CHRISTMAS DAY 2004
25 DECEMBER 2004
JOHN L. HOH, JR.
SALEM EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14)
We Have Seen His Glory
When you think of the word "glory," what comes to your mind? With what do we associate with glory?
You have probably read a story called The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. The prince was royalty but he was bored with court life and being "proper." Meanwhile, the pauper was raised in an abusive environment with a father who beat him. To make the story interesting, the two looked identical. This gave the two an idea-to switch places for a day. Soon, the royal one lived in the squalor of poverty while the lowly one was treated like a prince. The concept of glory is given a different twist to the reader of that story.
In today's text St. John tells us, "We Have Seen His Glory." This is the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father. This glory is full of grace and truth.
"We Have Seen His Glory." This is the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father. Now, we see before us a baby born in a stable. He is laid in a manger, of all places. His family is poor. No one expects a glorious baby to be born in these circumstances. In fact, glory wasn't likely to be found in Bethlehem or Nazareth. Jerusalem is where one would expect to find a glorious baby, wrapped in satin and silk, and lying in a fancy bassinet. So, how can we say we have seen his glory in the cold stable and on coarse straw?
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