Calling It As It Is!

Text: John 1:1-14

In 1518, Martin Luther said, 

“A theology of glory calls evil good and good evil. A theology of the cross calls the thing what it actually is." 

Hear that again, 

“A theology of glory calls evil good and good evil. A theology of the cross calls the thing what it actually is." 

So, this begs the question: what does this have to do with Advent and Christmas?  

Whether intended or not, we often do not view Christmas as it actually is.  Instead, we view the birth of Jesus as a cosmic present for people listed on Santa's good list. That is to say, we often view the birth of Jesus as a surprise birthday cake for good little humans.  You know what I am talking about – you have seen this in movies before.  A person is overjoyed and content on their birthday, and then someone wheels out a large birthday cake with sparkling candles.  Everyone sighs joyfully while singing, “Happy Birthday” and “He’s a Jolly Good Ol’ Fellow.”  

Ah, but here is where we must be careful.  The birth of Christ was not a cosmic present for good little boys and girls.  You see, while it might be comforting to believe this, it is essential that we not only talk about Christmas but think about Christmas as it really is.  Indeed, it is essential to say, understand, and comprehend that Christmas is the birth of the Son of God into a world of chaos and sin.  

Dear friends, please listen right now: in our reading from the Gospel of John, we hear that the Light shines in the darkness.   That is to say, this world is shrouded in darkness.  It has been ever since the day Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden.  This world is shrouded with misfortune, misery, wretchedness, condemnation, and sin.  In this world, there is no spark of hope and no beacon of potential.   The world is the kingdom of darkness with the Prince of Darkness at its head The world, along with all of humanity is evil, not because God created it this way, but because the curse of sin has made it this way.  Sin ruined everything.  And so, if we are going to call a thing what it is, we must speak about this world as it is: the world lives in darkness – plain and simple. 

Dear friends, please listen as you hear how it is with Christmas: the birth of Jesus is not a cosmic birthday present for good humanity; the birth of Christ is not a present for a well-behaved earth.  Instead, the birth of Jesus is the Light and Salvation of heaven piercing into the darkness.  The birth of Jesus is the Son of God entering into this dark world to give all humanity the benefit of His glorious illumination.  

Now, one would think that a dark world would overwhelmingly rejoice at the coming of the Light.  However, here again, we must call things as they are.  The Apostle John tells us that even though the Light shines in the darkness, and even though the darkness will not overcome the Light, and even though all things were made through the Light, nonetheless, many darkened minds of those hiding in the darkness will not receive the Light.  In fact, many will reject the Christmas gift of Christ.  They will oppose the Christ and His life-giving-light.  They will not see, hear, or receive the light of the Gospel.  Please hear this loud and clear: a great deal of people in the world have rejected and will reject the Light.  They will continue to do so, because their eyes and ears are shrouded with darkness.  Lord have mercy; Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy.  

But you, dear Baptized Saints, the Light of Christ is dawning before you, as we travel to the Season of Christmas.  Indeed, you have seen the Light and will see the Light again from the Holy Word of God, as we travel to the Story of Christmas.  And so, hear this and know this: as we approach this Season of Christmas, let us speak plainly and honestly about the babe lying in the manger.  The babe in the manger is the Light that shines in the darkness of the world’s ignorance, guilt, and misery.  The little Lord Jesus, lying in the manger, is the Son of God, who put on flesh and came to dwell among sinners to redeem sinners in this dark world of sin.  The Son of God was pierced into a world that is wrapped in a thick dense cloud of sin – a world that does not allow any rays of light to pierce the gloom. Jesus is the Light that has pierced into darkness to illuminate truth into your minds, assurance in your hearts, and trust in your whole being.  

At this point, we would do well to pause just a moment and ask ourselves, 

“Who are we without the babe lying in the manger?” 

You see, if we take away Christ, what do we have without Christ?  If we take away Christ, we have no saving knowledge of God, no life, and no light. Without Christ, we are separated from the Father and left the devil’s snare. Without Christ, we are left with the darkness of death and destruction. Without Christ and His Holy Word, we are left with the shrouded ignorance of sin.   

But we do have the Light; Christmas is coming – Christ was born unto us.  And so, even though many will oppose the Light of Christ in this dark world, we shall not despair.  Indeed, even though there is a profound hostility between the Light and the darkness, the darkness will not overcome the Light, which means that the Light will not only chase away all your fears, shine truth upon your mind, but also reveal the saving love of God that comes to you through a manger, to a cross, and out of an empty tomb.  

Baptized Saints, may the dawning Light of Christmas – Jesus Christ – dispel the doom and gloom of the darkness of sin.  May the Light of Jesus continuously come to you in this church by the Word and Sacraments so that the darkness of fear would be chased away and the radiant forgiveness of sins would be delivered unto you through that babe who laid in a manger and went to the cross for you.  

This is most certainly true!  Amen.