“Go, Tell it on the Mountain” (Redemption of Scrooge Part V)

Sermon Title: “Go, Tell it on the Mountain”

Good News Statement: Jesus Christ is Born Today

Preached: Sunday, December 25, 2022 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Opening Prayer:

            O God our Father, you have brought us again to the glad season when we celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that his Spirit may be born anew in our hearts this day and that we may joyfully welcome him to reign over us. Open our ears that we may hear again the angelic chorus of old. Open our lips that we, too, may sing with uplifted hearts. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward all; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Pastoral Prayer:

Beloved in Christ,
this Christmas Day it is our duty and delight
to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels,
and to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass,
and the Babe lying in a manger.

Therefore let us hear again from Holy Scripture
the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our sin
until the glorious redemption brought us by this holy Child;
and let us make this house of prayer glad with our carols of praise.

But first, because this of all things would rejoice Jesus’ heart,
let us pray to him for the needs of the whole world, and all his people;
for peace upon the earth he came to save;
for love and unity within the one Church he did build;
for goodwill among all peoples.

And particularly at this time let us remember
the poor, the cold, the hungry, the oppressed;
the sick and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved;
the aged and the little children;
and all who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not,
or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly let us remember all those who rejoice with us,
but upon another shore and in a greater light,
that multitude which no one can number,
whose hope was in the Word made flesh,
and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven,
in the words that Christ himself has taught us…

 

The Lord’s Prayer:

            Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory forever. Amen.

 

Scripture (NKJV): Luke 2:8-20 Today’s scripture reading comes from the words of Luke who writes in the second chapter, verses eight thru twenty, of his Gospel about the Shepherds watching their flock by night.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward [all]!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

Introduction:

In December 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas, based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, made its broadcast debut. In this now-classic Christmas special, which has aired every year since that initial showing, Charlie Brown finds himself depressed, even in the midst of all the Christmas cheer. His friend and amateur psychiatrist, Lucy, suggests he direct the neighborhood Christmas play to lift his spirits. However, his efforts to create what he aspires to present as the perfect play are mocked by his friends.

The low point for Charlie Brown comes when, in the eyes of the other kids, he botches the simple task of choosing a Christmas tree as a centerpiece for the play. When he and his friend Linus visit a lot where trees are for sale, Charlie Brown passes by the rows of tall, thick, well-flocked offerings and instead selects a small, sad-looking sapling with just a few branches. When he presents the tree to the play participants, they laugh at him and walk away.

Charlie Brown, downcast, says to Linus, “I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn’t have picked this little tree…I guess I really don’t know what Christmas is all about.” Then he shouts out in frustration, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Do you know what Christmas is all about?

Today is Christmas! The last time any congregation gathered on Sunday, December 25^th was back in 2016 and the next time that a congregation will gather on Sunday, December 25^th is 2033. Today is a special day: a day when we gather as a church family to honor the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on his birthday. Today is a day where we, after trying to find everything under the torn wrapping paper, after having set multiple timers to remind us to set the timer on the oven, and after second guessing ourselves if we bought that last gift or two, reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Today is the day that we realize God calls each of us to shout from the mountaintop that Jesus Christ is born today: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) and that we have “good news of great joy for all people” (Luke 2:10).

On this Christmas Day, we are being called to share the good news of Christ with all people. On this Christmas Day, we are being commissioned to spread the hope, peace, joy, and love of the Christ Child. On this Christmas Day, no matter if you feel overwhelmed, worn out, tired, joyful, excited, or jubilant, God needs you to share the good news of great joy with all the people. God has given us a gift to share with this world. And the sharing of this news is seen in the story of Scrooge and the Shepherds.

 

Body:

Throughout this Advent Season, we have been reflecting on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. First published in 1843, A Christmas Carol, introduces us to a greedy, lust filled, cantankerous man, who lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas. This man is known as Ebenezer Scrooge.[i]

Scrooge was first visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. The Ghost of Christmas Past transports Scrooge to his childhood hometown, where he is reminded of childhood loneliness, adolescent joy, and the pain of unrequited love. Although frightened during this time, Scrooge begins to find hope. Scrooge begins to find joy. Scrooge begins to embrace the good news of redemption. Scrooge begins to experience good news of great joy.

