Christmas Day – Pr. Anderson sermon
Hebrews 1:1-12 “The Birth of the Appointed Heir”
December 25, 2025 | Christ Lutheran Church
In Nomine Iesu
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The Exordium
The sun has risen, the night has ended, and we have gathered with hearts prepared and much rejoicing for this great day of Christmas. What joy we have that we can gather and witness this joy unfold in front of us. For in the manger, we see what many have only been able to dream of. As we look at history, we see this in the account of Abraham and Isaac. A father, who is told that God will make his son into a great nation. And as this father looks on and almost sacrifices his one and only son, God stays his hand because He Himself will use His only Son for the sacrifice to save His people, to save the world. And this message was passed down to Abraham and Isaac and then it continued to be passed down. Until the great day when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
The Word made flesh is something for all to behold, as this is the promised heir to a glorious kingdom. A kingdom we can only dream of if we are of the flesh. And as that kingdom looks outside of our grasp, the Word speaks to us and reveals to us the great sacrifice. A sacrifice that finds its beginnings in Bethlehem proclaimed by the angels. 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, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14) With joy, please rise, as we sing Hymn # 142. Rejoice, Rejoice This Happy Morn.
Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn!
A Savior unto us is born,
The Christ, the Lord of glory.
His lowly birth in Bethlehem
The angels from on high proclaim
And sing redemption’s story.
My soul,
Extol
God’s great favor;
Bless Him ever
For salvation.
Give Him praise and adoration!
The sermon text for today is taken from the 1st chapter of the book of Hebrews. We read the verses once more in Jesus’ name:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
We Pray: LORD God, gracious Father, who in the fullness of time sent Your Son to assume our flesh and become our Brother, we thank You for Your truth and fatherly goodness in giving us this Savior, by whose birth we are delivered from sin, death, Satan, and hell; and we humbly ask You, keep us until the end in true knowledge of our Redeemer, that, with all the holy angels, we may rejoice at His nativity and behold Him, together with You and the Holy Spirit, in glory and majesty, now and forever. Amen. (The Lutheran Liturgy, companion altar book for The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 57)
As the holiday celebrations have begun and will continue into the new year, it can be easy to forget how far we have come to be able to enjoy this great celebration. Even after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the believers had to be reminded how far they had come as well. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. As they pinpointed where the good news of God comes from, some will try to poke holes in what the prophets said. The first part is what we key in on. St. Peter clarifies this same point. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). The prophets were not perfect, but people can have certainty in the message they carried out. We see how powerful God’s Word is as it comes to fruition through imperfect men. Their message from long ago is the reason we are all here today.
And when we think of the words, “long ago,” our brains can still forget how long this is. This message is an ancient message. Again, how far have we come? The Christmas Gospel begins, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). The Almighty God who made heaven and earth was thinking about each and everyone of us with His saving message. Before the fall into sin, He knew the special way He would save His people from what they had done. His love knows no bounds! And this ancient message has been attacked ever since. Why would anyone want to attack a gift that is free? It’s easy to want free things if it’s anything, but this. It’s like seeing what our siblings have under the tree and wanting what they have. Instead of their present, we can lust over the sins others are committing.
It shouldn’t be possible for us to do this. And while this seems backwards, we know how easy it is. Following the whispers of the devil and we can think that what God has done, was done so long ago, and we are in the here and now. And with the manger looking far away, God has important plans for this baby. But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.” This child in the manger grows up and while He has come to save the world, He will hold the scepter of righteousness. Righteousness that is the love of doing what is right in God’s sight and hating all wickedness. As the ancient message points out, He will strive for this. As the prophets testify, many would rather strive for wickedness. As all wickedness faces the judgment of His righteousness, this does not mean the world can lose help. The baby we have gathered to worship was appointed by His Father to be our righteousness and save us.
The Christmas baby’s righteousness cannot be overlooked. It is way different than any other ruler that has come into the world. While rulers will have their people on their mind, there can be thoughts to think of ways to make their lives better. The ruler that the world sees in the ancient good message, is a ruler who always puts His subjects first, no matter what. This is done because of His complete trust in His Father’s will. He knows the Father’s will is for His people to see the great plan of salvation. He knows that His Son will be able to accomplish this. The baby in the manger will grow in understanding and see His appointment as heir to the throne. King David witnessed this relationship as he writes, The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you (Psalm 2:7). King David wrote of the great difference between this Father and Son duo compared to other duos. They are different because the emerging of the Son of God in the flesh is a great miracle no one can fathom. A great miracle of love. A Son, begotten of the Father, completes the Father’s will, and does so by not making full use of His divine attributes. Through His divine Sonship as God, He Joins Himself to the work of the Father as we hear, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain.”
He remains because He is the Word made flesh. It is hard to believe how God’s plan was to put on our flesh to take on our sin. And in His remaining here with us, we even see how He continues to speak to us. In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. As the appointed heir, to rule, the rule would come by taking on the trials and sins of His subjects. The ultimate sacrifice in God’s plan is for His Son, this precious child, to suffer death. The people of His day and you, know how messy death is. And while blood was required for payment, with the blood of beasts being used first, the heir, the Son of God, would give up His blood. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). Without blemish and born of the Virgin Mary, the free gift of the baby in the manger grows up to the cross, putting on your lust and covetousness. And then because of His success to save all mankind, He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
As we search out the baby in the manger who was destined, and did take His seat at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, it doesn’t mean we go into this holiday wondering where God has gone and if He has left us. This is the day when we get to meet the baby in the manger face to face. It is right in the name of this day. St. Paul writes where we find Him. He worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:20-22). United in His body, we find ourselves on one of the holiest of days, gathered in this church to hear His holy Word. We will now celebrate the Supper He instituted, the place where we meet our Lord of glory. Where He tells us that He has taken away our sins and gives us forgiveness, life, and salvation in His great name. The name, that is heir to the throne and makes us heir with Him. And this great holiday celebration will continue. It continues because it is the miraculous day of our salvation. This message of old will continue to be taught in the church for it is a timeless message. We join to confess, “You are the same, and Your years will have no end.” Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen.
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