1/16/05 Epiphany 2 John 1:1-5 Life Sunday
1/16/2005
Epiphany 2
Life Sunday
Text: John 1:1-5
Please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be faithful always to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
John 1, verses 1 through 5 is all about Jesus, the Word of Life. It is a perfect text for this Sunday, Life Sunday. When people hear that a worship service or sermon is going to be about the sanctity of life they have various reactions, depending on how they feel about the subject.
Those who are passionate about Pro-Life, are happy and eager to hear God’s Word concerning these issues.
But there are also those who think that those life issues that speak of abortion and euthanasia are too politically charged, and are so personal that they should not be talked about from the pulpit, much less have a whole service geared toward the sanctity of life. They do not want to hear anything about the subject.
Then there are those who have probably not given much thought to the subject and just do not care one way or the other. They are neutral. As far as they are concerned just do it and get it over with.
Last of all, but not least by any means, are those whose lives have been touched by either an abortion or a difficult end of life issue. For them the subject of the sanctity of life can be painful, as past memories are brought back into focus.
I am aware that all of those thoughts could well be present here this morning. For those that find this subject painful, I pray that you will see how wonderful, how comforting, the Word of God is, for you see, Jesus is the Word of Life.
Jesus the Word of Life speaks to each of us, regardless of our perspective on these particular life issues. He speaks to us with understanding and compassion, so whether you are happy, disgruntled, indifferent, or fearful about my talking about the sanctity of life today, I invite you to listen and to learn from the Word of Life.
The first thing we learn from our text is that the Word of Life was there in the beginning of time. All life came from him. All of creation is about life. Every word God spoke in the beginning, as he called things into existence was for the purpose of making and sustaining life.
I know that it is not politically correct to say it, but all of creation was called into being to sustain, provide for, and enhance human life; and human life was given all of God’s creation. You see, when God created humans he had a special hands on involvement in those first human lives. The animals were just created, but he formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him, a marked difference from the creation of everything else. But that still did not complete his creation, for he saw that there was not a suitable mate for Adam, so he formed Eve from the side of Adam. Now his creation was complete.
This hands on creative work of the Word of Life continues through the biological process God set into place, for just as he was involved in the beginning of the first human lives, so he is involved in the beginning of every human life. As we see in Psalm 139:13-15, where the psalmist writes, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.”
The second thing we learn, as we listen to the Word of Life is that he was not just there in the beginning of time. He came to be one of us, to bring us a new beginning in time. You see, we need a new life, for we live in the world God created, but it is not the same world he first created.
Let me explain what I mean. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect place, they had no cares, and death did not exist. They were without sin, perfect in that sense, but not in the same sense as God is perfect, for there can only be one perfect being and that is God, who came to us as that perfect man Jesus.
But even with all they had, they were deceived into thinking that things could be even more perfect. Satan said to them, “Did God really say?” and the foundation of deception was laid. Here standing before him was God’s perfect creation, made in his image and Satan had the audacity to say, “You will be like God”, adding, “Knowing good and evil”. Why should God be the only one who knows good and evil? Why cannot you get in on it?”
With those words the deception was complete. God’s crown of creation was corrupted and all of creation with them. So today we have sickness, accidents, death and these terrible disasters that happen in the world. It would appear that Satan has won.
But, Satan has not won! Jesus has the final word, and that word is Life! Jesus, who was in the beginning with God, came into our muck, and mire filled sinful lives to give us a new beginning. He was born of the Virgin Mary for only one reason, that is, to bring us new life. We look, and rightly so, at Jesus’ conception by the Holy Spirit as testimony of the divinity of Jesus, but it is more than that, for it is also a testimony to our humanity. If we were not in need of new life, his conception, birth, life, death, and resurrection would not have been necessary. He went though all he did for us, to bring us new life.
For those who saw the Passion of Christ, you might remember the scene where Jesus died and Satan celebrated, why he was beside himself with glee, but it did not last long. The Bible tells us that Jesus descended into hell to show himself to those who were there. We do not know if it was in the body or just in the spirit. That is not important. What is important is that he did it. I can just hear him say, “Too bad Satan, I win! My beloved humans that I created win!
On resurrection day he won new life for us. His victory over death is our victory. The resurrection is our assurance of Christ’s presence with us in this life and our presence with him in eternal life. But there is more, for his ascension into heaven is our assurance that he will come again to bring us a new perfect life.
Things might seem out of control right now, but my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, be assured that Jesus is in control. Even though it might not seem like it right now, he is doing everything for the good of his people, as he gets things ready for his glorious return when he makes all things new.
After all God has done, how can one say that God does not give value and dignity to human life? He has bought you with a price, his very blood, not gold or silver. The Word of Life at the beginning of time gave special value to human life. At his conception in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary he gave special value to human life. As he hung on the cross he gave special value to human life. At his resurrection and ascension he gave special value to human life. That gives immeasurable value to all human life.
He did all of this because we live in the darkness of sin. It affects everything around us, it affects us. It complicates the powerful and simple truth that every human life is someone created and redeemed by the Word of Life.
The sinful world does not understand the value Jesus gives to human life, whether it is at the beginning of life, the living of life, or the ending of human life. Because we live in this dark sinful world and are sinful ourselves, we make wrong decisions.
Maybe you have not honored God in matters concerning life. Maybe guilt and regret gnaw away at you. Maybe they are consuming you in such as way that you feel there can never be any real forgiveness. Your sin is just too big to be forgiven. Oh, if only I had made a different decision, and the guilt piles up.
