Title: Jesus became flesh for you!
Text: John 1:1-14
Readings - Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 1:1-14 (ESV)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Albert Einstein once said:
He who can no longer pause to wonder, is as good as dead.
To this Madeleine L'Engle a writer of young adult fiction wrote in reply:
“I share Einstein's affirmation that anyone who is not lost on the rapturous awe at the power and glory of the mind … behind the universe … is as good as a burnt out candle."
Well, today as we celebrate that working of that mind behind the universe and the coming of the Christ child and His incarnation, where we see in the manger, a baby and say in awe: “Here is God!”
Jesus became flesh for you!
John 1:1-18 has been one of my favorite sections of scripture. It expresses the deity of Jesus Christ, His glory that he has with the father and the abundance of His name which is full of grace and truth.
Let us look at the significance of three words; “Word,” “Glory,” and “Name.
In the beginning, God, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit parallels in John 1:1 what is said by him in Genesis 1:1. As God, in the beginning created the heavens and the earth, so too we learn from John’s gospel that “in the beginning was the Word,” that the “Word was with God.” And that “the Word was God.”
What is evident in Genesis 1 is that God is a plurality as creator and that His Spirit hovered over the face of the waters and that God spoke and said, “Let there be light.”(Genesis 1:3) This is in John’s gospel elaborated, expanded and explained … as the Word, that from the beginning … was with God and that He was God and that through Him, through the “Word,” all things were made.
In Genesis the light that God set forth by His “Word” is the light of men and though the darkness cannot overcome it, this light of the “Word” continues to shines forth.
God’s light that shines forth in his Word and by whom God is made known, is revealed by the One who has seen God and is God and to whom his children believe and know his name. This name of the “Word” is the eternal name which John came to testify to, so that the world might recognize and know him … the eternal God. YHWH, is the name by which the Word, from eternity, has been made known to the world, and by revelation and by faith we know Him to be Jesus.
Jesus became flesh for you!
Not all see the “Glory” that is only revealed by faith in the Christ child. Not all see salvation in him; but though not recognized, salvation is there none the less.
We’re told in the Hebrews text for today that this Christ child:
3 … is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
He came in the flesh so that those who are unable … you and me … and that the entire world can be made righteous, can be made new and can be born again … from above … born of God … given new life in Him.
The world doesn't want to hear this, and the world doesn't want to see this, and that is what makes this child, Jesus, and his birth ever more amazing! Because he came anyway, despite the hatred and despite the sin, he came for you.
Ill.
Pres. Teddy Roosevelt once told of a very interesting incident in his own life. He wrote, "On the beautiful little island of Islamorada, there are several hundred homes that belong to people who come to stay for the summer. He says, “I fell in love with that island and spent four summers up there."
"I had often heard of a salty ‘down easter’ who lived up there & was called ‘Uncle John’ by everyone. He was so quaint & such a character that he was a welcome guest in the homes of all the prominent families. Once when I went to visit in one of those homes, I was asked if I had ever met Uncle John & I told them, ‘No, but I've been wanting to meet him.’ ‘Well, he’s in our kitchen right now. Come on out.’
"They introduced us & we liked each other right off, so we sat & chatted for nearly an hour. When I got up to leave, I held out my hand & said, ‘Uncle John, I surely am glad I got to meet you. If ever I can do you a favor, I want you to feel free to call on me. Will you?’
"He answered, ‘I certainly will, Mr. President. In fact, there is a favor I would ask of you right now, something that you can do & I so wish that you would do it.’ Then Uncle John smiled. ‘Look,’ he said, & he pointed to a little white church up on the hill. ‘Pres. Roosevelt, you’re a Christian, but I haven’t seen you up there at church. If you, the President of the U.S., would come up there to church, all of the people on this island would flock up there. [There they would hear God's word and by God's Holy Spirit they would believe and God would work in them.]
Teddy Roosevelt wrote, "I hung my head in shame & told him, ‘I’ll be there this Sunday.’ Sure enough, there was standing room only in that church the next Sunday. The President never missed another Sunday in that little white church while he stayed up there. He wrote, “I was ashamed of myself before my Heavenly Father that I had been such a poor witness for Him."
MELVIN NEWLAND Ridge Chapel
And just like Uncle John that’s how it is with God! From the very beginning, the word of God tells a story about how God has pursued us with an unchanging and unquenchable and UNDESERVED love, because he wants us to be his! And he has made a way through the sending of his son who came to reconcile you to the Father.
Jesus Christ his son became flesh for you!
The joy we feel today is reflected in Christ, the child in the manger that we celebrate today. Though given as a gift there was a real price to be paid. This very son of God came to redeem the world by His life, death on the cross for you and his glorious resurrection assures that you will rise too!
(Page 4)
Today you too need to see Jesus for who He is; the author and finisher of your faith. He is the one who has taken away the sins of the world and in Him you have life eternal. The good news is that through the working of the Holy Spirit you have been brought to faith and through the means of grace, of word and sacrament, you are continually built up in Christ being made holy in Him, this beautiful child of Bethlehem that was prophesied long ago.
The truth that we are given in this Christ is not fiction. It is the true and blessed working of our Lord to redeem the lost, you and me. You have been forgiven and are found in him. Rejoice in this blessed gift of God!
Jesus became flesh for you!
Do not fear what this world gives but see the rapturous awe and the power and glory of the mind … behind the universe … Who came in the flesh as the babe in Bethlehem – God with us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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