Dec.23,12 THE CANDLE Tonight we celebrate the miracle of God s love through the birth of His Son. Year after year Christians gather to reflect on the birth of the Christ Child. The manger scene has been a great big part of it as well as Christmas trees, poinsettias, lights, greenery, Christmas cards, gift giving, cookies, stockings by the fire place, Santa and yes, even the Christmas fruit cake. Christmas carols being sung, candlelight services in many churches have come to be part of the Christmas celebration. One hymn goes, Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine. Love came down at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign. And of course, Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King. We all know the story by heart. Matthew and Luke s gospels tell us the story of God s plan of redemption. We marvel at the story and how Jesus was born in a lowly manger with no crib for a bed, among the various animals because there were no room in any inn, for they were all full. We ve heard many sermons on that account, how inn keeper after inn keeper turned the couple away and the conclusion could be, don t turn Jesus away, make room for Him in our hearts, in our lives. Or perhaps a sermon on the final inn keeper who offered grace to the couple seeing their need, knowing Mary was close to her time of giving birth. So he offered them that dirty stable, for it was the only place available. Grace, yes God s grace from an inn keeper that perhaps even helped Joseph set up the manger, moved the animals, got them clean water, some clean wraps, bid them goodnight. Tonight I bring you a story from someone else. It s a Christmas story by Max Lucado. I read the short book and thought, maybe this year this story will touch all our hearts. It s about a candle, a Christmas Candle. Let me tell you the story through my eyes and ears and of course the Little fish way. When I finish maybe, just maybe this Christmas Eve service will be filled with the joy and the presence of the Christ Child and hearts will be stirred..
Many, many years ago in another country, the year 1664, there was a man whose family made candles. They lived in a small community, smaller than Williamsville. People loved the small town and they were very friendly. They enjoyed their town and they loved their church. Their pastor had come there as a young man and stayed until his passing. Year after year people attended that church. It was the only one in town. The candle maker made the candles for each service. That was his gift. One Christmas the candle maker made the many candles that would be needed for Advent and as always made extra for the Christmas Eve celebration. It was a long and tedious process, but he sang to himself as he dipped the wicks into wax molds and watched the wax build up to form a candle just the right size. When finished, he would put them on a rack to dry. This night when the candles were finished he and his wife went off to bed. Sometime during the night a noise was heard that startled them. They looked up from their bed and didn t see anything thinking it might have been the cold wind that blew through the shutters. Then it happened again. This time it was followed by a light, and in that light a figure so bright he lit up the room. The candle maker was scared, and so was his wife. He called out to the figure that was before them, but no answer. They watched and watched as the figure, who did not say anything, walked over to the candle rack and seemed to be looking at each of them. Finally, after a bit, the figure touched one of the candles and it began to blaze. The next think the candle maker and his wife knew was that the figure was gone and the candle went out. They jumped out of bed to check out the candles and didn t notice anything different. They looked at the candle that the figure touched and that too wasn t any different. So they were puzzled by it all and went back to bed. Now this is when the story gets better. They brought all the Advent candles to the church and gave them to the pastor for the service that day. The one that the figure touched, though, the candle maker just kept to himself for some odd reason. He put that one in his pocket that morning. During the service the couple could not
concentrate on the sermon. They kept reliving the night when the light came and that figure touched the candle and it became glowing. They shared the pew with a young mother who had two small children. They were well, pretty dirty it seems. They knew that she had lost her husband a few months before in an accident. For some reason, as some people do, they started a conversation with the young mother and found that they had little food left, maybe enough for a few days. Being Christmas, and knowing it is more blessed to give, the candle maker s wife searched the pocket of her husband s coat for a coin to give to the young widow and her kids. When she pulled out the coin, she also pulled out the candle. She handed both to the young lady inviting her to Light the candle and pray. As the young mother turned to leave, the wife looked at the startled husband and said, What harm? He nodded. They didn t say much about that candle and thought maybe they both dreamed it. When Christmas Eve service came that year the pastor had always given the congregation a chance for someone to thank God in public for blessings that they had received. When the pastor came to that part of the service and asked if there was anyone who wanted to thank God publicly, the young mother who appeared unkept, hungry just a few days before rose quickly to her feet to share her story. She told how a wealthy uncle in a nearby community had given her a farm as a gift. The farm was a godsend. She could live in the house, rent out the ground, and support herself and her two children. She looked straight at the candle maker and his wife as she said, I prayed. I lit the candle and prayed. The couple looked at each other and suspected a connection between the candle and the answered prayer, but didn t know for sure. And that s how the story began. Many years later, 25 to be exact, on the night before the last Sunday in Advent, just like before the candle maker made the Advent Candles and again got a visitor at night and once again the room glowed and once again the figure touched a special candle and it too glowed. When the figure left again the candle maker went to that one candle that didn t look any different, but like the last time, he put it in his
