Second Presbyterian Church

"We Have Seen His Glory
Nativity of Jesus/Christmas Day"
December 25, 2005

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2005 » Sermons for December 2005

• John 1: 1-18

Here we have John beginning his gospel with a hymn and other insertions that depict the essence of his gospel. He employs the imagery of Word, Light, and Life. He describes, in a most powerful way, how the Eternal enters into our world of history and time.

John did this effectively with metaphor. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." And so we have Jesus Christ described as the Word of God who was with God from the beginning, and participated in the beginning of creation.

The next thing one notes is that this Word is the Light and Life of humankind and creation. From Christ all things come forth.

Yesterday we worshiped God with a Christmas Eve candlelight service. We darkened the sanctuary and from the Christ Candle we lit the candles of all who were here. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

So by the first paragraph of his Gospel John has described Jesus as God, the Word of God, the Participator of creation, the creator of all life, and that evil (darkness/chaos) could not overcome it.

John goes on to describe John the Baptist as the one who witnessed to the light so that people could be prepared and be saved by Jesus.

He described how Jesus came into the world and the world, even his own people, did not receive him. The world tended, and still tends, to avoid the Light of the World - Jesus Christ. John clearly describes the rejection that Jesus and the Gospel encountered in our world.

Yet, yet on the other hand, those who DO receive him were given the power to become the CHILDREN OF GOD. Those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God are born of the Spirit of God and become God's children.

We also have the moving verse where the Word (Jesus Christ), the Eternal God became flesh and lived (tabernacled) among us. Those who witnessed Jesus in the flesh are those who have seen his glory, a glory that John describes as full of grace and truth. Jesus was a human breath of fresh air. He had no pretense. He lived a life motivated by love and the desire to bring people into the fold of God, to make them Children of God.

John was describing an eternal, cosmic event when the Divine and eternal entered history and time in the human life of Jesus of Nazareth. And with his prologue (Chapter 1: 1-18) and the rest of his gospel we encounter Immanuel-God with us.

Who is God? What is God like? God is like what is revealed in Jesus Christ. God is a God of truth, justice, compassion, and most of all - love. God is a God of redemption. In the darkness of our self-centeredness and sin God sends us a Redeemer.

• In the midst of our hatred and hopelessness God sends one who transforms us into beings of love and caring.
• In Jesus of Nazareth we meet God, face to face.

And whom do we see?

• We see a man who was willing to die on the cross for our sin.
• We see a man who reaches out to us with the forgiveness of God and then challenges us to love and to forgive one another.
• In Jesus the man, we see God coming to our rescue.
• In Jesus we see God reaching out to us, calling us to himself, and telling us, "I love you. I love you with all my heart. Now, live you life in and with my love and redemption."

This passage is not very preachable. It is beautiful and poetic. It is one of my favorite passages. It is one of the best descriptions of what the Incarnation means (And the Word became flesh). And just about everything that a preacher can say about this passage is inferior to the passage itself. But here it is in just a few words: God loves you. God redeemed you. God forgave you. Love one another as your God loves you. Merry Christmas. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.