WORD ENFLESHED; GOD BORN AMONG US

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1 WORD ENFLESHED; GOD BORN AMONG US The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Day (Year A) December 25, 2016 Lessons Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 9 Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12] St. John 1:1-14 Prayer of the Day Pastor David J. Risendal drisendal@stplc.org facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO 0111 voice: 303/ fax: 303/ facebook.com/stplc Almighty God, you gave us your only Son to take on our human nature and to illumine the world with your light. By your grace adopt us as your children and enlighten us with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. God in human flesh transcendent and immanent that we might have life Sermon Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.1 Amen. Thank you for being with us this morning, as we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord on this Christmas Day morning. It is Sunday, after all, right? And for two thousand years now, this is what Christians do on Sunday. We gather around the word and the meal, and experience the presence of Christ among us. Some argue that since it is Christmas Day, and since many congregations don t have a tradition of Christmas Day worship, this is a good day to cancel worship. But that has never made any sense to me. Nor, I suspect, to you. So I am grateful to be here with you this morning, and to begin our week as we always do: by drawing near to 1 Romans 1:7, 1st Corinthians 1:3, 2nd Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1st Thessalonians 1:1, 2nd Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 3; New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 199, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

2 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Day Year A (December 25, 2016) 2 God, by inviting the Word to shape our lives, and by receiving the gifts of new life that are ours in the meal that we share. So Happy Sunday, and Merry Christmas, and thank you for being with us in worship today. I want to begin my sermon today by asking a very simple question: When does the Christmas story begin? Last Sunday, our focus was on St. Matthew, and if his birth narrative was our guide, we might imagine that the Christmas story begins when Mary shares with Joseph that she is expecting a child. Or when God speaks to Joseph in a dream, calling him to take Mary as his wife and become the father of her child. Or when Joseph does just that, and names the child Jesus. Many of you worshipped yesterday evening, and in churches all around the world we turned our attention to the second chapter of St. Luke, who begins the story a bit earlier than St. Matthew does. With St. Luke as our guide, we might conclude that the Christmas story begins when an angel speaks to Zechariah, who will become the father of John the Baptist. Or when a second angel, Gabriel, speaks to the Virgin Mary. Or when Emperor Augustus requires Joseph to make his way to Bethlehem. Or when Jesus is born and laid in a manger because there is no place for them in the inn. This morning we have St. John s account before us. And if you are a regular Christmas morning worshipper, it is no surprise to you that St. John s Gospel pushes the start of the story much farther back into history than St. Matthew s and St. Luke s do. John testifies that the Christmas story begins even before the universe is created. Echoing powerful words from Genesis, John declares that in the beginning of all that is, we find God s Word. The powerful word of God which speaks into existence all that is. The powerful Word of God which creates ex nihilo (a Latin phrase meaning out of nothing ). It reminds me of my favorite Creation-related story. It is said that a group of scientists had reflected on the intricacies of life, and the nature of the universe. They studied geology and biology and chemistry and physics and had come to the conclusion that life here on earth could have evolved entirely on its own, without any help from a Supreme Being. So God decided to challenge them to a life-creating contest. God, being God, went first. A mound of dirt was gathered from the ground, and carefully shaped into the form of a human. God breathed into the nostrils of this form, with the breath of life, and the mound of dirt became a living being. God and the scientists took note of this result, and as the human stood up and walked away, God said: O.K. It s your turn. The scientists huddled, and came up with a plan. They too gathered a mound of dirt, and carefully shaped it into the form of a human. But before they could move on to step #2, God said, Wait a minute: you have to use your own dirt. The creation accounts we find in the Hebrew Bible, whether we are drawn to the first or second chapter of Genesis, are extraordinary stories. They give testimony to a radical belief: the belief that before God begins the work of

3 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Day Year A (December 25, 2016) 3 creation, nothing exists. The earth is a formless void and darkness covers the face of the deep. There is no light. There is neither day nor night. There is no separation between the waters on the ground and the waters in the sky. There is no separation between water and dry land. There are not plants or trees; sun or moon; birds or creatures of any kind. There is nothing. A formless void, with darkness covering the face of the deep. Then God speaks. And the power of God s Word speaks into being everything that comes to be. Day and night, sun and moon, dry land and oceans, birds and creatures, and finally humankind. God says, "Let there be. And it is so. And God sees that it is good. And there is evening and there is morning, another day of creation. All that is, spoken into existence, by the Word of God. It is with this majestic image that John begins his account of the birth, the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus. He introduces us not to a servant of God; not to a messenger of God; not to a prophet of God; but the very Word of God. The Word of God who speaks into existence everything we have ever known. The Word of God who has now become flesh, and who has come to live among us, and who creates the possibility that we, too, might become children of God. John makes witness to the transcendence of God. With echoes of Genesis, John announces that the Christmas story begins before anything else begins. With lofty and majestic words, John stirs our imagination, and invites us to consider the mystery and power of God s being. A being far above and beyond anything we can imagine. A being that is capable of creating out of nothing, everything. A being with power and majesty that we can hardly imagine. Then, just as powerfully, John makes witness to the immanence of God. The Word is not held captive at the very beginning of time, but it becomes flesh. An innocent, vulnerable baby is born. In the eyes of the world, this is just one of many who are born that night. But through the eyes of faith, we see him as the very presence of God among us. Close enough to touch and feel. Intimate enough to know us and love. Powerful enough to transform us, that we might become people of faith and hope and joy. Here is the power in St. John s Christmas story. It is the extraordinary claim that the God of the Universe has chosen to become one of us, that we might be drawn into the presence of God, and experience the life we were intended to know. John says it most clearly in his twentieth chapter: 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 2 The word of God, enfleshed among us. The glory of God, full of grace and truth. Made present to us, that we might believe Jesus to be Messiah. And that by 2 St. John 20:30-31, New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit.

