“God's Word Made Flesh”
May the Word of God dwell in us richly. Amen.
God's Word dwelling in us. How many of us want to be people of the Word? I hope we all do. Look around you now. Can you find a copy of God's Word? I'm sure we can. Some of us bring our own Bibles, some of us want to use the one in the pew. And we confess that the Scripture is truly the word of God. But do we find God's Word somewhere else? We sure do, at least we will, here today, in a few minutes, we will be gathering around the Lord's table, a time to receive what we might call God's “incarnate word” - the word of God made flesh.
We read it in the beginning of John's Gospel. God's Word was with him in the beginning, creating all things. This “word” we read about is not like the words you write on a grocery list or a thank-you note. It's got a stronger meaning than that. The Greek λόγος is a word which may refer to a word on a piece of paper, but often refers to a reasoned account, a lasting command, or a ruling principle. Think of the “Word” as God's account of his essential nature and you're close to what John is saying.
While we could get all excited about describing God's essential nature by talking about Jesus' knowledge, holiness, love, forgiveness, immortality, etc., I think I'd rather point us a different direction today. After all, it is Christmas. We are thinking about gifts, food, drink, and family today. So I'd just like to point out those few elements of Jesus, the living word of God.
What is the greatest gift we can ever receive? It isn't a football. It isn't even new socks. It is forgiveness of sins, life and salvation – the gifts brought to us by Jesus, God's word, living among us. These are the gifts he gives to all who believe him. Where there is forgiveness there is also life and salvation. And the forgiveness of God is something we could never deserve. It is truly a precious gift.
We think about Jesus also in terms of food and drink. In John chapter six we see that Jesus presents his body as true heavenly food. He presents his blood as true heavenly drink. As we eat of his body and drink of his blood in communion we receive forgiveness and nourishment to eternal life – that is as often (not as rarely) as we receive communion. Jesus has given himself as a gift, as food and drink, and finally as a family.
To all who received him he gave power to become sons of God. What is this adoption? Jesus himself, the eternal Son of God, has given us his position as the son. He has called us his sons, for we are partakers of his body and blood, partakers of his very nature. Jesus is our brother, not because we chose him, but because he chose us.
Jesus, God's Word made flesh, has come – he dwelt with us, and we saw his glory. We see it still in Word and in Sacraments. We looked for a copy of the Word of God earlier. But in the later part of today's divine service we receive the true and living Word of God – not a copy, but the very real presence of Jesus Christ in body and blood. May the Lord be glorified among us now and always. Thanks be to God for his precious presence among us, for giving us to receive him in truth. Amen.
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