LutheranLectionary.org

Series A – Christmas Day – For Unto You a Child is Born | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:27	The holy Gospel According
0:28	to Saint Luke Chapter 2 verses 1 through
0:30	20
0:32	in those days a decree went out from
0:35	Caesar Augustus that all the world
0:36	should be registered this was the first
0:38	registration when quirinius was the
0:40	governor of Syria all went to be
0:43	registered each to his own town Joseph
0:45	also went up From Galilee from the town
0:47	of Nazareth to Judea to the city of
0:49	David which is called Bethlehem because
0:52	he was of the house and the lineage of
0:54	David
0:55	to be registered with Mary his betrothed
0:58	who was with child and while they were
1:00	there the time came for her to give
1:01	birth and she gave birth to her
1:03	firstborn son and wrapped him in
1:05	swaddling Claws and laid him in a Manger
1:07	because there was no place for them in
1:09	the Inn
1:10	and in the same region there were
1:13	shepherds out in the field keeping watch
1:14	over their flock by night and an angel
1:16	of the Lord appeared to them and the
1:18	glory of the Lord Shone around them and
1:20	they were filled with fear and the angel
1:23	said to them fear not for behold I bring
1:26	you good news of great joy that will be
1:28	for all people for unto you is Born This
1:31	Day in the city of David a savior who is
1:34	Christ the lord and this will be a sign
1:36	for you you will find the baby wrapped
1:38	in swaddling Claws and lying in a manger
1:40	and suddenly there was with the angel a
1:43	multitude of the Heavenly Host praising
1:45	God and saying glory to God in the
1:48	highest and on Earth peace among those
1:50	with whom he is pleased when the angels
1:52	went away from them into heaven the
1:55	Shepherds said to one another let us go
1:57	over to Bethlehem and see this thing
1:59	that has happened which the Lord has
2:01	made known to us
2:02	and they went with haste and found Mary
2:04	and Joseph and the baby lying in a
2:06	manger and when they saw it they made
2:08	known the saying that had been told to
2:10	them concerning this child and all who
2:12	heard it and wondered at what the
2:14	Shepherds told them but Mary treasured
2:16	up all these things pondering them in
2:18	her heart and the Shepherds returned
2:20	glorifying and praising God for all that
2:22	they had heard and seen as it had been
2:24	told to them in the name of Jesus
2:29	sample our books to our movies our Tales
2:32	Legends and they’re all brimming with
2:35	the themes of Darkness and Light tyranny
2:38	and freedom
2:40	and we all know that fighting for
2:42	freedom is the cause that is not only
2:45	worthy of our efforts but even worthy of
2:48	risking death itself
2:50	one of the early slogans of our American
2:52	Republic and now the motto of the State
2:54	of New Hampshire is Live Free or Die
2:57	Live Free or Die
2:59	you see tyranny is the thing that we
3:01	fear the most
3:02	at least politically and true Patriots
3:05	in the American Republic understand that
3:07	this is where the real dividing line is
3:09	will we live in freedom freedom of
3:12	conscience freedom of speech freedom of
3:15	religion or will we be Shackled and
3:17	forced to be silent in the face of evil
3:20	forced to act contrary to our conscience
3:24	and forced to renounce Christ and not
3:27	speak the truth to our neighbors
3:30	it is this deep foundational struggle
3:33	between good and evil light and darkness
3:37	tyranny and freedom that we all know so
3:40	well that is actually at the very Heart
3:42	of Christmas itself
3:45	John in his gospel in chapter 3 verse 19
3:48	writes this is the judgment
3:51	light has come into the world
3:54	and the people love the darkness rather
3:56	than the light because they’re works
3:58	or evil
4:00	let us make no mistake here brothers and
4:03	sisters
4:04	that we are the congregation of the
4:08	forgiven ungodly
4:10	let us never forget that we were born in
4:13	captivity in slavery under the tyranny
4:15	of the devil
4:16	and that even as we walk out our
4:19	Christian faith our sinful flesh still
4:22	wants to do the bidding of the devil
4:24	wants to seek our own Glory
4:27	does not obey God as it should
4:31	engages in false worship and idolatry
4:35	covet’s neighbor despises father and
4:38	mother steals from one another Bears
4:41	false witness against the other
4:46	so bad is our condition by Nature
4:49	I would remind you of how the Apostle
4:51	Paul describes himself when he was
4:54	giving testimony of his conversion to
4:57	Christianity because Jesus himself
5:00	appeared to him in Acts chapter 26
5:02	starting at verse 9 Paul giving the
5:05	account of his conversion says this I
5:08	myself was convinced that I ought to do
5:11	many things in opposing the name of
5:14	Jesus Christ
5:17	which kind of begs the question how does
