Glory, Glory, and Glory!

+ In the Name of Jesus + Glory, Glory, and Glory! Sermon on Luke 2:1-14 for Christmas Eve December 24, 2022

1. “Glory” is one of those Christmas words we see everywhere. A classic Christmas record of symphonic carol arrangements was called “The Glorious Sound of Christmas.” We sing it in Latin, “Gloria in excelsis Deo.” Brach’s candy still has a “Gloria mix” of colorful ribbon candy.[1] What is “glory”? In the Christmas gospels we see three kinds of glory.
2. The first is when the angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds, and “the glory of the Lord shone round about them.” This first glory means a spectacular display—something shining bright and glowing. That term, “the glory of the LORD” was used in the Old Testament to describe the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that led the children of Israel from Egypt to the promised land. When King Solomon dedicated his Temple, after his prayer, the glory of the Lord filled the temple (1 Kings 8:11). When I read “the glory of the Lord shone round about them,” I picture a large, fiery donut encircling the shepherds, glowing and swirling, like the pillar of fire, only they are in the middle of it. “…and they were sore afraid.”  Terrified.
3. And that’s the reaction many had when they saw the glory of the Lord. The glory of the Lord looked like a devouring fire on Mount Sinai. The people were terrified. In chapter 2 of his book, Isaiah describes people fleeing from the glory of the Lord because they can’t stand to look at it. When Isaiah himself saw the glory of the Lord, he fell on his face, shouting, “I am doomed!” (Isaiah 6:5). He knew he was unholy in the presence of the holy. And that was what the shepherds felt, too. They were “sore afraid” because they had never seen anything like this “glory of the Lord” before. They were also afraid because they knew what it was. This spectacular display, this bright, glowing, swirling fire surrounding them was the presence of God himself. They knew that they were the unholy in the presence of the holy.
4. The second kind of glory is in what we hear next. “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.” It’s the glory of what is happening.  Luke doesn’t call this glory, but John does. In the middle of his first chapter, John writes, “We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” That’s a link to John 3:16, isn’t it? God gives his only-begotten Son because of his love for the world—a world full of many people who don’t know his love, …a world full of many people who don’t care. It doesn’t stop God’s love. He pours it out anyway and gives us his best. He gives us himself. This is “A Savior who is Christ, the Lord.” Today we see him in the manger—but he is here for the duration of his mission—to the cross. To suffering and death, bearing the sin so the world. The angel calls him a Savior at his birth, because that is the work he is doing even then. He is actively carrying out his Father’s will—as far as that will take him. Even to giving himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the world. This glory—the glory of what is happening, of the Word be coming flesh, coming into the world and giving himself, is different from the first glory. It is not a spectacular display. It is far from it. A manger filled with hay, dust, and probably donkey spit. And the end of the Messiah’s mission is even less of a spectacular display—suffering, shame, and death. But it is the glory of his love—love in all its fullness. Love to the highest degree. “This is how we have come to know love: Jesus laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16).
5. The third glory is what the shepherds heard that Christmas night. “And suddenly 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.”  Here the word “glory” means “praise.” “Praise to God because he is establishing peace on earth and showing his good will to humanity.” At that time there was an uneasy peace. The Roman empire was ruling with fear and force. How does Jesus make his kingdom come? By declaring and showing God’s love in his words, his life, his death. By telling his people, “Take up your cross and follow me.” “See my love.” “Follow me in self-sacrifice.” “Follow me in love.” Without fear or force, he draws us to imitate his love. Not because we have to, but because we want to. We see we have been bought at a price—the price of the blood of the Son of God—and that gives us value. That makes the unholy holy. That brings us into the presence of a holy God. In his holiness and justice, God could turn his back on humanity, but because of his goodwill—his grace and truth that our ours in Jesus, he welcomes those who believe in him. This is God’s glory, and this is the reason for us to glorify him. To us is born a Savior. Glory, glory and glory!

Amen.

[1] https://www.candyfavorites.com/gloria-mix-brachs