John 1. 1-14: Sacrificial Light
The Gospel writers give us different perspectives on
the same story. Luke is fired by the way Jesus reached out to the poor and the
oppressed. So he gives us the story of shepherds,
outsiders who are invited to be front and centre at the coming of the
Messiah. Matthew, on the other hand, is
fired by Jesus’ message that God’s love is meant for all humanity – so he
focuses on the coming of Wise Men from Eastern Lands. These are non-Jews, outsiders, who are
brought into the fold of God’s love.
The oldest of the Gospel writers, Mark, actually says
nothing about the birth of Jesus. And
John, the most recent Gospel writer, 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 – and reflecting on -
the message of Jesus. John wants us to
grasp the enormity of the Christmas event, the coming of Jesus, what scholars
call the ‘Incarnation’ - 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’s 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 he is also mind. He has thoughts. He has desires and intentions for the world
that he has created. God’s thoughts,
God’s logic, God’s wisdom – these are his ‘Logos’ – his ‘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’. And that’s ok. We are limited, created beings. We cannot ever really grasp the reality of
God.
So John paints 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. Darkness is
all around us. The darkness of war, and
famine, and poverty, and homelessness and selfishness and consumerism and loneliness,
racism, homophobia, 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. That’s why we are going to mark
Jesus’ death in a few minutes, even in the midst of the 12 days of Christmas! Jesus’ whole life is offered to us, by John
and the other Gospel writers, as The Way to life. His way of living – generously, lovingly,
wisely is offered to us as an example of what God’s logic and reason look like. Jesus’ way of dying – sacrificially,
trustingly are still more examples of the Logos – the wisdom - of God. These are signposts for us. Lights in the darkness. Clues to how we too should live, if we truly
want to find life.
The star of Bethlehem is of course another great
symbol which the Christmas story offers us.
It too is a light in the darkness, which leads others to the true light
of Christ. And let’s not forget that the
light of a star is ultimately a sacrificial light. A star gives out light by burning itself
up. All that the star is gets consumed, given out completely in
the task of burning bright.
And that ultimately, is the task that we are given, as
a response to the sacrificial self-giving of Christ. In a world only temporarily distracted by
COVID, a world which will soon return to its selfish, greedy, destructive ways,
we are called to be stars of Christ – sacrificially shining out into the
darkness of the world.
So, here’s my invitation, at the turning of the
year. Let tonight be a turning point for
you. Let the light of Christ illuminate
and inspire you. Draw from the spiritual
energy he offers around his table, even taken in virtual form via this
livestream. Follow and pursue the light
of life every single day from this point on.
It’s what wise men did, 2,000 years ago. And it’s what the wisest men and women today
still do.
Amen