God is with us in Word and Sacrament

The Feast of the Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord

Christmas Eve

Luke 2:1–14

+ IN NOMINE IESU +

“When all was still, and it was midnight, your almighty Word, O Lord, descended from the royal throne.” The calm before the storm. The deep breath before the plunge. Under the cover of darkness, God’s divine invasion commenced. He came to overthrow, to conquer the power of darkness among us. As Scripture tells us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

“When all was still, and it was midnight . . . .” God shows up in the dark. It is in the midst of darkness that God does His greatest work. In the beginning, when darkness was over the face of the deep, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He called His creation into being out of darkness. The angel of the Lord, brought vindication for the children of Israel, when at midnight, He destroyed the first born of Egypt but kept safe those in Israel by the blood of the Lamb. He was born of His virgin mother in the night. He instituted the Sacrament of His Body and Blood “on the night when he was betrayed.” He died in the midday darkness on Good Friday, when He paid for the sins of the world. And in the darkness of the early dawn, He rose from the deep, dark pit of death—His mission to subdue sin, defeat death and the devil accomplished. And He will come again to judge the quick and the dead, to separate the sheep from the goats, at midnight when the call will ring out, “Awake! For the Bridegroom is coming; come out to meet Him.”

“When all was still, and it was midnight . . . .” The Lord of Light shines in the darkness. He came not only to overcome the darkness of this present age, but also to lighten the darkness of our hearts. Sin, our sin, the failure to keep God’s Word in our lives, the failure to live as the new creatures He has made us to be by His Word and Work, mires us each in a dark night of the soul. We are separated from God and wrapped in the disease of death.

But “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” The great light of God’s saving love in Christ shines upon you. He alone lightens the darkness of our hearts. He alone lifts the cold, dark veil of sin to give us peace—peace that comes from sins forgiven, taken away and removed as far as the east is from the west—peace with God and one another. And where this peace reigns, joy is full and free. “For I bring you good news of great joy . . . . For unto you is born . . . a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Yes, “When all was still, and it was midnight . . . .” Jesus raided the devil’s kingdom. It was an all-out assault on the powers of darkness. The stronger man overpowered the strong man, taking away his armor and dividing his spoil. God became man. Jesus conquered his enemies. He defeated death by His own death. He claims victory over sin by becoming sin though He knew it not. Thus, He conquered the dark powers of the devil, the world, and our own fallen hearts. He bought us back with His own precious blood. He claimed us for Himself with His innocent suffering and death. We belong to Him. For He has inscribed His name upon our foreheads with the Word infused water of Holy Baptism. He enlivens us with His Spirit in the Words of Holy Absolution: Your sins are forgiven you. He strengthens our faith with His risen and living Body and Blood, given to us under bread and wine.

“When all was still, and it was midnight . . . .” The eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the most Holy Trinity, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, was born—bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh, though without sin. God became man in the man Jesus Christ. And if we really fathomed what our Lord Christ has done by taking on human flesh, becoming our brother, living our life and dying our death, we would die of joy; our hearts would simply burst with joy. For the light of God’s love shines upon us in Jesus Christ, and yet the darkness of our hearts so often and so readily comprehends it not.

For though the devil is defeated, and the world is coming to end, and our hearts have been enlightened by our Lord’s gracious visitation, we still fight the darkness of our hearts, the world, and the devil. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness knows it not. The light scatters the darkness, and the darkness in us scampers with it. We become distracted by worldly things, which keep us from taking the good news to heart. We are sapped of true peace and joy, faith, hope, and charity. The darkness of our sin and the sins of others overshadows and blinds us. The siren songs that pull us away from the light to live in that darkness are many and they are strong. Stronger than any of us left to ourselves.

Thus does Jesus still fight for you. Wherever and whenever this good news of great joy is proclaimed, that Christ is born, that unto you this Savior is given, the stronger man, our valiant savior, still fights. For He is not just the one who came, then, He is coming again, and He comes even now.

For “When all was still, and it was midnight your almighty Word, O Lord, descended from the royal throne.” The Word became flesh and dwells among us. His Word remains. It is a lamp for your feet, and a light for your path. You have heard it this night. It has been on your lips. It has been poured into your hearts and souls. Where His Word is, there also is He—to instruct and rebuke, to forgive and console, to bring light to those in darkness and hope to those downtrodden. So when the darkness closes in, when your hearts are heavy laden with your own sins, your hope waning and your faith fading because of the attacks of the devil and this fallen world: Be still, and listen. For the choirs of angels still sing. Their bright proclamation still rings out: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Do not be afraid. God is pleased with you because of Christ, our Savior. All things have been set aright in Him. For He came in the flesh. He died for our transgressions. He is raised for our justification. Jesus Christ, born this night, is the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. How can we ever want to go back into that darkness, having beheld the light of our Christ? How can we forsake that eternal peace and joy for temporal things?

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, [thus we wait] for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11–14).

“When all was still, and it was midnight, your almighty Word, O Lord, descended from the royal throne.” Thank you, O little Child of Bethlehem, for lightening the darkness of our hearts by your gracious visitation. A blessed Christmas to you all as you rest this night in the light of Christ our Lord. Amen.

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