In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. John 1: 1-3
There are two kinds of Christmas stories-- the one that we read in Matthew and Luke; the dominant one that tells the human story of Mary and Jesus; the one we are most familiar with; and the second one is the one we read this morning; the one found in John. It doesn’t have Mary and Joseph; the story is begun in the mind of God and God’s plan for creation and redemption. This second story is about God’s intent and God’s purpose in creation and redemption.
When God wanted to reveal his nature and character to humankind, His word was Jesus.
Words are interesting things. We use them to communicate, but sometimes words are inadequate. People don’t always listen to words. Sometimes words are so repetitive that they become meaningless.
God, instead of speaking more words, as had been done throughout the Old Testament through prophets, sent his son into the world to take on human flesh. Jesus is a clarifying word from God and a clarifying word about God.
Jesus is described as light; the light that points the way toward God.
Two observations about this text: All of us have come to be through the Word. Each of us is a word from and through the Word. And because we have come to be through the Word, we aren’t meaningless and without worth. Today we are reminded of who we are. We are reminded that we too are words from God in John’s Gospel;
Second, to each who received Him, he gave power to become children of God, who were born of God.
The children of God, being claimed and known as the children of God, should change us.
Jesus came into the world to know human suffering and to teach important lessons that would serve humankind forever. Jesus the light of the world, came to deliver his people from sinful ways and point them toward salvation.
John the Baptist was a messenger from God who came ahead of the Christ to announce the coming of the Messiah. The people were filled with expectation, but still they didn’t recognize Jesus when he appeared to them.
There are still those who struggle with the incarnational God who calls us all children of the Holy One. We struggle sometimes to understand what it means to be God’s shining light of the World. Today, many of us will share gifts with others. But on a deeper level, have we considered how we have gifted the world? What is our gift to God? What have we offered to those who have much less?
We are called to be light. Our response to God, our gift to God, is to be a light in this world; a response to the human condition.
The children of God have grasped the meaning of the Word made flesh, they have converted it in deeds of love.
On this Holy day, let us remember that we have seen his glory, the glory that was Jesus; and let us reflect on how we will show the light of God to others in the year to come.
Amen.
There are two kinds of Christmas stories-- the one that we read in Matthew and Luke; the dominant one that tells the human story of Mary and Jesus; the one we are most familiar with; and the second one is the one we read this morning; the one found in John. It doesn’t have Mary and Joseph; the story is begun in the mind of God and God’s plan for creation and redemption. This second story is about God’s intent and God’s purpose in creation and redemption.
When God wanted to reveal his nature and character to humankind, His word was Jesus.
Words are interesting things. We use them to communicate, but sometimes words are inadequate. People don’t always listen to words. Sometimes words are so repetitive that they become meaningless.
God, instead of speaking more words, as had been done throughout the Old Testament through prophets, sent his son into the world to take on human flesh. Jesus is a clarifying word from God and a clarifying word about God.
Jesus is described as light; the light that points the way toward God.
Two observations about this text: All of us have come to be through the Word. Each of us is a word from and through the Word. And because we have come to be through the Word, we aren’t meaningless and without worth. Today we are reminded of who we are. We are reminded that we too are words from God in John’s Gospel;
Second, to each who received Him, he gave power to become children of God, who were born of God.
The children of God, being claimed and known as the children of God, should change us.
Jesus came into the world to know human suffering and to teach important lessons that would serve humankind forever. Jesus the light of the world, came to deliver his people from sinful ways and point them toward salvation.
John the Baptist was a messenger from God who came ahead of the Christ to announce the coming of the Messiah. The people were filled with expectation, but still they didn’t recognize Jesus when he appeared to them.
There are still those who struggle with the incarnational God who calls us all children of the Holy One. We struggle sometimes to understand what it means to be God’s shining light of the World. Today, many of us will share gifts with others. But on a deeper level, have we considered how we have gifted the world? What is our gift to God? What have we offered to those who have much less?
We are called to be light. Our response to God, our gift to God, is to be a light in this world; a response to the human condition.
The children of God have grasped the meaning of the Word made flesh, they have converted it in deeds of love.
On this Holy day, let us remember that we have seen his glory, the glory that was Jesus; and let us reflect on how we will show the light of God to others in the year to come.
Amen.