Community Church Sermons
December 3, 2006
Isaiah 42:1-7 & John 1:1-14
Dr. R Tim Meadows
Listen to this Sermon!
John almost sounds as if he’s trying to compose a rap song about the birth of Jesus. All the talk about the Word lends itself to a rap rhythm. I thought briefly about rapping it out for you as a demonstration of my point, but you will be glad to know that before the thought went too far, I thought better of it. Even as a guru of all things rhythmic, I did not feel that I could do this verse justice.
But, what is John saying about the birth of Jesus? What does all of this talk of the word reveal about God’s action in our world on our behalf? John seems to suggest that with the advent of the Word, our world received several things it needed.
The Word of Christmas brought life and light, which allows us to overcome death and darkness. Life and light are the basic building blocks from which humanity proceeds. Without life it is obvious that we cannot proceed in the world, as we understand it. Without light, even if we proceed in the world of our understanding, we simply bumble, stumble, and fumble our way through our days. So, the Word of Christmas has given us these essential building blocks and the challenges that come with them.
What are the challenges of life and light? The challenges of life include: living not just surviving, maximizing our abilities not just doing the least that is required, and loving God and others in every way and in every moment we have the opportunity. The challenge of light involves doing these things in ways that declare God’s work through us in spite of the costs or opposition that doing these things may provoke. The Word of Christmas is a word of life and light. Are we experiencing that life and light? Are we making it possible for others to experience that life and light? If not, why not?
The Word of Christmas brought grace to our world. Can you imagine living in a world where grace is absent? How harsh, unforgiving, and judgmental it would be! The truth is that many of us do live in this kind of world. We do not make room for the Word of grace and so we live in an unforgiving and unrelenting existence. In fact, many of us live in this kind of world, because we are the creators and controllers of such. We experience no grace because we grant no grace. So, the Word of Christmas has given us grace, and the challenges of grace.
What are the challenges of grace? To grant forgiveness without exception, not because it is deserved, but because it is possible. To let go of unresolved anger and experience the freedom of being unbound from the weight of it’s burden. To embrace the goodness of God, and be transformed by it. The Word of Christmas is a word of grace. Are we experiencing that grace? Are we making it possible for others to experience that grace? If not, why not?
The Word of Christmas brought truth to our world. Jesus embodied the truth more than he articulated the truth. The truth was about what he did, not some abstract set of principles to be believed and affirmed.
As truth Jesus’ life often served as a corrective to the orthodoxy of his day, and may continue to serve as a corrective to the orthodoxy of our day. May we continue to hear my favorite words form Jesus “You have heard it said…but I say to you”! So, the Word of Christmas brought truth and the challenges of truth.
What are the challenges of truth? To make sure what we believe can be shown with the certainty available at the moment. To make sure that we are open to the continual expansion of truth. To make sure that the things we proclaim to believe are matched with behaviors that demonstrate our belief. The Word of Christmas is a word of truth. Are we experiencing that truth? Are we making it possible for others to experience that truth? If not, why not?
Life and light, Grace, and Truth, these are the things the Word became that first Christmas. May they be among the things the Word brings to you this Christmas! May they be among the things you bring to others this Christmas!