+In Nomine Iesu+
Christmas Day St John 1:1-14 25 December 2011 In the four New Testament books that we call gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John we find two Christmas stories. The first is obvious. Its found in Luke 2. There we read about a census, about people named Mary and Joseph, about a difficult trip during the winter to a town called Bethlehem, about a group of shepherds and their nocturnal encounter with angels, and about the birth of a baby who is described as Christ the Lord. Thats St Luke. <> St Matthew adds detail to Lukes story so his really cannot be called a second Christmas story. In Matthew 2 we are told about wise men coming in search of the Christ child, about the response of a man named Herod when he is told that a new king has been born, about Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt, and about Herod murdering all the young boys in the vicinity of Bethlehem hoping he has killed the one who threatens his throne. We could say that Matthew adds a gritty under layer to Lukes more romantic description of the birth of Jesus. But those two accounts together constitute just one story. <> The second story is presented by St John and it is set before us this morning. John doesnt take us to Bethlehem. He doesnt introduce us to angels or shepherds, or wise men, or a tyrant king named Herod. He doesnt have to. Matthew and Luke have taken care of all that. Rather, John takes us on a trip that goes far beyond a particular town. Johns is a trip through time. He takes us all the way back all the way back to the beginning indeed, before the beginning. Listen to how St John opens his Christmas account. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. There, at the very beginning of all things indeed before the advent of time, there we find the beginning of the Christmas story. It is a story that begins with God. Indeed, a story that begins in God. Before anything else exists, our Christmas story has already been set in motion. <> And now a question comes to mind. Why? Why is this second story necessary? Why is it necessary that someone described as Christ, the Lord, why is it necessary for such a one to come into the world? Indeed, why is this promise a necessity even before anything that will be created has been created? St John writes that the One who is the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. Why? Why already at the very beginning of everything must this be stressed? Promised? <> St John answers the question. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. <> There it is. Somewhat backwards, perhaps. Maybe a bit convoluted. But, there it is. Indeed, theres the answer to every question we have about God. But is this an obvious, clear, easily understood answer? No. It seems almost cryptic. A puzzle hidden within a riddle, if you will. Johns answer is all about life and light and the danger of darkness. <> When Adam and Eve first sinned they did more than simply disobey God. They doubted the goodness of God. They denied the truth of God. In effect they insisted that God was a liar. And in that sin, Adam and Eve wrapped themselves clothed themselves in darkness. Indeed, so deep was their darkness that they believed they could hide from God. They ran from the Light that is God, and hid. First they hid behind fig leaves. Then they hid among the trees of the Garden. They hid to avoid God. And they thought they could get away with it! <> But, already, Gods Christmas story was in motion, wasnt it? The plan had begun. The One through whom all things were made would re-configure, re-establish indeed, re-create all things. And He would do all this through himself. There would be no depending on man to fix things. Just as there had been no depending on man to establish anything in the first place. No, God would do everything. God would un-do the devastation brought on by man, and He would do it by himself. From within Himself God would deal with mans sin so that man would not have to. <> The gospel-writer John in speaking of the prophet John, whom we call the baptizer says: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. And he also writes, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. <> Mans sinfulness destroys. It always has. It destroyed the perfect harmony God had created between Adam and Eve and through them, the harmony between man and woman generally has been disfigured and broken. Sin destroyed the harmony of the Garden of Eden itself and thus the harmony that had existed between mankind and creation. The sin of Adam and Eve destroyed their harmony with God and through that all harmony between created man and his God. The sin of our first parents ushered into the world disharmony, and fracture, and discord, and animosity, and jealousy, and bitterness, and wretchedness, and to sum it all up darkness. Since Adam and Eve, mans lot has been one of darkness. Was it simply for effect that the angels appeared to the Bethlehem shepherds in the darkness of the night? No! Those angels were coming into the darkness where sin reigns in order to proclaim the Messiahs birth. <> But now what? If we leave ourselves out of this Christmas story then everything simply becomes an academic exercise an interesting look at some words from an ancient author. Leave yourself out of this story and all you have are reindeer and presents and a jolly fat man. You see, the people of every generation are front and center in the Christmas story unfolded by St John. Its as if everyone sits in the front row of the theater. Thats how it has to be, because everyone is alike in his or her sinfulness. In the present generation we are the disobedient ones. We are the ones who seek to hide from God. We are the ones who are hoping God wont notice our sins our nakedness as we try to cover ourselves with self-chosen good works. <> But, amazingly or not God knows. God knows all your sins, and He continues to love you. St John does not simply write to a few select sinners of the first century. He writes to you. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. That means among you. Together we have seen His glory. And that glory is most plainly seen in His promises. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. (Mark 16) That promise God makes to you. And there are more many more. I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb. 13) And behold I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Mt. 28) Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. (Jn. 11). <> Those promises, dear friends, find their realization in what we call the Christmas story and its aftermath. To us has come, in the words of St John, the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. His name is Jesus, and He gives to you forgiveness and salvation. Thanks be to God . . and Merry Christmas! Amen +Soli Deo Gloria+ _______________________________________________ Sermons mailing list [email protected] http://cat41.org/mailman/listinfo/sermons