5:19	one get so upside down
5:22	that they feel that they need to oppose
5:25	the name of Jesus Christ let me remind
5:28	you brothers and sisters that in our
5:30	sinful condition we think that good is
5:32	evil
5:33	and we think that evil is good and this
5:36	is the Apostle Paul in the name of God
5:38	listen to how he describes his actions
5:40	and so I did so in Jerusalem I not only
5:43	locked up many of the Saints in prison
5:45	after receiving Authority from the chief
5:47	priest but when they were put to death I
5:49	cast my vote against them I punished
5:51	them often in all the synagogues and
5:53	tried to make them blaspheme an enraging
5:56	Fury
5:57	raging Fury that doesn’t sound like one
6:00	of the gifts of the Spirit to me an
6:02	enraging Fury against them I persecuted
6:05	them even to foreign cities
6:09	and he did all of this in the name of
6:11	the very God that Jesus is
6:15	but then he says this in this connection
6:16	I journeyed to Damascus with the
6:19	authority in the commission of the chief
6:20	priest
6:21	at midday O King I saw on the way a
6:25	light from Heaven brighter than the sun
6:28	that’s shown around me and those who
6:31	journeyed with me
6:33	it’s interesting the first thing that
6:35	Paul well Saul sees is the light
6:41	and this is not an accident
6:44	so when we had all fall into the ground
6:46	I Heard a Voice saying to me in the
6:48	Hebrew language
6:51	that’s how his name is pronounced in
6:53	Hebrew why are you persecuting me it is
6:56	hard for you to kick against the goads
6:58	and I said who are you Lord and the Lord
7:00	said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting
7:03	but rise and stand upon your feet for I
7:05	have appeared to you for this purpose to
7:07	appoint you as a servant and a witness
7:09	to the things in which you have seen me
7:11	and to those in which I will appear to
7:14	you delivering you from your people and
7:17	from the Gentiles to whom I am sending
7:20	you to open their eyes
7:23	so that they may turn from Darkness to
7:26	light
7:27	from the power of Satan to God
7:30	that they may receive forgiveness of
7:33	sins and a place among those who are
7:36	Sanctified by faith
7:39	in me
7:41	so Jesus sends shall and his name is
7:45	changed to Paul commissioned by Christ
7:49	so that people would turn from Darkness
7:52	to light
7:53	and be released from the power of Satan
7:56	himself
7:57	the Apostle Paul in Colossians chapter 1
8:00	starting at verse 13 picks up on this
8:03	very theme that he heard from Jesus
8:04	where he says that God has delivered us
8:07	from the Dominion of darkness and
8:09	transferred us to the kingdom of his
8:10	beloved Son in whom we have Redemption
8:12	and the Forgiveness of our sins
8:16	let us never forget brothers and sisters
8:18	that the world that we live in
8:20	ruled terribly
8:22	by one who is a usurper
8:25	the ultimate Tyrant the Devil Himself
8:29	and we were all born under his Dominion
8:31	imagine him as Hitler
8:34	squared cubed I don’t know math but it
8:37	sounds really bad when you start talking
8:39	in terms like this
8:41	that’s
8:43	the being that we were all
8:45	well enslaved under
8:48	and so the Christmas message comes to us
8:52	almost as a message of rebellion but let
8:56	me remind you brothers and sisters we
8:58	understand Rebellion here in the United
9:00	States this is a country’s founded on
9:02	Rebellion against tyranny but in the
9:05	cosmic battle between good and evil
9:07	light and darkness tyranny and slavery
9:10	Christ is no Rebel
9:13	I recently saw the new Star Wars movie
9:15	must say I enjoyed it immensely
9:18	and I find it fascinating yet this theme
9:22	of the evil empire taking control of the
9:25	entire universe and those who are
9:27	fighting against this oppressive
9:31	tyrannical system
9:33	they are the ones called the rebels but
9:35	we are not Rebels brothers and sisters
9:38	the devil is the rebel
9:41	and so the message that comes to us
9:44	at Christmas
9:46	is a message of Hope and it is not a
9:49	message of rebellion it is a message of
9:52	liberation
9:54	think of it this way you and I are born
9:57	in Nazi occupied Europe
10:01	and we are hearing over the radio
10:05	the king is born
10:07	the one who will set us free and
10:10	liberate us and make it so that we can
10:13	live in peace again and so our Old
10:15	Testament text today has these words the
10:19	people who walked in darkness have seen
10:21	a great light those who dwelt in the
10:24	land of deep Darkness on them has light
10:27	shone
10:28	you have multiplied the nation you have
10:31	increased its Joy they Rejoice before
10:33	you as with joy at the Harvest
10:36	as they are glad when they divide the
10:38	spoil and here’s the reason why
10:41	for the Yoke of his burden the staff on
10:44	his shoulder the rod of his oppressor
