From what I can piece together, it started way back in 1973. That year, two Lutherans in Colorado founded an organization called Alternatives for Simple Living and began publishing a magazine called, Whose Birthday is it Anyway?

They wanted to protest the commercialism of Christmas. "Commercial advertising," they wrote, "is full of alluring and seductive, yet empty promises. Strong cultural pressures at Christmas--and throughout the year--lead many to live and celebrate in ways that are neither fulfilling nor joyful." So, beginning around 1973, these two Lutherans from Colorado began publishing and distributing a little magazine that advocated a simpler and saner approach to Christmas. They ask, “Whose Birthday is it Anyway?"

I like what they’re doing! For many of us, Christmas is such a hectic and stressful holiday that it’s good to gently be reminded that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday and that, as some have said, he’s the reason for the season.

The magazine’s approach is respectful, gentle, and friendly. Not all of their disciples, however, have followed suit.

One writer in Oakland California, for instance, fairly seethes as she writes on the internet, “Imagine it’s your birthday, and no one gave you a single gift! Instead, others all around you were being showered with gifts, attending lavish parties, and embarking on expensive trips. This,” she chides, “is exactly what happens every December under the guise of Christmas.”

Speaking, then, rather audaciously for Jesus, she says, “Let’s give Jesus what he wants for his birthday. Instead of cutting off people in traffic, fighting over the last sale item, and ignoring the entire human population while talking on Bluetooths [Jesus has an opinion on Bluetooth?], let’s actually speak to and treat other people with compassion and respect. ... Let’s give Jesus the gift he truly wants--the gift of love for our fellow humans.”

That’s love? What she says may be right, but is that the right way to say it? When you’re being scolded, do feel moved to act with greater compassion and respect toward others?

Another example: in a column published nationwide under the title, “Whose Birthday is it Anyway?” another writer feels moved to publicly criticize her own family and children. Nationwide! “If December 25th is the day Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” she scolds, “why do you run out every year and put yourself in debt to buy me a birthday present? It's not my birthday,” she says. Using her own children as an example of bad behavior before the entire nation, she asks, “Why do you feel compelled to buy me a present to celebrate the birth of Jesus?”

Isn’t that something? But, I tell you what. I’m not afraid to answer her question! While it’s true that, for over 1600 years, Christians have selected December 25th to celebrate Jesus’ birth, that’s not the only birth being celebrated that day!

The nativity story we read tonight was from the gospel of Luke. By far, it’s the most descriptive and familiar one. But it’s not the only one!

The gospel of John--which seems to put its own spin on everything--certainly puts its own spin on the nativity of our Lord. Here’s the way John describes Jesus’ birth: “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.”

John means the baby Jesus! “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.”

One of the oldest hymns in our hymnal was written sometime around the year 400 by someone named Marcus Aurelius. Often sung at Christmas, its first line says, “Of the Father’s love begotten ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending, he ...”

That ancient hymn and the gospel of John are saying the same thing! The very Word of God who created the world--and who created each one of us--himself took on human flesh and came to life in the baby Jesus.

“The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world,” John says. “He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But--and this is what John--and this sermon--has been building up to--But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.”

Whose birthday is it, anyway? Yes, it’s Jesus’ birthday. Yes, he’s the reason for the season. But it doesn’t end with him! It isn’t only about him!

Whose birthday is it anyway? It’s Jesus’ but, to all who receive him, it’s also ours! As John proclaims, “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God”!

Perhaps you’ve picked on the phrase, “to all who receive him.” What’s that mean? What does it mean to “receive” Christ?

It’s easiest to explain it within the Christmas story itself. Let’s take Mary first. Mary “received” Christ when she accepted what God had planned for her. She didn’t feel qualified. She didn’t feel ready. But she accepted what God wanted from her! “Here am I, the servant of the Lord,” she said; “let it be with me according to your word.”

Let’s take Joseph next. Joseph “received” Christ when he named the baby Jesus and adopted him as his own.

Think about this! Of all people, Joseph knew he was not this baby’s father! As a result, when he found out that Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant, he was going to break off their engagement and divorce her.

An angel visited him in a dream, however, and told him not to fear. The child conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit, he was told. So, Joseph, then, “received” Christ, not simply by accepting what the angel told him. More importantly, he received Christ when, after the baby was born, Joseph named him Jesus.

In a day when there was no such thing as DNA or paternity tests, it was only when a husband named a child that the child was considered his own. By naming the child--regardless of the child’s real parentage--the man was making the child his own.

Joseph knew that he had nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. Someone--or, in this case, something--else was the child’s father. Yet Joseph received him and made him his own when, at his birth, he named him Jesus.

What does that mean for us? Maybe tonight you don’t feel like you and Jesus are at all related. His family and your family seem to have nothing in common. There’s no natural connection between you.

It doesn’t matter! You can receive him the same way that Joseph--who felt the same way you do--did. He accepted Jesus as his own. He adopted him.

And finally, let’s ever so briefly talk about the shepherds. They received Christ when they were told that, “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

They believed the good news and went to worship him, rejoicing at his birth.

Let’s finish up, shall we? Tonight we’ve been asking, “Whose birthday is it, anyway?”
Of course, it’s Jesus’ birthday. He’s the reason for the season.

But the season doesn’t end with him! The whole point of the Word of God coming to life in Jesus was so that God could adopt the whole human race in and through Jesus!

Do you remember how the gospel of John put it? “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.”

Whose birthday is it, anyway? Jesus’, yes; but also your own! Whether you receive him like Mary and say, “Let it be with me, according to your word,” or like Joseph, and adopt him as your own--whether you use this opportunity tonight to receive him like the shepherds, rejoicing and worshiping him at his birth--go ahead and celebrate!

Give and receive gifts! Have fun and give presents to the people you love. It’s OK. In fact, it’s divine. His birth leads to yours!

Happy birthday. In Jesus’ name. Amen!