Christmas Eve

December 24, 2022

Scripture: John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 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. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

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.

While I do think it is important to acknowledge that Jesus was fully human, I an glad that the book of John was written and including in the Bible following the birth stories because it brings us fully back the understanding that the one who came to dwell among us as God with Us was also truly divine. Using more abstract words like the Word and light, John confronts the mystery of One who supersedes anything we can even imagine while sharing the experiences of those who interacted with this Word, this light as we would any other human. God is not only with us, God knows how it feels to be human.

The book of Genesis tells us that God created each of us in God’s image. I think that means we are all fully capable of loving like God as was modeled by Jesus in his sojourn on earth. Throughout the Bible we see testimony of God’s desire for justice and mercy among all God’s creation. Just like all children, as children of God we sometimes stumble and miss the mark, but God’s love sustains us and will guide us into God’s light when we seek to restore our relationship with God striving to become fully the individuals and the people God created us to be.

Prayer: That you Lord, for dwelling among us and showing by your actions the way to fulfill our calling in building your beloved community. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.