Rev. Dustin ParkerChristmas Day
Concordia Lutheran Church
Christmas Day 2010
His Birth, Our Re-birth!
John 1:1-14
† In Jesus Name †
Even as the apostles were, may you be aware of the glory of Christ that is at work within you, that resulted in your being born again by the will of God.
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to his own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive him, who trusted in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God!”
It is hard to see the incredible wealth spent for this holy day, and not realize the truth in these words at the beginning of John’s gospel!
And while I love this prologue, I often get overwhelmed by the first verses, the ones about Creation, and the presence of Christ even there. As He would later say, before Abraham, was… I AM. A statement of Christ’s divinity so profound, that those who heard it realized they either had to stone him for blasphemy, or fall on their faces, crying for mercy.
The chose to deny that which was evident. The glory of God in their midst, the living Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Our world is no different. If people realized what this passage says, the churches of the world would need to have services from Christmas Eve’s dawn until midnight Sunday, and they still would not be able to accommodate everyone.
There would be no need for armies, or police. Marriages would be healthy, families would be intact. People would love and serve each other, with great joy both giving and receiving.
It would be exactly what the world is emulating this morning, as people are huddled arund Christmas trees, exchanging gifts and hugs, and maybe even some tears at the thoughtfulness of those who chose the “perfect” gift.
But the perfect gift is the one we celebrate this morning here. The one of which we sing. The body of the babe that lied in the manger, that would be laid on a rough wooden beam and nailed to it. The body that would bear every sin of the world, as the nails were pounded into that cross. The body we were united with in baptism, by the will and desire and power of God.
He was born, that we could be born again.
That is why we acknowledge to Him be the glory, the honor, and the praise. That is why we are here.
AMEN?
Christmas Day 2010
His Birth, Our Re-birth!
John 1:1-14
† In Jesus Name †
Even as the apostles were, may you be aware of the glory of Christ that is at work within you, that resulted in your being born again by the will of God.
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to his own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive him, who trusted in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God!”
It is hard to see the incredible wealth spent for this holy day, and not realize the truth in these words at the beginning of John’s gospel!
And while I love this prologue, I often get overwhelmed by the first verses, the ones about Creation, and the presence of Christ even there. As He would later say, before Abraham, was… I AM. A statement of Christ’s divinity so profound, that those who heard it realized they either had to stone him for blasphemy, or fall on their faces, crying for mercy.
The chose to deny that which was evident. The glory of God in their midst, the living Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Our world is no different. If people realized what this passage says, the churches of the world would need to have services from Christmas Eve’s dawn until midnight Sunday, and they still would not be able to accommodate everyone.
There would be no need for armies, or police. Marriages would be healthy, families would be intact. People would love and serve each other, with great joy both giving and receiving.
It would be exactly what the world is emulating this morning, as people are huddled arund Christmas trees, exchanging gifts and hugs, and maybe even some tears at the thoughtfulness of those who chose the “perfect” gift.
But the perfect gift is the one we celebrate this morning here. The one of which we sing. The body of the babe that lied in the manger, that would be laid on a rough wooden beam and nailed to it. The body that would bear every sin of the world, as the nails were pounded into that cross. The body we were united with in baptism, by the will and desire and power of God.
He was born, that we could be born again.
That is why we acknowledge to Him be the glory, the honor, and the praise. That is why we are here.
AMEN?
