Word made flesh

John 1.1-14

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2He was in the beginning with God.

3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.

4What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.

8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.

11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.

12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,

13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14And 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.

Dulverton Sermon

The birth of any baby is a mysterious miracle. The birth of the Infant Jesus even more so. He is 'the Word made flesh', God incarnate, God 'enfleshed' come to live among us.

For 25 years the Nativity scene in St Peter's Square in Rome has shown the Infant Jesus at his birth in the stable manger of Bethlehem. This year it is different. The scene is transferred to Nazareth and Joseph's home and carpenter shop where 'he took Mary home to be his wife'. It is suggested that this is to rescue the Incarnation from Nativity sentimentality. It is to focus on the man the child was to become. The mission of his coming in his life, his death, and his resurrection.

Great art has always made the point. Look at the two paintings above:

1. 'The Infant Christ asleep on the Cross' belongs to Sheffield Art Gallery. It is by the 17th century Spanish artist Murillo. The infant lies on a cross with his hand on a human skull. The two angels hovering above invite the viewer to contemplate the association of Christ's Passion with His Birth.

2. 'The Nativity at Night' can be seen in the National Gallery in London. It is the work of a Dutch painter of the late 15th century, Gertgen tot Sin Jans. The picture is dark and the figures can only be seen because they are illumined by supernatural light shining from the Infant, who lies in a sarchophagus. He is the light shining in the dark that the darkness cannot overpower. At his birth the victory of the resurrection is already anticipated.

Christmas is for children.
Christmas is a family festival.
But most of all Christmas is the Nativity of the Lord, the Word made flesh, come to redeem mankind from sin and death. He has come to illuminate our lives with life and love.

At Christmas Eucharist we celebrate and receive Christ - born for us, crucified for us, risen for us.

Without Easter there would be no Christmas.

"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".

Thanks be to God.