Worship Helps for Christmas 1

Artwork: Anno Domini

Artist: Edwin Long

Date: 1883

Worship Theme: God cares for his sons. He cared for his son, the nation of Israel—though they were rebellious. He cared for his Son, Jesus—though Herod raged against him. He even cares for his newly adopted sons—though we do not deserve it. God cared for us by sending his Son to deliver us from the corruption of sin and transform us into sons just like Jesus. That work of Christ gives us peace that only sons can have.

Old Testament: Hosea 11:1-7

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. ² But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. ³ It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. ⁴ I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. ⁵ "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? ⁶ Swords will flash in their cities, will destroy the bars of their gates and put an end to their plans. ⁷ My people are determined to turn from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them.

1. How did God care for his son, the nation of Israel? How did he use his Son to restore them to sonship?

Epistle: Galatians 4:4-7

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, ⁵ to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. ⁶ Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

2. How do you know the birth of Jesus was not a random or chance event?

Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." ¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." … ¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰ and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." ²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

3. What is the sad irony of Herod trying to kill the baby Jesus?

4. What comfort do you find for your life in the account of God leading Joseph and Mary to Egypt and then to Nazareth?

Answers:

1. God had made a son for himself in the nation of Israel, but they turned away from God again and again. God had cared for his son by healing him and teaching him and feeding him, but Israel failed to recognize his care. The Father kept calling, but the son turned further and further away. To his rebellious son, Israel, God said, “I love you, but I will judge you.” That judgment on Israel certainly came. But God had not stopped caring for his sons. God sent his Son to be the son Israel should have been so that his repentant children might be his sons again.

2. God’s care for his sons meant preparing the world for the coming of Christ. The common language of Greek, the peace of the Roman Empire, the ability to travel, the dispersion of the Jews throughout the world—all these served to help the message of Jesus spread. But even more, the time was right for God to fulfill every prophetic promise to care for his children.

God commissioned his own Son to become the God-man who subjected himself to law so that everyone under sin’s curse might be bought back. The Incarnation of God meant that children of wrath could become the sons of God, and Pentecost proves our adoption as sons. The Spirit that cries, “Abba, Father,” also testifies to our freedom from sin and our new status as heirs of God’s kingdom.

3. At the birth of Christ, the angels announced good news and great joy meant for all people, but not everyone saw it that way: Herod reacted to the birth of Jesus with fear, opposition, and violence.

4. The malice of Herod, however, could not rob the world of the peace God intended to bring through his Son. God cared for his Son and all the sons of God by using Joseph to keep him safe in the land of Egypt. The words of Hosea found their fulfillment at his return from Egypt—Jesus was Israel reduced to one. God cared for his sons by having his Son serve as their substitute. The closing words, “He will be called a Nazarene,” are problematic since they are not found in the Old Testament prophets. Matthew might have intended a play on words between Nazareth and nezer, “branch, ” fulfilling Isaiah 11:1. Perhaps, though, he meant that Jesus’ new hometown of Nazareth would contribute to the contempt that he would receive as a man (see John 1:45-46), thus fulfilling the word of the prophets that the Messiah would be a suffering servant.

A reading from the Book of Concord for the First Sunday after Christmas

Now, if you are asked, “What do you believe in the Second Article about Jesus Christ?” answer briefly,

“I believe that Jesus Christ, God’s true Son, has become my Lord.”

“But what does it mean to become Lord?”

“It is this. He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death, and from all evil.  For before I did not have a Lord or King, but was captive under the devil’s power, condemned to death, stuck in sin and blindness.” 

When we had been created by God the Father and had received from Him all kinds of good, the devil came and led us into disobedience, sin, death, and all evil.  So we fell under God’s wrath and were doomed to eternal damnation, just as we had deserved.  There was no help, or comfort until this eternal Son of God—in His immeasurable goodness—had compassion upon our misery and wretchedness.  He came from heaven to help us. So those tyrants are all expelled now.  In their place has come Jesus Christ, Lord of life, righteousness, every blessing, and salvation.  He has delivered us poor, lost people from hell’s jaws, has won us, made us free, and brought us again into the Father’s favor and grace.  He has taken us as His own property under His shelter so that He may govern us by His righteousness, wisdom, power, and blessedness. – Large Catechism, Part 2, The Apostles’ Creed, Article II (paragraphs 27-30)