A CHRISTMAS STORY

Dr. Richard J. Henderson December 6, 2009

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Isaiah 11:1-5
Matthew 1: 18-25

Introduction

In the beginning, when God had created the stars and moons, the planets and the solar systems, God stood with his angels looking at this creation. "It is good," God said. One of the angels said, "It is better than good, this is truly one of your greatest creations. Just look at the Milky Way; that is a work of art."

"Something's missing," God said apparently to himself. "This is all rocks and light and water. It needs something more." Then God went to work and created grass, weeds, tulips and azaleas, and oak and spruce and pear trees. He made trees that produced all kinds of different fruit.

God smiled as he formed fish to swim in the waters, fish of all different colors - yellow, red, blue, green, silver, and brown. As soon as God was done he began to form birds to fly through the air: huge birds and tiny ones, birds with bright vibrant yellows and reds, and birds with plain, drab browns and grays.

By then God was on a roll. God began to make some of the fish that could leave the water and live on land too. Frogs and salamanders crawled out of the water and moved among the plants.

God began to hum a light delightful tune as he formed animals - gentle rabbits and harsh looking boars. God was having fun now. He created horses and llamas and then, just for the fun of it, striped one of the horses in black and white. God let out a joyful cheer - hurray! That was so much fun that he took one of his creatures and stretched its neck way up high so that it could reach up to pick the leaves off tall trees. God stepped back and laughed. "This is good!" God shouted so loudly that even the stars shook.

When the angels came to see what God was up to they were flabbergasted. "You have outdone yourself. This is fantastic!" They all stood and marveled at what God had created.

The next day God wasn't nearly as cheerful. Clearly something was on his mind. He seemed to be in profound thought. "Is something the matter, Lord?" asked one of the angels. "It still isn't right. Something's missing." God muttered something to himself about connection, bond, relation. The angels were puzzled.

Later in the day God was up and busy working on plans. Some of the spark was back in his eyes. Sometimes he even whistled a tune while he was working. Every once in a while God would blurt out a word. "Flesh" he would say, or "Image." The angels came to God. "Is everything OK, Lord? We've been worrying."

"Yes, yes everything is fine." God said. "I know what is missing. I know what this world needs. Not a tree or a bird or a fish, but a being like us. We will create a creature in our image. Here, look at the plans."

"Well, they don't exactly look like us. No offense, Lord."

"None taken," God said.

"I mean they have forms and they have that covering. What is that?"

"It's flesh, and they have bones and blood. I didn't mean they would be like us in how they look, but like us. You know, in our image."

"Oh, yes. I get it. But they're all different."

"Of course. You don't think I did this by mistake do you? Some will be male and some female; some will be tall and others short; some big and round and others thin as a sapling; and they will be black, yellow, brown, and red."

"Would you want to make some white, too?" asked the angel.

"Well, okay, some white too, for variety."

And so God created human beings. God made them all different, every single one, and each was made in God's image. God said, "This is very good!"

When God created the humans he gave them a beautiful place to live. Everywhere they looked they saw lush trees filled with fruit. A wide, pristine river flowed through the middle of the garden. The air was clear and carried the rich scent of verdant life. The first man and woman cared for this garden. When God gave them the garden he said that they could eat from the fruit of any of the trees except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The man thought, "With all this other food, who needs the fruit from that tree?" But before long they disobeyed the one who had given them everything, and had sampled the fruit from the forbidden tree.

They were forced to leave the beautiful garden. Life became a great deal more difficult. They had to work hard to stay alive, and no matter how hard they worked they couldn't create a place as beautiful as the garden they had been given.

They cut down the trees and smoke filled the air and the rivers soon became murky. Fights began within families and families fought with each other and then groups began attacking each other.

God was upset by all that had happened to his creation. He still loved the people he had made, but he was disappointed in how they were acting. He paced back and forth concerned about what to do. They were flesh and blood and He wasn't; how could he reach them?

Then God decided to choose a wise man who could tell the people what God wanted them to do. The man God chose wasn't the most obvious choice: he was a strong leader but he wasn't a very good speaker. But God chose him. God gave him 10 laws to give to the people. God sent his will to the people through these basic rules that they must follow. But the last word had hardly been written when the people were already defying God's will.

God decided to send other men and women to speak his will to the people. Some were angry and shouted at the people, others were quieter and gentler. Some told stories to help people get the idea. Others threatened people with disasters. The people heard the word of these messengers. Some of them were chased out of town, some were killed, some were ignored, and some were admired and their words written down, but neglected.

God was upset. These creatures he made in his own image - the highest of all his creations - were so frustrating. Why wouldn't they listen? Couldn't they see the destructiveness of what they were doing? Even though they were made in the image of God, they were flesh and blood, and they were different. They didn't know what it was like to be spirit; God hadn't experienced what it was like to have a body.

Then one night God knew what to do. He had been wrestling with the idea for some time. Actually, he had been searching for other options, because this one was dangerous. But the people needed to see how much God cared about them.

One night, while the stars were whispering in the sky, God went to a young woman and told her what was going to happen. She understood and agreed. God knew she would. That same night God went to her fiancée and told him. He had more trouble accepting it, but eventually he came around.

Months later Joseph got out their donkey and saddled it up. He put a small bag, which held most of their earthly possessions, on its back. Mary stood beside the donkey, radiant, and content, even as she shifted to try to get more comfortable. Joseph helped her onto the donkey.

The stars shimmered in the sky as the young couple turned and headed down the dusty road to Bethlehem.

Amen

© Richard J. Henderson 2009