To quote my friend and Lutheran professor, the late Dr. Jim Nestingen, “Do you see it? Do you see it?” When Jim was teaching us in the Doctor of Ministry Program at St. Paul Lutheran Seminary, he would always ask us, “Do you see it?” In this case, his question is directed to you, “Do you see it? Do you see the promise of God for you today? Do you see the promise that God has made to you?” He spoke to Abraham and He said, “…and in you (Abraham) all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” God was referring to the promise of the Incarnation through which He has blessed all peoples on the earth, including you and me! Advent reminds us that in the beginning, God had a plan. He had a purpose and a design to redeem His people from our sins and to bring us to Himself. He called Abraham to be the father of “many nations” and to bless “all the families of the earth” with the promises and fulfillment of His grand Divine proposal to identify with us and to make us His very own “treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 7:6). Early in the Gospels, we meet the sons of Zebedee. You know them. They are James and John. They were fishermen by trade. Then they encountered Jesus. He called them to leave their nets, their business, their homes, and to follow Him. Jesus made them “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17). Later, the Apostle John was inspired by God to write five of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John was the human author of the Gospel that bears his name, the epistles of I, II, and III John, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Of all John’s writings, the passage that is, for me, the most beautiful, the most wonderful, and is filled with the deepest mystery and profound meaning is found in John 1:1-14. There we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it … 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The great Scots Presbyterian and biblical scholar Rev. Dr. William Barclay was convinced that John wrote the fourth Gospel for the sake of that fourteenth verse. In the first chapter, John wrote about the Word: the creative and dynamic Living Word of God. This Word was the agent that brought about both creation and redemption. This Word that is eternal, this Word that became flesh, this Word that is powerful and full of mystery and meaning. This Word, which is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets and the Law, became one of us. He was “Incarnate”; that is, He was “in-fleshed” and made His dwelling among us. Christmas is all about the mystery and the majesty of the Incarnation: God became man! He became one of us to free us from our bondage to sin and to give us hope in this life and in the life to come. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are all about the fact that God loves you. Advent underlines and highlights the Divine promises concerning the birth of Jesus born in Bethlehem. His birth ushers us into the season of Christmas. The author of Hebrews described the Incarnation in this way as he wrote about the mystery of God becoming man in Hebrews 2:14, 17-18: “14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil … 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Prior to the coming of Christ, there were few who had seen God, but John boldly proclaimed, “…we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). In Jesus Christ, God put on our flesh. The Creator became like His creation and clothed Himself in human flesh. People saw God with their eyes. They heard His voice and listened to His words. They touched Him, experienced His power, and heard His wisdom and bore testimony to those facts they knew to be true. Yet, there were some who did not believe. For this reason, John wrote: “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13). The mystery of the Incarnation reveals to us that the promises of Advent have been fulfilled! They affirm for us the reality of Christmas. In the Seasons of Advent and Christmas, we learn again, fresh and new, that God is approachable. As a matter of fact, He took the first step toward us! He came to us “in the flesh” and He continues to call us unto Himself. These Seasons of the Church Year, like no other, demonstrate the eternal depth of God’s love for us. He loves you and me so very much that He fulfilled His promise in His Son, our Saviour. He came and dwelt among us as our Saviour and Lord (i.e., John 3:16). As we lay hold of these spiritual and eternal truths, we are challenged by them. We are called to not simply believe them but to embrace them. Paul wrote to the Philippians, and his words are for us in our day regarding the full meaning of the Incarnation: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11). Someone once said, “The best people, the most useful and helpful people, are down-to-earth people.” Dr. Albert Schweitzer is just one example. He was a “high-brow” man. He held position, respect, and status. He earned doctoral degrees in the fields of philosophy and medicine. He was well known and recognized as an authority on Bach, and he was a master at the organ. He had a reputation as a man of culture in society. People appreciated him, not just for his intellectual capacity, but for being down-to-earth in his servanthood to Christ. The meaning of the Gospel took hold of him, and he became a missionary. The mind of Christ and the purpose of Christ became his own, and the good news of the Gospel went forth as he walked and followed in the footsteps of Christ. The world’s most memorable people are not only learned and talented, they are down-to-earth and they are approachable. In Christ, God became approachable and He remains approachable. It was by the Incarnation that God came to the earth, becoming accessible to all. He is approachable today. He still calls His people to Himself through Christ our Saviour and Lord. John 1:14 reminds us that the Word became flesh and continues to dwell among us with grace and truth. This fact is driven home to us as we take the bread and the cup at Holy Communion, the Eucharist, the Great Thanksgiving! In the mystery of Holy Communion, the amazing love of Christ seeks to become flesh in us and gives us meaning to His Gospel as we remember the power of the Incarnation, the power to set us free from sin, to save and redeem us, to change us, and to transform us. When things in this world appear out of control, when disappointment and despair grip your heart, when friends let you down, and circumstances appear overwhelming, remember the words, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:11-14). As we enter into the Seasons of Advent and Christmas, let us reflect upon the promise and the power of the Incarnation. Let us embrace the mystery and the meaning of the depth of God’s love for us – let’s boldly proclaim our confession, “Thanks be to God!” Blessings and may the God of peace be with you Pastor Jim

A New Church Year Begins!

 

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