John 1:1-14

Christmass Day | 25 December 2023 | John 1:1-14 | Brad Everett |

As we begin the celebration of the feast of Christmass, these next 12 days give us an opportunity to consider and commemorate that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, beginning with the passage from today’s gospel.

Granted, these verses contain none of the images considered common to Christmass—no mention of Bethlehem, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wisemen or hosts of angels singing “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will toward men”. Yet these verses are St. John’s version of the Christmas story— how and why the second person of the Holy Trinity left the glory of heaven to be become human for us and our salvation. The poetry of these opening verses, reminds us repeatedly that the Word – Jesus, was in the beginning, was with God and was God. Jesus was in the beginning with God and all things came into being through him and not one thing came into being without Him.

But he didn’t simply create the cosmos, the heavens and earth and everything in it, and then leave it to its own devices.  Creation had a purpose – Light and Life. But Jesus didn’t dispense light and life as if it were simply one more created commodity. Rather light and life are intrinsic to who He is. In him was life and the life was the light of all people—bringing and giving light and life, Jesus brings and gives himself to his creation.

And he gives himself in a very particular way with a very particular purpose. The gospel tells us that to all who received him, who believed in his name he gave power to become children of God—born not of blood or the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God.

The Christmas story, no matter if it’s John’s, Matthew’s or Luke’s, tells us that Jesus who created everything in love, continued to love it so much that he came as an infant, taking on the form of His creation so that through His Word, light and life, everything and everyone might be re-created and restored.

Further, this wasn’t something Jesus did from a comfortable and divine distance, but the holy king of heaven became flesh, coming as an infant and living among us so we might not only see for ourselves the glory of God full of grace and truth, life and light, but that we would be transformed into children of God by this grace and truth, light and life.

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem transforms us into the children of God through the waters of baptism and sustains in that relationship as we receive our Lord Jesus as he comes to us in the bread and wine, giving his body and blood, in holy communion for the forgiveness of our sins, strengthening of our faith and consolation of our consciences.

We have been given this wondrous gift, not just to remember but to enter into anew for the sake of God who offers it to us, for the sake of our own salvation, and also for the sake of the world. I say for the sake of the world because our calling is much like that of John the Baptist. We too are called to testify to the life and light of Jesus Christ that all might come to faith in Him.

As bearers of this light and life, grace and truth of Christ, by virtue of His birth, death and resurrection, and as our baptism and nourishment at the Altar of the Lord, we are privileged to point others through our words and actions to the one who not only created but re-created heaven and earth. And granted saying “Merry Christmass” is one way of doing that, but it is by no means the only way.

We are called not just to “have faith” which is unfortunately often reduced to holding to certain theological propositions and beliefs, which we keep to ourselves. We are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to “do faith” to share the light and grace of Christ with those around us. At this point some of the faithful become nervous, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to themselves. That’s perfect because it isn’t about you anyway but about Jesus. Your words and actions aren’t to call attention to yourself but to point others to Him. And before you get hung up on all those “things you could never do”, what can you do?

Being here this morning is a good start—gathering on this holy day to sing God’s praises, to hear His word and eat at his table, or even for those unable to come who take time out of a day filled with activity for prayer and reading Scripture. This simple act reminds not just you, but also others of what the true focus of the day is—because how you spend your time is an accurate indication of what is truly important to you.

Being generous with your finances and material possessions, more inclined to give than to hoard.

Being generous and gracious with your words—speaking kindly of people and to them.

Taking time to write that note or make that phone call to someone you know who could use encouragement.

Asking and trusting the Holy Spirit to guide your words and deeds that you would be led you into opportunities to point to the life and light of Christ, and receive the grace to live in and by it, granting you the grace and wisdom to know what to do and say as needed.

In these and other ways we call the world’s attention to the fact that the re-creation begun in the stable in Bethlehem continues today. That Christmas isn’t an isolated historical event, nor even a one-day annual remembrance. Instead, by the transforming and life-giving power we received in our baptism and continue to receive in holy communion, we bear witness in all we do and say to the power of Christ at work in and for the sake of the world, that all might come to know and worship him.

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Brad Everett

everettsts@gmail.com

Ascension Lutheran Church

Calgary, AB, Canada