10:47	you have broken as on the day of Midian
10:50	in other words the Yoke of slavery that
10:53	was placed on every one of us at our
10:55	birth
10:57	placed there by the devil Christ hasn’t
11:00	removed it he’s broken it in two so that
11:04	it can never be put on you again every
11:06	boot of the tramping warrior in battle
11:08	tumult every garment rolled in blood
11:10	will be burned as fuel for the fire and
11:13	here’s the reason why
11:15	greatest words of defiance ever written
11:18	for unto us a child is born
11:22	unto us
11:24	a child is born to us a son is given
11:30	given by whom by God himself who sees us
11:34	languishing under the misery of this
11:36	tyranny sees us languishing under the
11:39	slavery of sin seize Us toiling in
11:43	darkness
11:44	he has shed light on us the light of his
11:48	son and given us the very thing that we
11:51	need to us as born a child to us a son
11:54	is given and the government shall be on
11:57	his shoulder
11:58	his name Shall be Called wonderful
12:01	counselor
12:02	Mighty God
12:04	Everlasting father
12:07	Prince
12:08	of peace
12:13	can’t wait for that government to show
12:15	up
12:17	peace
12:19	what a word what a concept I don’t know
12:22	if you’ve noticed there seems to be a
12:25	supreme lack of peace in our world
12:29	2016 was not the year of peace
12:32	in this country
12:35	and the lack of peace continues on
12:38	we don’t have peace in our personal
12:40	lives our political lives don’t even get
12:43	me started about social media
12:46	but to us a child is born a son is given
12:50	of the increase of his government and of
12:52	Peace there will be no end on the throne
12:54	of David and over his kingdom to
12:56	establish it and to uphold it with
12:57	Justice and with righteousness from this
13:00	time forth and forevermore the Zeal of
13:02	the Lord of hosts will do this you see
13:06	the Christmas message is the ultimate
13:08	message of defiance
13:13	you can kind of say it this way
13:15	I will not submit to the Yoke of the
13:19	devil I have been set free because unto
13:23	me a child has been born a son has been
13:26	given he has broken the Yoke of the
13:28	devil and I will not bend my knee again
13:32	under that tyranny
13:38	and that’s the message
13:40	Our Gospel text says in those days a
13:43	decree went out from Caesar Augustus
13:45	that all the world should be registered
13:48	taxed is a better way of putting it
13:51	this was the first registration when
13:53	quirinius was governor of Syria and all
13:55	that went to be registered each to his
13:57	own town Joseph also went up From
13:59	Galilee from the town of Nazareth to
14:02	Judea
14:03	to the city of David which is called
14:06	Bethlehem
14:07	because he was of the house and the
14:09	lineage of David
14:11	and so the story picks up we talked
14:14	about this recently how the House of
14:18	David
14:19	the Royal House
14:21	the throne on which Christ will sit
14:24	forever
14:26	has come down to nothing
14:31	except for the family name
14:34	he’s in Nazareth he travels to the city
14:37	of David and it’s appropriate
14:40	the Messiah would be born in the city of
14:42	David
14:43	so he was there to be registered with
14:45	Mary his betrothed who was with child
14:47	and while they were there the time came
14:49	for her to give birth
14:51	she gave birth to her firstborn son and
14:53	wrapped him in swaddling clauds and laid
14:55	him in a Manger because there was no
14:57	place for them in the Inn
15:00	Amazing Story
15:02	the king of kings
15:05	born to obscure poverty-stricken parents
15:08	wrapped in swaddling cloths you can
15:11	almost say that hints at Jesus’s grave
15:14	clothes because they do
15:16	and laid in a Manger of feeding trough
15:19	of animals
15:21	beautiful
15:23	and so the message of defiance against
15:26	the tyranny of the devil
15:30	comes to us in the humble birth of our
15:33	savior and our King
15:34	you see the devil is the one who exalts
15:36	himself I will Ascend to the highest
15:39	Tides everyone will bow down and call me
15:42	God
15:43	Jesus says I am God and I’m going to
15:46	make myself nothing
15:50	and I’m going to come
15:52	and I’m going to serve
15:55	what an amazing story
15:58	My ultimate favorite Christmas hymn
16:02	is What Child Is This
16:04	in the Lutheran service book verse 2
16:07	reads this way
16:08	why lie is he in such meanest state were
16:11	ox and ass are feeding
16:14	could Christian fear for Sinners here
16:16	the silent word is pleading
16:19	Nails spear shall pierce him through
16:24	the cross be born
16:26	for me for you
16:28	hail hail the word made flesh
16:31	the babe
16:32	the son of Mary
16:34	you see the manger and this lowly estate
16:38	this humbling of himself the great God
16:41	who is by nature God himself has come
16:45	not to punish us as we deserve
16:49	but to liberate us and in order to do
