Christmas Eve, 2016

Merry Christmas! Christ is born, congratulations!

The story of the birth of Jesus is very interesting. It is set in the country town of Bethlehem and there are shepherds watching their sheep by night. Of course the most important thing is the birth of Jesus, but the shepherds take a big part in the narrative. Why are they so important? Let me tell you what I think.

The job of a shepherd is to take care of the sheep. From the time that the lamb is born to the time when the sheep is sent to market, the shepherd leads the sheep to green pasture and clear water, cuts the wool, and protects the flock from wolves and thieves. Sheep need protection; it is a form of love and duty.

At Christmas, the Lamb of God is born. Christ is still a baby, and so needs the love and protection of Mary and Joseph as if they were shepherds to this little Lamb.

When Jesus went to be baptized, John the Baptist saw Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). And Jesus will become the God’s sacrificial lamb when he dies on the cross to forgive our sin.

Jesus spoke this way about himself, John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” In faith, we know that Jesus is our good shepherd and that we are his lambs and sheep. He takes care of us from birth till death and resurrection. He knows what we need. He knows the dangers that surround us. Oh, there are wolves! Even with life’s green pastures and still waters, there are the valleys of the shadow of death. But he is with us – he is called “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” There are wolves and thieves who rob us of our dignity, who take away our security, who want to take away of faith and belief in Jesus Christ. But Jesus is the good shepherd who protects us.

Yet at Christmas we remember that Jesus is still a little lamb. He is not going to eat the hay in the manger upon which he lay. He is going to feed us. Today, like the shepherds in the story, we come to see him and worship him. This lamb gives us hope and peace. We know he is God Almighty, but coming as a baby, he is no threat to us. And so it is easy to accept him as our savior. And as he grows into an adult, our faith and trust in him also grows and matures.

But tonight we all come as children and lambs. “Oh, Come Let Us Worship Him.” "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about." We come as shepherds to welcome Jesus into our flock, into our family and into our lives. And, like the shepherds of Bethlehem, we glorify and praise God for everything we have seen and heard.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

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