Emmanuel Lutheran Church

December 24

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:15-16

Humans are fascinated by transformations. Perusing the checkout lanes can prove it.  Nearly every magazine cover will show a BEFORE and AFTER picture of some sort: a kitchen makeover, a garage remodel, and always the exposé of which Hollywood stars have the perfect earthly body and which have taken a turn for the worse.

We glance in the mirror every day, hoping to look complete, ready for the day, dressed for success. We see our flawed reflection and analyze what we could change to look more perfect. We seek a myriad ways to achieve the perfect AFTER picture: a shopping spree, weight loss, an additional university degree, and other unending pursuits of perfection.

In Christ, the shepherds found perfection, as do you and I. The idiom "I'll believe it when I see it" probably wasn't necessary for these shepherds. After 400 years of prophetic silence since Malachi, all the company of heavenly hosts appeared to them with news of the Gospel birth. They knew it was the Lord himself who had made this known.

With haste, they sought perfection. The shepherds saw with earthly eyes the perfect-bodied Savior lying in a manger. They saw the Savior who reflects our image to God in a mirror shrouded with forgiveness. They saw the Savior who changes our AFTER picture. They saw the Savior through whom our eternal bodies will be perfected. They saw and believed.

A few verses later in Luke 2 we find the righteous Simeon, upon whom the Holy Spirit rested, also seeking perfection. When the infant Jesus was presented at the temple, Simeon saw the Savior, and again the Gospel birth was declared—a restoration plan for Israel and the Gentiles. His words resound in our liturgy's Nunc Dimittis. Simeon saw and believed.
     "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace
      according to your word,
      for my eyes have seen your salvation,
      which you have prepared before the face of all people,
      a light to lighten the Gentiles
      and the glory of your people Israel." (Luke 2:29-32)

In Scripture, we see Christ. We see the restoration plan—the Gospel birth. We see our salvation, the transforming promise of our AFTER picture. Through the Holy Spirit, we can believe it!

Contributed by Bridget Eggold

 The Christ Candle

It's Christmas Eve! Today and tomorrow, light all the candles on the Advent wreath, including the Christ candle in the center. The time of waiting is over.  Christ is here! Light has broken through and overcome darkness.

As you light the Christ Candle (last), place the figure of the infant Jesus into your nativity set. Read the Christmas story in Luke 2: 1-20 and sing a favorite Christmas carol. The words below were written by Phillips Brooks, one of America's most famous preachers and author of "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Then let every heart keep Christmas within,
Christ's pity for sorrow,
Christ's hatred for sin,
Christ's care for the weakest,
Christ's courage for right.
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!