Sermon Tone Analysis
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so what is the real meaning of Christmas?
Have you ever asked that question?
or even if you have asked that question—have you stopped to consider it this Christmas season?
—and perhaps more importantly does your life match up with what you say your answer is.
Now, let’s take a moment and consider what might the average American say the meaning of Christmas is:
According to one recent gallup poll—do you know how many Americans celebrate Christmas in some fashion?
(see https://news.gallup.com/poll/272378/americans-celebrating-secular-christmas.aspx)
about 93% surveyed say they do—that’s a lot!
so the majority of our country does...
but of that 93% who said they celebrate Christmas in some fashion—
the researchers asked think of the way you personally celebrate Christmas, is Christmas a strongly religious holiday, a somewhat religious holiday, or not too religious at all.
Now, I know that word “religion” can have a lot of baggage—but the researchers were trying to figure out does Christmas have a deeper meaning to you than just gift gifts, or time off....or family gatherings...
and it was split 3 ways:
about 1/3 of Americans said Christmas has a strong, religious significance;
1/3 said it had a somewhat religious significance
and another 1/3 said it doesn’t have really any religious significance at all.
it’s just a holiday...
and the younger you are—according to this survey (40 or younger)—this was the biggest group that answered that Christmas has no religious significance at all.
so what would you answer?
what does Christmas mean to you…what is the real meaning of Christmas...
all of us answer this question whether we realize it or not...
whether you are so pumped that Christmas is coming…so excited—can’t wait! started decorating back in July!
or could care less—and have a very pessimistic, cynical view of Christmas...
or indifferent...
we all answer this question...
I want to remind by looking at the book of John.
John, chapter 1. Turn there please.
John is in the NT.
The Apostle John was one of Jesus’ 12 apostles.
and he was described as the apostle that Jesus loved.
He had a close relationship with Jesus.
Look what He says:
let me skip to John 1:9-14
now, let me skip to verse 18
now, let me read 1 John (also written by John)
when we think of Christmas passages in the NT—this may not be our first one, but it is a great one.
What does John say the real meaning of Christmas is?
Christmas = The Son of God coming...
Christmas = Jesus
Christmas = Incarnation—The Son of God taking on human flesh.
That Word—is another way of saying Jesus.
You may say—well—why does he not just say Jesus—why does He call Jesus the Word.
John is trying to impact 2 audiences as he is writing--
the Jews--
and the Greeks.
For instance, for the Jews, who had the OT—the Word of God was a big deal.
b/c how did God create the heavens and the earth—His Word—he spoke it.
There’s power in that Word of God!
think about Moses and the Israelites—whom he led out of slavery.
God gave the Israelites at Mt. Sinai—what—His Word…that they were to follow that word.
that word was life or if not—death.
God’s Word to the Jews—was God’s self-expression.
It was his power.
for God to speak or to act—same thing.
the Jews had a high respect for God’s Word.
when God speaks, action happens!
and so when John opens his Gospel, by saying “In the beginning...” which reminds us of Genesis—and says the Word—the Jews would have perked their ears up--
the Jews loved the Word.
and for the other audience—the Greeks at the time…they prided themselves in their wisdom and philosophy—what they called the word—or the logos (that’s the Greek word behind word).
they believed that the word or logos was this invisible and intelligent force behind all that we see in the world—that brought everything together, that governed all things—that made sense of all things.
and gave all their philosophers like Plato and Aristotle and Socrates their wisdom.
so when John says in the beginning was the Word…both Jews and Greeks would have said “Amen!”
but then he offends both groups…because
He says this Word...
It’s a personal being—who is with God, but also is God.
who has been face to face with the Father from eternity.
He is God yet distinct from God the Father...
this would have been stunning to Jews—who believed in God-one God—but did not believe that this Word was a personal being---who took on flesh.
who was full of just as much glory as the Father.
and who took on flesh—that’s...
shocking..scandalous to Jews.
but also shocking to Greeks—that the word was not this impersonal force—but a personal being…who lived, and dwelt among us.
the Greeks thought often that the soul was good and the body was bad—so for the logos to take on flesh…scandalous.
to both groups—John says--
this personal being who through whom all things were made—who has life
and light
He is the true light...
who because of Him gives everyone, Jews, Greeks, religious, non-religious the right to become children of God.
This Word—in John 1:14
this is a clear reference to Jesus Christ.
in 1 John — John says we looked at him, beheld, our hands touched him—we experienced Jesus, God, in the flesh!
This is shocking—we don’t quite feel it like they do…but it was shocking to them.
Christmas is all about the Incarnation—the Son of God taking on flesh.
this passage contains 2 gynormous, rich, amazing doctrines:
The Trinity...
This passage is one of the clearest references to the Trinity—that we believe in one God, yet also in 3 persons.
we don’t believe in 3 gods—no one god, yet with 3 distinct persons—existing as the Father, as the Son, and as the Holy Spirit.
(not separate modes)
mind-boggling…and it makes Christianity so unique...
and to add to the mind boggling—ness....that’s a word.
2. The Incarnation...
the Son of God, the 2nd member of the Trinity—added humanity to his already existing divinity.
The Son of God who has always existed—took on human flesh.
who is God, created the universe, yet distinct from the Father, took on human flesh to reveal light and life and glory to all mankind.
the Son of God who has all the power in the world.
look at what Hebrews 1:3 says about the Son:
so even when Jesus christ, the Word was born of Mary—a helpless babe, who needed his diapers changed…he was upholding the universe.
and so the Son of God has took on flesh
Theologians say—he is one person with 2 natures--
He is not 50% God and 50% human.
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