16:52	that he must go from the manger to the
16:55	cross
16:59	and so when we celebrate the birth of
17:01	our savior
17:03	we must see the wood of the manger
17:06	as becoming the very Planks on which
17:09	Jesus is nailed to in order to secure
17:11	our salvation
17:14	this is the message of defiance and this
17:17	is the very action of God that frees us
17:20	that redeems us that sets us free so
17:24	that we can be the people of God and no
17:27	longer the children of the devil
17:29	it’s so great and so magnificent that we
17:33	in darkness don’t even realize that the
17:36	light has been born
17:38	I like to imagine that the Angels Are Up
17:41	In Heaven going do they not understand
17:44	what is going on here now this next part
17:48	of the sermon not found in the Bible
17:50	let me explain it I like to picture
17:53	Gabriel and Michael those about the only
17:54	two angels I know names are for given in
17:57	scripture them sitting there going
18:00	he’s just been born and then looking at
18:03	the father going we’ve got to let
18:06	somebody know please let us go and
18:10	announce what is going on and the
18:12	father’s saying I’m glad you feel that
18:14	way I feel the same way too
18:18	but don’t go to the king
18:26	David was a shepherd
18:29	go find his people
18:31	the lowest of the low and let them know
18:35	so in the same region there were
18:37	shepherds out in the field keeping watch
18:40	over their flock by night
18:43	and an angel the Lord appeared to them
18:44	in the glory of the Lord Shone around
18:46	them noticed the light again shining in
18:48	the Darkness
18:51	and they were filled with great fear
18:53	oh so tragic how is this possible this
18:57	shows just how Wicked we are the glory
19:00	of God is shining and our first reaction
19:04	is ah
19:10	so the angel said
19:13	important words fear not
19:17	I get it you’re sinful you’re Wicked
19:21	fear not
19:22	and here’s why for behold I bring you
19:25	good news of great joy that will be for
19:28	all the people and here it is again for
19:31	unto you is Born This Day in the city of
19:35	David a savior who is Christ the lord
19:39	and that’s what we need
19:42	this will be a sign for you you will
19:44	find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths
19:46	and lying in a manger and suddenly there
19:48	was with the angel a multitude of the
19:51	Heavenly Host praising God and saying
19:55	glory to God in the highest and on Earth
19:59	peace
20:01	that word again peace among those with
20:04	whom he is pleased
20:06	now lest you think for a second that
20:08	this good news is not for you
20:11	what Christ has done for you on the
20:13	cross
20:14	is delivered to you in the waters of
20:16	baptism
20:18	is delivered to you here at this altar
20:20	when you partake the very body and blood
20:23	of Christ broken and shed for you for
20:25	the Forgiveness of your sins you heard
20:27	today the words of the Absolution I
20:30	forgive you all of your sins in the name
20:32	of the father Son and the Holy Spirit so
20:35	what Jesus has accomplished has been
20:37	stuck in your ears put in your mouth
20:39	washed over your body you have been made
20:43	pleasing to God by his great acts of
20:47	mercy and grace to you
20:51	so this is good news for us
20:54	peace begins
20:56	with peace with God
20:58	and now that we have that peace that
21:01	peace then begins to flow out in our
21:04	relationships with each other
21:08	so when the angels went away
21:10	they left them and went into heaven the
21:13	shepherd said to one another let us go
21:15	over to Bethlehem and see this thing
21:17	that has happened which the Lord has
21:19	made known to us
21:21	and they went with haste and they found
21:23	Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a
21:26	Manger
21:28	and when they saw it
21:29	they made known the saying that had been
21:31	told them concerning this child you see
21:34	the reason why we know
21:38	what the angel said to the Shepherds is
21:40	because they told Mary and Mary told
21:42	Luke and Luke told you
21:46	so they
21:47	all who heard wondered at what the
21:49	Shepherds told them and Mary treasured
21:52	up all these things pondering them in
21:54	her heart
21:55	and you would be wise to do that too
21:58	take these words
22:01	treasure them in your heart return to
22:04	them often Ponder them
22:07	you have been set free unto you a savior
22:10	has been born
22:12	so the Shepherds returned glorifying and
22:14	praising God for all that they had heard
22:16	and seen as it had been told to them
22:20	and with this in mind
22:22	this good news that unto us a child has
22:25	been born a son has been given the
22:27	government will be on his shoulder and
22:29	of Peace there will be no end let us
22:32	then see how this impacts our life in
22:35	the words of our epistle reading from
22:36	Titus 2.
