David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Today’s readings are Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20; John 1:1-14; Galatians 4:4; TItus 2:11; 3:4-5 .

Note: I will be preaching at St. John on Christmas Day – my favorite service of the year. Join us at 9:30.

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth.” This verse from John’s gospel has more meaning to me than any other Christmas verse. That is a dangerous thing to say, and perhaps a bit of an overstatement. But it forms me like no other part of the Christmas story. Others may be drawn to Mary treasuring in her heart all the things surrounding Jesus birth. Still others may lay hold of Jesus’ name and it’s meaning, “the Lord saves.” This was told to Joseph in his dream. Some may love the thought of the heavenly host praising God and saying (singing?), “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men.” I love them all. But I consistently come back to the truth that Word became flesh full of grace and truth.

Flesh: real, tangible, accessible, vulnerable, without pretence. When I think of that I find peace in my heart. Serving God is not some hyped-up show. Worship itself is not a performance. Being a reflection of Jesus is all about being real, not pretentious. I don’t have to be other-worldly, or completely aloof when I preach or lead worship. I just want to be real – warts and all. For God loves the real me. He became real for me and you, and all people.

But Jesus is more than just a baby. He is God incarnate – full of grace and truth. Grace is that rich kindness, mercy, goodness, love and undeserved compassion that flows from the heart of God. Jesus is filled with grace. He is also truth incarnate. Truth is that reality of our condition, the brutal facts of our sinful brokenness, fallenness, waywardness, and error. We have completely missed the mark. We are not true. But Jesus is truth incarnate, not to condemn us, but to be for us what we could not be for ourselves.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. – Galatians 4:4-5

That’s the gracious truth of the birth of our Savior, for which we may say, “Thanks be to God!”