Chapel speech: On Jesus' birth.

Originally presented at Luther Junior and Senior High School morning chapel, December 12, 2014.

When I came to Japan two years ago, the 2012 Christmas season was just beginning. There were a few things about Christmas in Japan that surprised me--Kentucky Fried Chicken, for example, which is not a Christmas tradition in America. I was also surprised to hear that many people believe Christmas celebrates the birthday of Santa Claus. It makes sense that people might think that--we see Santa everywhere during the Christmas season--but as you hopefully already know, it's not Santa's birth that we celebrate this month.

Luther's nativity scene, 2013.

In the lobby of Luther High School right now there is what in English is called a nativity scene--figurines depicting the birth of Jesus. About 2,000 years ago Jesus was born in a stable in modern-day Palestine to a very young woman named Mary. In most nativity scenes, which you can find in houses all over the world at Christmas, Jesus' birth looks like a beautiful, peaceful event.

Certainly, the birth of the Saving Lord is something to celebrate. Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the savior that would bring the people of Israel back to God. He was called the Immanuel, which means "God with us." But Jesus was also born in an animal stall. How disgusting is that? It's not a place for humans to even sleep, let alone give birth. It doesn't seem to make sense. Why would God choose a filthy stable for Mary to give birth to the Saving Lord, the Messiah, the Immanuel, "God-with-us"? I wonder if Mary wondered that, too.

But while Jesus was fully God, Jesus was also fully human. God, in Jesus, put Himself not only into the messiness of a stable but also into the messiness of our lives. We are a sinful, fallen humanity and we are not worthy to stand before a holy and perfect God. But God demonstrated His love for us by coming to us in the midst of darkness and filth to be a light not only to the Israelites but all the peoples of the world.

In his time on Earth, Jesus taught and healed, rebuked and forgave, served and loved everyone, and set the stage for salvation to come to all of humanity through his death on the Cross. That's infinitely better than anything we could get from Santa! Now, in this season of Advent we await his coming, knowing that the little baby born in a stable in Bethlehem brings salvation to the whole world.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus, we thank you that you came to us as one of us, that you love us and promise salvation to all who believe. Let us follow your light this Advent season.

In Jesus name I pray, amen.

[Christ Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV)