THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the rams horn – shout for joy before the before the Lord, the King. Psalm 98:4-6

The birth of Christ was good news and a reason for rejoicing. The angels were rejoicing, the shepherds were rejoicing, and to the people of Galilee; it was good news of peace and salvation. Today too, we celebrate the birth of Christ with song, joy and with much fun and frolic. It is a time of cleaning up our homes, family reunion, renewing our relationships with one another, parties etc.

Keeping this in mind we are called upon by the church to reflect on a hymn which celebrates the pre-existence, the incarnation and the activity of the word, the logos in the gospel according to St. John 1:1-14, a gospel which does not have anywhere the traditional birth narratives.

The birth of Christ is a revelation. V1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. It is a revelation of the word which was at creation, through whom everything was created. After speaking to the people through the patriarchs, prophets and various other ways and his chosen people continuing to turn away from God, God himself comes down to reveal himself in the form of man – his son Jesus.

One who was at the beginning of creation was now coming down to earth to create a new beginning. It was also the revelation of the word which was at the bosom, the heart of God (v18). This shows the intimate relationship, the oneness between the father and the son. One who was at the bosom, of God is now coming to take his place in the hearts of humanity. Jesus was not different from God.

Hebrews 1:3 says the son is the radiance of God and the exact representation of his being. He came to illuminate this world and to give life. This is not just an event of the past but an event of the present and an event of the future. It is a continuing process. God who made his presence felt on this earth through his son Jesus is looking for you and me through whom he can work and continue to make his presence felt on this earth. And so we sing ““O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee”.

The birth of Christ transforms. The word of God – Jesus, was a light which came to illuminate a dark world. At creation God separated light from darkness, now he sent Jesus to light up darkness. It transforms from death to life, sadness to joy, lies to truth, sin to salvation, oppression to liberation, injustice to justice. At the heart of this light is love and it will go to any extent to dispel darkness.

Unfortunately it was a light that could not be understood and that is very visible when we read through the gospel narratives. And it is the same situation even today with many of us. We are happy with the lives that we are living.

Transformation brings change, it brings joy. It is a change and joy that we experience personally but too good to be kept within. When the Mary was transformed Samaritan woman was transformed, when the sadness of Mary Magdalene was transformed to joy, when the disciples on the way to Emmaus were transformed they all went out and shared their transformed experience.

And so are we called today share with others around to bring them into the knowledge of the light. Which means we have to move out of our comfort zones so that the true light will shine in the darkness through god’s people.

The birth of Christ is the beginning of a new journey. (v14)The original text says the word became flesh and tabernacle with us. A tent a tabernacle is a shelter, a place of rest, a place of security, where we are renewed; we regain our strength, motivation, gain courage. It is not permanent structure but a structure that moves.

The best example we have is in the old testament where God dwelt in the midst of the liberated people as they journeyed to the Promised Land (Ex 25:8, 9). A holy God dwelling in the midst of humanity, the creator amidst his creation. So the birth of Christ reveals to us the God of history now descended and permanently present, to keep moving with his people. The Msg paraphrases this verse “The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood”. What a wonderful activity and assurance the birth of Christ gives us. God has moved into the neighbourhood. He has moved into the neighbouhood to journey with those who are open to accept him and journey with him. He is still looking out for stables.

All did not end with the cross or ascension. God is present today through the Holy Spirit right in our midst. But as God always does, he gives us options. We need to ask ourselves have we allowed God to pitch his tent in our midst so that we will experience his continual presence and his love or do we prefer his tent to be outside where we can go to him only when we feel like it as was with the Israelites when they rejected God for the golden calf.

So this song challenges us this morning to relook at our lives, it is a challenge that gives us hope. How have we prepared ourselves to celebrate the birth of Christ this year? Has it been a preparation to give or to receive? We are called to experience this great revelation of God take the form of man, to be illuminated by the light and to experience God journeying with us.

It is an experience that does not stop with it. But once we have this experience then we go out and reveal god to others, we go out and illuminate the lives of others, we go out and start journeying with others just as we have experienced. For that is what we are called for.

The birth of Christ is not so much about receiving, eating and drinking. But it is of much serious stuff of giving our lives for others so that God’s purposed will be fulfilled here on this earth, that his image will b restored once again in all and that his kingdom values will spread and God’s reign of love, peace, justice and dignity will be established on this earth.

Then we can truly join the Psalmist and sing and praise God saying “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; ……the Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness…” Psalm 98:1, 2.

May God bless us all and help us celebrate a meaningful and joyful Christmas.