Shepherd of the Springs
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth . [John 1.14; NKJV]

The grace of God in the infant Savior be yours on this festival day!

The Scriptural texts appointed to be read at Christmas time fall into two categories: The narrative – or story – of Christmas, which is usually the focus of Christmas Eve, and the theology – or meaning – of Christmas, which is usually the focus of Christmas Day. So, today, we hear the meaning of Christmas in the opening verses of the Gospel According to St. John.

I.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Here, St. John summarizes what is the stunning announcement of the incarnation of God in human flesh. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Here starts of the stunning and paradoxical description of God as both One and more than One. The Word was God, and yet the Word was WITH God. The persons of the Father and the Son are here set forth, as two persons in one divine being. And John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, will present this third person of the Holy Trinity in four chapters in His Gospel account. So, we have the essence of Christian theology – God is One and God is many – three, to be exact.

Your salvation is tied up in this revelation of God as the Blessed Holy Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost each impact your salvation and your eternal life, but the central person of the Trinity for your salvation is God the Son, known here in the opening verses of this Gospel account as “The Word!” God the Son is the revelation of God’s truth and especially the revealing of the Gospel of your salvation.

The truth in print we call the Holy Scriptures. But the central truth of your salvation is here revealed as The truth in flesh – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

So, here you have the grand and mysterious theology of Christmas. It is the awesome truth of the meaning of Christmas in history, and this day on your annual calendar. The paradox of God’s plan of salvation is the message of this day we call Christmas, as it taught by the Gospel According to St. John.

But this is not some sort of abstract theology, reserved for those with a theological education, or at least a theological bent! No! The incarnation of God in human flesh, to be your Savior, is not just theory – St. John wants you to know that the depth of theology is found in the relationship that God the Son establishes for you in His birth!

II.

The heavenly light of Christ is not just a vision for shepherds, though in the midnight hour, they are the first to lead us to the manger, as the Chief Hymn of the Day declares: “Ye Shepherds, shrink not with afright. The day of grace is dawning!” And the shepherds are not alone in receiving this word of grace! The message is for you, with them: “Behold,
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”, as St. John puts it, and, as St. Luke puts it, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Thus, we sing this morning: “This Child, though weak in infancy; our confidence and joy shall be! The power of Satan breaking, Our peace with God now making!” This stunning truth of the incarnation speaks to the daily needs and daily blessings of the children of God.

So that you might wrap the arms of your mind and heart around the Savior-God of Christmas, the Apostle St. John leads you to understand that Christmas makes Christ your brother! This is God’s most intimate gift of His only-begotten Son, now made your brother – which makes you God’s child, God’s son, God’s daughter,

as we just sang: “O dearest Child, whom I adore, Whence grace surpasses measure; My brother, whom I cherish more than earth and all its treasure!”

The Gospel according to St. John presents you with greatest Christmas gift – the one that lets you shout out, “Yes!” as you unwrap anew this gift from the Father of love. Jesus is your brother! God the Son is your brother! The Savior of the world is your brother! The guarantor of your salvation is your brother! “O come and dwell within my heart; with joy will I receive Thee, a cradle there – in the heart and mind – will give Thee.”

This is the “true light” of Christmas – it is the theology, the truth, the meaning of the birth of Jesus! God has come down, to take your flesh, to bear your sins, to show you your heavenly Father, and to give you the confidence that from Him all things will work together for your good: for your forgiveness, for your growth in grace, and for your everlasting life! This truth is what breaks forth as the greatest light that could shine upon you. This truth is the core and foundation of all the God does for you!

So with joy and gladness, we declare this morning: “All blessings, thanks, and praise to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ be given; Thou has my Brother deigned to be, Thou Lord of earth and heaven. Help me throughout this day of grace to praise Thy love and seek Thy face; and, when I stand before Thee, forever to adore Thee!”