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“No Room for Jesus?”
Luke 2:7

 

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas

Christmas Eve—December 24, 2013

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Our message Christmas Eve is based on the Christmas story, the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter:

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

On Christmas Eve we remember that special night long ago when Jesus Christ came into the world, and the world had “No Room for Jesus.”  There was a “no vacancy” sign hanging that cold night on the crowded inn at Bethlehem.  When Joseph and Mary came knocking on the inn door, they were turned away into the night; there was “No Room for Jesus.”

Tonight, Jesus is knocking again, knocking on the door of your heart.  Is there a “no vacancy” sign hanging on your cold heart, and your crowded life?  Do you too have “No Room for Jesus”? 

“Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”  Jesus did not wait for the world to make room for him.  He was born in a humble stable and laid in a lowly manger.  And Jesus did not wait for you to first make room for him.  As the book of Romans declares, “God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 

Through him, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; through him, whose birth was in a humble stable; through him, laid in a lowly manger; through him, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was made man.  Through him you are at peace with God.  His Apostles John and Paul proclaim the Good News: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. . .  God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not counting men’s sins against them. . . in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form . . .  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things . . .by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Our children’s program this evening is all about that song the angels sang the night of his birth.  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  That song is the message of Christmas Eve: peace and goodwill, from God in heaven, toward men on earth.  Peace and goodwill through our Lord Jesus Christ, through his birth, his life, his death and resurrection, for us men and our salvation.

“What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? . . . Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you. . .  the Babe, the Son of Mary.”

The Virgin Mary made room for Jesus in her life: “And the angel said unto her . . . ‘You have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.’ . . .  ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’”

Joseph made room for Jesus in his life: “He did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”

The shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, made room for Jesus in their lives: “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”

The Wise Men from the East made room for Jesus in their lives: “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him. . .  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Like the Wise Men, make room for Jesus in your life, offering to him precious gifts, especially the most precious gift of all: yourself.

Like the shepherds, make room for Jesus in your life, coming with haste to worship him, glorifying and praising God, and sharing the Good News concerning this child.

Like Mary and Joseph, make room for Jesus in your life, lovingly serving him, opening to him your home, your heart, your entire life.

Just as Joseph and Mary knocked on the door of the crowded inn, once again this Christmas Eve Jesus is knocking, knocking on the door of your heart.  “No Room for Jesus?”  Make room for Jesus, in your heart, in your life.

Let us pray:

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled,
A quiet chamber set apart
For you to dwell within my heart. 

Amen.

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