The Season For The Reason

Luke 2:1-7


In the name of Jesus.
“Merry Christmas.” As the season draws ever nearer, so do the frequency of christmas greetings, even after christmas has passed. And if we were to ask, “What’s so merry about christmas,” people at once answer, “Well, it’s the birthday of Jesus, the Savior.” But often, that is the extent of their answers because many of them do not know the reason why God had to be born into human flesh. And often, we too, perhaps because of the festive nature of the holidays, forget the real purpose of Christmas.
Our text says that Jesus was born when Caesar Augustus, Octavian, was emperor of Rome. This statement establishes two things: first, we can locate Jesus in a specific point in history. That means that Jesus isn’t merely fiction, a myth thought up by somebody who had too much time on his hands. And so many people today think that Jesus is only a myth, no different from Santa Claus. Jesus was born in a specific time, when Octavian was emperor, when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, where King David himself was born.
But not only that. It was also during that time that Herod the Great was king of the Jews, an almost unspeakably evil king ruled by fear and doubt. A king who did not brook talk about anyone succeeding him or anyone plotting to take his throne away from under his royal behind. And so, he has managed to kill off a number of relatives because he suspected them of plotting against him and his crown. That is also why he ordered the massacre of the children in Bethlehem.
In Bethlehem, because Joseph, foster father of Jesus, was of the lineage of David the king. Accompanying him was Mary, his bride, heavy with child. So heavy was this burden about to be born, and difficult was the road to Bethlehem: dusty, difficult.
And when they arrive at Bethlehem, they could not find suitable quarters because the inns were already filled with people who have come for the same reason: the census. And so they were forced to stay in a stable, a cave, really, where animals would shelter. And it is in that cave where Mary gave birth to her first born, inside a smelly cave fit only for animals to use. Mary wraps her baby in swaddling clothes and lays him on the feeding trough.
A difficult situation indeed, fit for a difficult time, full of fear and doubt. Eventually, the hapless family would have to run and hide in Egypt so they might not attract the attention of the insane king.
Is this the birth we celebrate everytime christmas comes prancing around the corner of our years? Is this the reason why we greeat each other with “merry christmas,” or “happy holidays”?
And if we dare, we ask the question, “Why was Jesus born?” The answer to that question comes thirty or so years later, when Jesus, arrested, beaten to a pulp, mocked, ridiculed, brought before Pilate, is sentenced to die by means of crucifixion. The baby born in a manger, whose birth the angels heralded with joy and singing, would grow up and be nailed on a cross. Why?
Because of our sin. Because we are sinful and we cannot save ourselves. Because we live as if there was no God, as if we were accountable to no one but ourselves. Because our hearts are full of envy, anger and avarice. Jesus was born so that he could die – FOR US. FOR YOU. Jesus was born so he could exchange his righteousness for our sin, what Luther called “The Happy Exchange.” The Lord cheerfully exchanged places with us: He exchanged his righteousness, his holiness for our wickedness and sin. Hear the words of Luther: “Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, just as I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and have given to me what is yours. You have taken upon yourself what you were not and have given to me what I was not.”
And because of what Jesus did on the cross, God has declared us righteous, because his only begotten Son bore our sin and nailed it to the cross with him. Our christmas is merry because someone was willing to experience a terrible sadness – on that first Good Friday, when he was nailed on the cross. There is meaning in our celebration of christmas because Jesus, by his death, gave the season a reason.
And because of his death, we have received his gifts of grace, forgiveness and life: his Word and his Sacraments, which give to us eternal life, the forgiveness of sins. The season gains reason.
And so, the next time you say, “merry christmas,” think of the cross, think of Good Friday, and your christmas will truly be joyful.
Merry Christmas, then, because Christ died for you so that your sins may be forgiven. Merry Christmas indeed, for Christ, by his death, has given the season its most wonderful reason -- his life. Merry Christmas, because this is the season of the Reason. This is most certainly true. This is most certainly for you.
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. (Philippians 1:7)