John’s Awesome Song of ChristmasJanuary 3rd, 2016

John 1:1-18Grace and peace to you from God

the Father who is and was and from the Son who became human, and dwells among us, amen.

Every time I read the beginning of John’s Gospel I’m left in awe and wonder. I’m not alone in that either. Once it was suggested the preacher should just read this beautifully profound poem, turn the Bible around to face the people, and then sit down, or better yet lay prostrate before the mighty and powerful Word of God made flesh. For me, this poem is that powerful. Unfortunately for you, I do have some things to say and we won’t be sitting in silent meditation for the next 15 minutes…

I want to start by saying a few words about last Sunday. Last Sunday we sang an hour’s worth of our favorite Christmas songs, hymns and carols. I think for most, if not all of us it was a pretty fun time and we got to sing all the songs we might have left out of our services because there just isn’t enough time to do them all. Well last

Sunday we made the time and it was very meaningful and special. Songs are an important way for us to express our faith. That’s why almost every church employs at least one professional musician to lead the congregation in song. They are works of art, poetry set to music that remind us of the truths of our faith. They are really more than that though. The great songs of our faith help us confess what it is we believe. I’m not so sure about Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, both of which we sang last week but I’m talking about songs like my favorite Hark, The Herald Angels Sing where we proclaim:

“Light and life to all He brings,Ris’n with healing in his wings.

Mild He lay his glory by,Born that we no more may die,

Born to raise each child of earth,Born to give us second birth.”

As much as I love this hymn, you have to already know something about Jesus in order to understand the lyrics. You almost have to already have read the Bible in fully appreciate those beautiful words. I bring up this talk about songs in our worship because some scholars suggest these opening verses of John are a quote from an early hymn -- something I’ve done on occasion in a sermon or two and even in a newsletter article once in a while. Songs are important teachers of the faith. Before children are able to read and understand the Bible, we teach them songs of our faith in Sunday school. Simple songs are easy to remember. I'm sure many of us still remember some of our Sunday school songs.

They leave a lasting impression… Songs have a powerful effect on us.

If the prologue from John’s Gospel was originally a song it ranks among my top songs of all time. It tells how Jesus existed before the creation of the world. In some mysterious and unexplainable way, Jesus was involved in the creation of the world. This divine power, that was part of creating the universe, comes to us as a human being. The hymn in John says it very simply, "The Word became flesh and lived among us." Very little is said in John concerning the nativity scene. The early Christians in John’s community didn't sing about angels and shepherds or a star and Magi or even a baby in the manger. While I don't want to be accused of blaspheming Christmas, there is so much more to this season than just the sweet baby Jesus in the manger. After all, let’s be honest, in our day baby Jesus spends most of his time in the closet (or in my case out in the barn) with all the other nativity scene and Christmas paraphernalia. I’ll wager that by now, baby Jesus may be back in the closet at most houses across the fruited plain. For most of the world, Christmas is over, but the Good News of God coming to dwell with us hasn’t quite been packed away here at Trinity. All our “Christmas Paraphernalia” is still on display in all its glory.

The theme from this early hymn in John’s Gospel isn’t about a virgin birth or shepherds or wise guys coming from the east. Jesus’ ministry didn’t start with the birth in a manger. John’s song tells us a far more awesome and profound story. It’s a story that begins with the almighty, all-

powerful God, who created everything that exists, the God who is far beyond our understanding and comprehension; this God, who was in the beginning; this same God came to earth. It’s a story about how God came to us, as a human being in human flesh. This is the story of God's love in action. As the Gospel of John says it in chapter 3: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son." More than all the pageantry of the nativity scene, and two weeks ago we saw perhaps the cutest Christmas pageant ever, with each child on stage and all of them getting to portray either Mary or Joseph, but more than even our cutest Christmas Pageant ever, Christmas is a concrete demonstration of God's love for all of humanity -- a concrete expression of God’s love for you and me. Christmas does mean a baby in a manger, but in the face of that infant, there is the outpouring of God's love for all humanity. God has put down his glory and entered the world of His creation. The creative power that began it all has become one with the creation. The Great I AM is now among us… Not just in Bethlehem, not just 2000 years ago, but right here, right now, every day and everywhere.

I heard a story about a boy who was walking home from Church and a neighbor noticed him paying particular attention to the grass, the trees, and the clouds in the sky. He was in no hurry to get anywhere, he just seemed to be enjoying the journey. So, the neighbor asked the boy, “Where are you going?” The boy answered, "Oh, I’ve been to Sunday School and we learned a lot about God and how God created everything and

how God is with us in every part of creation.” The neighbor, who was very cynical concerning religion said, “That’s a mighty fine way for a boy to spend his time. If you’ll tell me where God is, I’ll give you a brand new, shiny dime.” Quick as a flash the boy answered, “I’ll give you a dollar, Mister, if you’ll tell me where God ain’t…”

The boy understood the awesome news of Christmas which says God, through this event, has invaded history, our history, for the rest of eternity. God has come to earth and plans to stay with us for the duration. The promise of Christmas is that God is not only found in nature, but in each of us as He works in us and through us to bring His will of love to earth. Christmas is the story of our God who came to earth, who brings joy from mourning and wholeness from what is broken. Christmas is such an awesome story, because God came to earth to be with us and to save us.

Christmas is filled with awe and wonder because God invaded our lives. He invaded our lives to redeem us, to transform us, to adopt us once and for all as His children. This prologue doesn’t speak only to those people who lived back then in ancient times, it includes and invites us into this confession of Christ as the Son of God. It wasn’t just them back then who beheld His Glory, it’s us too. So, this is our confession too. This is our song too. Because God loved us, God became flesh and all who receive the Blessing of His fullness receive grace upon grace. We receive this gift of grace as the earth receives the rain. God gives--we receive. There’s not much more to it than that. The

earth doesn’t do anything to receive the rain, it simply is there. It’s the same with us. We don’t do anything to warrant God’s gifts, but that doesn’t stop God for showering us with grace upon grace. That’s the Good News of this prologue. We come to know this God of such incredible love through Jesus and the result is a heaping helping of God’s grace upon grace.

For the rest of the world, Christmas is over. The radio stations couldn’t wait to stop playing all those Christmas standards they couldn’t wait to start back in November. But, for those of us who still have a little bit of Christmas left in our hearts, may the Christmas song of John’s Gospel ring in our ears all year long. May Christ’s light shine through us into the darkness of this world and serve as a reminder that God is still here with us. As we continue to Celebrate Christmas for a few more days, may we remember the good gifts our Creator gave us, the sun and moon, the good earth with all its blessings of sky and water, plants and animals, of sunrises and sunsets, and this incredible gift of life, of flesh and bone, of breath and spirit. Above all, may we remember the greatest gift of all, the Word made flesh sent to save us, to heal us, to bring us joy, and to bring us into relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, for without that relationship there is no life, no joy, and no light. Thanks be to God for His awesome and wonderful revelation in Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.