Trey H. Little

Sermon Text:  Luke 2: 16-20

December 24, 2010 (Christmas Eve Service)

Albany, Texas

“What Difference Does a Day Make?”

Let us now hear the remaining words of Luke’s account of one of the most memorable days ever—turn with me to Luke 2: 16-20.

            The young son of a Presbyterian minister was outside playing just a few hours prior to the annual Christmas Eve Service where his father would once again preach a sermon about the arrival of Jesus.  The little boy was doing all of the things that little boys do.  He was climbing trees.  He was throwing rocks.  He was jumping in a large pile of leaves.  Then, his mother called him in for dinner and all of the family gathered at the table.  His mother looked at him and said, “Young man, let me see your hands.”

There was some rubbing of his hands on his blue jeans before he held his hands up.  His mother took one look at them and asked, “How many times do I have to tell you—you must wash your hands before you eat?  When your hands are dirty, they have germs all over them and you could get sick.  After we say the blessing, I want you to march back to the bathroom and wash your hands!”

Everyone at the table bowed their heads and the father said the blessing and closed with, “In the name of Jesus we pray.”  Then the little boy got up and headed out of the kitchen.  He stopped, then turned and looked at his mother and said, “Jesus and germs!  Jesus and germs!  That’s all I ever hear around here and I haven’t seen a one of them!”

Well, I don’t know if you washed your hands before you came to this Christmas Eve feast but I do know that I never get tired of hearing Jesus around here.  I never get tired of hearing about the day Jesus came alive in the world.  I never get tired of hearing about the Reason for the Season.  I never get tired of hearing about how hope, joy, love, peace and promise made their premiere embodied in a baby in manger.  And, no matter how many times I have to tell you, I never get tired of reminding you of what a difference a day made.

There was census taking and accommodations making.  There was the cry of a baby breaking through the darkness and shepherds keeping watch at night.  There were angels terrifying and singing and shepherds hurrying and sharing.  There was a mother treasuring and all present were glorifying and praising!!  What a day! 

But here is my question—what difference does it make?  What difference does a day make?

Undoubtedly, there are numerous days in our lives that have left an indelible impression on us.  I suspect if I asked you where you were when John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, many of you would have no problem.  Others of us can vividly recall the emotions we experienced when we saw the pictures of the ball of flame and smoke that was once the space shuttle Challenger.  Perhaps you remember the day Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon.  Or when Elvis died.  Perhaps hearing 9-11 is all you need to recall countless pictures and memories.

No question, a day can make a huge difference.

This evening, as we take our annual journey through the day the Christ child was born, I want us to consider the difference the day made in a few people’s lives.

It made a difference in the lives of the Shepherds!  They were people much like you and me.  Spending their day going through the motions—doing what they did.  They showed up for work like they usually did and they were keeping watch of their flocks well into the night.    Then, one can only imagine the horror that came over them when “the glory of the Lord shone around them.”  I can just picture a deer in the headlights times about ten.  But then as quickly as the fear arose, the Good News was able to calm and bring peace.  And like that, their shaking turned into hearing the sweet chorus singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  The shepherds, who only a short time prior had been frozen in fear, were now going in peace.

They had once been speechless and now they couldn’t stop talking.  They couldn’t keep it a secret.  What had happened to them that day—what they had seen that day—would forever be etched in their hearts and minds.  They had to “spread the word.”

What difference did that day make for the shepherds?  It gave them a story to tell.

Perhaps you have been going through the motions—simply doing what you do.  But I wonder, could remembering the day Jesus was born conquer YOUR fears?  Could that memorable day remind you of the hope and comfort Jesus brings?  Will it make such a difference in your heart that you too will have a story to tell?

But also, according to Luke, that day made a difference in the lives of “all who heard it.”  We don’t know much about who these “all” were.  Luke doesn’t provide us with names or faces; he leaves that to our imagination.  But I imagine there was a mess of them—remember, the inn was full—sold out—no vacancies.  And I imagine the story telling shepherds busted open the door of the inn and came in talking 100MPH.  Think about it, they had just heard about and seen the most miraculous event in the history of the world and they were telling everyone they could.

Have you ever been around people like this—they are so passionate about something that they will just talk your head off about it?  Upon which many of us try to politely avoid them because it can just wear you out having to listen to someone, much less several people, never stopping to take a breath—JUST LIKE PREACHERS!! 

But can you imagine the power and excitement that was in their message?  It must have been mesmerizing for “all those who heard”—I can just imagine them standing and listening to every word they spoke.  These shepherds had startling and life changing information.  Their message was revolutionary, breathtaking and transformative.  It literally changed listener’s lives. The shepherds were not using a canned speech nor were they using some big “church” words—they were speaking from the heart and their words connected to the deepest needs of all those who heard them.  The result?—all those who heard it WERE AMAZED!

What about you—does the story of that day still AMAZE you or are you politely avoiding the Good News?  Are you telling others about how you have experienced Jesus or is the birth of Christ just an excuse to get presents?  Are you telling everyone who will listen?  Are you telling them about the difference that day has made in your life or are you still asking, “what difference does a day make?

Finally, there is no question “that day” made a difference in the life of Mary.  Mary had a lot to think about.  Luke tells us that Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  As she gazed into the face of her tiny child I can only imagine what she must have been pondering—what she was treasuring.  The angel Gabriel had told her that not only was she“highly favored” and “the Lord was with her” but also she would give birth to a son who would “be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  He will reign forever.”  And there she sat—fixing her eyes on the Wonderful Counselor; the Mighty God; the Everlasting Father; the Prince of Peace; the Savior, the One who would “save his people from their sins.”  I think that is worthy of some “pondering and treasuring,” don’t you?  What difference did a day make for Mary?  From that day forward her greatest treasure would be in her heart!

Where is yours?

It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner, “What are you charged with?”  The defendant replied, “Doing my Christmas shopping early.” The judge responded, “That’s no offense.  How early were you doing this shopping?”  The defendant replied, “Before the store opened.”

Friends, if you want to give your loved ones a great Christmas present this year, un-wrap your heart and let them see the difference a day has made in you.  Let them be amazed by the Good News that came alive that starry night in Bethlehem and can come alive in their heart tonight.  Share with them the Gift that will forever be the greatest treasure of all.  Trust me, it’s never too early!!

Once each year, Christmas comes along and all we hear is Jesus!

However, you and I must still answer the question:  “What difference does a day make?” 

May we do so with our lives!!

Merry Christmas and AMEN.