The Grace of God Has Appeared in Christ
In The Grace of God Has Appeared in Christ, Pastor Doug Scalise reflects on Luke 2:1–14 and invites us to see Christmas as a journey to Bethlehem where God’s grace breaks into ordinary, messy, and unexpected circumstances. The birth of Jesus reveals that God enters the world not through control or perfection, but through humility, surprise, and love. Through Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, we discover that no matter how we arrive at Christmas—joyful, weary, or uncertain—God meets us with good news of great joy for all people. This Christmas Eve message reminds us that Christ’s grace shines as a guiding light, leading us home with hope, peace, and renewed faith.
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The Grace of God Has Appeared in Christ
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’Andsuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.’And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” (Luke 2:1-20 (KJV).
Christmas Eve is a special night for us to enjoy time with family and friends, with worship, music, candles, and the good news of great joy that’s for all people. I’m more convinced than ever that people need more than “a little Christmas”, as the song says – we need a lot of Christmas. Christmas is a holy day, a feast and a phenomenon that has a power beyond our control.
Trying to organize Christmas is like herding cats, or getting Scotch tape off a toddler – it’s not easy. Organized people attempt to schedule the flow of Christmas and get everything lined up – from gifts to parties, to cards, to travel – because you just never know what might happen. I respect those of you who do that, because so often, something ends up happening.
The spirit of Christmas does not submit easily to our control. Christmas is like four people on a sled built for two, gathering speed, going down a steep hill – you hold on as best you can and enjoy the ride, knowing you’ll be falling off awkwardly into the snow at any moment, and you hope you don’t get hurt, as you’re laughing at the fun and absurdity of it all.
Christmas is best when we let it happen beyond our plans or expectations. Christmas is a mix of Bible stories, music, traditions, nostalgia, food, travel, people, and presents, and it’s fun to contribute to what can be a hectic, and stressful, time.
After all, if you think about the first Christmas, it was hectic, messy, and stressful, much as it is for many of us. Mary and Joseph are on the road, taking a trip to deal with a census or taxes, when they should be home preparing to deliver a baby.
Shepherds in the fields, minding their own business, are interrupted by angel messengers praising God, announcing good news, and startling them out of their minds. This was not in their plans.
It wasn’t a silent night, and it couldn’t have been too peaceful, giving birth far from home, with no family member or friend to serve as a midwife, and having to depend on the hospitality and kindness of strangers.
The whole experience, as told in Luke’s Gospel, is big – it’s beyond people’s control, and everyone is along for the ride, adapting and adjusting, as best they can, to God breaking into their routines and plans with life changing news.
Looking at the first Christmas story, as well as the present, it’s clear that Christmas is a time for taking trips. It may start with trips to stores and to the Post Office. We all know how busy the Post Office can be during the weeks before Christmas. We have folks who work for the postal service; they have a difficult job.
There was a man who worked for the Post Office, whose job was processing all the mail that had illegible addresses. One day, a letter came to his desk, addressed – in shaky handwriting – to God. He thought he should open it to see what it was about. He opened it, and read:
“Dear God: I am a 93-year-old widow, living on a small pension. Yesterday, someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check. Next Sunday is Christmas, and I have invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. Can you please help me? Sincerely, Edna”.
The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to the other workers. Each of them contributed a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which was put into an envelope and sent to the woman. The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow for the kind thing they had done.
Christmas came and went. A few days later, another letter came, in the same shaky handwriting, addressed to God. All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened. It read:
“Dear God: How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a lovely day, and I told my friends about your wonderful gift. By the way, there was $4 missing. I think it must have been those thieving crooks at the Post Office. Sincerely, Edna”.
Christmas is a time for giving people the benefit of the doubt, and for taking trips, not just to local places like the Post Office or stores. Christmas is a time of journeying, wondering what we will find when we arrive.
At Christmas, many of us travel, geographically, from one place to another. About half the folks in our church travel to be with family, and the rest of you are blessed to have your loved ones come to see you on Cape Cod. Some of you have flown from other parts of the country, and I hope your luggage arrived with you.
Christmas is a time for taking trips. At Christmas, many of us travel, not just from place to place, but from one time in our lives to another. For the youngest among us, there is no other time except Christmas present, and all the excitement that Christmas (and time off from school) brings.
For the rest of us, there are Christmases past, which still live in our memories. In our minds, we can journey back to other Christmases, when the love and laughter of special people warmed our hearts and homes, like a fire on a December night.
We can remember trips to visit parents and grandparents. Now, some of us are amazed that we are the parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. Some of us can remember Christmases when we were far from home, or loved ones, or safety.
