Christmas Eve 2022
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Hurry up and wait!
Do you understand that feeling? When you are so excited or anxious for something you know is going to happen to go ahead and happen?
The verse that I read from the prophet Isaiah’s book in the Old Testament is not truly considered a messianic verse, but it is one that is often quoted today. You’ll see it on posters, t-shirts, plaques, as the verse of choice for Christian schools that choose eagles as their mascots, and more.
The reason I read this tonight is because of that phrase “wait for the Lord.”
Now, in Isaiah’s day that verse was to the people of Israel going through dire times as many of them were held in captivity and awaiting the restoration of their nation. That story is incredible, but as we know the entirety of Scripture centers on one main character – God and the good news of his greatness is revealed in a story that comes front and center for the world during this season.
Wait on the Lord.
Wait.
One commentator states in the description of this verse and the waiting that God’s people are to savor his promise by faith until the time of fulfillment for he will renew his children. In him his children will find endless supplies of fresh strength and hope and life.
There is joy in the waiting.
The anticipation that comes with Christmas changes as we age – at least it has with me.
I remember as a child feeling like Christmas would never, ever arrive.
There was Thanksgiving, which was great. Turkey, dressing, time with family, football, and days out of school.
Then, the day after Thanksgiving, the Christmas decorating began.
We would put together the tree and then dig out all the ornaments. There were ornaments that were purchased as filler. You know – glass balls that really had no sentimental meaning but were added to help the tree look better.
Then, there were those that had been accumulated for years. Each with a story.
We had one ornament I made while in kindergarten. I’m sure at one point, there was more to it than what it ended up looking. It was basically a Styrofoam ball with yarn glued to it and colored pipe cleaners sticking out of it. There were little Christmas tree stickers on it, too.
Eventually, it was pretty much just a white Styrofoam ball, but my mom continued to hang it on the tree. I talked with her recently and yes, she still has it.
As a kid, that day was special, but the following month became the longest time of the year.
We had the tree, with nothing under it at first, and then, amazingly while I was at school, boxes started appearing. The pile would grow almost daily. I would pull out the boxes, shake them, try to “see through the paper” and guess what they could be.
And each day just dragged on.
Until finally, it was time to open the presents and get to bed early to see what would appear the next day by the tree.
It’s fun to remember the wonder and excitement that came on Christmas Day. As a parent, the wonder was transposed, and more excitement came from seeing our children go through this. As a grandparent...it’s even better.
The anticipation was grueling, but always worth it!
I remember the day after Christmas one year thinking “Just 365 days until Christmas!”
As we gather tonight, there are children in the room (and adults as well) who almost cannot stand the reality that there are gifts to be received and opened either later tonight or tomorrow.
When it comes to Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we need to remember the years and years of waiting that God’s people had been doing.
For centuries, the people had been hanging on the words of the prophets of God that declared a Savior, the Messiah, would be born. The details that were given were clear–He would come as a rescuer and redeemer for God’s people.
The information was given. The date was placed on God’s calendar, yet the people were not told exactly when he would come.
Isaiah wrote of this. . .
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.2
The name “Immanuel” means “God with us” and was descriptive of God the Son, the Son of God.
So the people waited.
In addition to this prophecy from Isaiah, there were others given by God’s prophets, some of them thousands of years before Christ’s birth. Many of these were about the birth of Christ. Others about his life as a child and finally about his ministry as a man.
Jesus would come from the line of Abraham (Genesis 12:3)
Jesus would be a descendant of Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:19)
Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
Jesus would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1)
Jesus would be from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
Jesus would enter the temple (Malachi 3:1)
Jesus would be from the lineage of King David (Jeremiah 23:5)
Jesus’ birth would be accompanied with great suffering and sorrow
– the killing of other children by the evil king (Jeremiah 31:15)
9. Jesus would live a perfect life, die by crucifixion, resurrect from the dead, ascend into heaven, and sit at the right hand of God (Psalm 22:16, Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 53:10-11, Psalm 68:18, Psalm 110:1)
Jesus’ birth, which we celebrate tonight, was long anticipated and just one of many aspects of the story God has been unfolding from before the beginning of time.
Can you imagine hearing every year that “one day the Messiah will come” only to wonder if that day would ever arrive?
Families gathered and worshiped with the story being told and retold and the challenge to look ahead.
Over time, some would begin to doubt. Others may even chalk it up as mythology or maybe some “man-made religion” designed to keep people in check, or to give them something to hope for.
While years passed before the fulfillment of the story would take place, it did take place. . .just as God said it would.
The prophecies were so very accurate that it’s amazing how many missed the point.
Yet, as God authored this amazing story, he entered it as the hero and the arrival of the Messiah, the king, the rescuer of humanity culminated just as he said it would.
Matthew 1
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his
mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).3
The baby was born in the town of Bethlehem and placed in a manger, for there was no room in the inn. Shepherds nearby in the fields, taking care of the flocks we greeted by a host of angels in the sky. These angels declared that which God’s people had been awaiting had just taken place. The wait was over. The messiah had been born and these shepherds were invited to visit.
You have heard this story. It’s a key story for our faith. The promise fulfilled. The hero is born and the Gospel – the good news – is available for all. There is hope. There is life.
Jesus grew up, as the prophets foretold. He never sinned and lived on earth for 33 years. He did exactly what the prophets had foretold. He stated it clearly.
Luke 4:18-19
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 4
The life led to death. Death on a cross. Jesus died but didn’t remain dead. He rose again and made a promise to return.
And since that day. . .we wait.
Paul referenced this in his letter to the Philippian church.
Philippians 3
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 5
As God affirmed through Paul’s writings to a church thousands of years ago, he does to us as well – to those of us who know Him and call Him Father.
When we surrender our lives to God and receive this gift of life Jesus offers, we are changed. And we live our lives, but it’s different. Not easy but focused. Not pain-free, but purposeful.
And we wait. We wait for the next chapter. The coming again of Jesus. In the meantime, we live with hope and expectation, knowing that which God has promised always comes true.
The celebration of the incarnation is upon us and the wait is over. Christ has come. And if you’re still waiting...why? Today is the day of salvation.
So, in this dark world, a light has come. Jesus is the light and his coming melted away the darkness. And then he returned to heaven and declared that we, his church, his people, God’s children, are the light of the world. So, as we wait, we’ve been commanded to be like Jesus and light the world. Show the way.
Jesus is the way. The answer. The hope for all. As we close tonight, take the candle that is either in your chair or given to you as you came in. Let’s close this service now. . .remembering that as we wait. . .we are to share His light. Merry Christmas.
End Notes
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 40:31). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 7:14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 1:18–23). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 4:18–19). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
5 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Php 3:20–21). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
