Lessons and
Carols: John 1:1-14
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the
Holy Spirit.
Christmas is truly about the incarnation of the Son of
God: The Word became flesh and made His dwelling amongst us. The Second
Person of the Holy Trinity, the eternal, creative Word spoken by the Father,
was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin womb of Mary and was born to us as
an infant child in the city of David, Bethlehem. God dwells with man as a man.
He knows what it means to be a man; He knows what it means to be you better
than you do. And so, you do not have a God who is far off, but you have a God who
is very near. You do not have a God that cannot empathize with your weaknesses,
griefs and temptations, but you have a God who has experienced all these and
has suffered and died in your flesh.
Yet, perhaps, the most astounding, and the most
comforting thing about the incarnation of our Lord is the love that He
displayed in it. For, the incarnation is God stripped naked and presented to
you bare, entirely for you. He gave Himself as a gift to you without any
concern for Himself at all. He came out of the womb naked, like all men, weak,
helpless, needy, vulnerable, and defenseless. Our God became a human child, and
our God is still a human man. As Jesus has taught you, there is no greater love
than that a man should lay down his life for his friends. Indeed, your God has
given Himself to you wholly, holding nothing back, as a gift of perfect and
holy love. He came with no demands but with His only desire being that you
would receive and benefit from His love, and, perhaps, a hope that you might
love Him in return.
He’ll never stop loving you, even if you don’t love
Him in return – imagine that! And, He has forgiven you and all people in Jesus
Christ, even if you don’t believe that – imagine that! He is for you; there are
no conditions or exceptions; He is for you; He is for the whole world! Your God
is the greatest gift imaginable – a free and perfect gift of perfect love and
perfect grace. But it’s not cheap grace, but it is the most costly and rare
grace imaginable. But, truly, that’s what love is. That’s what love means. And
that’s what love looks like. Love was born at Christmas. And, Jesus Christ is
God’s gift of perfect love dwelling amongst us.
You don’t take a gift. You don’t choose a gift. You
certainly don’t earn, buy, or even necessarily deserve a gift. But, you receive
a gift. And, you believe the gift is truly yours. And then, you receive the
benefit of the gift and the love of its giver who desires only that you would
receive and believe and benefit from His love.
That’s the gift of the incarnation. And, that’s what
Christmas is truly all about.
Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love
Divine,
Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the
sign.
Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine,
Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token, Love shall be yours and love
be mine,
Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and
sign. Christina Rossetti, 1885
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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