In 1954, Perry Como began singing, "Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays, 'Cause no matter how far away you roam when you pine for the sunshine of a friendly face for the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home."

Home for the Holidays - I think we can all relate to the sentiment. It is nice to be in a warm, loving atmosphere for Christmas. We want have familiar traditions and loved ones surrounding us.

It is ironic, though, when you read the account of the Christmas Story in the Bible because NO ONE was at home that First Christmas....Mary and Joseph's home was NAZARETH and yet they were in BETHLEHEM...The Shepherds were AT WORK in the field that night...The Wisemen weren't home as they were TRAVELING to find the newborn King...Even JESUS was not at home!

Jesus left his home in heaven. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Christmas truly reminds believers how far the love of God reaches. God became man and came to earth to be our brother.

Only faith can grasp this extraordinary concept. Human reason looks at this miracle and scoffs. Earthly wisdom tries to find alternatives to the Christmas story. But faith holds on to the promise given us in Holy Scripture. The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son. God made the promise to Adam and Eve that the Savior would be born of a woman. They were the first links in the chain of Jesus' ancestors. One after another, the links were strung together … Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. Finally in the New Testament Mary was added to the chain and gave birth to Jesus.

But why did God come near? Why did he leave home? If Christ were to be man's substitute and give his life as a ransom, he had to be true man. Sin had destroyed the human relationship with God. Our guilty thoughts, words, and actions divided us from the One who created us. Our rebellion against God would only yield death and hell. We needed a Savior that could be our substitute. We needed a Messiah that would willingly give up his life in our place. In fact, the strongest evidence that Jesus Christ was true man is the fact that he suffered on the cross, died, and was buried. When he breathed his last breath and the soldier put the spear in his side, death had come, and thus the ultimate proof that Jesus was human.

But if the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes was only true man, his sacrifice would have been for nothing. The virgin gave birth to a son and his name was Immanuel - God with us. Not just a man, Jesus was true God. Peter's confession of faith in Matthew 16:16 hit the mark perfectly, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." The evidence of Jesus' divinity is tremendous in the Bible. John the Baptist testified about it in the Jordan River. God the Father proved it at Jesus' baptism. The Holy Spirit plants this fact in hearts with faith even today.

Christ had to be true God for his sacrifice to mean anything. Only the spotless Lamb of God could satisfy God's anger over sin. Our salvation is complete because of Jesus' perfection. That little child, born to Mary, had no sin. The Word became flesh and would later take our guilt away with his perfect sacrifice.

The Word became flesh. Jesus left his home in heaven to bring peace to aching hearts and souls. That Word comes to you today to give you peace. Soon we will offer Holy Communion, where the forgiveness of sins is freely given. This peace and forgiveness is given to you because of Jesus' dual nature. He is true God and true man.

We have a vivid reminder of this every time we receive the Lord's Supper here. Whenever we offer the Sacrament here at St. Stephen we light the two candles on the altar. Those candles not only symbolize that Jesus is the light of the World that brings salvation through his life, death and resurrection, but the two candles also represent Jesus dual natures - one that he is true God and the other that he is true man.

Jesus Christ brought everlasting hope to the world on Christmas Day. He left his home in heaven and made his home on earth. His first residence offered him that lowly food box for a bed. How humiliating that had to be. Jesus' humiliation was the way in which he lived on this earth - the manger, the poverty, the servant's lifestyle. However the fact that Jesus came down to earth was not humiliating at all, but rather it was glorious. Jesus, being God, did not consider being equality with God something to hold onto. Instead, in glory, he left home and came to earth to redeem mankind.

As we gaze at the babe in Bethlehem today, take real comfort. Jesus, in glory, became our brother. That means that Jesus understands us. This Christmas know that Jesus knew real sorrow. Know that Jesus understands the pressures of temptation. Know that Jesus realizes how hard it is to press on day after day in this sinful world.

When you fall down, when you are overcome with grief, when you need a pick me up - go to Bethlehem and see Jesus. He understands your pain and sorrow. Jesus knows how to heal you. For the Savior is true God and true man.

Go to Bethlehem all year long to see the wonderful present that God has given to you - his dear Son. Jesus left home in heaven so that we could have a holiday. As you celebrate this Christmas in your homes, with your families, know that the God-Man, Immanuel, is with you all the time. He brings you peace. He brings you salvation. Jesus was not home for the first Christmas so that we might be home for all eternity. AMEN.