Sermon for Christmas Day, 25 December 2011 (2024)

The Rev. Paul J Cain

John 1:1-14 (15-18)

Became Flesh

The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day, 25 December 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Gospel text from John was read last evening as theninth among nine lessons and carols for Christmas Eve. Only the Gospel accountsaccording to Matthew and Luke specifically mention Christmas. St. John providesinsight into the mystery of the incarnation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were madethrough him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him waslife, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, andthe darkness has not overcome it.

Darkness cannot overcome the light of Christ. There are dayswhen all seems dark and dreary, when things aren’t going your way, whenfinances fail, patience wears thin, and health is of concern.

The same God who created all things still oversees andsustains all things. In Christ is your life, your Light.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He cameas a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe throughhim. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

St. John the Evangelist writes to us about John the Baptist.Both witness to the Light of Christ, but John the Baptist has prepared the wayfor Jesus’ coming.

Time is a strange thing this time of year. The Church overthe centuries has been very creative in choosing Bible texts to be read toprepare us for the birth and the return of Christ. We have the prophecies andwork of a very much grown-up John the Baptist announcing the coming of Christ.We rewind to the prediction of John’s birth and of Jesus’ birth six monthslater. We think of Jesus today as the babe lying in a manger. He is eight daysold next Sunday. By January 6^th, Epiphany, Jesus could be as old astwo when He meets the Magi, and by the Sunday after the Epiphany, Jesus isfull-grown, thirty years old, being baptized by John in the Jordan.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was cominginto the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yetthe world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receivehim. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave theright to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will ofthe flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus Himself participated in creation. He is the Word whowas in the beginning with God, the Word who was and is God. He made everythingin all of the universe, and His own creation did not recognize Him. His ownpeople did not widely recognize His birth according to prophecy. Some did andrejoiced at His coming. To them, Christ gave the right to become children ofGod, some genetically of father Abraham, some not. These children of faith areborn of God, not merely of blood or the will of the flesh. John Chapter 1focuses on God’s grace in calling and gathering a people—you—to Himself.

But today, Christmas Day, is all about John 1:14.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we haveseen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace andtruth.

The meaning of Christmas is summarized in this one Bibleverse. Jesus, God Himself, took on your flesh and dwelt with us. His glory isrevealed in the angels’ announcement to the shepherds, the arrival of the wisem*n, the persecution of Herod, and ultimately, in His Good Friday death andEaster Resurrection.

We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth LSB 382

1 We praiseYou, Jesus, at Your birth;
Clothed in flesh You came to earth.
The virgin bears a sinless boy
And all the angels sing for joy.
Alleluia!

What is it like to be you? What is it like to wake up in themorning in your house, get up out of your bed, get ready for the day with yourmorning routine, put on your clothes, get in your car, and get your workaccomplished each day. What is it like to spend a day in your skin?

Your spouse may have the best picture of what it is like tobe you. After that, your children, best friends, and coworkers will probablyhave the most realistic idea of who you are, what you do, and how you keep ondoing it. Only the Lord God Almighty has a better picture on what it is like tobe you. And it is not only because the good Lord knows all things and sees allthings.

Jesus took on human skin. He was conceived, He was born, Hewas hungry and thirsty, He slept, He wept, He suffered, and He died. God isspirit, Scripture says. Scripture also says that “the Word became flesh anddwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from theFather, full of grace and truth.”

As Hebrews says, we have a faithful High Priest who is ableto sympathize with our weaknesses, yet one who never sinned and never succumbedto temptation. He is grace and truth in the flesh wrapped in swaddling clothesand laid in a manger, grace and truth in the flesh wrapped in burial cloths andlaid in a new tomb. Because of Jesus’ victorious resurrection from the dead andAscension into heaven, you know for certain that our High Priest is youradvocate before the Father’s side. Human flesh has entered heaven itself, andone day, you will also because of Jesus.

[(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was heof whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was beforeme.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For thelaw was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No onehas ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made himknown.]

We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth LSB 382

7 All this forus our God has done
Granting love through His own Son.
Therefore, all Christendom, rejoice
And sing His praise with endlessvoice.
Alleluia!

Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for Christmas Day, 25 December 2011 (2024)

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