Word Became Flesh

Witness

When we lose our focus how can we get it back? I feel that many of us have lost our focus. I know recently I have been so distracted by life, by the lack of life. I feel as though the devil is attacking my ministry, and I don’t like the feeling. I have to remember the days when I knew that when things get tough, good things were beginning to happen and the Devil was angry.

It hits me as a bit strange that during the time of year when we should all be thinking about the Good News, I am covered in cat poo. As Christians, we should never be distracted from our call. Perhaps that is why during Seminary we spent a lot of our time defining that call. If you and I can be so easily distracted from our call, are we really living our call?(pause) With my wife being gone I think too much, and what I think about is can I do this with so many distractions in my way? I believe the answer is yes. John 1:1–5 (NRSV)

The Word Became Flesh

(Gen 1:1–2:4a)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. I feel that for John this was his anchor. John believed this scripture so much that it changed him; it became his call. But this is not about John today is it? No this is about us and what are we anchored to.

The very next verse is about a man who was sent. We rarely discuss the man sent to make the ways straight. The church thinks it is enough that the Messiah was sent. But ask yourself today, if this were true why did God purposefully send John the Baptist to make the ways straight? John 1:6–8 (NRSV)

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. Did you ever think that you could be Jesus? Well you can’t. I have had that opinion levied to me a couple of times. Yes, when you are called by God you can sometimes believe that you are god. But on a couple occasions I have been told Clint, there is a god but you ain’t Him. Now why would someone take that from me?

In verse 8, it tells us that John the Baptist was not the light, but he came to bear witness to the light.

Luke 1:5–7 (NRSV)

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. God used a righteous family to bring forth something that would not happen without God’s hand. Do we look upon this miracle as anything less than the miracle of Incarnation?

Of course it is less than the Incarnation, but please do not dismiss this as unimportant or insignificant. This child John was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mothers womb. Luke 1:15 (NRSV)

15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

John 1:9–14 (NRSV)

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

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

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.

In closing today, I want to finish with a look at our center, the sun (son). The Sun formed Billions of years ago. The Sun has a strong gravitational pull, which draws us to it and keeps us in orbit. The Sun gives us warmth which provides the things necessary for life. Isn’t it something how we can see the miracle of God all around us and still not understand the mystery of his life giving Good News?