Series Introduction:
We gather tonight in this sacred place, joined by our shared faith. We will reflect on a well-known story that never ceases to inspire us with its wonder. We’ll read Psalm 96, a beautiful song that praises God as the ruler of all creation. We’ll also read from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, which tells the story of Jesus’ birth. The King of the universe was born in a manger to save sinners like you and me. This moment was a unique and wondrous convergence of the divine and the human. A newborn baby lay in a manger, revealing the face of God to the world. May our praises never cease!
Scripture Reading:
Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Psalm 96, ESV
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:1-21, ESV
Opening Prayer:
Gracious God, as we gather today, we celebrate Your majesty. Yet, in the humble birth of Christ, we see Your glory revealed not in grandeur, but in simplicity and humility. Help us to understand and embrace this profound truth. May the peace of Christ fill our hearts, bringing comfort to those who are burdened and joy to those who celebrate. Amen.
The Cosmic King
Psalm 96 is a majestic royal psalm, directing our attention and worship toward the ultimate Sovereign – a King whose dominion extends over the entire cosmos. This psalm serves as a profound reminder of the vast difference between human governance and the divine rule of God, highlighting a truth often forgotten: the mightiest of earthly powers are but fleeting shadows when cast in the light of God’s majestic rule.
The psalm beautifully unfolds in four thematic parts, each segment drawing us into a deeper understanding of divine kingship:
Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
Psalm 96:1-3, ESV
The opening verses call us to sing a ‘new song’. This isn’t just a new melody or lyrics; it’s a new way of understanding God’s interaction with the world. It’s a song of salvation, reflecting the continuous and dynamic nature of God’s saving acts. This song is universal, meant for “all the earth”, inviting every nation, every people, to recognize and celebrate the marvelous works of God. It’s a call to acknowledge God’s presence and action in our daily lives and in the history of the world.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Psalm 96:4-6, ESV
Here, the psalmist provides motivation for this global chorus of praise. The greatness of the LORD is unparalleled, a glory that eclipses the mightiest of deities revered by nations. The psalmist speaks of a beauty and majesty that dwell in God’s sanctuary – a beauty not just in aesthetics but in the very nature of God’s being and actions. It’s a call to recognize that the source of all true power and glory is in the divine, far surpassing any earthly splendor.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalm 96:7-9, ESV
This section moves from an invitation to sing to an exhortation to openly declare God’s glory. The psalmist calls upon “families of the peoples” to acknowledge and broadcast the glory due to God. It’s a powerful reminder that worship is not just a private or isolated act but a communal and public declaration of God’s sovereignty and grace.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Psalm 96:10-13, ESV
The psalm culminates in these verses, emphasizing the acknowledgement of the LORD’s kingship. This is a rule not characterized by oppression or inequality, but by equity, justice, and truth. It’s a declaration that God’s governance is fundamentally different from human governance – it is fair, just, and true for all.
For Christians, the truth of Psalm 96 resonates deeply during the season of Christmas. Think of the immeasurable love on display for the Cosmic King, the Second Person of the Trinity, and the eternal Word of God to become flesh and to be born in a manger in the humble town of Bethlehem. The embodiment of divine justice, righteousness, and truth took on human form. Christ, the King whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, is not confined to ruling a single nation or people; His vision encompasses all of humanity and, indeed, the whole of creation. This universal scope of His kingship is a testament to the boundless nature of His love and mercy.
The Humble Birth
In the narrative of Luke 2, we encounter a scene that strikingly contrasts the grandeur and might typically associated with royal births. Here, the birth of Jesus unfolds in the most humble of settings, a stark deviation from what we would expect for the birth of such a heavenly king. This setting is not one of opulence or high society but a simple, modest environment where shepherds, not kings or high-ranking religious leaders, become the first recipients of the greatest news ever told. This choice of audience for the divine announcement is significant. Shepherds, in the cultural context of the time, were often seen as lowly people living on the fringes of society. Their role in this holy narrative underscores a powerful message: the good news of Jesus Christ is for everyone, transcending social hierarchies, economic status, and cultural boundaries. This is a radical reorientation of religious and social expectations, proclaiming that the last shall be first in the kingdom of God.
The angelic announcement to the shepherds and the subsequent proclamation by the heavenly host are far more than just announcements of a birth; they represent a fundamental shift in the understanding of God’s kingdom.
And the angel said to them, “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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:10-14, ESV
These celestial declarations are, in essence, divine invitations. They invite us into a new way of life, a life that embraces the values of the kingdom of God. This kingdom, as revealed in the birth and life of Jesus, is markedly different from earthly kingdoms. It is not characterized by conquest, dominance, or coercive power, but is marked by peace, love, and humility.
The location of Jesus’ birth — a manger in Bethlehem — further reinforces this message. A manger, a feeding trough for animals, is about as far from a royal throne as one can imagine. This choice of birthplace symbolizes accessibility and openness, indicating that this new King and His kingdom are approachable and available to all, irrespective of their status or circumstance.
A Time to Reflect
As your pastor, I invite you to reflect and contemplate the intersections between the holy narrative of Christ’s birth and our own stories this Christmas Eve. In our congregation tonight, there are those whose hearts brim with the joy and light of the season, their spirits lifted by the celebration of Christ’s birth. Yet, in the same pews, others carry heavier burdens – the weight of loss, the pangs of grief, or the gnawing anxiety of life’s uncertainties. As we preach the message of Christmas, we recognize this tapestry of human emotion and declare a profound truth: Christ, the true King of Peace, enters into each of these experiences with us.
Our proclamation tonight is not one of superficial cheer or dismissive platitudes, but of a deep and abiding peace that Christ offers – a peace that goes beyond our human understanding, that can calm troubled hearts and offer solace in times of distress. This peace is not contingent on external circumstances but is a gift from the Prince of Peace Himself, who understands our struggles and meets us in the midst of them.
In this sacred atmosphere, with hearts both joyful and heavy, let us embrace the fullness of this night. Let us remember that the baby born in Bethlehem, the Savior of the world, came for each one of us. May the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and minds, filling us with the true comfort and joy of this holy season.
Conclusion
This is the truth sent from above,
the truth of God, the God of love;
therefore don’t turn me from the door
but hearken all, both rich and poor.
The first thing that I will relate,
that God at first did man create;
the next thing which to you I tell-
woman was made with him to dwell.
Then after that ’twas God’s own choice
to place them both in paradise,
there to remain from evil free
except they ate of such a tree.
But they did eat, which was a sin,
and thus their ruin did begin
ruined themselves, both you and me,
and all of our posterity.
Thus we were heirs to endless woes
till God the Lord did interpose;
and so a promise soon did run:
that he’d redeem us by his Son.
At this season of the year
our blest Redeemer did appear,
and here did live, and here did preach,
and many thousands he did teach.
Thus he in love to us behaved,
to show us how we must be saved;
and if you want to know the way,
be pleased to hear what he did say:
“Go preach the gospel,” now he said,
“to all the nations that are made!
And those that do believe on me,
from all their sins I’ll set them free.”
O seek! O seek of God above
that saving faith that works by love!
And, if he’s pleased to grant thee this,
thou’t sure to have eternal bliss.
God grant to all within this place
true saving faith, that special grace
which to his people doth belong:
and thus I close my Christmas song.
Anonymous
As we leave tonight, let’s carry the message of Psalm 96 and Luke 2 in our hearts. The King of the cosmos, born in a humble stable, invites us to a kingdom of justice, peace, and love. Let this Christmas be a time of embracing that invitation, of recognizing Christ’s presence in our midst, and of sharing his love with all. Amen.
