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The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of Concord is for the Gospel, Luke 2:1-14 for the Christmas Eve, December 24, 2013. It is from Apology, Article V, page 106. The Lord brings to Mary and Joseph through the angels and the shepherds that their child is indeed the long promised Messiah, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Click here for the reading formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin. Pastor Doug May
This shows what Christ calls "love." The woman came with the opinion that forgiveness of sins should be sought in Christ. This worship is the highest worship of Christ. She could think nothing greater about Christ. To seek forgiveness of sins from Him was truly to acknowledge the Messiah. To think of Christ this way, to worship Him this way, is truly to believe. Furthermore, Christ used the word love not toward the woman, but against the Pharisee. He contrasted the entire worship of the Pharisee with the entire worship offered by the woman. He rebuked the Pharisee because he did not acknowledge that He was the Messiah, even though he performed the outward duties that a guest deserved. Christ points to the woman and praises her worship, ointment, tears, and so forth. These were all signs of faith and a confession—with Christ she sought forgiveness of sins. It is indeed a great example. This moved Christ to rebuke the Pharisee, who was a wise and honorable man, but not a believer. He charges him with lack of holiness and admonishes him by the example of the woman. In this way, Christ shows that it is disgraceful for the Pharisee. While an unlearned woman believes God, he, a doctor of the Law, does not believe. He does not acknowledge the Messiah and does not seek from Him forgiveness of sins and salvation. (paragraph 33)
These are excerpts from the Book of Concord.
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