Bible Text:

“While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger…”                                                     (Luke 2:6-7)

I read a story about a minister who very much enjoyed an occasional small drink of brandy. He knew of a member of his congregation who made his own peach brandy every year. He really hoped that one year he might get a chance to try it out. Finally he got up his nerve and asked his friend if he could have one of those bottles of homemade peach brandy for Christmas. His friend said he would gladly do that, on one condition: the minister would have to thank his friend publicly from the pulpit that Sunday morning. 

The minister agonized for a while. He didn’t want his people to think he was a lush, or even enjoyed drinking too much. Finally he came up with a solution. On Sunday morning, as he was thanking members of the congregation for a variety of cards that had come his way, he said, “I want to thank my friend Joe for the gift of peaches I received for Christmas, and for the spirit in which they were given.” 

Do you have a wish list for Christmas? Do you have a list written down somewhere of what you’d like for Christmas? Children have their lists. They want something in plastic (Power Ranger or Barbie doll), or a pet (kitten or puppy), or some palm-held electronic game. Teenagers have their wish list of something with velocity (perhaps a car), or something with volume (a CD player or an MP3 player). Adults have different kinds of lists. Their list might include, “My wish for Christmas is that everyone would clean up their room once a week.” Or, “My wish for Christmas is that I could have one hour of peace and quiet every night at home.” 

Sometimes we just want to drop a few hints here and there. I read a story about a young boy who wanted a watch for Christmas in the worst way. He kept hinting all the way around how much he would like to have a watch, how useful it would be, how much joy it would bring him. Over and over again, he made the same comment. Finally his parents told him that if he mentioned the watch one more time, he would be sure not to get it for Christmas. 

The family also had a custom of reciting Bible verses at the dinner table after church each Sunday. Each member of the family had to recite some memory verse of the Bible. When it came to the young boy’s turn, he said, “I want to recite Mark 13:37: ‘What I say to you, I say to all: watch!’” Sometimes we drop a hint or two. 

So here’s a question for you this morning. If Jesus were to make out a wish list for his birthday, and if he could show you that list, what would be on it? What does Jesus want from you for Christmas? Imagine with me what might be on his list. 

I’D LIKE MY BIRTHDAY BACK 

One thing Jesus might say to us is this: “I’d like my birthday back.” A few of you here today must have a birthday somewhere close to Christmas. Perhaps it’s December 23^rd or 24^th; perhaps it’s December 26^th or 27^th. At the feeling level, you might say the same thing: “What I’d really like to have is my birthday back.” Jesus might be saying this to us, but for different reasons. 

You’ve heard all the slogans: “He is the reason for the season”; “Keep Christ in Christmas”; or “Put Christ back in Christmas”. 

But consider this: for the first three or four centuries of Christianity, there was no outward observance of the birth of Jesus. The world was a pagan world in those days. The pagans observed a festival of lights each winter—usually on this day of the calendar, December 21^st—to ward off the winter darkness. It was a big celebration of light. Christians could mark the birth of Jesus on such an occasion without being noticed too much. It was simply terribly dangerous to outwardly observe Christmas publicly. It was a pagan world, and it was a world hostile to Christianity. 

Some people suggest that that’s the kind of world we live in today. I even got a card this week inviting me to a Winter Solstice party this afternoon from 4:30-7:30 in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. Is it possible that we have moved from a pre-Christian world (the first three or four centuries) through a Christian period of history, to now a post-Christian world today? Is it possible that the world is more pagan again than it has been in a long time? Perhaps the word “secular” is more instructive than the word “pagan.” 

Robert Webber wrote these words: “The church is functioning in a pagan America. We live in more of a missional model… this era is essentially pagan in similar ways in which the church grew up or was formed.” 

Leonard Sweet started a spirituality magazine a few years ago called “Soul Café.” He sent out a mass mailing of sample copies of the magazine in the early fall. In December he received this note from a Florida resident expressing disinterest in the magazine. The note said simply, “We are not Christians. Kindly keep Jesus to yourself. Merry Christmas.” That pretty much defines the world we live in. 

So we have today our “Happy Holidays” greetings. Have you noticed how many of the military greetings coming from Iraq do not say “Merry Christmas,” but “Happy Holidays”? Or we have observances called “’Tis the Season,” or “Light-up Night” or “Sparkle Season.” We can try to infiltrate these observances. It’s safe for us to do so. We are not going to be persecuted if people catch us observing Christmas. We infiltrated such an observance a few weeks ago in downtown Pittsburgh. Our Annual Conference staff was there. Our singles ministry here at Christ Church was represented there. But it’s hard to break through the secular culture. 