22:38	for the grace of God has appeared
22:42	a little baby
22:45	ten little fingers and ten little toes
22:50	who sleeps and does this and when they
22:53	wakes up it goes when the yawns and
22:56	poops and needs to be had his diapers
22:58	changed
23:01	isn’t it wonderful
23:02	the grace of God has appeared
23:05	and he has brought salvation for all
23:08	people
23:10	and this trains us this grace of God
23:12	trains us to renounce ungodliness and
23:16	worldly passions and the reason for it
23:19	is simple ungodliness and worldly
23:21	passions is tyranny it’s slavery it’s
23:25	not freedom
23:28	these are the things for which we are
23:30	ashamed and rightfully so
23:33	and so this grace of God this
23:35	forgiveness and mercy trains us
23:39	to renounce ungodliness and worldly
23:41	passions and say I will no longer be
23:45	your slave devil
23:47	the Lord rebuke you and if you haven’t
23:50	read the book I’ve read the end of it
23:52	he’s going to take your dragon scales
23:55	and throw you along with them into the
23:57	Lake of Fire and we’re never going to
23:59	have to deal with you again and we’re
24:01	gonna party forever
24:03	there will be nothing but peace
24:10	science
24:13	stand with me this Christmas
24:15	in defiance of the devil
24:18	because unto us has been born a child a
24:22	savior a redeemer who is Christ the lord
24:25	and this is great news
24:29	live in Freedom now in this age
24:33	in the face of the breath of the Dragon
24:38	and know this that the same baby who was
24:41	born grew died was crucified buried rose
24:46	again on the third day ascended into
24:48	heaven and he’s coming back and he
24:50	himself is going to do away with that
24:53	old dragon
24:59	so renounce ungodliness worldly passions
25:03	instead live self-controlled upright and
25:07	godly lives in this present age while we
25:09	wait for our blessed hope the appearing
25:12	of the glory of our great God and Savior
25:15	Jesus Christ that same Glory that the
25:18	aim that the Shepherds saw on the plains
25:20	of Bethlehem we’re gonna see it too
25:23	we won’t have to ever wonder again what
25:26	it looks like
25:28	it will always be there for us to see
25:34	because Jesus gave himself
25:38	for us
25:40	to redeem us
25:42	from all lawlessness
25:44	and to purify for himself a people for
25:47	his own possession
25:49	who are zealous
25:51	for good works
25:54	so this Christmas
25:56	I announce to you
25:58	that unto you a child is born
26:01	a son is given
26:04	and the whole government in the world is
26:06	on his shoulders
26:07	look to the skies
26:10	stand in defiance of the devil in this
26:13	present Wicked age
26:15	for his glory is soon to appear
26:18	and when he appears
26:20	it’ll be joy and peace
26:22	Everlasting
26:24	in the name of Jesus
26:26	amen

If you would like to support the teaching ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, you can do so by sending a tax-free donation to: Kongsvinger Lutheran Church 15950 470th Ave NW, Oslo, MN 56744 We thank you for your support. All of our teaching messages may be freely distributed as long as you do not edit or change the content of the message, and, again, thank you for listening.