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Friends...
A computer breakdown has silenced the blog for awhile...I’ll begin again on IPad until we get a new laptop! Here’s reflections on the second Sunday in Christmas:
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life,[a] and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[b]
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own,[c] and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[d] full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son,[e] who is close to the Father’s heart,[f] who has made him known.
So happy 10th day of Christmas, happy 2nd Sunday in Christmas and of course Happy New Year to you. We are at the beginning of a new year and if ever there was a time we needed a new beginning, this is it. Of course as a friend of mine says, just because the calendar year changes doesn’t make everything ok, but let’s claim this as a chance to start over.
As each of the gospels has a it’s own Christmas story, this is John’s. Of a Christ who has always been and who now comes to earth to be with us. And fitting for a month of new beginnings, John uses beautiful poetry to take us back to the very beginning, Genesis1. And how does God bring the world being? He speaks it being. Gods word brings it all into being.
At the beginning, God separates light from darkness. And let me say both are important. And like Isaiah says, (9:2, 42:6-7, 60:1-3)”...the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light”, “...the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. “ And in so many ways, we have been walking in darkness. These have been long dark months. But the darkness has not overcome it.
So God’s word becomes flesh. I want you see a progression here, first the children of Israel believed God lived in the traveling ark. And then in the Temple. And then in Jesus day,there were those who believed God lives in God’s word and anywhere God’s word is God is. And now John announces, John reveals that Gods lives in our very midst!
If the prologue tells us the essence of the gospels, v.12 tells us what it means to be a disciple...
But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
Roger Gench has pointed out that in the original Greek, whenever John talks about “belief” it’s a verb, not a noun. So those who believe into Jesus have been given power. A lot of Christians have trouble with that word. Think it negative. Actually, in Spanish, eg, it simply means to be able to. Our problem is not power but people who exert power over others. What we are given by Jesus is power with. To be able to do...together. Hear that.
It says “ no one has seen God.” But like Moses, we see God by where God has been and when we see Jesus, we see God. Now go with me here...today when we take communion, we take Jesus into ourselves. We want him to abide in us as we abide in him. When we see Jesus we see grace, compassion and most of all love. It’s not something to feel, it’s something we do. And we want to love so people can see God in us, an see the Christ that lives in us.
As we rush to leave behind what was a very bad year, not soon enough gone, let us pause for a moment before letting it all go. Even as we mourn our very real losses, Let’s remember what we learned about ourselves and others. Let’s give thanks for all the dedication, determination and creativity that sprang forth. And most of all, let give thanks for all the people and all the ways that they helped pull us through, who pull us through every day. We see God by where God has been. And God has been, and is,here...
Let those with ears to hear....,hear.
Amen!
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