Maybe it has been that way longer than we realize. We were in Williamsburg close to Christmas a few years ago, touring one of the restored homes. Someone noticed that there were very few decorations in the buildings, only a few wreaths here and there. They asked why that was the case. The guide said, “It’s because colonial Americans did not make a big deal of Christmas, at least not in the culture. 

The reality is, we are back in somewhat pagan times. We are probably not going to change the secular observances of the season. We can’t stop the Halloween through December madness that comes our way. We won’t stop the Santa promotions or the advertising. We won’t stop the “more stuff” emphasis that is so prevalent. 

All we can do is to keep the birthday observance ourselves. We can make sure we have a prayerful presence at a Christmas Eve worship service. We can make sure we have a quiet remembrance in our homes, saying something to the effect, “Thank you for Jesus in my life and thank you for Jesus in our world.” We can do some personal listening, and we can personally sing the carols of the season. 

We cannot make the world mark the observance of Jesus’ birth. But we can do it. We can celebrate his coming. The community of believers can pull out all the stops.

 We may not change the culture, but we can infiltrate the culture. In the next few days, let the light from this place shine as brightly as is possible. We can mark Jesus’ birthday with unreserved enthusiasm. 

SPREAD SOME GOOD WILL AROUND 

What would Jesus like for Christmas? I am remembering that the angel sang, “Peace on earth, good will toward all.” Maybe Jesus would like us to spread some good will around to believers and to non-believers. Just spread it around. 

Many of you have already done some of that this year. We have received in our home and at the office carefully chosen Christmas cards and letters that are genuine expressions of good will. Some of you purchased SERRV items to support Christians in the developing world as a matter of spreading good will. Some of you purchased items from the Alternative Giving Mart, to the same end. Elaine and I bought three meals for three Haitian families in their homes this week. 

Recently a news columnist made a bold suggestion. She said there might be a Christmas gift registry much like those used for weddings. Except it would be different. It would not be a request for more “stuff” for me. (She talked about something called “stuff fatigue.”) Rather it would be a request for some good will to be spread around. She said we might even call the gift registry on the Internet “goodwill.com.”[i] People would find your name, and by your name it would tell others what charities you’d like to support. It might be United Methodist Committee on Relief, or it might be the Interfaith Hospitality Network, or it might be Prime Time Adult Day Care… or it might be Christ United Methodist Church! 

You’d get e-mail back. It would say, “Your friend just gave $10 to Prime Time in your name.” 

And you would say to yourself, “Exactly what I needed and wanted for Christmas!” This fulfills part of the meaning of Jesus’ birth. Jesus seems to be saying to us, “In honor of my birthday, spread a lot of good will around.” 

I ASK FOR YOUR HEART 

At least one remaining item is on Jesus’ list. What does Jesus want for Christmas? He wants you and me. 

We just sang a carol a few minutes ago called “In the bleak mid-winter.” A portion of it is going to be done again at the close of this message. It becomes an expression of the most wanted item on Jesus’ list.

   What can I give him, poor as I am?

   If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

   If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

   Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.[ii] 

What is the most perfect gift to help celebrate Jesus/ birthday? Give him yourself. Give him your very human, your very real, your very fragile, your very vulnerable self. 

Will Campbell tells a story of his Grandma Betty. She wore a flannel bathrobe to church on the Sunday after Christmas. When asked why, she said simply, “It was the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, and the Lord deserves the best.” 

Your best is yourself, in Jesus’ eyes. It’s what God asked of Mary, and it’s what God asked of Joseph. Give the heart of who you are to Jesus. 

Jesus does not want you to attend more church meetings. He doesn’t ask for a full confession of all your wrongs, or even a promise to do more “rights.” He doesn’t ask for your piety, your promise to read the Bible more. He wants you. He wants your deepest self. 

I ask you to consider Jesus’ birthday wish list today. Jesus is making out his list. He’s checking it twice! Give me my birthday observance, especially those of you who believe. Give me some expression of good will to all persons. Give me your heart. And Jesus is saying to us, “These would be the best birthday presents I could ever hope to receive.”