Christmas Day year B Sermon John 1:1-14
God speaks… and the universe is created…
galaxies and giant nebula come into being…
black holes…cosmic gases…suns and stars…
all the elements that make for life…
galaxies and giant nebula come into being…
black holes…cosmic gases…suns and stars…
all the elements that make for life…
God speaks and… an un touched…. Hebrew girl…
conceives a child…
conceives a child…
and this child… will become a light for all nations…
the light that shines in the darkness promised by the prophets.
the light that shines in the darkness promised by the prophets.
God has spoken…………..and God’s very Word…
Words fade on
become grace and truth in the flesh …Jesus is born. [pause]
In our gospel reading set down for Christmas day…
John the theologian…helps us… to understand…
that the anointed one…the holy one… who enters our humanity in Jesus … is the very same Word …with a
capital W… the word…through whom
the whole universe… was spoken into being.
In our gospel reading set down for Christmas day…
John the theologian…helps us… to understand…
that the anointed one…the holy one… who enters our humanity in Jesus … is the very same Word …with a
capital W… the word…through whom
the whole universe… was spoken into being.
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and because of this incarnation… this enfleshment
of God’s Word in a child born in Bethlehem
…a relationship of intimacy is made possible…
between God and all humanity.
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of God’s Word in a child born in Bethlehem
…a relationship of intimacy is made possible…
between God and all humanity.
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to all who received him…who believed in his name,
he gave the ability to become… the children of God.
he gave the ability to become… the children of God.
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God’s purposes…are to be made clear…
in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Where people have walked in darkness and misunderstanding…now…
there’s a walking… talking…human expression…
of God’s Word for humanity…
in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Where people have walked in darkness and misunderstanding…now…
there’s a walking… talking…human expression…
of God’s Word for humanity…
this child… born in a manger…
would show us by his life… and by his death…
just how God’s purpose of Shalom…
of peace with justice for all people…would be achieved…
would show us by his life… and by his death…
just how God’s purpose of Shalom…
of peace with justice for all people…would be achieved…
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Love your enemies…do good to those who hate you…
pray for those who persecute you…make peace…
show mercy…be humble…
pray for those who persecute you…make peace…
show mercy…be humble…
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travel light…share what you have to feed the hungry…
care for the sick…let the oppressed go free… [pause]
care for the sick…let the oppressed go free… [pause]
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men and women… living in the deadly darkness of fear and exploitation…abuse and slavery…can now see by the light of Jesus’ life and teaching…
that their wellbeing is what God desires
that their wellbeing is what God desires
Men and women… who live in the toxic gloom of pride … and greed and envy …who live in the wasteland of cynicism or the exile of perpetual resentment…
can now see by Jesus’ light…
there’s another way to the fullness of life…
And those who believed in his name…would do what he did
they’d become children of God…as he was a child of God.
they’d become children of God…as he was a child of God.
Jesus would announce…not the occupation of Wall Street or Aotea Square or Wanaka…but love’s occupation…
of the earth
Word slide occupy the earth
Jesus would demonstrate…
and call his followers to demonstrate
that the purposes of God will not be defeated
by the worst humankind can do. [pause]
and call his followers to demonstrate
that the purposes of God will not be defeated
by the worst humankind can do. [pause]
Over the season of Advent… our congregation’s been reflecting on some key life questions
for those who follow Jesus
for those who follow Jesus
Like ‘How well do we wait for God?’…how well do we prepare for the coming of God’s future?…how well do we make room… for Jesus in our lives?… and how well do we carry… his saving message into the world.
Dare we ask this Christmas Day…
how well… we occupy the earth…in Jesus name…
Dare we ask this Christmas Day…
how well… we occupy the earth…in Jesus name…
how well we shine the light of God’s love…
into the dark places of our families and our community…
and the world… [Pause]
Baby slide
The revelation of God… arrived in a human baby… tiny… vulnerable… without protection… food or shelter …
except what his parents could provide.
An infant citizen… of a nation…
occupied by force and by fear…
except what his parents could provide.
An infant citizen… of a nation…
occupied by force and by fear…
This child would grow to understand his calling
to do what Israel failed to do…
to shine the light of God’s justice and peace …….
God’s mercy and forgiveness………………
even to their enemies and oppressors…
This child would die speaking forgiveness
rather than retaliate… [pause]
but that was not the end…
by the power of God’s Spirit…the Word made flesh would be raised… and he would call his followers to take the light of God’s love… to the ends of the earth… [pause]
to do what Israel failed to do…
to shine the light of God’s justice and peace …….
God’s mercy and forgiveness………………
even to their enemies and oppressors…
This child would die speaking forgiveness
rather than retaliate… [pause]
but that was not the end…
by the power of God’s Spirit…the Word made flesh would be raised… and he would call his followers to take the light of God’s love… to the ends of the earth… [pause]
God’s Word became flesh…. and dwelt among us…
full of grace and truth…and to everyone
who believed in his name… he gave the power to be called …the children of God
full of grace and truth…and to everyone
who believed in his name… he gave the power to be called …the children of God
May the Christ child be born in you today
and may your life be full of grace and truth.
And as we journey together… in to God’s promised future … let us pray that grace and truth…
will one day
occupy the earth…
and may your life be full of grace and truth.
And as we journey together… in to God’s promised future … let us pray that grace and truth…
will one day
occupy the earth…
