Christmas Eve – O Desire of Nations December 24, 2020
Haggai 2:6-7
The Biggest Gift You Didn’t Even Know You Wanted...or Needed
v. 6-7 For thus says the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.
O Desire of the nations, the ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay.
Dear friends in Christ, what is it that you desire most? At this time of year most children desire that Santa Claus come and visit their homes tonight to leave them something special under the Christmas tree. Perhaps you, too, are hoping for that special gift to be there tomorrow morning. Or, perhaps you are hoping for the togetherness of family and friends during this joyous holiday season, especially in a time of pandemic and forced distancing from loved ones. Perhaps you are hoping for there to be security in your life—either financially or otherwise—praying for an end to the Coronavirus—perhaps you are praying for peace—peace in your personal life—peace in the world.
Well, beloved, tonight as we are gathered here together to celebrate the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are going to be talking about the greatest desire of all. Something that has been desired by all people—for all time—in every place—and continues to this day—to everyone here—whether you even realize it or not. Maybe you have come to church this evening as is your annual custom—you have made your once-a-year trek to these doors—or perhaps it has merely been a long while—or you may even be here practically every week. No matter which category you fall under—you are seeking something special—something so unique that you know the world cannot give. You are looking for something that cannot be found in a box under the Christmas tree—you won’t find it tied up with ribbons and bows and placed in your Christmas stocking.
Indeed, this intense desire is built in to each and every human being by God. Often we don’t realize it—we may unwittingly reject it—but we desire Him. For God, who formed our first parents Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden out of clay—has created within us an intense desire to be with Him—to have Him in our lives—to live in communion with He who is the Architect and King of all the universe. We all have this God-shaped hole in our lives—and we desire to fill it.
Unfortunately, ever since Adam and Eve fell into sin, we all try to fill this God-shaped hole with the wrong things. We may try to fill it with stuff—which is what happens all too often, especially at this time of year as we go crazy buying gifts for people that they don’t really need (or even want sometimes!). We may try to fill this hole with other people—our friends and family—even though they drive us insane!—and buy us all sorts of awful gifts—like the “mole remover 2000.” We may try to fill this hole with our work—with our sense of purpose and power. But, in the end, all these things fall short—they leave us feeling empty and disappointed. For all these things are really false gods—idols—that lead us astray from the one true God.
It is Jesus alone—that babe wrapped in scraps of rags and lying in a manger—who would grow into the man—who would later be wrapped in a bloody robe and decorated with a crown of thorns—fixed to the tree of the cross with cruel nails—it is He who is our Desire. He is the One whom God promised long ago through the prophet Haggai would come when the nations were in uproar. The nations were up and moving all about because of the decree issued by Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed—so people had to go to their hometowns. It was during this uproar that Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem and Jesus was born—the Desire of all nations had finally come!
Jesus had not come to be coddled and cuddled—though I’m sure Mary and Joseph did that just as much as any parent. But He came with a specific mission in mind—He desired the salvation of the world—to come and save us all. This He did by living the perfect and holy life that you and I could not. His desire was never selfish—never for Himself—rather He thought only of the needs of others—seeking out the lost and frightened—the sad and the lonely—the hurting and suffering—even the dead. And He brought great healing in His wings—He brought joy and peace—He brought forgiveness and life.
For after living the perfect life that you and I never could—Jesus went to the cross to suffer and die the death that we deserve. He was not forced into this. He desired to do so. Why? Because of His great love for each and every single one of you. He desires to be in a right relationship with you—a relationship that can only be possible because of His shed blood on the cross for your sins. Indeed, He comes to you this very night to fulfill the one thing that you need most—the one thing that you are literally dying to have—but may not even know it—the full and free forgiveness of all your sins.
For it is through Jesus’ life, suffering, and death that you and all who believe are granted forgiveness of sins. To those who trust in Him—He has given the desire to believe in Him as Lord and Saviour—not just one evening a year—or one day a week—but every day and night. What is more, we are given as a gift eternal life and salvation—this gift—this promise—this hope and peace—is for you and your children—not just tonight—but every day.
Dearly beloved, Jesus’ desire is for you and all the nations—to pour out His great love and mercy toward you just as He has poured out His blood on the cross—paying the deadly penalty for your sins and mine—breaking down the barrier that separated us from Him and from each other. Though there have been many times that you have turned away from Him—filled your life with the empty things of this world—though you have often rejoiced in your sin—in your rebellion against Him. Yet His love remains steadfast and pure. Yet His love remains for you. It does not matter what you have done. It does not matter how long you may have been away—the Lord Jesus Christ desires you to come home—desires you to receive His goodness and blessings—He desires to shower you with His gifts of love and forgiveness.
Jesus has come to you this night to restore you. And He desires that you not merely receive Him this evening and then forget all about Him tomorrow morning or the next day or the next. Rather, He desires that you rejoice daily that He is the greatest gift you will ever receive, just as He rejoices in coming to save sinners who are lost and alone—empty and afraid. For He has fulfilled your greatest desire and need. He has died in your place to give you life and salvation—to give you the peace that the world cannot give—to be the solid rock cornerstone of your life. The One who has saved you has done this—and He will bring you into His everlasting kingdom of blessedness and peace. What more could you possibly desire? Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Haggai 2:6-7
The Biggest Gift You Didn’t Even Know You Wanted...or Needed
v. 6-7 For thus says the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.
O Desire of the nations, the ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay.
Dear friends in Christ, what is it that you desire most? At this time of year most children desire that Santa Claus come and visit their homes tonight to leave them something special under the Christmas tree. Perhaps you, too, are hoping for that special gift to be there tomorrow morning. Or, perhaps you are hoping for the togetherness of family and friends during this joyous holiday season, especially in a time of pandemic and forced distancing from loved ones. Perhaps you are hoping for there to be security in your life—either financially or otherwise—praying for an end to the Coronavirus—perhaps you are praying for peace—peace in your personal life—peace in the world.
Well, beloved, tonight as we are gathered here together to celebrate the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are going to be talking about the greatest desire of all. Something that has been desired by all people—for all time—in every place—and continues to this day—to everyone here—whether you even realize it or not. Maybe you have come to church this evening as is your annual custom—you have made your once-a-year trek to these doors—or perhaps it has merely been a long while—or you may even be here practically every week. No matter which category you fall under—you are seeking something special—something so unique that you know the world cannot give. You are looking for something that cannot be found in a box under the Christmas tree—you won’t find it tied up with ribbons and bows and placed in your Christmas stocking.
Indeed, this intense desire is built in to each and every human being by God. Often we don’t realize it—we may unwittingly reject it—but we desire Him. For God, who formed our first parents Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden out of clay—has created within us an intense desire to be with Him—to have Him in our lives—to live in communion with He who is the Architect and King of all the universe. We all have this God-shaped hole in our lives—and we desire to fill it.
Unfortunately, ever since Adam and Eve fell into sin, we all try to fill this God-shaped hole with the wrong things. We may try to fill it with stuff—which is what happens all too often, especially at this time of year as we go crazy buying gifts for people that they don’t really need (or even want sometimes!). We may try to fill this hole with other people—our friends and family—even though they drive us insane!—and buy us all sorts of awful gifts—like the “mole remover 2000.” We may try to fill this hole with our work—with our sense of purpose and power. But, in the end, all these things fall short—they leave us feeling empty and disappointed. For all these things are really false gods—idols—that lead us astray from the one true God.
It is Jesus alone—that babe wrapped in scraps of rags and lying in a manger—who would grow into the man—who would later be wrapped in a bloody robe and decorated with a crown of thorns—fixed to the tree of the cross with cruel nails—it is He who is our Desire. He is the One whom God promised long ago through the prophet Haggai would come when the nations were in uproar. The nations were up and moving all about because of the decree issued by Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed—so people had to go to their hometowns. It was during this uproar that Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem and Jesus was born—the Desire of all nations had finally come!
Jesus had not come to be coddled and cuddled—though I’m sure Mary and Joseph did that just as much as any parent. But He came with a specific mission in mind—He desired the salvation of the world—to come and save us all. This He did by living the perfect and holy life that you and I could not. His desire was never selfish—never for Himself—rather He thought only of the needs of others—seeking out the lost and frightened—the sad and the lonely—the hurting and suffering—even the dead. And He brought great healing in His wings—He brought joy and peace—He brought forgiveness and life.
For after living the perfect life that you and I never could—Jesus went to the cross to suffer and die the death that we deserve. He was not forced into this. He desired to do so. Why? Because of His great love for each and every single one of you. He desires to be in a right relationship with you—a relationship that can only be possible because of His shed blood on the cross for your sins. Indeed, He comes to you this very night to fulfill the one thing that you need most—the one thing that you are literally dying to have—but may not even know it—the full and free forgiveness of all your sins.
For it is through Jesus’ life, suffering, and death that you and all who believe are granted forgiveness of sins. To those who trust in Him—He has given the desire to believe in Him as Lord and Saviour—not just one evening a year—or one day a week—but every day and night. What is more, we are given as a gift eternal life and salvation—this gift—this promise—this hope and peace—is for you and your children—not just tonight—but every day.
Dearly beloved, Jesus’ desire is for you and all the nations—to pour out His great love and mercy toward you just as He has poured out His blood on the cross—paying the deadly penalty for your sins and mine—breaking down the barrier that separated us from Him and from each other. Though there have been many times that you have turned away from Him—filled your life with the empty things of this world—though you have often rejoiced in your sin—in your rebellion against Him. Yet His love remains steadfast and pure. Yet His love remains for you. It does not matter what you have done. It does not matter how long you may have been away—the Lord Jesus Christ desires you to come home—desires you to receive His goodness and blessings—He desires to shower you with His gifts of love and forgiveness.
Jesus has come to you this night to restore you. And He desires that you not merely receive Him this evening and then forget all about Him tomorrow morning or the next day or the next. Rather, He desires that you rejoice daily that He is the greatest gift you will ever receive, just as He rejoices in coming to save sinners who are lost and alone—empty and afraid. For He has fulfilled your greatest desire and need. He has died in your place to give you life and salvation—to give you the peace that the world cannot give—to be the solid rock cornerstone of your life. The One who has saved you has done this—and He will bring you into His everlasting kingdom of blessedness and peace. What more could you possibly desire? Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.