A Light Which Brings Hope: John 1: 1-18
In the beginning was the Word, a King, a Conqueror, a Lord and Savior, a Divine and Majestic Leader. All of these things rested on the minds of those looking for a Savior and Messiah. They expected a mighty and powerful force; someone with the very thunder and chariots of Heaven at his beck and call ready to come and end the oppression of God’s people at the hands of Rome and Herod. And yet they got a baby, born in poverty, and living in a lower class, working home in the hinterlands of first century Judea.
Society has worshipped power and might throughout all of history. We learn in our history classes of the massive empires in history. We rank leaders of nations based on the political skill and power they are able to wield. We insist that everything and everyone should be strong and perfect, able to command the world around them, in charge, and in perfect control at all times and in all situations. Might and power truly are idolized in our world. But that picture is not what Advent and the birth of Jesus give us. John 1:14 says, “So the Word became human and made his home among us.” From divine to human Jesus came to us. John also tells us that the world did not recognize Jesus. It rejected him. And eventually the world killed him even as he begged for the world to follow him.
Power is not found in might and strength. Humanity may worship the ones who are the strongest, buffest, and most mighty. But Christ came to us as a humble child, meek and vulnerable, not born in a palace or temple, but in a borrowed stable and a manger. Instead of calling down the power of heaven, he walked quietly and humbly to a cross. Make no mistake, when we feel most vulnerable and powerless, our God is the strongest. It was when Christ was at his own most weak and vulnerable state, praying in the garden and upon the cross, that the light of hope was able to work in the most miraculous way.
John 1 tells us, “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” Jesus didn’t necessarily come to lead a political revolution, to conquer Rome, or to become the new Herod. Jesus came to save people from a dead faith which was powerless to help them find a relationship with God and believe in the light of hope. Too often I think we, like first century Judea, want Jesus to be the social and political power coming to fix society and elections and politics. But Jesus doesn’t live in the halls of power. Jesus lives in the soup kitchens, the rehabs, the nursing home, and the hearts of those who cry out in their weakness and struggle for the Word.
John 1 tells us, that in faith, we become children of God, followers of Christ, and receive a Spirit which brings light, holiness, and hope in our lives. Advent is meant to be a meditative time, where we prepare our hearts and minds for the meaning of a Savior born to us. Whereas Lent teaches us to repent, Advent teaches us to think and reflect. What does it mean to follow both the human example of Jesus here on earth, and the holy example of the Risen Christ who lives and reigns with God now and forever?
John’s introduction here wraps up with two more thoughts, simply stated, but profoundly thoughtful: God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came to us through Jesus Christ, and Jesus has revealed God to us. What does that mean to us? First is the more miraculous explanation. In some way, our faith in Christ binds us to God and we form this powerful relationship in a way none of our pre-Christ ancestors could. And this relationship brings us hope now and forever.
But there’s a second part. We are called to more than just waiting for a heavenly hope. Jesus said, “Follow me.” I think the best example is John the Baptist. Now don’t worry. I’m not about to tell you to live in the desert eating wild honey and locusts while shouting at Pharisees. But John took it seriously both to tell of the good news that God’s love is real and powerful, and John spoke accountability to the religious leaders of that day. He was vulnerable, poor, and in many ways weak as well. He was not the palace herald the folks would have expected to see.
We follow Christ the divine and Jesus the human when we are willing to be vulnerable, powerless, and softened to God’s word and the world around us. Remember in the story of Moses how the Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and his hard heart left him unable to hear God, unable to care about the people’s suffering, and unwilling to do what was wright. Contrast that with the story of hymn writer Charlotte Elliot. She was sick all of her life. She was vulnerable and needed help, could never live on her own, and was beholden to the kindness of her family. Yet in her weakness, her faith became strong. She wrote the hymn, “Just As I Am.” It’s a poignant reminder that God doesn’t call us for what society thinks we should be. God calls us just as we are, for God created us and loves us.
I have to admit I struggled with the ending of our modern lesson. I’ve always somewhat believed that our destiny is based on what we can do—work, mission, community service. But Evelyn Underhill gives us a different notion. God’s creation achieves its greatest destiny when each and every one of us find ourselves caught up into God’s redeeming purpose and living with the God who loves us.
The hope of the world is not found in our ability to fight our way to the top, to overpower, overcome, and find the strength to defeat everything. Our hope is not in our own strength. Hope comes when we lean into those places where we are weak and vulnerable and ask God to be present there with us, for God’s strength works best in our weakness to help us, lead us, and encourage us along the way.
So today, remember that in the beginning was the Word (or Christ), that Word was with God, and that Word was God. But that Word lives with us too each day in our weaknesses and our rough places. And in that Word of hope, that light of the world, we find our greatest strength as a people of God.
Worship Service: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/889446152421700