Some of us have gone away from home and are just coming back to visit. Each time we return, something has changed within us, between us and those we love, even as some things remain the same.
Christmas is a time for taking trips from one place to another and from one time in our life to another. Christmas is also about another journey God invites us to make.
It’s a journey to Bethlehem to see that the grace of God has appeared in Christ, in a baby whose presence is good news of great joy for all people. The birth of a child can be a time of joy for many people. For those of you for whom this is the first Christmas as parents or grandparents, I know it will be one you especially remember.
Back in 1992, when Jill and I were at Prospect Hill Baptist Church in Pennsylvania, I concluded the Christmas Eve service by announcing that we were expecting our first child. I have nothing to announce this evening in that regard.
Back then, people were crying because they were so happy for us, especially since we experienced a miscarriage the previous spring. Months later, in quite a contrast to Joseph and Mary, when it was time for our baby to be born, we made the 15-minute journey to the hospital, in a car. Unlike Mary and Joseph, we knew exactly where we were going and what we would find.
When Nathan was born, the doctor asked me if I wanted to cut the umbilical cord. I looked at her, smiled, and said, “If you came to worship at my church, I wouldn’t ask you to come to the pulpit and preach. You cut the cord.” Nathan was born in a hospital, with all the benefits of modern medical technology and comfortable surroundings.
Now, our sons and their wives have children of their own; yet, even today, every child doesn’t come into the world in a safe and healthy way. When a child is born, there are phone calls to make, and people arrange to visit. When we travel today, whether for Christmas or the birth of a child, we usually go by car, plane, or train – not on foot or by donkey – and for that, we can all be grateful.
On Christmas Eve, God invites all of us to travel to Bethlehem to see the baby who embodies God’s grace, to share the joy of Jesus and his family, and to spread the peace of Christ. There are many ways to take the trip to Bethlehem.
Joseph traveled to Bethlehem as a person going about the normal business of life, trying to do the best he could. Joseph didn’t have a brief, comfortable car ride to a safe and appropriate place for his wife. His nation was occupied by a foreign government that ordered people to return to their ancestral homes to be identified and tracked more efficiently. There were no exemptions for women who were nine months pregnant.
Making matters worse, even though they were in Joseph’s ancestral hometown, if he had any family still living there, no relatives invited them to stay in their home. Joseph was doing what needed to be done, going about the normal business of life, trying to do the best he could, and Joseph’s faithful love would be rewarded.
Some of us can relate to Joseph. We’re trying to do the best we can for those who depend on us and who are counting on us, and we’re trying to do it in circumstances that are less than ideal. I pray you will find joy and peace amid it all, as Joseph did.
Mary’s trip to Bethlehem was painful and uncomfortable. The context in which she gave birth was less than ideal, lacking familiar faces to help her; it must have been a little scary. This was not how she imagined having her first child, much less, this special child.
Some of us can relate to Mary, because our own life, right now, is painful, uncomfortable; things haven’t happened the way we hoped or imagined. We may be grieving, lonely, or heartbroken. Yet, for Mary, and for us, out of our pain and disappointment, we can see and embrace the Christ, who comes to share and bear our pain and heartache, and who longs to give us peace. I pray you will find comfort amid it all, as Mary did.
The third group that came to Bethlehem was the shepherds. They came because of a dramatic, heavenly revelation. They had an encounter with the holy that turned their world inside out.
Some of us have had experiences where God has spoken to us, or moved us in such a way that our life has been significantly altered. We have known the power of God at work, so that the ordinary is suddenly turned into the extraordinary.
The shepherds came to the manger with joy, excitement, and anticipation – just as some of us have come to worship, this Christmas Eve. Some of us look forward to this time every year, and we’re enjoying the whole scene.
However you have traveled to Christmas Eve this year, I pray that when you finally arrive – as we have now – at the manger, that when you look at the baby – who is called Jesus because he will save people from their sins – I hope you see a baby who is the ultimate expression of God’s love and grace for us.
I hope, at the end of your journey, you find a reason for joy and celebration and following Jesus.
Christmas is a time for taking trips, so I close with a story that actually happened.
“Late one night, Slim Cornett was being shown around a county airport in rural Mississippi by a member of his church who managed the facility. ‘This switch lights up the runway,’ the man said, as he flipped it on. ‘Then, let’s say there is a plane in distress up there. I would throw this switch, and turn on the search lights.’ And he did.
As the night skies lit up, a small plane materialized out of the darkness, and landed. Slim and his friend watched in amazement as the plane landed. The pilot had been flying to Texas when the electrical system shut down, leaving them stranded in the Mississippi night without lights or radio or any means of guidance. From out of nowhere, the search beam came on and guided them to the landing strip.”
