The Eve of the Nativity of our Lord, 2023
Rev. Thomas Van Hemert
St. Luke 2:1-20
The Eve of the Nativity of our Lord
December 24, 2023
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Fairy tales begin with the words “Once upon a time.” But the Christmas Gospel begins with the words “And it came to pass in those days.” Fairy tales occur in mythical lands. But the Nativity account occurs in the real town of Bethlehem, during the actual reign of Caesar Augustus and Quirinius. This is tremendously important for us to recognize. Around this time of the year, our culture often focuses on make-believe, magic, and fantasy. Those things can certainly have their proper place. But it seems that, for many, the “stuff” of Christmas—the lights and gifts and music—can become a flight into an imaginary world, a temporary retreat from the real world and real life. And that is the exact opposite of the Christmas message. Luke emphasizes what he is writing is real history. It actually occurred in a real place and at a real time when certain real officials were in power. This is no legend or myth or fable. It is true, an accurate and factual account of the way things really were.
Christmas is not about escaping into some fantasy world. It’s about our life in the real world being redeemed and renewed by the Lord. It’s about the real Son of God, through whom all things were created, entering into His creation as a true and literal baby boy, with real flesh and blood. It’s about a first-time mom giving birth to Him in the humblest of circumstances—in the cold of night, among real livestock and hay and smell. It’s about the Lord of all taking on the form of a servant and being laid in a cattle trough so that He might rescue us from our sin. There is nothing unreal or imaginary about Christmas, for Jesus is the concrete and tangible love of God come to walk among us.
Christ was born among the animals for us. Because of sin, we have become like animals—survival of the fittest, self-preservation at all costs, following our basest instincts and desires. All men have all fallen away from God, wanting to go our own way and do our own thing. In the process, we have become inhuman. We have lost the image of God, given to us at creation. So in order to save us from perishing eternally, Jesus, the Son of God, took on our human nature and caused Himself to be placed in a feeding trough. The One who slept near the beasts came to lift us out of our inhumanity and set us free from the beastly power of death and the devil. Jesus descended to the depths of our fallenness in order to raise us to the heights of eternal life with Himself. He became like us so that we might become like Him.
In the stable with the animals, we see Jesus as the new Adam, the new Man, our Champion and Redeemer, who has come to restore us and all things to paradise, to recreate us by His coming in the flesh. God the Son took our humanity into Himself so that we might be made new in Him. By His conception and birth, Jesus has sanctified and purified our natures. His incarnation permeates and hallows mankind. God has greatly exalted us by becoming not an angel or any other creature but a true man, our Brother.
Christ became one of us so that He might take our place under the Law in order to free us from its damnation. Jesus’ lowly birth foreshadows the humble life He would lead for us and the shameful death He would suffer on our behalf. The wood of a manger would later be traded for the wood of a cross. And just as Jesus was wrapped in cloths in His birth, so also He would be wrapped in cloths in His death—the graveclothes He would leave behind in His glorious resurrection.
We must never forget His purpose and why He had to come: to die in the flesh in our place and to shed His blood to ransom and purchase us from the powers of darkness. He was made to be like us in every way, but without sin, so He could be our perfect stand-in. As true man, He was our substitute in death; as true God, He paid the infinite price our sins required, which we could not even begin to pay. Therefore, only in this fully divine man is there eternal life. Only in this child, who was laid in a manger and who is now bodily raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father, is there salvation. Only He could accomplish it. Every other religion is an illusion and a false hope.
The angels tell us of our only real hope: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Fear not—do not be in terror any longer of death or of the judgment of God, for your sins are forgiven. Even the evils and the injustices that have been done to you have been cleansed from you by this holy birth. Christ the Savior has come to rescue you from the devil’s prison house and to bring you into the eternal kingdom of God. Light has broken in and shattered the darkness forever. Rejoice greatly in this good news, for all of this is for you! This is the joy of Christmas. Jesus is born to you, the angels said. He is Wonderful, your Counselor, Your Mighty God, Your Everlasting Father, your Prince of Peace.
The angels certainly rejoiced over what God was doing for us. After announcing the good tidings to the shepherds, a whole multitude of the heavenly host spilled over heaven’s edge and burst forth with praise to God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” The very coming of Christ is a sign of God’s good will toward us, that He wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Only Jesus brings real peace on earth—not temporary peace between people but eternal peace with God. In Christ, we who were once at war with God are now reconciled and put right with Him. God and man come together in Jesus, because He is Himself both God and man. Those who believe and are baptized into the body of Christ are thereby reunited with God. Truly, Jesus is your Prince of Peace.
There is a poetic beauty in this Christmas narrative. Bethlehem means “house of bread.” The Hebrew “Beth” means “House,” and the Hebrew “lechem” means “Bread.” He who is Bread come down from heaven, finds His abode in a feeding trough for animals in Bethlehem, the House of Bread. At the same time, the whole angelic host breaks forth into the night sky, first announcing this miraculous birth to shepherds in their fields. Later, Jesus will go on to call Himself the Good Shepherd, the One Who lays down His life for the sheep.
And so, in a sense, it is as though there is a live Nativity here this night as well. For if we might consider the altar, the manger and a feeding trough, then you and I are the animals. Let us then humbly eat of the Holy Sacrament of Christ so that our humanity may be eternally restored in Him who is truly human and truly divine. Let us with Mary keep and ponder all these things in our heart in penitent faith. And let us with the shepherds glorify and praise God for all the things we have heard and seen in Christ, just as it has been told to us.
In +Jesus’ name.
