SERMON, CHRISTMAS DAY 2006, JOHN 1:1-14

In the beginning . . .

We all know that Advent is the beginning of the church year. Like all new years, we use that time to look foward to the promise of what might be. Next week people will look forward to a better year than the last one: better crops, better jobs, better relationships, a year without smoking or drinking, a year of eating less or exercising more. In Advent, we looked forward to better days.

Today, the first day of Christmas, feels more like a new year to me. Next week people will be out late attending parties, singing songs, and welcoming in the symbolic Baby New Year. The next day will be subdued, businesses will be closed, and people will enjoy some time to themselves.

Sounds about like now. People were out late last night attending services, singing hymns and welcoming in the incarnation of God. Today is subdued, businesses are closed and people can enjoy time to themselves.

It is fitting that the gospel for today is from the first chapter of John. With the birth of Jesus, God did something new. With his incarnation, God does something new each day. New things are a beginnings of sorts; so today, in the beginning, we get John's version of Jesus.

John has a high Christology -- that is, he places Jesus on equal footing with God. John is saying that Jesus is with God eternally, and is his mouthpiece. Jesus is the Word of God. The first recorded act of God, in the beginning, was to speak. According to John, Jesus was there in the beginning. He wasn't created later, he didn't grow into his role; he was and is and always will be. Jesus is the Word of God who is with God and is God.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth, and it was dark. Everything lived in the darkness until the light came. Light came when God said, "Let there be light." Light came in the form of the Word.

And now God has done something new yet again. With the birth of Jesus he has become incarnate to live among us. Just like when he spoke, "Let there be light," and his light filled the universe, now his light fills the world through a baby boy. Not only is God doing something new with the incarnation, but God is doing something new with regards to who is welcome into God's family.

For so many years, God's family was understood to be the Israelites. From the time of Abraham they were the chosen people, God's selected children. Essentially, people were physically born into the family of God. It was a chance of birth that determined if you were in or out. But now, with the Advent of Jesus, it is no longer a chance of birth but an intentional act of receiving God into your life that makes you part of God's family.

It is a new day. God has done a new thing by coming to live among us. A baby smiles in the darkness and lights up the world. That baby can live within us if we allow it. We have the opportunity to testify to the light, and that light will overcome the darkness.

God has done a new thing today. Let us go and do likewise.

Merry Christmas!