the tree reminds us that we have the

joyful responsibility to tell the world that Jesus has come, just as the angel did to the

shepherds in the field. Remember, all the Christmas signs point to Jesus Christ, and his

love for you.

Christmas is about Jesus Christ: about how God came to earth because he loves

you. Christmas is not just a nice story: Christmas is a true story, the truest story of all.

God loves you, and here at this church, we love you as well. If you need love in your

life; if you need forgiveness; or if you need to be saved; even if you need a sign, then

here is God's promise to you. If you will open yourself to God in our faith community,

and keep coming back, and give us a chance to love you and pray for you, then you will

find God's love here, and like good signs, we will point you to Christ. If ever you don't

find that love, because we are not perfect, then let me know, and I'll do what I can to help

you find the love you need.

Christmas is About Jesus Christ, and finding the love you seek in Him. And so are

we. Amen.