To God Alone be the Glory
The Nativity of our Lord 2016
St. John 1:1-14
Did you buy some of your own Christmas gifts? Did you give your husband or grandma or mom a very specific list? Did you go down to Home Depot yourself because your wife wouldn’t know Dewalt from Ryobi? Why do we do that? Why do we insert ourselves into the gift?
Today we celebrate the gift of Jesus according to the Gospel of John. John doesn’t give us the details of Christ’s birth. He doesn’t tell us about Mary and Joseph, Bethlehem, Shepherds, and Angels. John simply preaches that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, that God’s only-begotten Son became man.
Listen to John unwrap the greatness of Jesus. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. All things were made through Him – the whole world was created by the Word, by the Son of God. Without Him nothing was made that has been made. Everything in the world, including you owes its existence, its creation, its being to God’s Son alone. In Him was life, and the life was the light of man. In Jesus alone there is life. Apart from Him there is death. The light shines in the darkness. Without the Word of God, the Son of the Father, there is darkness. You know this darkness. You live in it – it is the sin you yourself commit. It is the evil that drives a bus into a Christmas marketplace or burns a church or threatens a president’s family or life. It is the brokenness of marriages, families, and even our own bodies and minds. Jesus Christ alone is the light that shines in this darkness and overcomes it. He alone provides forgiveness for our sins. He alone puts an end to evil. He alone delivers the resurrection of the body.
You would think then, knowing the greatness of this gift — that the Word made flesh not only gave us life in our creation, but gives us life in the darkness of our sin that we would rejoice to receive it. But how did it go for Jesus when He came into the world? He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. There was no room for Him in the inn. King Herod wanted to kill Him. Judas betrayed Him. The Jews arrested Him. Pontius Pilate crucified Him. His own disciples abandoned him. Although I haven’t checked locally I have heard that a lot of churches cancelled church this morning – cancelled church on a Sunday, the day Christ rose from the dead. Why did they cancel? Because it is Christmas. We’re not going to give out the gifts of Jesus because it’s Christmas.
Why is that? Why do we not want this gift? Well think about it. Have you ever responded to a gift by saying, “Oh, you shouldn’t have.” Or “That’s too much.” Why do we do that? Those common responses are symptoms of your sin. Sinners don’t like grace. We want to prove that we’re not that bad – that we can make up for our sins. Sinners are stubbornly independent – that’s why we don’t like big gifts – big gifts from people we have sinned against make us want to love them in return and love is dangerous for sinners – it ties us to others. We shouldn’t be surprised that a sinful world rejected Jesus. We shouldn’t be surprised that we also struggle to receive His forgiveness and the love of God. We shouldn’t be surprised that we don’t want too much of His gifts – once a week is sometimes too much.
That God’s only begotten Son became human, that the Word became flesh, preaches two sermons to the sinner. If you weren’t that bad God’s own son wouldn’t have had to come. If you could atone for your sin and prove your worth before God, God would have left you with the commandments and the promise that when you kept them perfectly everything would be right between you and Him. God would have left you with Moses.
Since God sent His Son into the world you now know how bad your sin is, but much more importantly you now also know the grace of God. St. John says when you see the Son you see the Father – in seeing Jesus you see the love and kindness God the Father has for you. What you could never do God does for you in Jesus and gives to you in Jesus. For from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
When the only begotten Son took on flesh it was “for us.” When He was baptized it was “for us.” When He fought Satan in the wilderness and cleansed lepers and raised the dead it was for us. When He hung on the cross it was “for us.” When He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and even now sits at God’s right hand – it is “for us.” That’s gift talk – this is God the Father’s gift for you. He planned the gift before the foundation of the world. He promised the gift throughout the Old Testament. He conceived the gift in Mary’s womb and then delivered His Son in the flesh. This morning the gift of Jesus is delivered to you – when your sins were forgiven, as you hear His Word, as you eat the Lord’s body and drink His blood. Now that’s Christmas – the gifts of Jesus given to sinners.
So when your sins plague your conscience, when evil rears its ugly head in the world, when the darkness of suffering and death descend upon your life, do not look within yourself. Do not promise God you’ll do better. Don’t try to rack up credits with God in the false hope he will reward you. Receive Jesus and confess “To God Alone be the Glory.” Your sins are forgiven. Evil has met its match. Suffering and death are coming to an end. Not because you deserve it, but because the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God alone has done all this — completely — for you — in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
24 December 2016 anno Domini