CHRISTMAS DAY 2010 – St David’s Cathedral Hobart
Bible Readings: John 1:1-14 and Colossians 1:15-20
NOTES FOR SERMON
CONTEXT: Cathedral Church with Christmas theme, “Christmas is cooking at the Cathedral”
“MASTERCHRIST: DOES YOUR CHRISTMAS HAVE A MISSING INGREDIENT?”
OUTLINE
- Introduction
- Revelation
- Response/ Invitation
- Reconciliation
INTRODUCTION
My grandmother made a lemon meringue pie – it is the best lemon meringue pie in the world!
How do I know it is the best lemon meringue pie in the world?
Because I eat lemon meringue pie at every opportunity, everywhere!
But nothing has ever compared to my grandmother’s lemon meringue pie.
And yet, a strange fact: no matter how wonderful my grandmother’s lemon meringue pies were; without lemon they were not a lemon meringue pie!
And so to my recipe for Christmas:
For my Christmas recipe, Christ is the essential ingredient.
Without Christ, Christmas just isn’t Christmas.
1. REVELATION
At Christmas God became human.
The astounding news of Christmas is that God so loves us that He becomes one with us in our humanity.
One of the names of Jesus Christ is, ‘Emmanuel’ which means ‘God with us’.
Christ is “God with us”.
Christ reveals God.
Christ is the Word of God: God communicated to us.
Hear the opening words from the Gospel according to John: (1:1ff Amplified Bible)
“ 1IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
2He was present originally with God.
3All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.
4In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.
14And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.”
Incredible! Amazing! Earth shattering! World saving!
I entitled my CHRISTMAS MESSAGE published in the Tasmanian newspapers today – WikiLeaks and Jesus Christ
Jesus and WikiLeaks! – What do they have in common?
WikiLeaks has been revealing the secret thoughts of diplomats and national leaders. We Australians are divided over whether WikiLeaks is a hero or a villain.
I suggest to you that if revelation is the name of the game, then WikiLeaks and Jesus Christ have a lot going for them:
both WikiLeaks and Jesus Christ seek to reveal what is hidden; both want truth outed; both seek the welfare of the city.
But it is also true that both founders are persecuted; both make enemies of the powerful; both are attacked; both attract condemnation and affirmation.
We ask: *Does the revealing of new information bring benefit or harm?
WikiLeaks may benefit the people by increasing the accountability of political and powerful leaders; albeit through their fear of the truth being made known!
But some feel that WikiLeaks may harm the reputations or even imperil the lives of people and agencies. How? By revealing stupidity, deceit and pettiness.
*I see a deeper meaning behind it all. I see WikiLeaks as a metaphor for divine meaning.
Please listen carefully.
Jesus Christ may benefit the people by inviting them to be reconciled to God and to one another as He reveals humankind’s true spirituality, centre of being, identity and purpose.
Jesus Christ may harm the religious establishment by revealing the true centre of God and showing the falsehood of empty religious ritual and legalistic religion. Jesus Christ may harm the powerful by revealing the power of sacrifice and love.
A further question: *Where is truth to be found?
WikiLeaks says by revealing all the information.
Christ says that in his own person, the way, the truth and the life are found.
*How is transformation achieved?
WikiLeaks proposes the information highway.
Christ proposes spiritual renewal through turning from ego to Christ; to love of God and neighbour.
Christ proposes transformation through turning to Him!
Christmas is the revealing of Christ.
In revealing Christ, Christmas reveals God.
This is what we proclaim today.
This is what we sing today.
This is what was proclaimed by the earliest Christians.
This is what was sung by the earliest Christians. (Colossians 1:15-20)
*We affirm with confidence:
- To know Christ was to know God
- To see Christ was to see God
- To believe in Christ was to believe in God
- To receive Christ was to receive God
- To hate Christ was to hate God
- To honour Christ was to honour God
Therefore Christ can say, “whoever has seen me has seen the Father”. (John 14:9)
What a claim! Is it arrogance, madness or could it be true?
In Christ, God the Father is revealed.
2. RESPONSE/ INVITATION
Christ reveals God and invites us to be reconciled to God.
This invitation in response to the revealing of God in Christ is integral to the Prologue of the Gospel according to John (1:12):
“But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.”
Christ invites us to receive Him, to welcome Him, to believe in Him.
Those who trust in Christ become children of God.
This is a significant part of my own journey to become a Christian: *Relate the story of Dennis asking me, “John, have you received, trusted in, taken hold of Christ?” . . .
Christmas is an opportunity to strengthen our decision to trust in Christ or perhaps for some to make that foundational decision to trust in Christ, to become a Christian.
*Relate the story of Ian making the decision to become a Christian on Christmas Day. “I have a question. Does anyone recall what program is on TV at 8am this Christmas morning on Channel 7? Yes, “Should We Cancel Christmas?”. Let me tell some of Ian’s story on the road to Christ on Christmas Day. . [Segment Four of TV -Vimeo] . .
Christ invites us to place our trust in Him.
3. RECONCILIATION
I have a vision: “a healthy church … transforming life”
I yearn with all my heart for Tasmanians to be committed to Jesus Christ.
- We are to be reconciled to God.
- We are to live for Christ.
- We are to love one another.
- We are to present everyone mature in Christ.
We proclaim Jesus Christ as
- a Baby in a manger
- gentle Jesus, meek and mild
- Teacher, Prophet, Priest and King
- Resurrected and Ascended Lord at the right hand of God the Father.
- Redeemer, Peace-maker, Reconciler
- Son of God
As we see Christ’s grandeur and majesty, our worship, faith and obedience will grow.
This Christmas, be sure to put Christ into your Christmas mix.
Christ is the essential ingredient that makes God’s recipe for life nourishing and fulfilling.
Now, I confess to you that my Christmas recipe is even better food for life, than my Grandmother’s lemon meringue pie!
Take time to discover the Christ of Christmas:
God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ;
the Baby at Bethlehem;
the miracle of “Christ with us”; the miracle of Christmas.
AMEN.
John Harrower, Bishop of Tasmania
See, Christmas Message – WikiLeaks and Jesus Christ.
This is one of the best Christmas sermons I have heard (read). The combination of the contemporary and the neverchanging Gospel makes the message relevant to us all.
The recognition of the revolutionary message of Christ who challenged secular authority from the moment of His birth is one which is often overlooked among the stars, shepherds and wise men.
Herod recognised the challenge and tried to eliminate it from the start. Thanks for reminding me.