Next, Scrooge experiences the Ghost of Christmas Present. Scrooge is transported to a dingy corner in London, where, despite their surroundings, the people are filled with Christmas cheer. Scrooge begins to see past the hustle and bustle; he notices that people shoveling the snow are gleeful, the produce in the shops is radiant, and the shopkeepers are joyful. In the present moment, Scrooge finds joy, excitement, and the motivation to smile and laugh. Scrooge, in his heart, quite possibly a heart that is starting to grow three sizes, is receiving the joy of redemption; a joy that is meant to be shared with all people. Even in the uncertainty, stressfulness of life, and bottle of mixed emotions, there is joy to be found and shared.

Finally, when the bell strikes twelve, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, shrouded in black, appears before Scrooge. With the Ghost of Christmas yet to come, Scrooge is transported to depressing scenes foreshadowing his own demise. The scene moves to the grief stricken Cratchit family, who are mourning the loss of Tiny Tim. Then, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come places Scrooge in a graveyard, where he is distraught by seeing his name on the tombstone. After seeing these terrifying events, Scrooge decides that he will change his ways and will live with the spirit of Christmas in his heart. During a moment of darkness, Scrooge embraces the light of Christ’s love.

In a way, Scrooge has decided to live out the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2). Light has shined upon Ebenezer Scrooge and love has filled his heart. His heart has been filled with so much love that on Christmas morning, he runs out of his house, with haste, filled with joy of the season. Scrooge becomes a second father to Tiny Tim, a good friend to the carolers who he once ignored, and he mended his relationship with his nephew, Fred. Scrooge, after embodying the spirit of Christmas shares this wonderful redemption story with all the people and embraces the words of Tiny Tim, who said, “God bless us, everyone.”

Scrooge is not withholding the good news but is instead sharing it with all people. Scrooge may not be the perfect evangelist for spreading Christmas cheer—he has dark past, he’s grumpy, stressed, frustrated—but he has been chosen, favored, to spread Christmas cheer for as long as he can, as often as he can, to as many people as he can, to all the places he can. If Scrooge, a greedy, lust-filled, angry old man, can find it in his heart to be transformed and experience the spirit of Christmas, then I believe we, in the hustle and bustle of life, can find it in our heart to share the good news of great joy with all people that Christ is born today for our redemption. We must not wait to share this good news; we must go with haste, like shepherds did, the Bethlehem.

For the third time in Luke’s Gospel—sort of like the three Ghosts who visit Scrooge—an angel is about to make an appearance. This time, it’s not to announce an impending pregnancy, like it did with Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph, but to act as a royal crier heralding the birth of a king. The angel appears to the shepherds. Notice, from our text, that the shepherds are living in the fields. They would stay with the flock for extended periods, leading them to the best grazing places, protecting them from predators. The shepherds are keeping watch over their flock by night. In the stillness of the night while these shepherds are minding their own business, God disrupts their lives.

An unnamed angel of the Lord suddenly stands before them, and the glory of the Lord shines around them. The shepherds are terrified. In the midst of their fear, the angel says to them, “Do not be afraid.” Shepherds, those who are trained to spot danger and to overcome fear, experience fear before their life is changed. We live in uncertain times, even frightening times, not knowing whether a new variant of COVID is going to disrupt our lives, not knowing if grocery stores are going to have essential food products or care items, not knowing the future of this country, and not knowing if we should speak up or not. We live in fear. We live in fear of the unknown. Nevertheless, God sends us messengers which remind us to not be afraid. God is with us. God is with you. God is doing something new, even though we may not be able to see or understand it at first. God is bringing good news, not just for some, not just for you and me, but for everyone, for all people.

The unnamed angel says to the shepherds, “’Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’” (Luke 2:10-14).

The shepherds, a group of smelly, filthy, outcasts, in a dark field, witnessed not just one angel but a multitude of angels. The shepherds had a Charlie Brown moment. The shepherds, who are similar to the tree Charlie Brown retrieves—simple, not much to them, often ignored—are transformed by angelic singing. A Charlie Brown Christmas ends with everyone gathered together, singing around this now beautiful tree: they sing, “Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.’ Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.’” Christ is born in Bethlehem. There is no time to live in fear when the word of God is so near. The shepherds are transformed.

