Christmas Day, 2022
In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Today, we tend to think of the story of history as an endless tale of progress, of things getting better. That's a relatively recent idea – barely 200 years old. It only arises towards in the 19th Century where we thought our science and our progress would bring forth peace on earth. We called World War 1 “The War to End All Wars.” Oops. No, for all our progress and advances, we still have wars and rumors of war, and there's still violence and wickedness and evil. And far from everyone being better, well, the past hundred years have seen horrid genocides, tyrannies great and small, technology used for bigger and more horrific wickedness.
Now John, writing his Gospel, isn't dealing with a false dream of endless social progress. John understands that the world is a dangerous, harsh place. The classic idea which John and Scripture teach is that the world is decaying, breaking apart. Fallen and falling and failing. They would point to what the Ancients did, and how we couldn't match up to them. John could visit the pyramids and know that in the days of the Roman Empire, they couldn't be rebuilt. Of course, John would have walked on Roman roads, many of which are in better shape today than Illinois roads barely a decade old. Things fall apart. We become less.
John sums this fall, this decay, this things being swallowed up as “the darkness.” It's not just a darkness that is an absence of light, but a shadow stretching out and seeking to cast everything into gloom and confusion and night and fear. And that is what John saw when he looked at the history of the world. The advance of evil, of sin, of the Satan and the powers of darkness all around, breathing threats and murders and death. And yet, the darkness doesn't win, doesn't conquer. And why? Because of Christmas. Because of this day that we celebrate and give thanks for today. And while Luke gives the story of the manger and the shepherds, and Matthew will tell of the wisemen, John sums up Christmas this way: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Into the midst of this fallen world, racked by sin, comes Christ Jesus, the Light of the World. Who is this Jesus, who is this Light? Well, He is the Word of God, the Word by which all things were made. When you see Jesus, you see the Creator of all things, you see your Creator. When God speaks forth creation, it is the Word, Christ Jesus, who brings forth creation. All things were made through Him, as John reminds us. This Light of Light who comes and is born this day is not indifferent to this world. He isn't cold or callous to creation – no, Jesus has a vested interest in it. It is His world, after all. He created it, He fashioned it, He formed Adam of the dust of the ground, Eve from Adam's rib.
And Jesus was there when darkness entered and swallowed Adam and Eve and unleashed the chaos of the fall. And one might have thought that this would be it, creation undone, too bad so sad. But no, even in that darkness surrounding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, with Adam and Eve hiding in the bushes, craving darkness – no, the Light of Light – the Life of men was still there. So Jesus strides forth in the garden, calls out to His terrified and fearful Adam and Eve, and Jesus promises them that one day He Himself would come and He would put and end to sin and restore life, true life to His Creation. Life beyond the powers of sin and death and hell and Satan and darkness. The darkness came, but it could not overcome Jesus. The serpent will be crushed.
And Jesus was there through the history of the world, through all the Old Testament. Over and over the Darkness attacked creation, over and over there is wickedness and horror and tragedy. Wickedness so dire we cannot imagine it. A world where there are only 8 faithful people left, crammed in an ark with animals while the darkened skies unleash torrents of rain for 40 days. Still, the Light shines, God is there, preserving and protecting Noah and his family, 8 souls in all. The light is not overcome. In the darkness of Pharaoh's prison, the Light is with Joseph. In the midst of the exodus the Light leads His people to safety even by night as a Pillar of Flame. David will write, “Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Thou, the Light of Light, art with me.” Even with all the twists and turns, even with faithless people abandoning God and flocking to idols, through new destructions and new exiles, the Light remains unswallowed by darkness. Jesus remains determined to see the promise to Adam and Eve fulfilled, the promise to Abraham brought to fruition, the promise to David established forever.
And then finally, the midst of a another great darkness, where Israel is conquered by foreign rulers and suffering under petty puppet tyrants (for Herod was indeed a lover of darkness), the Light of the World comes. And there, in Bethlehem, Christ the Savior is born. The true Light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. There in that manager is Jesus – come to be the Savior of the World, the Universe, the Comsos. Light shining in darkness, light here, present for you, to be your Savior, your light, your life. Not to be too Lutheran Proud – but that's why 486 years ago Martin Luther decided to put some candles on a tree – the birth of our modern Christmas tree. See, Christmas is the time of the light shining in the darkness. Christ has come, and we have hope; beauty and joy still remain even in the midst of darkness. Life remains in the face of death. Because Jesus comes, and He will do it. That's why 171 years ago Pastor Schwann decided to put up a Christmas tree in his Lutheran Church in Cleveland, the first in the US. The Light shines in the darkness – that is what Christmas is! Christ comes to be the Redeemer, to be the Light that would swallow up darkness.
And Jesus would work our salvation in this way. That Child, born in Bethlehem, would grow, would be Man as man had been made to be. Without sin. Loving the Father and His neighbor. Obedient under the law. Fulfilling all that He had spoken in the past. And then, the Light of the world would be put upon another tree – not an evergreen, but a tree of darkness and death, the Tree of the Cross. There He would be glorified, as He takes up the sin of the world, as He takes into Himself all the powers of darkness and death and destroys them. There He cries out, “It is finished” - and darkness knows that it is done. The light is not defeated – on the 3 Day He rises and shines for with life and salvation.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Even to this day, the Light of Christ shines. He shines upon you, here, now. His coming, His birth – it is for you. He is the light that enlightens you, that redeems you, that saves you. Indeed, the Light, the Word become flesh, dwells among you now. By Baptism He has made you His brother, His sister, His co-heir of life everlasting. He comes to you in His Word, His Gospel light shining brightly – and His Word is yours now, to hear and to speak to others. He forgives you, and through you He gives His forgiveness to others. He comes to you today in the Supper, lain upon the manger of your hands, your mouth – a manger is a place for food after all. Forgiveness, life, and salvation, granted to you!
So fear not, my friends! Fear not the darkness! Yes, you will see darkness, you will see trouble, you will see hardship. So be it. None of them are bigger, none of them are more powerful than Jesus. Over and against all the evil, all the wickedness, all the nihilistic drivel and dourness the world spouts forth – Christ Jesus has come, the promises of God have been fulfilled, fulfilled for you. And thus, my dear friends, my fellow baptized children of God, those enlightened by the Light of the world – a true and hearty Merry Christmas to you! In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +
No comments:
Post a Comment