God's Word - A Sermon for Christmas Day (December 25, 2023)

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 52:7–10 | Psalm 98 | Hebrews 1:1–12 | John 1:1–14

“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.” (John 1:14).
 
Today we celebrate the truth of the story of Christmas… a message we have likely heard many times before: the story of the Living God taking on our humanity… born of the Virgin Mary… welcomed into the world, not by the high and mighty, in some imperial palace, but by humble farm hands… lowly shepherds huddled in a stable.
 
We know this story, which stirs up in us many memories of Christmases past. It’s a story wrapped up with hope, peace, joy, and love… and which holds a special place in our hearts, which is one of the reasons why we keep returning to it year after year.
 
But we know many other stories too… stories that the world around us is eager to tell. Stories of anxiety and despair. Stories of bitter divisions and war. Stories of sorrow, and drudgery. Stories of hatred and fear.
 
These are the stories so many are living by. The stories we’re all too often drawn into ourselves. These are the words on so many tongues, used to describe our world’s story… where we are headed.
 
But we know that there is another Word that will have the final say… a Word full of grace and truth.
 
The Almighty Word that spoke all Creation into being… causing the cosmos to become a place of light and life, where once was only darkness. The Divine Word that has always been, and will endure always, without end. The Glorious Word that shines out, and even if no one sees or receives it… this Word’s brilliance will never fade.
 
The Word of God that took on flesh to dwell with us: our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
 
He is born. And He faced our frailty, our dangers, our sufferings… giving us hope.
 
He is born. And He laid down His life for us at the cross… giving us peace.
 
He is born. And He rose again from the dead… giving us joy.
 
He is born. And He has bound us to the Living God forever… giving us love.
 
He is born. Today, Christ Jesus the Word of God gives us the gift of Himself.
 
And may this Word dwell with us always… filling our hearts and minds, despite the dark words still echoing all around us… filling our lives with the hope, and peace, and joy, and love that only He can give… and may this Word take on our flesh, speaking in our words and acting in our deeds… and making His grace and truth known through all that we do… turning us His people into His gift to bring God’s New Life to the world.
 
May the Word of God, Jesus Christ, dwell with us this Christmas, and always.  And may we receive Him, and believing in Him, become God’s true children, full of His grace and truth… always.

Merry Christmas, in Jesus’ name. Amen.