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December 24, 2007
Scripture: Luke 2: 1-20
Title: “Expecting a child”

They have ridden all day and she is tired. She knows that part of the reason that she is tired is because she is expecting her first child. So instead of focusing on her discomfort, she lets her mind wander as they journey to Bethlehem. She begins to once again wonder about this child that she is expecting. What will the baby be like? Will he be gracious and gentle? Will he be smart? Will he be welcoming to all those he meets? Will he do great things? What does life hold for this baby?

As they continue their travels, she wonders what this new life inside of her will look like when he comes to greet the world. Will he have her eyes? Will he have her nose? Will he have her chin? Who will this baby look like?

She looks over to Joseph, her husband. This is Joseph’s first child too. They are expecting their first child. She smiles. They have talked about their hopes and dreams for this child. Joseph wants to pass on his wood-working skills. He has already made a tiny carpenter smock and filled it with child-size tools. Joseph is so excited. He is already talking about how the two will go into business together: Joseph’s and Son’s Carpentry.

She feels the baby kick. She notices that the baby is becoming more and more restless the closer they get to Bethlehem. It is almost as if the baby senses something, almost as if the baby knows something that they don’t know. It is almost as if the baby knows that something more has been waiting for this child, preparing, expecting this child.

She rubs her hands tenderly over her stomach to quiet the baby while she continues to wonder this baby. She wants this baby to be born healthy. She wants this baby to grow up happy and safe. She wants this baby to be successful in everything that he does in life. She knows that she is like all other moms, wanting the best for her child. But she doesn’t care. She wants this baby to be special.

She smiles. They are expecting a child. Mary and Joseph, are expecting a child. And soon, those expectations will be answered. Those long awaited promises will be fulfilled.

As they enter Bethlehem, she wonders what life holds for this child, that they are expecting. And soon, very soon: This child will greet her and Joseph. Soon this expected child will be here as she begins to feel the first twinges of labor.

And on a hillside, not far from the Bethlehem city limits, other people are also a expecting a child. Shepherds watching their flocks by night. Angels have appeared to them and said: We bring you good news! A Savior is born! And you will find him lying in a manger Glory to God and earth, peace!

After the angels leave, the shepherds race to Bethlehem, expecting a child, expecting a Savior, not know exactly what they would find. And as they make their way to find this promised child, they begin to wonder about this child. What will this child be like? What will this Savior be like? Will he be mighty? Will he be powerful? They begin to wonder what great things this child will do for God’s people. What will this Savior, this child be like?

As they hurry to Bethlehem, The shepherds are expecting a Savior, wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger. The shepherds are expecting a child to come and change the world. Those long awaited promises will be fulfilled. And tonight, those expectations will come true. Tonight they are expecting a Savior. Tonight, as they enter into Bethlehem, the shepherds are expecting a child.

And in world, broken and torn apart by violence, others are also expecting a child. All of God’s people. In a world that is crying out for something to heal the hurt, others are also expecting a child. All of God’s creation. For the last few weeks, as we have made our way to Bethlehem, we have wondered what this child will be like. Like Mary and Joseph, we have wondered if this baby will do great things. Like the shepherds, we have wondered if this Savior will be powerful and mighty and change the world.

As people of faith, we have wondered if this child will heal all of our hurts and sorrows? We have wondered what the birth of this child will mean for us as children of God? For weeks, we have wondered and waited, expecting a child.

And now I bring you good news! Born tonight is a Savior who has come to set us free. Born tonight is the Messiah who has come to bring peace to all of God’s creation. Tonight, all of those expectations are fulfilled. Tonight, all those long awaited promises have come true. Tonight, in Bethlehem, a Savior is born.

Tonight, we have been invited in to the stable so that we can see for ourselves this child that we have all been expecting. In the stable, we see Mary and Joseph and we know that their expectations of a healthy and happy baby has been fulfilled. In the stable tonight, we see the shepherds, praising God and we know that their expectations of a world changing Savior has been fulfilled.

Tonight as we enter the stable and look into the manger, we know that we are seeing the face of God. And we know that our expectations of hope, peace, love, and joy has been fulfilled. We know that our expectation of unconditional grace has been fulfilled. As we bend on our knees to welcome the newborn King, we know that all of our expectations have come true tonight. God remembered us! God has fulfilled God’s promises. God is with us once more!

Tonight, we were expecting a Child. And tonight, a Savior is born! Amen.

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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