Dear Christian friends:

The whole world seems to celebrate Christmas, also many, many celebrate Christmas who do not really believe in Christ. Many celebrate Christmas without much thought about its significance. During the past 2,000 years many traditions have developed with Christmas that have nothing to do with the true meaning of that day. Some of our traditions connected with Christmas even detract from the true meaning of Christmas, such as the Santa Claus tradition and the gift exchanging tradition and the over eating and drinking traditions.

Therefore we Christians need to think about our Christmas traditions and how we celebrate Christmas. Do our Christmas traditions show the true spirit and meaning of Christmas? Or are we celebrating Christmas the same as the many others who do not believe? As last Sunday John the Baptist again helps us examine ourselves. Our text is the Gospel.


John the Baptizer called the Jewish people who came out from the city to get baptized a bunch of "Snakes." Why did John call them "snakes?" Remember, in the beginning Satan hid in a snake when he tempted Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:1-16) So John calls them "snakes" because they are liars and deceivers the same as the Devil. These Jews said that they were God's people, "children of Abraham," but they did not believe and do like God's people. Therefore John said to them, "You people are a brood of snakes. Do you think that you can escape God's punishment in the future? Live right and show that you have really changed from your sins. And don't think that Abraham is your father. I tell you the truth, God can make Abraham's children from these rocks. God's ax is ready to cut down trees. Every tree not growing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (verses 7-9) Yes, these Jews were a "brood of snakes," children of Satan, liars and deceivers. They said they were God's children but did not believe and live as God's children.

Are we "snakes?" If John were preaching to us today would he call us a "brood of snakes?"

We, like these Jewish people, say that we are God's children. We have received baptism and joined the church. We come often to the church services and to the Lord's Supper and give some money to the church. We say that we are Christians, but do we really believe in Christ? Do our deeds and words show that we are Christians? Do our Christmas traditions prove that we are Christians? Will our celebrating this Christmas prove that we really believe in Jesus and love Him?

A young minister thrilled his congregation when he preached his first sermon in that church. It was a very interesting and strong sermon about Christian service and living. Then the people were surprised when the young pastor preached the same sermon the next Sunday. But nobody said anything to the pastor. When he preached the same sermon on the third Sunday, the people talked to one another and felt that they must do something about it. So they asked the president of the congregation to talk to the pastor about it. The president asked the pastor,"Don't you have more than one sermon?" The young pastor replied, "Yes, I have many other sermons, but you did not DO ANYTHING about the first one yet!"

Are we at First Lutheran DOING what Jesus tells us to do in our sermons? "Fruit in Keeping with repentance."

When John the Baptizer called the Jews "snakes" many people were ashamed and sorry. They asked John, "What should we do then?" His answer: If anyone has two coats, give one coat to the man without a coat, and if anyone has food, then let him share his food with him that has none etc." (verses 10-14) John promised that Jesus would empower them to do this.

"What should we do then? We the members of First Lutheran Church, will show that we are sorry and that we really believe in Jesus and love Him? Being transformed by the love of Jesus Christ who came to give His life for us, having been "baptized" by the Holy Spirit and with fire, we bring forth the fruits in keeping with repentance. We who have two coats will give one coat to him that has none. We who have plenty of food and money will share with him that has none. We joyfully celebrate Christmas by helping the poor and needy. That is really one of our Christmas traditions. And it will take priority over giving gifts to each other.

"What should we do then?" Faithfully do our daily job. “Bloom where you are planted,” says a popular poster. John tells us that we are called to be the best we can in our daily work. We don't have to become a pastor or teacher or a missionary. Just love God and serve him where you are, and you will be ready for his coming. Here is a beautiful old Negro spiritual which captures the heart of this call to serve God right where we are:

"There's a king and a captain high,
And he's coming by and by,
And he'll find me hoeing cotton when he comes.
You can hear his legions charging in the regions of the sky, And he'll find me hoeing cotton when he comes.
There's a man they thrust aside,
Who was tortured till he died,
And he'll find me hoeing cotton when he comes.
He was hated and rejected,
He was scorned and crucified,
And he'll find me hoeing cotton when he comes.
When he comes! When he comes!
He'll be crowned by saints and angels when he comes,
They'll be shouting out Hosanna to the man that men denied,
And I'll kneel among my cotton when he comes."

"What should we do then? Do the same as John the Baptizer did. Confess Jesus to others, to friends and enemies.

John confessed the truth about Jesus. The people began to think that maybe John was the Christ God had promised through the prophets. (verse 15) John could have agreed with them, that he was the Christ. By telling that lie John could have received much worldly honor and glory for himself. But John did not tell a lie. He confessed the truth about himself and about Christ. He was being led by the Spirit.

The Jews misunderstood about Christ. They waited for God to send them a great soldier-king like King David before. They thought that Christ will be an earthly king who will free their nation from the Roman rule and make them a great and rich nation again the same as before when King David ruled. But John did not agree with their false idea about Christ. He told them the truth about Christ, that Christ is the Savior for sinners and the Son of God. John told then, "I baptize you with water, but Christ is much greater than I. I am not good enough to kneel down and tie His shoes. The Christ will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire... etc." (verses 16-17)

Like John, we will confess Christ to both friends and enemies. Christmas is a good time to witness about Christ. Many celebrate Christmas, but they really do not know Christ nor do they serve him by their traditions.

We, led by the Holy Spirit, the same as John, will help them to know Christ. Also we will warn people about heaven and hell, that Christ will come again to judge all people on the Last Day. John confessed about heaven and hell. (verse 17) Confessing Christ is a good Christmas tradition.

May our salutary use of the Word and the Sacraments give us the Holy Spirit so that we may produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Amen.