Sunday, December 26, 2004
Christmas 1
Psalm 147; Isaiah 61:10— 62:3; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18
The Gospel reading provides an interesting transition from OT to NT. One of the purposes in my focusing on the Lectionary this year is to see familiar scriptures in new contexts. John 1 has long been one of my favorite portions of scripture. However, here it does something I hadn't noticed. While the OT readings do mention God's redemption, their focus is mainly on the power and glory of God. The Galatians reading is very much a NT document, presenting an argument of assurance to the new believers, explaining the importance of what Christ had done after he had done it. However, John gives us a bridge. He gives us a list of the qualities of Christ, much like the list of God's qualities the OT writers provide. At the same time, John explains what it is that Christ came here to do. He very consciously compares Christ's NT with the old covenant and reveals Christ's deity and Christ's new vision:
There is also an interesting parrallel between the Gospel and Galatians. Each describes the coming of Christ as the coming of a new state of mind. In John, the coming of Christ is the coming of grace and truth. In Galatians, the coming of Christ is the coming of faith. John describes Christ as a light in the darkness. Certainly, the first thing that light does is save us from darkness by removing it. But that salvation is only the beginning. Once we can see, we can do so much else. We can move about and do things we couldn't do before. So, with Christ's coming we not only are saved--a prerequisite for further action--but Christ also brings grace and truth and faith. He gives us the abilities to do so much more. It is with the grace and truth and faith that he brings that we will be able to greater things than what Christ did, as he promised. ¶ 8:44 AM
The waiting and preparation are over. Look no more for the Lord has come. The OT readings are full of praises to God. I am consistently struck by the quality of the OT praises. They are not satisfied with the abstract and general "Praise God." They praise God for specific things.And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is seemly. The LORD builds up
Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars, he
gives to all of them their names. Great is our LORD, and abundant in
power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the
downtrodden, he casts the wicked to the ground. (Psalm 147)
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall exult in my God; forHow often do we take the time and energy to praise God with such specificity?
he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the
robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a
bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
The Gospel reading provides an interesting transition from OT to NT. One of the purposes in my focusing on the Lectionary this year is to see familiar scriptures in new contexts. John 1 has long been one of my favorite portions of scripture. However, here it does something I hadn't noticed. While the OT readings do mention God's redemption, their focus is mainly on the power and glory of God. The Galatians reading is very much a NT document, presenting an argument of assurance to the new believers, explaining the importance of what Christ had done after he had done it. However, John gives us a bridge. He gives us a list of the qualities of Christ, much like the list of God's qualities the OT writers provide. At the same time, John explains what it is that Christ came here to do. He very consciously compares Christ's NT with the old covenant and reveals Christ's deity and Christ's new vision:
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus
Christ.
There is also an interesting parrallel between the Gospel and Galatians. Each describes the coming of Christ as the coming of a new state of mind. In John, the coming of Christ is the coming of grace and truth. In Galatians, the coming of Christ is the coming of faith. John describes Christ as a light in the darkness. Certainly, the first thing that light does is save us from darkness by removing it. But that salvation is only the beginning. Once we can see, we can do so much else. We can move about and do things we couldn't do before. So, with Christ's coming we not only are saved--a prerequisite for further action--but Christ also brings grace and truth and faith. He gives us the abilities to do so much more. It is with the grace and truth and faith that he brings that we will be able to greater things than what Christ did, as he promised. ¶ 8:44 AM