pocket. He gave it to the pastor of the church and God began to bless his ministry and the faith of the people began to grow. For 200 years, every 25 years on the last Sunday in Advent when the candle maker in that town made his candles for the church, there was a visitor who touched the candle and when it was given to someone a miracle happened. Again 25 years later the candle maker gave the special candle to a shepherd who was looking for his lost son. On Christmas Eve when the pastor invited people to share God s blessing the shepherd stood and told the story that he prayed, lit the candle that was given him, and he found his lost son. The people of the town knew these stories well and had passed them on to their kids, the story of The Christmas Candle that brought miracles. The story of God s blessing upon someone which gave hope and faith to others. Now 25 years later, the town was a buzz as Advent season was upon them and the candle maker, the great-grandson of the original candle making business, was making his candles like his grandfather and his father did, and as he had done. The community wondered if there would be a Christmas Miracle that year. Would the Christmas figure show up and touch a candle? And then who would get it? After all, there were many needs in the community. Many could use a miracle. As that final Advent Sunday approached as you would guess the candle maker had many friends. They all asked if he thought the Christmas Angel would come to touch a candle. And then they would tell him, I could use a miracle. I lost my job and can t pay my bills and the bank is going to take my house one said. Another said he had been ill and the doctors couldn t figure out what was wrong. So many stories. So many needs in such a small community, among people he knew. The candle maker s head spun so, and well, he just didn t know. On and on the needs were offered to the candle maker and his wife as they listened. And they, even they had a need. Even the new pastor, the couple thought could use the Christmas Miracle because he seemed to have a deep rooted problem that he would not share with anyone. He finished first in his class, yet wasn t appointed to one of the bigger churches in a
bigger town, but sent to this small town church that was way out of the way, generally filled by an older man who was nearing the ending of his preaching. So many needs. One candle doesn t go a long way, now does it. How could they figure out who to let have the Christmas Miracle Candle this year, if the Christmas figure came? Everyone waited and hoped for their miracle. The night came when the candle maker did as he always did, as his grandfather and is father did. In the candle shop he made the candles and set them to dry and he and his wife sat back to rest, to wait to see if once again the Christmas angel would come. When the candles were finished, the very last one set out on the drying stands the candle maker and his wife wondered would this be the last year the Christmas figure came? And if he did and touched a candle who should they give it to? Who had the biggest need? Who needed the Christmas Miracle? Why, they could themselves. Rocking and waiting sleep came to them. After awhile a noise awoke them. Following that noise came a great light. They were afraid at first. Then they thought it must be the Christmas figure. They watched his every step as the room glowed and glowed in such a bright light. They were quiet as a mouse as the figure went to the candle rack and finally touched one candle and it became so bright it lit the room. The figure made sure they saw which one and then just like that, the glow left, and so did the figure. The candle maker jumped up from his chair to run to the candle that the figure touched. But his left foot was asleep, and as he put that one on the floor, well you can imagine what happened. He lost his balance and fell forward right up against the rack. The candles began to fall and he tried catch the one he thought the Christmas angel touched, but it, along with the others fell to the floor and rolled this way and that. The candle maker panicked. Now what? His wife helped round up all the candles trying to figure out which one the figure touched? Is this the Christmas Candle? Is this the Miracle one? Oh no, they both thought. They all looked the same. What should they do? What could they do?
They made a new batch for the morning, staying up all night. But this batch of 30 they just didn t know what to do with them, so they put them in a box for at least tonight. How could they give the Christmas candle out if they didn t know which one it was. That Sunday after worship people began to ask it they had any visitors that night. Got a candle to distribute this week? someone asked. And with that remark each one would say they could use a little Christmas Miracle this year. And so it was with just about everyone they met. Everyone was wanting a Christmas Miracle. They all had asked for the candle with their deep, deep needs. But how could they in good faith give out a candle they weren t sure if it was the one? It could be any of the 30. What if the one they gave in secrecy was not the one? What would happen on Christmas Eve when they were asked to share their blessing, their Christmas Miracle? The candle makers wife gave him the 30 candles and told him God may tell him what to do with them. So the candle maker went on his way and as it would be, he ran into people who told their stories of their needs. Each seemed tragic. The candle maker so wanted to help. But he didn t know which candle was the one the Christmas figure touched. He stopped by the staple and greeted his old friend who told him his sad story. Touched by his story and his need, the candle maker pulled out a candle and said to take, light it and pray. What else was he to do? For the rest of the week he ran into more people with more needs and each time he gave them a candle and told them the same thing, light the candle and pray. The candle maker slipped one into his own pocket to have. At the end of the week he told his wife all the candles were gone. They thought of the Christmas Eve service. They thought about the pastor who didn t believe the Christmas Miracle and would not preach about the Christmas Candle upsetting some of the people. He had softened a little and said he would at least allow someone to share a thanks to God moment, though he was skeptical to say that a miracle would take place.
