What does Christmas, Football and War have in common?
You may know this story but I’ll tell it to you anyway:
On Christmas Day 1914, in World war 1, soldiers who were supposed to be fighting each other stepped out of their trenches to share gifts, sing carols and even play football.
Here’s the diary entry of Captain Sir Edward Hulse of the Scots Guard.
25 December, 1914 at dawn.
“A scout named F. Murker went out and met a German Patrol, and was given a glass of whisky and some cigars…”
A German lieutenant kept a diary as well, Kurt Zehmish:
“Eventually the English brought a soccer ball from their trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued,”
He even wrote down the score, would you like to know? 3:2. But do I need to tell you who won?
It’s a great story, isn’t it? peace on earth, goodwill to all men.
His diary goes on to say:
“How marvelously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it. Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.”
For a time!
Another soldier reflected:
“We shouted Merry Christmas, even though no one felt Merry. By afternoon, the silence ended and the killing started again. It was a short peace in a terrible war.”
A video sharing a little more about that day in 1914, 110 years ago…
It’s been over a hundred years since that war ended, but the darkness of war still hangs over all of us. Ukraine probably feels the closest, but War has been a daily reality somewhere in the world since those days.
And now, our former Prime Minister, now NATO chief just recently told us, that we need to have a wartime mindset. Not even 100years after VE day, and we’re talking about another war. It is a dark world we live in.
And Luke who wrote our gospel reading, he wants us to see that this baby, the Christmas baby, is the same baby Isaiah spoke about 700 years earlier.
The baby who would bring joy and freedom.
The baby who would shine light in the darkness.
The baby who would put an end to all wars.
And if we are to agree with Luke, I think we need to change our mindset about war, and about Jesus.
Because Jesus indeed promises to end all wars and bring lasting peace. but it is in his own terms.
And Jesus, he thinks that the wars between humans are only the symptom of a worse world war. He says we fight each other, because we all fight God.
And that is the real deep darkness.
We all sit in our trenches with our guns pointed up, giving God the rapid fire.
In other words, the darkness of Christmas is not just outside there, because the sun is not shining, and the darkness of Christmas is not just the evil things happening out there in the world, the war in Ukraine or the attack on peaceful Christmas shoppers last week;
The darkness of Christmas is also inside here and inside here (heart and head).
And that is a truth that many people hate to hear, that we human beings are at war with God, because we always think we are above average good people.
But if we are honest, none of us ever meets even our own standards, let alone God’s standards.
And kids, so later on your brother really wants to borrow your toy, but you cling to it really tight and refuse to share it with him.
Or you get into a bit of a sulk, and deep down, you know there is no good reason for it, and your mum is a bit upset by your behavior, and you know you should go and say sorry. But you hold onto your sulking and so you don’t go say sorry.
Christmas darkness is out there, but it’s also in here, and in here
And Christmas, it is a global rescue operation. Did you hear how the angel described the child?
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
This baby, he is a savior in a terrible war. A war we can never win.
Which is why the angels are terrified when they see an angel. Anyone of us would feel the same if we stand before God.
But the wonder of Christmas is that the angel does not come a with a gun to terrify them, he comes with good news—good news of great Joy. A savior has been born.
And the child wrapped in bands of cloth is a sign, a sign that the God of the universe is making an overture of peace.
The child is God’s white flag of truce, like the whiskey and cigars that German soldiers showed up with in Christmas of 1914.
But Jesus, he is not offering a short peace in a terrible war. He came to offer a permanent, global armistice. Peace between God and humanity first, and only then peace with each other.
And so this Christmas, the question that confronts is this:
Will we let Jesus, the Light of the World, shine into our darkness? Will we accept the peace He offers?
And whoever you are this morning, whether you’ve been a Christian a long time or are just looking in, I think there are three simple ways to respond: A,B,C,.
A: Admit the darkness in your own life. The problem is not just out there, the problem is also in here.
B: Believe in the Lord Jesus, who offers light far more powerful than darkness.
C: Commit to follow Him. And that might start by coming to church regularly.
Admit, Believe, Commit.