4 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Day Year A (December 25, 2016) 4 believing, we might have life in his name. The life we were created to know. The life God so desperately wants for us. The life we receive as the presence and power and promise of God are given to us through the Word made Flesh. Transcendence and immanence. Glory and simplicity. Power and presence. All of this at the heart of St. John s Gospel, so that we might live in Christ s name. Fully loved, just as we are, by the God of the universe. And sent, through our calling as God s children, to be a reflection of Christ in the world. On this day of resurrection on this Christmas morning we gather to celebrate the birth of God among us. May God be born anew in your hearts and in your homes this season. A merry Christmas to you all. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text 3 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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth. 4 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: Ἐν ἀρχῃ ἠ ν ὁ λόγος, και ὁ λόγος ἠ ν προ ς το ν θεόν, και θεο ς ἠ ν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὑ τος ἠ ν ἐν ἀρχῃ προ ς το ν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι αὐτου ἐγένετο, και χωρι ς αὐτου ἐγένετο οὐδε ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῳ ζωη ἠ ν, και ἡ ζωη ἠ ν το φω ς τω ν ἀνθρώπων 5 και το φω ς ἐν τῃ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, και ἡ σκοτία αὐτο οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος, ἀπεσταλµένος παρα θεου, ὄνοµα αὐτῳ Ἰωάννης 7 οὑ τος ἠ λθεν εἰς µαρτυρίαν ἵνα µαρτυρήσῃ περι του φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι αὐτου. οὐκ ἠ ν ἐκει νος το φω ς, ἀλλ ἵνα µαρτυρήσῃ περι του φωτός. 9 Η ν το φω ς το ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόµενον εἰς το ν κόσµον. 10 ἐν τῳ κόσµῳ ἠ ν, και ὁ κόσµος δι αὐτου ἐγένετο, και ὁ κόσµος αὐτο ν οὐκ ἔγνω A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at St. John 1:1-14, New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit.

5 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Day Year A (December 25, 2016) 5 εἰς τα ἴδια ἠ λθεν, και οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτο ν οὐ παρέλαβον. 12 ὅσοι δε ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοι ς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεου γενέσθαι, τοι ς πιστεύουσιν εἰς το ὄνοµα αὐτου, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱµάτων οὐδε ἐκ θελήµατος σαρκο ς οὐδε ἐκ θελήµατος ἀνδρο ς ἀλλ ἐκ θεου ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Και ὁ λόγος σα ρξ ἐγένετο και ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡµι ν, και ἐθεασάµεθα τη ν δόξαν αὐτου, δόξαν ὡς µονογενου ς παρα πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος και ἀληθείας. 5 First Lesson; English Text: 52.7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. 9 Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 6 Second Lesson; English Text: Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God s glory and the exact imprint of God s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 [For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son; today I have begotten you? Or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God s angels worship him. 7 Of the angels he says, He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire. But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. 5 6 St. John 1:1-14, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 193, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart). Isaiah 52:7-10, New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit.

6 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Day Year A (December 25, 2016) 6 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. 10 And, In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; 12 like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end. ] 7 Second Lesson; Greek Text: Πολυµερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις 2 ἐπ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡµερῶν τούτων ἐλάλησεν ἡµῖν ἐν υἱῷ, ὃν ἔθηκεν κληρονόµον πάντων, δἰ οὗ καὶ ἐποίησεν τοὺς αἰῶνας 3 ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασµα τῆς δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ, φέρων τε τὰ πάντα τῷ ῥήµατι τῆς δυνάµεως αὐτοῦ, καθαρισµὸν τῶν ἁµαρτιῶν ποιησάµενος ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς µεγαλωσύνης ἐν ὑψηλοῖς, 4 τοσούτῳ κρείττων γενόµενος τῶν ἀγγέλων ὅσῳ διαφορώτερον παῤ αὐτοὺς κεκληρονόµηκεν ὄνοµα. 5 [Τίνι γὰρ εἶπεν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων υἱός µου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήµερον γεγέννηκα σε; καὶ πάλιν ἐγὼ ἔσοµαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται µοι εἰς υἱόν; 6 ὅταν δὲ πάλιν εἰσαγάγῃ τὸν πρωτότοκον εἰς τὴν οἰκουµένην, λέγει καὶ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι θεοῦ. 7 καὶ πρὸς µὲν τοὺς ἀγγέλους λέγει ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύµατα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα, πρὸς δὲ τὸν υἱόν ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεὸς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς εὐθύτητος ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου. 9 ἠγάπησας δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἐµίσησας ἀνοµίαν διὰ τοῦτο ἔχρισεν σε ὁ θεὸς ὁ θεός σου ἔλαιον ἀγαλλιάσεως παρὰ τοὺς µετόχους σου. 10 καί 7 Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12], New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit.

7 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Day Year A (December 25, 2016) 7 σὺ κατ ἀρχάς, κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεµελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί 11 αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαµένεις, καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱµάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, 12 καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτούς, ὡς ἱµάτιον καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν.] Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12], The Greek New Testament, op. cit.