The shepherds, after receiving this news and no longer afraid, go with haste and find Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger (Luke 2:15-16). When the shepherds arrive, “they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them…” (Luke 2:17-18). All who heard it were amazed; all who heard it were no longer afraid; all who heard it had a change of heart. The shepherds became the first evangelists. God chose the shepherds, like He chooses us every day, to receive and spread the good news of Jesus Christ and we must go with haste to share this good news of great joy with all people. We must, “Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere…that Jesus Christ is born.” That Jesus Christ is born today; that the Word has become flesh; that the light of the world has entered our lives; that Jesus Christ is born to save us from our sins; that Jesus Christ is born to forgive us of our trespasses ; that Jesus Christ is born to remove our fear; that Jesus Christ is born to put away the proud and to lift up the humble; that Jesus Christ is born to bring cheerfulness to our heart; and that Jesus Christ is born to love us unconditionally.

Jesus Christ is born today to give us the hope, peace, joy, and love that we need to become the evangelists that he has called us to be. Are you willing to do what God is calling you to do? Are you prepared to no longer live in fear? Are you ready to share good news of great joy to all the people? Are you ready to bring people to church? I hope you are, because God needs you and He needs this church to go over the hills and everywhere to tell people that Jesus Christ is born. If Scrooge can share the good news, then so can you. If Charlie Brown can find the true meaning of Christmas from the story of the shepherds, than so can you. If the shepherds—lowly, looked-down upon, dirty people—can be become the evangelists of God, then so can you.

 

Conclusion:

The story of Charlie Brown in addition to the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, as wells as the shepherds watching over their flock by night, provides us with a meaning of Christmas by which turns the smallest tree, a greedy and cantankerous man, and a group of lowly shepherds into living examples of what we are to do, not just on Christmas Day, but every day of our life: we are to shout from the mountaintops that Christ is born today, and Christ is here to transform our heart as we stand upon our own monument of faith and love.

Susan Robb notes in her book, The Angels of Christmas, “The good news may have started with angels, but it was spread by human beings to the message was entrusted” (pg. 93). Each of you has been entrusted with this good news of Christ. Now go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born! “God Bless us, Everyone!” Amen.

 

Benediction:

May you be reminded every day that you have been chosen by God to share the good news of great joy with all people. God has chosen you to go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. Don’t wait to share this news, but go with haste as you transform the hearts of many. May the birth of Christ bless you with everlasting hope, peace, joy, and love. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go transforming lives as you live well and wisely in God’s world. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

Christmas Jokes:

• Did you hear about the ski trip? It started off fine, but went downhill fast.
• What did the ocean say when Santa flew over? Nothing. It just waved.
• What did one Christmas tree say to the other? You need to lighten up.
• What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Frosted flakes.
• Why don’t Christmas trees knit? They keeping dropping their needles.
• Why do reindeer wear bells? Their horns don’t work.
• Did you hear about Rudolph’s rollercoaster ride? He held on for deer life.
• What did one snowman say to the other? Did you pick your nose?
• What’s a cat’s favorite holiday song? “Here Comes Santa Claws.”
• What did the salt say to the pepper on Christmas? Seasonings greetings!

 

 

[i] The name “Ebenezer” is a very important name in the Bible. The word “ebenezer” comes from 1st Samuel 7. The Philistines had stolen the Ark of the covenant. The Israelites were in complete shock and disarray. It was then, the Bible tells us, that the people repented and turned their hearts back to the LORD. They sacrificed and recommitted themselves to the LORD  and they were victorious over the Philistines. To commemorate their victory, the Prophet Samuel set up a stone as a monument and called it an “ebenezer,” saying: “… for the LORD has helped us.” The Hebrew word “ebenezer” means “stone of help.” The Prophet Samuel set up a stone as a monument to commemorate his victory and called it an “ebenezer,” saying: “… for the LORD has helped us.” The Hebrew word “ebenezer” means “stone of help.” An “ebenezer” stands as a monument to God’s faithfulness, hope, and help. It serves as a visual and physical symbol of a moment in time when everything changed. When you see an “ebenezer,” it reminds you of a time when God was faithful and delivered you out of your troubles and when hope returned to your way of life. At the same time it reminds you that the God who delivered you then, is with you now, and will always be with you: Emmanuel, “God with us.” Ebenezer Scrooge has certainly been helped, and has created a monument dedicated to his changed heart. But it took time to construct that monument, as it does for us at times.