In the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus puts forward a description of what his followers are like. Among other things Jesus describes them as those who will be insulted and persecuted and maligned in this world. And then, in the very next breath, Jesus says to these disciples who will be insulted and persecuted, You – yes, YOU – are the salt and light of the world!
What does it mean to be “at the top”? The term is used often in our culture. It is used when talking about the person who has become the best or most successful at what he or she does. The MVP is described as being at the “top of his game.” Taylor Swift is at the top of the pop music industry, causing Ticketmaster to crash over demand for tickets to her upcoming tour.
After God created all the matter in the universe and it was a dark, surging mass covered in water, the first thing he called into existence to bring order to it all was light. Let there be light, he said. (Genesis 1:3) And there was light. So basic and primary, light. Yet without light, life cannot exist. This is easily demonstrated. Put one of your houseplants in a dark closet for a week and then check on it. It will be dead.
Today we are fortunate to have Pastor Jerry Ewings leading our service and giving the sermon. Pastor Ewings served at Lord of Love Lutheran from 2006 – 2017.
The stage was entirely black. All eyes in the theater were watching, waiting for what was coming next. Suddenly, a spotlight from the balcony clicked on. It was trained upon one, single solitary person who stood center stage. Everyone knew immediately who it was. It was the star of the show!
Jesus came into the world before spotlights. So how was God going to introduce the world to the Savior whom he had sent? How was God going to say, “Here he is”? Jesus’ baptism does this in a certain sense. The voice of the Father from heaven, the descent of the Holy Spirit like a dove, these things are like a spotlight that shines on Jesus and says to the world, “Here he is!”
Today marks the eighth day since we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Eight days after the actual birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph kept the Jewish custom of officially naming the baby. In the case of their child, there was no mystery whatsoever what name they would give. An angel had brought them a directive from heaven. They were told to name their boy-baby Jesus. It’s a name that means, “The LORD saves,” or “Savior.” They were to give him this name because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Merry Christmas
At this time each year, you very likely play a couple roles. On the one hand, you play the role of giver. You will be the giver of gifts. And on the other, you will be the recipient of the gifts of others. Each year there is this sort of “exchange” that happens. We give…we get. We give…we get. Which is better? Kids probably like the getting. As we get older, perhaps we prefer the joy of giving.
Years ago when I was a pastor in Ohio, there was a man who used to come and visit me in my office from time to time. He was not a member of our congregation. In fact, he was not even Christian; he was Muslim. He was a very short little man named Richard. Always well-dressed. He was a businessman from Chicago who would come to Columbus on business.
To begin with this morning, we are going to try to imagine what it was like to be a child of God in and around Jerusalem 700 years before Jesus was born. There were no hospitals and urgent care centers. There were no pharmaceuticals.