If you feel like you’re flying in the darkness, unsure where you are or where you are going, fearful about the future and dreading what may happen, I pray the Lord will light your darkness and show you the way to Bethlehem this Christmas – where a baby has been born, full of grace and truth, and who will grow to be the light of the world and The Way to abundant, eternal, joyful life with God.
The night Jesus was born is more than a historical event – it’s a living testament to God’s profound love for us.
Christmas Prayer
O Lord of Christmas, whose breath is mercy and whose arms are grace, we come before you this Christmas Eve – the tired, the wondering, the bored, the depressed, the grieving, the amazed, the delighted, and the excited. Still the pounding of our hearts with your divine calmness, and touch our eyes and ears that we may see and hear your presence among us.
Teach us how to be like Jesus, saying and doing only those things that make for love, joy, and peace in our relationships. Inspire us to share our food and our abundance with the hungry, the poor, the old, and the young of your world. Open our hearts to the lonely, the homeless, the despondent, and those different from ourselves.
Lord, we pray for all those who are separated from those they love. We pray for every man, woman, and child, of every nation and race, spending this Christmas Eve in dangerous and fearful places, for whom all is not calm and all is not bright. Surround them with your protection and your angels.
Let the light from our candles be dim compared to the glow of our peace, hope, and contentment in Jesus the Christ. May we kneel in awe before the sight that made angels sing and shepherds leave their flocks.
Turn us, Loving God, into the way of Jesus, that Christmas may be a time of new birth and new beginnings, whatever our age, so we may be light in a dark world; a song of hope, in the midst of despair; instruments of your peace, in a world full of hatred, division, and strife; people of joy, because Jesus has come into our world and into our lives.
We thank you, with all our hearts, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Rev. Elijah M. Brown, General Secretary and CEO of the Baptist World Alliance, described Christmas and, slightly edited, this is what he said:
For all people in all places, of every profession or with no possession, Jesus offers living Good News of great joy. There are around 64,000 words in the Greek Gospels, and only twice do the words “great joy” come together.
It is when the Shepherds heard of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:10), and when the Magi encountered the star shining over the place where the child Jesus was (Matthew 2:10). The message of Christmas is great joy. Great joy is found when the wise and the lowly, when the wealthy and those who have only themselves to bring, encounter the miracle of timeless eternity wrapped in the swaddling clothes of a vulnerable baby.
This Christmas, let us go and tell others, in peace, the “good news of great joy.”
Let us not give into the temptation to amplify the message of those who sow discord and division, caustic commentary, or casual cruelty.
Let us not exalt the actions of violence and death that isolate people, separate families, impoverish communities, and decimate countries.
Let us not give into the temptation to echo the message of materialism that treats greed as good and endless gain as a sign of godliness.
Let us not heed the whispers of doubt, hate, prejudice, and worry.
As believers and as people of good will, let us stand apart from that which would coarsen our hearts and destroy our souls, and in our words and actions, “Let us not follow the path of fear for we have good news of great joy.” This great joy of the Gospel is for all people.
It doesn’t belong to any one language, race, culture, or nation. It belongs to all people, including those who are near and those who are far, those who are beloved and those we might be tempted to call our enemy. For every person, no matter how strongly we may disagree, is made in the image of God.
This Christmas, God welcomes you. No matter who you are or where you’re from, God welcomes you to know the miracle of peace in the person of Jesus. As the authors of the Gospels and our own lives testify, finding Jesus as a humble baby in a manger is the path to the greatest joy.
This Christmas, I hope you’ll choose to embody the Christmas invitation to set aside fear and to live and share the good news of great joy to all people.
Christmas Blessing by Joyce Rupp
May there be harmony in all your relationships.
May sharp words, envious thoughts, and hostile feelings be dissolved.
May you give and receive love generously.
May this love echo in your heart like the joy of church bells on a clear December day.
May each person who comes into your life be greeted as another Christ.
May the honor given the Babe of Bethlehem be that which you extend to every guest who enters your presence.
May the hope of this sacred season settle in your soul.
May it be a foundation of courage for you when times of distress occupy your inner land.
May the wonder and awe that fills the eyes of children be awakened within you.
May it lead you to renewed awareness and appreciation of whatever you too easily take for granted.
May the bonds of love for one another be strengthened as you gather with your family and friends around the table of festivity and nourishment.
May you open the gift of life daily and be grateful for the hidden treasures it contains.
May the coming year be one of good health for you. May you have energy and vitality.
May you care well for your body, mind, and spirit.
May you go often to the Bethlehem of your heart and visit the One who offers you peace. May you bring peace into our world.
May God bless us, everyone!