22 December 2021 – A Saviour has been born to you. (Rosedale Village Christmas message)

Reading: Luke 2:1-14

Message

Have you ever been rescued? Somewhere along the line I’m sure someone turned up to help when you were in some kind of predicament or crisis over the years.

There have been some amazing stories in the last couple of years – think of that Thai football team rescued from underground caves. You see courageous rescue missions all the time on the news.

I’ve only been rescued once – in the sea that is. My sons had gone out too far – I swam out to tell them and we all got stuck. The African surf where we lived was really rough. It makes Browns Bay beach look like a swimming pool.

It was a good feeling to have someone on a paddle board come out and bring you in when you think you may drown. The embarrassing thing was that I was teaching part time at the local high school at that time. One of my students was the life saver. It was a “hello sir” moment. You don’t mind who the rescuer is really.

On one occasion after driving over the edge of the road on our way to a northern Natal town on a misty rainy night, we had to flag someone down to get help (after crawling up to the road.) The local Irish born Presbyterian minister got some mates from the pub to bring a ute and tow the car back over the edge of the hill onto the road again. What a night. But we were rescued. We were saved.

Sometimes when a rescue takes place, tragedy happens and the rescuer dies while saving children for example. People then talk about the sacrifice that person made of his or her life.

Which reminds me of a sign that went up on a church noticeboard – “breakfast this Saturday – help needed for the ingredients.” This chicken and pig happened to be walking past to go to the beach down the road. “Look at that” said the chicken to the pig. “We could help”. “That’s fine for you” said the pig. “You can give a gift. For me it’s total sacrifice. If I go in there, it’s all over for me.”

Looking at our reading today, the angel said this when Jesus was born:

Luk 2:11  Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

This angel was living up to his name. Because “angel” means “messenger” or “news”. That was one of their main tasks. (The word “evangelism” meaning “good news” is made up of the prefix EU for good, and the word angel.)

That’s the word used in verse 10:

Luk 2:10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

We also know that the name “Jesus” means God saves or rescues. And that “Emmanuel” means God with us. Such a great reminder of who Jesus was, what he did, and who he still is to us today.

In this reading we have all the other titles given to Jesus. This Saviour is Christ and Lord.

God came to the world in Jesus the Saviour, the Christ (the anointed one or Messiah) and the Lord (which means he is God).

And like the poor old pig had it offered to help at the breakfast – it cost him everything.

• He gave up his authority – became a baby who needed nappies changed just like you and me – was dependant on parents to care for him and raise him. Had to do school (poor guy).
• And eventually he let go completely of his life on the cross. He died in our place.
• The beauty of this sacrificial rescue is that he took our punishment on himself – so we could be free from our mess – our sin – and our selfishness. And all the world’s pain and disease too.

And just to stretch us more – this amazing good news of a life-saver above all others – is given to marginalised shepherds out in the fields – people who were not your important people at the time.

Simple. Illiterate. Probably just young kids really. Like KIng David when he was a shepherd boy.

I’m always interested in how God speaks to children and young people. They are so open to things of faith.

God speaks to anyone who is open.

• He wants to speak to you today.
• To remind you that his love for you is the reason all this happened.
• That Jesus is the greatest gift of all.

Don’t be like the person who said ‘no thanks. It’s a lovely gift you gave me this Christmas, but I’d rather struggle along without it. I’d rather leave it inwrapped under the tree. And in any case I don’t deserve it.”

Be like the shepherds – investigate this Jesus. The didn’t just say “well actually we really should stay here and forget all this stuff the angel has told us”. They went to investigate and discovered it was all true. And they went back telling everyone the good news too!

Take hold of this gift – that you may grow closer to Jesus our Saviour, our Messiah, our Lord and God. And really know him.

• He makes all the difference in this hectic world we live in.
• He is the gift of Christmas.
• It’s good news – this Christmas story.
• It’s worth celebrating!

Have a very blessed and merry Christmas.

Amen.