Fourth Week of Advent – 12/18/2016

WARNING PREACHY…

Christmas is God sharing Himself with humanity.

Hebrews 2:10-18

¹⁰ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. ¹¹ Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. ¹² He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

¹³ And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Vs. 10 – “make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.”

The English word “perfect” needs a little explanation here.  The way we generally understand perfect is to mean “without flaw” -- we describe tests this way; when there were no wrong marks on it we put 100% on it and call it "perfect".  However, the connotation of the Greek word is more like “complete”.  So if you have a 2-gallon pail and you fill it with water, at the very moment the pail is at the brim full it becomes perfect – or rather “complete”.

What the Hebrew writer is getting at is that the humanity of Jesus was completed through the things that he suffered as a human.  Because just becoming flesh does not make someone able to help others.

This is why I don't take marriage or parenting advice from an unmarried or childless person.

In the same way then, what help with life could Jesus offer me if he didn’t really know what real life it like?

Vs. 14 – “Since he had flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity…”

This is the miracle of the Christmas season!  

     - Not that the ox and ass kept time puh, rum pa pa, pum – but that God became flesh!

     - Not that there was no room at the inn – but that God became like us!

     - Not that the Angels sang to the shepherds, or that the Wise men saw a star – but that God came to us!

Jesus is not just a good man, a wise teacher, or even a Holy Priest – He is the eternal God on Earth sharing in the plight that you know -- even now.

He became flesh and blood like you and me and shared in our humanity…

Vs. 17 – “That he might make atonement for the sins of the people”

It’s not popular in our culture to speak of the sins of the people.  We are offended at the idea of sin because we don’t like idea of someone that we love being a “bad person”.  And worse, we certainly do not like it if we are portrayed as a bad person.  But the sins of the people, while certainly including our actions, is about our initial separation from a Holy God.  And this “sin of the people” needs to be atoned for and eradicated in order for men to have peace with God.

This is why Jesus is born.  To atone for the sins of men, yours, mine, and everyone else’s, and to live as a man in order for God to completely understand the plight of humanity.

And so God, through the Christ child shares in our humanity and is not separate from us.  He experienced the plethora of pains that we humans experience but he did it without sin, and always at the leading of the Holy Spirit.

There is excitement at the birth of every child because of what that Child might mean, now at Christmas we experience the excitement of the birth of Jesus because of what he meant to us and our world. 

Now, as we celebrate Christmas, we have the privilege of sharing the Good News of Great Joy of Jesus with our world.

Luke 2:8-14

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

And so, as the world focuses on the traditions of exchanging presents with on another, we in the church will do well to remember to share the Good News of Christ with the world!  Just as God shared Jesus with us at Christmas, we now share Jesus with the world for Christmas.