John 1:1-14.                            A light in the darkness!!         25/12/13

 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 Christmas time again - what a great time to be alive: happiness and peace abounds: good news has broken into the midst of the doom and gloom of everyday living: light has come into the darkness that surrounds many people: Salvation, peace, joy and blessing is there for everyone: everything has changed now because of the coming of Jesus Christ into our world.

 But has it? There are many today who wish there lives were ended; and sadly many have even taken their own lives. Many people live with the reality that they may not have a job next year. The news is constantly one of wars, global warming or companies going broke. Families and marriages are still having their ups and downs in relationships. The future looks no better than the past – and maybe, in fact, worse.

 And even Christmas seems to have gone out Christmas in so many ways for so many people. It is merely the receiving of gifts that is important, and even that has lost its charm as many have every gadget they could want. People stay home from church to cook dinner and spend time with the family. And one could go on. However the point is that even Christmas seems to have lost its meaning today. It is another event that promises much and yet doesn’t deliver.

 So where is this Christ of Christmas that makes so much difference? Where is this light that does away with the darkness, doom and gloom of life? Where is this King that is supposed to have come to rule the world with peace and justice? Where is this power of God that has been promised us?

 But that is just it, isn't it? We are looking for the mighty and the spectacular. We are looking for a God who is going to make all things nice and easy for us: Giving us the biggest and best presents; even if that means that we no longer look to and acknowledge him as our Lord. We are seeking a king who will remove all our enemies and give us a nice easy road through life, even though we do not want to live the way that he would have us. We also want a God who is going let us do what we want do through life, but then at end to take us to heaven. We want Christmas and life be one of health, wealth and happiness, even if it sends us to hell.

 But when we are reminded here of that first Christmas, we recognise that it is not quite like that. Instead of a palace and royal comforts, Jesus came as little helpless baby and was born in a backyard stable. Here think about this: this Jesus is the only baby that had a choice in where he would be born, and he chose a stable and a manger for his bed. Incredible! Not only that; the first people to know about it, and who were his first visitors, were rough-necked shepherds.

 When he walked this earth, he did so as a normal frail human being; learnt his trade as a carpenter; lived in the midst of the same human tragedies we have to; subjected to the same temptations we face. However the only difference was that he lived in absolute obedience to his Father: all his life he sought to serve and help others; putting their welfare before his own.

He was beaten, scorned, whipped and rejected in the course of his life; and was finally put to death on the cross. Even that he allowed to happen, so that he could save the lives of mankind.

 There is our king – the light come into our world: Not grand and spectacular in our terms;  but that which is able to identify with and help us in our ordinary situations of life; and so to be able to be of benefit to us as we go through life. There is the real gift of Christmas.

 However, I wonder if that is why people didn't, and don't today, recognise him for who is and that they don't want him as their Lord. Is it because he doesn't fit their picture of what they want from God? He is not a Santa who merely hands out goodies to hang with the long term consequences.

 In his living with us in our world and knowing what life is like for us he is able to identify with us and most importantly to then be able to give us what is of real benefit. But it is ironical isn't it, that we complain about our leaders because they no longer seem to be able to identify with us ordinary people, and they make decisions that are remote from real life without seeming to care about the impact it has on ordinary people: yet here at Christmas we have God who has identifies himself with us in every way and who even gave up his own life - taking our punishment on himself            so that we can live at peace with God and one another, and we all too often reject him also.

 Here we have God come to us and offers life to each one us, where ever we are at in life. We now have one who truly has and can help mankind and can make a real difference; in fact to be a true saviour for each one of us. Here then is a true light that can give light to everyone.

 At last we can see through the mess of life around us to what important. At last there is real hope for a hopeless world. Sure, we are not promised that all our suffering will be taken away in this earthly life and that our hardships will not still be there. But we are shown that so often they are the results of our stupid human race who wants to ignore and live at odds with God. So now God still uses our stupidity to remind us that we have gone off the rails and need his Son Jesus Christ.

Here however, as a result of Christmas, we are promised that we have someone alongside us to help us through it all – to give light to our darkened world. In Jesus we now can know for sure that we have someone we knows what life is like for us, but who also knows what life can and should be like, so that all can good and beneficial for us all.

 He lights up a way through life for us so that we are now able to see what and who is important in life. Now we can see what life is all about and how to get through the mess that we have all around us. Above all we are now able to have real peace and joy in the midst of the hassles of life; as well as to be able to enter into eternity with God.

 This is the message, joy and person that comes us again this year. This is Christmas  - true Christmas. Here is a gift that truly makes a difference for each and every one of us. Here is something to really celebrate about.

 Now our lives have been brightened and the problems and difficulties of life become less important once more. Light is once more shone brightly into our lives so that our spirits can be lifted: Because in Christmas - Christ with us - everything finds meaning and purpose. Christmas can now make a difference to tomorrow also; because have one at our side who truly cares, helps and has done what is necessary for us to see way through life to eternity with God in heaven. The light has come. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 Now we can have a truly blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

May this Lord Jesus continue to grow in you and light up your life, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish