Friday, Dec. 5th

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Friday, Dec. 5

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 were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Just a few weeks from now our family will gather around a brightly decorated Christmas tree and take turns opening gifts. Most of the gifts will be wrapped in traditional holiday wrapping paper; but our boys have developed their own tradition of creative gift wrapping. Every Christmas they draw names out of a hat to see which brother they will give   a gift to and, once they have chosen the gift, part of the fun is wrapping it in an unusual way.

Sometimes that means the gift is wrapped with duct-tape. Sometimes it means the gift is hidden in 7 different boxes, each wrapped and hidden inside a larger box. Sometimes it means the gift is wrapped in newspaper, or even a plain brown paper bag. Sometimes the gift is hidden somewhere in the house and has to be found through a series of scavenger hunt clues.

So the wrapping of the gift has actually become part of the gift.

So it is, John says, with the gift God gives in Jesus.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Yesterday we saw that in Jesus the glory of God becomes visible. Today we see that the gift God gives is wrapped in human flesh; and in that flesh we receive both grace and truth.

Let’s take “truth” first.

Jesus is the truth of God because he reveals our sinful condition. John writes:

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

It is the nature of light to reveal. Jesus is the light that reveals both the glory of God and the sinful brokenness of the world. In Jesus we see God’s goodness and holiness as well as our own need for that goodness and holiness.

And because the light reveals the truth about our condition we often recoil from the light and retreat into darkness where we can hide from God and from ourselves.

This is what John means when he says, He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

The light of truth is threatening and we often seek to avoid coming face to face with truth.

But, John says, Jesus is also full of grace. The grace of God is what allows us to face the truth about ourselves.

Jesus is the grace of God because through his suffering and death he covers our debt and provides for our salvation.

Hebrews 2:17

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Jesus is full of grace and truth because God is full of grace and truth.

Jesus offers grace and truth because both are necessary for our salvation.

Truth without grace is harsh and condemning.

Grace without truth is license and permissiveness.

Grace with truth means our sins can be acknowledged and forgiven.

This is the gift God has wrapped in flesh and offered to us.

This is the gift of Jesus.

Pastor Brian Coffey