This Week's Light Service Sermon

Light Service Sermons for the Month
The Voices of Christmas
Voice of Christmas Past
DATE: December 5, 1999
TEXT: Matthew 1:18-25

This Christmas as every Christmas, many great memories flood my soul. Great times with family and friends, rich traditions, delightful music. But I also remember the Christmases when my father died and when my mother-in-law passed away. Sometimes those negative memories of the past can keep us from joy and peace that God desires for us.
There was no worse victim of negative memories than old Ebeneezer Scrooge. The miserly man who when someone said, "Merry Christmas!" could only respond "Bah! Humbug!"
Well, if you look at Scrooge's life, you begin to discover what made Scrooge a scrooge. To refresh your memory I'd like you to watch with me a brief video clip of Ebeneezer Scrooge's version of The Christmas Carol, the Muppet Christmas Carol. Watch with me.
(Video Clip)
The fact is that Ebeneezer Scrooge was left abandoned as a child. He felt the pain of that rejection. But instead of dealing with the pain, he let it grow inward. It shriveled his heart and it made Ebeneezer a scrooge.
Isn't it true that the dark memories of our past, if we let them, can haunt us today? These memories can become like a noose around our neck that keeps us from the joy and peace that God desires. They hold us back from a great future. That dark voice has haunted many of us through guilt--about something we've done to hurt ourselves, hurt another, or hurt God. Or shame. Like Ebeneezer, maybe you've been rejected by a parent or a spouse. Someone said something to you that put you down. Someone did something to you. Or they neglected you. This voice keeps haunting you with the taunt, "You're no good. There's something wrong with you. You're a bit flawed." These voices of the past can destroy us if we let them.
The good news today is there is another voice from the past. A positive voice. The best voice we could ever hear. It's the voice that Joseph heard from the angel.
Ken read about it in our text today. Joseph was thinking about divorcing Mary. Joseph deeply loved Mary and was engaged to be married. (In those days it was like already being married.) Then Joseph heard that Mary, his beloved, had become pregnant. He logically assumed there must have been another man. Joseph--law-abiding citizen that he was--decided that the best way to keep Mary from shame and possible stoning and him from embarrassment was to quietly divorce her.
As Joseph pondered this, however, an angel came to him and said, "Joseph, chill. The baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit." And Joseph pondered, "How am I going to explain THAT to my future father-in-law!" But the angel continued, "Go ahead and marry her. And after her baby is born, name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins." The word "Jesus" literally mans, "The Lord is my salvation." Jesus will save his people, you and me, from our sins.
That's the positive voice. That's the great news today!
Which voice are you listening to? Are you hearing that dark voice from the past that says, "No, there's something wrong with you. You've done too much wrong. What you're parents said about you is true. You're flawed. You're bad." Are you listening to the voice that says you've done wrong and there's no way that God can forgive you for this one?
Or are you listening to the other voice, the voice of God that says, "YES! Jesus can and Jesus will!" "Jesus saves" means that Jesus comes to cut the noose that holds us back. Jesus comes to forgive us and give us a brand new start.
The voice of God comes to you today and says, "Yes, Jesus can and Jesus will save you! Jesus can and Jesus will set you free from your past. Free from those negative feelings about yourself. Jesus comes to lift you up and let you know that you are loved, you are valued, you are precious in God's sight. Jesus can and Jesus will. I leave you with a true story that was shared with me recently in a local store.
"After 36 years of marriage, Jeannie's parents were getting a divorce. She could not accept their decision to part and she became depressed, not realizing they needed her love and understanding more than ever.
As the holidays grew closer her thoughts were constantly filled with childhood memories--the huge Christmas trees, the beautiful decorations, the special gifts and the love they shared as a family. Every time she'd think about those moments she would burst into tears, knowing she'd never feel that spirit of Christmas again. Yet for her own children's sake, she decided to make the effort and joined the last-minute shoppers out at Toys-R-Us.
As Jeannie toured the toy store looking for the last remaining Tickle-Me-Elmo to be had, the sadness almost became unbearable. She was about to leave the store when she heard from the next aisle, "Sarah! You get that thing out of your mouth right now 'fore I slap you!"
"But Mommy! I wasn't puttin' it in my mouth! See Mommy? I was kissen' it! Look, Mommy, it's a little baby Jesus!"
"Well, I don't care what it is! You put it down right now! You hear me?"
"But come look Mommy," the child insisted. "It's all broken. It's a little manger and the baby Jesus got broked off!"
Jeannie peered around the corner to see Little Sarah who appeared to be about 4-5 years old. She also noted she was not properly dressed for the cold, wet weather outside. On the other hand, bright, colorful pieces of yarn were tied on the ends of her braids, making her look cheerful despite her ragged attire.
Sarah's mother was paying no attention to her but was carefully picking through the marked-down winter coats on the bargain rack. She was also not that well-dressed, and her torn, dirty tennis shoes were wet from the cold, melting show.
"Mommy!" the little girl called to her. "Can we buy this little Baby Jesus? We can set him on the table by the couch and we could."
"I told you to put that thing down!" her mother interrupted. "You get yourself over here right now or I'm gonna give you a spankin'."
Jeannie expected the angry woman to then storm over with hand raised but instead nothing. No scolding! Just complete silence. Jeannie watched as Sarah's mother knelt down and crying, hugged her daughter. "I'm sorry Mommy. I'm sorry I wasn't good in this store. I promise I won't ask for nothin' else. I don't really want this little baby Jesus. Really I don't. Please don't cry Mommy!"
"I'm sorry too, honey!" answered her mother finally. "You know I don't have enough money to buy anything extra right now, and I'm just crying 'cause I wish I did. But I bet come Christmas morning you just might find those pretty little play dishes you've been wanting. And maybe next year we can get a Christmas tree. How about that!'
"You know what Mommy!" the child asked. "I don't really need this little baby Jesus doll anyhow! You know why? Because my Sunday School teacher says Jesus really lives in your heart. I'm glad he lives in my heart, Mommy!"
As Jeannie watched the child take her mother's hand and walk to the front of the store she thought to herself "Thank you God. Thank you for a wonderful childhood filled with precious memories, and for parents who provided a home for me and gave me the love I needed during the most important years of my life. But most of all, thank you for giving us your son."
Impulsively, Jeannie grabbed the various pieces of the nativity scene and hurried to the check-out counter. Recognizing one of the clerks, she asked her to give the doll to the little girl who as then leaving the store with her mother, and explained that she would pay for it later. She watched as the child accepted the gift and then give the baby Jesus another kiss as she walked out the door."
That story is a living example that Jesus Christ is still in the saving business. Just as Jesus Christ has saved millions and millions of people before, Jesus comes to you today to free you from the past. To free us from our guilt. Free us from the shame to hear a new voice that says, "Yes! Jesus can and Jesus will!" A voice that overpowers the dark voice of the past that holds us back. Which voice are you listening to this Christmas season?
Are you listening to the dark voice of the past? Or are you listening to the voice of our loving Lord that says, "I come to be with you. I come to give you that saving grace to free you from your guilt and shame and give you a brand new beginning."
Jesus can and Jesus will.
AMEN