The candle maker and his wife waited until the very last minute to attend the Christmas Eve service. When the candle maker told his wife he didn t want to go, she said, At least one person will be happy to see us. So they joined the others to worship God and celebrate the gift of God s Son being born. They didn t sit in their usual place up front but they sat at the back. The service began like always and there was much excitement waiting to see who received the Christmas Miracle. The skeptical pastor began to share the candle story and since it was a tradition to let people thank God for something, he asked for the one who had received the Christmas candle to stand and tell about it. The candle maker bowed his head, and offered a silent prayer. Lord, these are your people, your flock. Look with kindness upon this moment. The candle maker heard the congregation begin to stir and he grasped his wife s hand and squeezed so hard the blood almost stopped flowing. They were afraid to open their eyes. When they did they couldn t believe their eyes because people were standing all over the sanctuary. One by one those who had received a candle told of the Christmas Miracle that had happened. One who was delivered from drinking. Another who found money to pay the rent. Another who needed a place to live found a place to live. The sanctuary was a glow with testimony after testimony of a Christmas Miracle. Not just one, but 29 of them. They were trying to figure out which one had received the Christmas Candle and the Christmas miracle. The preacher, as well as others was wondering how this could be. But story after story of a miracle that happened after a candle that was given was lit and they prayed. That week many of the congregation had come almost daily to pray. With so much excitement and confusion going on as more and more spoke of their miracle the candle maker decided he needed to tell the story. He got enough courage to walk to the front to tell them that yes, the Christmas angel came, and yes that figure touched a candle. But he told them how he fell and the candles rolled on the floor and he did not know which one was the exact candle. He apologized to them, saying he gave out the candles praying and hoping the one who needed the miracle would
receive it. He said, Who has the real Christmas Candle? Only God knows. And I know he uses the mistakes of a stumbler. And he has heard our prayers. Perhaps, he continued, we trusted the candle too much, and trusted God too little. So God took our eyes off the candle and set them on himself. He is the Candle of Christmas. And this town, is one of his Bethlehem s. For he has come to us all. But that s not the end of the story. As they were celebrating someone burst through the church doors and told them an accident happened. A carriage had slipped going across a bridge and its passengers were down in the freezing water. The candle maker and pastor as well as others ran to help do what they could. When they got to the creek they saw the carriage but no people. The pastor held a lantern to see his way but he fell in, and when he did, he lost his candle. And this is what he thought. He thought of another time when God did not answer his prayer as a friend died in icy waters as the pastor tried to save him. That was his problem. He had lost his faith that God heard his prayers. This time though, he prayed again for God s help and got to his feet. He found the candle the candle maker put in his pocket and they lit it and the pastor went further up the creek and they heard a voice saying over here. Over here. He followed the sounds of the cries for help and found a young lady holding her baby above the water level. They reached down to bring both to safety and they handed them off to someone else to get them out of the cold and wet night. When it was all over, and they were able to see who it was who they had saved, it was the candle makers granddaughter and her baby who had decided to come home. The pastor now not only understood the story of the Christmas candle, but had experienced one himself. God did hear his prayers. And that year, it wasn t just one miracle. There were many. Christmas Miracles? It may be fiction. But on this night of nights, a miracle happened many years ago that brought a baby boy to this world to bring salvation for all who would receive him. That s a miracle in itself. And here is another miracle. Those who receive God s Son will receive new life. Tonight during the
lighting of our Christmas candles I wonder, I just wonder if maybe, just maybe if someone prays as their candle is being lighted that a miracle or two might not happen. Maybe, just maybe the God of yesterday has visited us today and provided that miracle of hope that one needs today. For you see, miracles do happen. For Christ so loved the world that he gave us his son and he dwells among us today. Listen to our choir as they sing their closing song and may the joy and miracle of Christmas fill all our hearts.