Christmas 2                                          John 1:1-18                                          1/4/04

 

                “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

 

Word is important.  We need words to communicate, to create and to build relationships, to give meaning, to establish truth.  Unfortunately, word has fallen on hard times.

 

                It used to be a man’s word was his bond, meaning that when a man made a promise – gave his word – it could be trusted to be done as said.  But today, because words have so often and so blatantly been used to trick, mislead and manipulate, people feel less and less trust in the word.

 

                Hear just a few recent examples of the word misused:

 

·                     “Ephedra is a safe herbal product that can be used to help build muscle and give energy...” 

·                     The new Medicare drug bill will be a boon to seniors in need of help with prescription costs.

·                     Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and we must go to war to eliminate this clear and present danger to our country.

·                     Buy stock in Enron.  It’s a rock solid company.

·                     If you elect me (name a politician and office) I promise to ...

·                     No priest in this diocese has ever abused a child.

 

The truth of all of these words has been either proved false or brought into question.  And it has become so common that many people look with wary eye on any word of promise.

 

                There is though one Word that is absolutely different from all the other words we hear.  It is a Word we can always trust because it has proven itself utterly.  It has never lied.  It has never taken advantage of us .  It has never abused.  On the contrary, THE WORD has brought nothing but truth, mercy and goodness to us.  That word is THE WORD – the Logos – Jesus Christ, God enfleshed among us.

 

                Scholars and heretics can debate the historical accuracy of the story of Christ’s birth as told in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) until the end of time.  They can produce historical and archeological evidence both to believe and to disbelieve the various details of the story.  No doubt people will continue to be attracted to the babe in the manger – even if only for one night or one season.  But, long after the once a year worshipper has gone on with their lives and long after the babe has been put away with the other Xmas decorations, THE WORD will continue God’s incarnation in the world, will continue to be alive and active for those who allowed Christ to be born in them.

                Because you see, THE WORD is more than just words like the promises of ad agencies, government officials or even church leaders.  THE WORD is God’s own self revealed in Jesus.  Everything we need to know about God and us is revealed in THE WORD. 

 

From THE WORD we learn God’s love:  “God so loved the world that He sent His only Son that all who believe in Him may have eternal life.”  (John 3:16

 

From THE WORD we learn that God’s promises are sure: “I will put enmity between you (the serpent/Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head...” (Gen 3:15 – the first prophesy of a Savior)

 

From THE WORD we learn that God love and promise extends to us:  “In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, and had believed in him were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.”  (Eph. 1:13,14)

 

From THE WORD we learn that He will return and on that great day will say, “And now I make all things new!...Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted.”  (Rev. 21:5)

 

                We know this is true because Jesus didn’t just speak words, He was THE WORD and He lived (and died) THE WORD.  Thus, when we read or hear the words , “For you...” we can believe Him.

 

                But, our reading and hearing needs to be more than a once a year activity (it needs to be more than even twice a year or occasional hearing) if it is going to combat the despair that comes with constantly hearing the empty, deceptive, life taking words that surround us day in and day out. 

 

                For THE WORD to give us all of the hope, life, love and grace that Jesus came to reveal, we need to receive and respond to it.

 

                In Vs 12, the writer of John states, “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.”  The Greek word for “receive” is “lambano”.  It is a passive verb with a tense that tells us the “receiving” is a continuing one.  Thus, we receive God’s grace  in Jesus which has the power to make us God’s children as a gift because we can do nothing to get it for ourselves.  But, we need to continue receiving for that power to be fully effective in us – to be able to resist temptation, grow in faith and live by hope.

 

                The way we receive THE WORD is by listening.  Listening is more than what we do with our ears.  Listening is hearing and seeing.  It is reflecting on.  And it is putting into practice.  This last is the point at which “receiving” goes from passive to active.  After we see or hear and reflect, we respond.

 

                Today, through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism we welcome into God’s family Wyatt William Ewing.  He will receive the WORD passively (we hope...).  Christ will come to Him in water and Word.  This is a sacred moment and an act of divine grace.

                But, in a sense, it is really just a beginning.  While Wyatt will receive the Holy Spirit who will work in him to help him believe in Jesus, Wyatt will also need our help and the help of His family in order to grow in faith.  We as his church family will present to him the Word.  We will offer Sunday school classes, VBS and worship services.  You, his parents, grand-parents, aunts and uncles will assume an even greater responsibility.  It will be up to you “to faithfully bring him to the services of God’s house, and teach him the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Commandments.”  As he grows in years, it will be your sacred duty to “place in his hands the Holy Scriptures and provide for his instruction in the Christian faith...”  It will be vital that you fulfill your promises, not just with words but by example, if the WORD is to become active and powerful in Wyatt’s life.

 

                God says, “I give you my WORD”.  In doing this God took on human flesh, lived and died for our salvation.  This is an historical and theological fact that with the help of the Holy Spirit we believe.

 

                God says, “I give you my Word.”  In doing this God works through Word and Sacrament to generate faith in us, not just as a one time event, but weekly, daily, continuously, as we listen to Him, relate to Him and grow in Him.

                God says, “I give you my Word.”  In doing this God vows on the grave of His Son that while all the claims of advertisers, government officials and even religious leaders may prove false, His promises will stand forever.  And this word we can rely on with absolute faith because THE WORD that was in the beginning and that was born 2000 years ago was God and God continues to speak it to us.  Amen.