John Chapter 1
I think I can guess what at least some of you are thinking this morning. “Why on earth are we hearing that Christmas
reading again?” Others of you are
probably thinking “He’s taken down the crib – at last – but he’s forgotten to
take down the star!”
Well, you’d be wrong. I haven’t
forgotten, you see. I’ve left the star
up quite deliberately. Because – I think
- that poor old star needs a bit more prominence in the Christian story. As for why we are being asked by the Lectionary
writers to think about the Word becoming flesh again….well, let me try to explain.
Everyone loves a story. Stories
are powerful ways to communicate – which is precisely why Jesus used parables,
and why we all love movies and books. The
Christmas Story that we’ve just worked our way through is one of the best. It’s the perfect combination of rustic shepherds,
visiting magicians, angels and animals….and there’s a baby in it, just to
finish off the ‘Ah!’ factor. At least,
that’s all according to Luke and Matthew.
But John, writing his Gospel some decades after Luke and Matthew, is
not interested in shepherds and wise men.
Scholars tell us that John wrote his Gospel in his old age – after a
lifetime of spreading the message of Jesus.
No doubt the stories about wise men and shepherds were already
circulating widely. John didn’t need to
re-hash them. So he goes deeper…much
deeper than a typical Christmas congregation is ready to grasp. Such congregations are usually too high on
Christmas Spirit (of one form or
another) to want to do any meaningful theology.
Which is why, I think, the Lectionary writers give us one more bite at
the cherry, at this moment in the year.
After a lifetime of teaching and learning, John wants us to grasp the
enormity of the Christmas event, the coming of Jesus, what scholars call the ‘Incarnation’.
‘Incarnation’ describes the in-dwelling
of God in human form. The ‘Incarnation’
is that moment when God, who is Spirit, takes on human flesh.
There are two words which John especially plays with, in his poetic
Gospel introduction. The first is
‘Word’, and the second is ‘Light’. Let
me see if we can’t break them down a little.
‘Word’ is the English translation of ‘Logos’ – a Greek word from where we
get the word ‘logic’. John is saying
that the incomprehensible being we call God is many things – spirit, love, a
creative force that binds the universe together. But God is also mind. God has thoughts. He – or indeed she - has desires and intentions for the world that has been created. God’s thoughts, God’s logic, God’s reason –
these are the ‘Logos’ – the ‘Word’. “In
the beginning was the Word” – the Logos – “and the Word was with God and the
Word was God”. It’s one of those great
big thoughts that we human beings struggle to get our tiny brains around – that
God can be thought of as having different aspects, but each of them is also
fully God’. So, God’s reason, his Word,
can be part of God as well being completely God. “The word was with God and “was God”.
And, John is saying, that ‘Word’ is the aspect of God which became
human and dwelt among us. Again –
incomprehensible, isn’t it? How can an
aspect of God become human, while not dividing God up into different
people? If God is on earth, in the form
of Jesus, how can he also be still in heaven?
And how come Jesus (God the Son on earth) prays to God the Father in
heaven? Is he talking to himself? It’s enough to make your brain explode! And that’s ok. We are limited, created beings. We cannot ever begin to grasp the reality of
God – and anyone who tells you that they have understood God is a fool.
So, confronted with the sheer enormity of what he’s trying to say, John
chooses a different picture. He uses a
metaphor. He has stated the truth as
clearly as he can grasp it, by talking about the ‘Word’ dwelling among us. But now he chooses a different tack, and
begins to talk about ‘Light’.
Ah! That’s better. ‘Light’ we can understand. We know about Light. We see its effects. We know that even a tiny spark of light
cannot be extinguished by the darkness.
We know that if this church was completely darkened, save for one
candle, all our attention would be focused on that single solitary light.
“In Jesus”, says John, “was life, and that life was the light of the
world. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it”.
And that, ultimately, is the message of Christmas, and the good news of the Gospel. Darkness is all around us. The darkness of war, and famine, and poverty,
and homelessness and selfishness and consumerism and racism and fear of the
stranger and all hatred and rebellion against the reason and logic of God. “But the light shines in the darkness”.
In Jesus, through his teaching, his life, and yes even by his death,
life is offered to the world. Jesus’ whole
life is offered to us, by John and the other Gospel writers, as The narrow Way
to life. His way of living – generously, lovingly, wisely, sacrificially
is offered to us as an example of what God’s logic and reason look like. Generosity, Love, Wisdom and Sacrifice. These are signposts for us. Generosity, Love, Wisdom and Sacrifice. Lights in the darkness. Clues to how we too should live, if we truly
want to find life. And clues about how
we can choose to live if we truly want to shine God’s love into the lives of
those around us.
Last week, at the end of our service, we lit candles and held them
aloft, promising to be lights to the world.
Three times, in response to challenges from David at the Font, the whole
congregation said “Let us shine with the Light of your Love”. So let me ask you…how’s it going? Where have you shined God’s light of love
this week, the first week since you made that commitment?
Generosity. What new generosity have you shown this
week? Who has been touched, or had their
life transformed by your gift. Did you
remember to bring a gift for the foodbank to church this morning? Well done, if you did. Has the suffering of one Syrian refugee been
relieved by your generosity this week.
Thank you. Or perhaps you gave a
gift to help pay for the costs of keeping this church shining as a light in its
community, such as the repair to the West Door.
Thank you, if you did.
Love. Who has experienced your love this week? Who has woken up this morning feeling
lighter, less burdened, more deeply regarded because of the Love you have shown
them. Well, I bless you for showing that
Love.
Wisdom. How have you grown in wisdom this week? Which passages of the Bible that you have undoubtedly
been reading have struck you with new insight?
What wise decisions have you made about the lifestyle you lead, or the
consumer-choices you’ve made?
And finally, sacrifice. Sacrifice is more than simple generosity. To sacrifice is to give until it hurts. Sacrifice is what Jesus made on the cross. Sacrifice is the change of mind which knows
that nothing I own belongs to me…but everything is God’s. Sacrifice is the act
of giving up everything, all possessions, all rights, all privileges for the
greater, deeper, mind-blowing privilege of shining God’s light into God’s
world. It’s about putting everyone else first, holding nothing
back…but being poured out completely for the good of the world.
Stars make that kind of sacrifice.
In order to continue shining their light into the heavens, a star must
continue to sacrifice itself, constantly.
To shine, for a star, is to burn up its resources in the service of the
Universe. Eventually, after all the
hydrogen in a star is burned up, the Star will die. It will give itself completely to its task.
That’s why I’ve left the star hanging there for one more week. We have Christmas in our memories, and the
promises of Candlemass in our hearts. May we also be reminded that we too, like
Jesus, are called to give ourselves completely to the task of shining God’s
light into our world.
Amen.
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