THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025 | CHRISTMAS DAY YEARS ABC
Isaiah 52:7–10 | Psalm 2
Kiss the Son (Psalm 2)
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Grace, Mercy and Peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
What is best news you have ever received? When I ask that question, some of you don’t even need to think. Right away you have the answer. Maybe it was the day you got into the school that you wanted to or were offered a job or given a promotion. Maybe it was when you learned you would be able to start a new business or buy a new home. Maybe it was the day your spouse proposed or said yes to your proposal. Maybe it was the day you learned you were going to have a baby. Or the day you learned you would be a grandparent.
When we have good news, we share it with others and we usually make a big deal about it. That’s the way good news is. It fills us with joy. And we just can’t contain it…we can’t keep ourselves from sharing it with more and more people. Today, of course, it’s easy to share good news. We can call people on our mobile phones. We can write an email. We can zoom or facetime. We can post our news on facebook or instagram. And the news goes out to all of our family and all of our friends…in an instant.
But in the ancient world, it wasn’t quite so easy. In the ancient world, messengers were sent to carry the good news. Imagine a battlefield. A place where the enemy had come to threaten the people with violence. The king leads the army out onto the battlefield…a battlefield far from the city. And the people wait and wonder: What’s happening? Is the king and his army winning? Or are we being defeated? Is it bad news or good news? And there they are waiting…caught between hope and fear.
Then from the battlefield, the messenger is sent. “Take this news to the city. Take this news to the people.” And he takes the word of the King in his hand and he runs.
He runs with all of his might, as quickly as he can, to bring the news to the people.
This is the image that Isaiah, the prophet, is using:
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
(Isaiah 52:7 ESV)
The people wait in anticipation…wondering what news will come…caught between hope and fear. And then, as the messenger crests the hill, they see the smile on his face and hear a joyful shout, declaring good news…the battle is won, our king is victorious. And,
Together they sing for joy.
(Isaiah 52:8b ESV)
That’s the way good news is. It fills us with joy and we sing…we shout it out.
The angels do this. Look at these words from Luke, chapter 2, verse 8-14
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
(Luke 2: 8-14 ESV)
It was a silent night until the angels showed up. First just one angel with some amazing news. It was news that God’s people had been waiting for for a long long time. And as they waited they were caught between hope and fear. Fear…because there is so much against us in this world. There is so much bad news in this world. There is so much suffering, and sadness. So much sin and shame. And we are always bracing ourselves for the worst. Fear because we know that we are not good enough, not strong enough. Fear, because we wonder if God really loves us and is really willing and able to save us.
Maybe today, even on this day that’s supposed to be full of joy, maybe you are filled with fear. Maybe fear has grabbed hold of you. Maybe you are afraid that there won’t be any more good news in your life. Because of a lost job, a broken relationship, failing health, or a personal failure. Or because of the suffering and tragedy that’s everywhere around us. And you’re waiting for the news to come, but you’re afraid. You’re afraid that the next news to come to you will be bad news.
Then to you, the angel says:
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Don’t be afraid. This Word was not just for the shepherds. It was for all of God’s people. And it is for you.
When you look around at this world. When you feel the burden of this life and the suffering and sadness, the sin and the shame. When there is so much against you and so much that you fear, God’s Word comes to you. And He says : DON’T BE AFRAID. But listen, because I have good news of great joy for you and for all people.
And what is the good news? Verse 11
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
The good news is the baby in the manger. The good news is Jesus, the Christ, the Savior of the world. And when the angels bring that message…the message that our Savior has arrived…they can’t contain themselves. Because that’s the way good news is. It fills us with joy and we shout out. It started with just one angel, but then…THEN the whole host of heaven erupts with joyful song.. verses 13-14:
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 among those with whom he is pleased!”
But you may think to yourself…so what? Big deal. Babies are born all the time. What makes this baby so special? Why is this baby such good news?
Well, here’s what Isaiah, the prophet says about that baby in chapter that follows our reading for today.
For he grew up … like a root out of dry ground;
He was despised and rejected by men
He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
He was stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:1-6 ESV, selected verses)
You see, long before the angels appeared to the shepherds…long, long before Jesus was born in the stable, Isaiah prophesied about Him. And the life that Isaiah envisions is precisely the life that Jesus lived. The baby in the manger…Jesus Christ, our Savior…He is the good news. Because He came from God to save us. He came to share in all the suffering and sorrow of this life. He came to bear all of our sin and our shame. He came to take our punishment on himself so that we would be healed.
Like a king who goes off to battle on behalf of His people, Jesus fought against all of our enemies. And by all accounts He was defeated. He died. He died on the cross, because the wages of sin is death. And just when the messengers — his disciples — were coming back from the battlefield with bad news. Just then, on the third day, Jesus rose again. For you see, He laid down his life for us and then he took it back up again. And He lives forever and ever –Jesus, our victorious king.
About all this, Isaiah the prophet says
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
(Isaiah 52:10 ESV)
So here’s the image: God shows off his muscles. He says look right here and see how strong I am!
Look right here: look at the baby in the manger. Look at the one who will save you.
Look right here: look at Jesus on the cross — Look at the one who died for you.
Look right here: look at the empty tomb — Look at the one who rose for you.
Look and see how strong He is.
And keep on looking, not just to the history that we see described in God’s Holy Word, but also to it’s reality today, here and now in the Divine Service.
Look right here at the font and see the place where Jesus brought you from death to life through waters of Holy Baptism. Look and remember that He has saved you.
Look right here at your Pastor who God has called to proclaim His Word to you. Look and Listen as I declare to you that for the sake of Christ’s holy, innocent, bitter suffering and death all of your sins are forgiven. Hear and believe that God has forgiven you.
Look right here at the altar and see the place where the vary presence of Christ is manifest to you, as He comes this day to serve you His true body and blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins. See and believe that God is with you in Immanuel, Christ our Lord.
And as He comes here into this place to grant you this great mercy and love, heed the words of the Psalmist. He says: Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:12)
Oh yes, indeed! Your Lord has gone to battle for you. The Son of God laid down His life for you. He suffered all that you would be his own and live before Him in righteousness and purity forever. So Kiss the Son. With joy and thanksgiving, with humility and unending gratefulness, offer yourself to Him.
For in His birth, and on His cross, and through His empty tomb, God has bared his holy arm for you. He has shown His strength. He has shown His salvation. Salvation for all who trust in Jesus. And when you and I face suffering, sadness, sin and shame — which, in truth, we do every day — we too can look to Him. And we know that rather than being filled up with fear, we will be filled with hope and joy.
Because the Good News has come to us. God is with us. He has sent His Son to save us. And together with the angels and the whole multitude of heaven, we must Kiss the Son and sing His praises. Because that’s the way this good news is. It fills us with unending joy and we must shout it out! Amen.
Now the Peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds until the Day of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.