Pastor Tom Johnson, December 25, 2021
At 6:20 this morning NASA launched a rocket with a $10 Billion space telescope called James Webb Space Telescope. They hope to see even farther into space and further into the past than the Hubble telescope to understand how the universe began. University of Oxford professor of theology Alister McGrath says the idea of the big bang is one of the most exciting developments for the Christian faith. For a long time the scientific community believed the universe was eternal. They have now caught up with Genesis and John who say, “In the beginning was the Word.”
John tells us that Jesus—the eternal Word—is the one who lit the fuse to ignite the Big Bang. The Word himself not only rides the storm of matter spreading throughout the universe but superintends the very fabric of the cosmos itself “sustaining the universe by the Word of his power.” The eternal Word is the one who wove the fabric of life together from the bottom up. “All things came into being through him and without him not one thing came into being.” He has no beginning. He dwells in reality outside time, space, and matter. He stands outside of creation. He is the Author of creation. Like the Psalmist whose intelligence can only grasp so much, we cry, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it” (Ps 139:6).
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” The word for “lived” in our translation is sometimes translated as “dwelt” or “made his dwelling.” The word literally means he tabernacled among us—the eternal Son of God pitched his tent among us. John is using imagery from the Old Testament to help us better understand this New Testament. You will remember that God entered the tabernacle and temple with his Shekinah or “dwelling” glory. The Lord appeared like a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He would lead his people and shield his people. But instead of choosing to dwell in a tabernacle made mostly of fabric or a temple made mostly of stone, the Eternal Son of God now dwells in human flesh in this Christ Child born in Bethlehem.
You’ll remember that Jesus referred to his own physical body as a Temple. He reminds us again and again that the temple of his Body will be destroyed but rebuilt in three days—referring clearly to his death and resurrection. This Word “became flesh and pitched his tent among us” in our humanity. John brings three miraculous births together—the birth of the universe, the birth of a human child who is also the eternal Word, and the birth of Christ in and among us. And through this Word, God still gives birth to all things new. “All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.” That includes you. That includes me. That includes our new life in Christ.
The Christmas story begins outside the universe—transcending time and space. The eternal Word shows up throughout redemptive history beginning in Genesis and throughout the history of the people of God in the Old Testament. The Christmas story continues with the eternal Word taking on our humanity two thousand years ago in that little town of Bethlehem. The Christmas story continues with the same eternal Word taking up residence in our hearts.
We are not just born of blood, the will of the flesh, or the will of humans, but of God. This text is about the birth of the universe, the birth of the eternal Son of God, and the new birth we have through that same Word. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” This same Word lives and fills our lives today. The great miracle of Christmas is ours in Christ. Scripture tells us in Colossians 3:16: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” And in Ephesians 3:17 Paul prays that “the Word of Christ will dwell in our hearts by faith.” Christ in you. The indwelling of the Spirit and of Christ dwells richly among us. God pitches us as tents—we are tabernacles and temples of the Holy Spirit and of Christ. By his strength and power the eternal Word spreads his light and love in us, among us, and through us. He is the true light which enlightens everyone.
This is He whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now He shines, the long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.
O ye heights of heav’n, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing,
Pow’rs, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev’ry voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.
(“Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” LSB 384, vv. 3 & 4)
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