Hear the Good News! Jesus is the Word of Life and he shines on all of your wrong decisions, flooding them with his Light of forgiveness. There is no sin that can separate you from his love, for there is no condemnation for those that trust in him. He took all of your wrong decisions with him to the cross. Accept that forgiveness, for you are blameless and clean of all of sin’s condemnation.
It is my prayer that if you came to this service hurting, fearful, or just indifferent, God’s Word has touched your life this morning, touched it in such a way that you are changed, for you can not leave God out of life issues, whether they be in the beginning, middle, or the end of life.
The Word of Life, Jesus, in the beginning of time, gave value to human life through his creating hands. The Word of Life, Jesus, brought a new beginning in time giving value to human life through his redeeming hands. The Word of Life, Jesus, shines in our lives and in our darkness bringing us light and hope. And yes, the Word of Life, Jesus, shines through us, as we reflect that light helping others to know not only their value, but the value of all human life, whether it is at the beginning, middle, or end of life. Amen
Epiphany 2
Life Sunday
Text: John 1:1-5
Please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be faithful always to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
John 1, verses 1 through 5 is all about Jesus, the Word of Life. It is a perfect text for this Sunday, Life Sunday. When people hear that a worship service or sermon is going to be about the sanctity of life they have various reactions, depending on how they feel about the subject.
Those who are passionate about Pro-Life, are happy and eager to hear God’s Word concerning these issues.
But there are also those who think that those life issues that speak of abortion and euthanasia are too politically charged, and are so personal that they should not be talked about from the pulpit, much less have a whole service geared toward the sanctity of life. They do not want to hear anything about the subject.
Then there are those who have probably not given much thought to the subject and just do not care one way or the other. They are neutral. As far as they are concerned just do it and get it over with.
Last of all, but not least by any means, are those whose lives have been touched by either an abortion or a difficult end of life issue. For them the subject of the sanctity of life can be painful, as past memories are brought back into focus.
I am aware that all of those thoughts could well be present here this morning. For those that find this subject painful, I pray that you will see how wonderful, how comforting, the Word of God is, for you see, Jesus is the Word of Life.
Jesus the Word of Life speaks to each of us, regardless of our perspective on these particular life issues. He speaks to us with understanding and compassion, so whether you are happy, disgruntled, indifferent, or fearful about my talking about the sanctity of life today, I invite you to listen and to learn from the Word of Life.
The first thing we learn from our text is that the Word of Life was there in the beginning of time. All life came from him. All of creation is about life. Every word God spoke in the beginning, as he called things into existence was for the purpose of making and sustaining life.
I know that it is not politically correct to say it, but all of creation was called into being to sustain, provide for, and enhance human life; and human life was given all of God’s creation. You see, when God created humans he had a special hands on involvement in those first human lives. The animals were just created, but he formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him, a marked difference from the creation of everything else. But that still did not complete his creation, for he saw that there was not a suitable mate for Adam, so he formed Eve from the side of Adam. Now his creation was complete.
This hands on creative work of the Word of Life continues through the biological process God set into place, for just as he was involved in the beginning of the first human lives, so he is involved in the beginning of every human life. As we see in Psalm 139:13-15, where the psalmist writes, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.”
The second thing we learn, as we listen to the Word of Life is that he was not just there in the beginning of time. He came to be one of us, to bring us a new beginning in time. You see, we need a new life, for we live in the world God created, but it is not the same world he first created.
Let me explain what I mean. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect place, they had no cares, and death did not exist. They were without sin, perfect in that sense, but not in the same sense as God is perfect, for there can only be one perfect being and that is God, who came to us as that perfect man Jesus.
But even with all they had, they were deceived into thinking that things could be even more perfect. Satan said to them, “Did God really say?” and the foundation of deception was laid. Here standing before him was God’s perfect creation, made in his image and Satan had the audacity to say, “You will be like God”, adding, “Knowing good and evil”. Why should God be the only one who knows good and evil? Why cannot you get in on it?”
With those words the deception was complete. God’s crown of creation was corrupted and all of creation with them. So today we have sickness, accidents, death and these terrible disasters that happen in the world. It would appear that Satan has won.
But, Satan has not won! Jesus has the final word, and that word is Life! Jesus, who was in the beginning with God, came into our muck, and mire filled sinful lives to give us a new beginning. He was born of the Virgin Mary for only one reason, that is, to bring us new life. We look, and rightly so, at Jesus’ conception by the Holy Spirit as testimony of the divinity of Jesus, but it is more than that, for it is also a testimony to our humanity. If we were not in need of new life, his conception, birth, life, death, and resurrection would not have been necessary. He went though all he did for us, to bring us new life.
For those who saw the Passion of Christ, you might remember the scene where Jesus died and Satan celebrated, why he was beside himself with glee, but it did not last long. The Bible tells us that Jesus descended into hell to show himself to those who were there. We do not know if it was in the body or just in the spirit. That is not important. What is important is that he did it. I can just hear him say, “Too bad Satan, I win! My beloved humans that I created win!
On resurrection day he won new life for us. His victory over death is our victory. The resurrection is our assurance of Christ’s presence with us in this life and our presence with him in eternal life. But there is more, for his ascension into heaven is our assurance that he will come again to bring us a new perfect life.
Things might seem out of control right now, but my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, be assured that Jesus is in control. Even though it might not seem like it right now, he is doing everything for the good of his people, as he gets things ready for his glorious return when he makes all things new.
After all God has done, how can one say that God does not give value and dignity to human life? He has bought you with a price, his very blood, not gold or silver. The Word of Life at the beginning of time gave special value to human life. At his conception in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary he gave special value to human life. As he hung on the cross he gave special value to human life. At his resurrection and ascension he gave special value to human life. That gives immeasurable value to all human life.
He did all of this because we live in the darkness of sin. It affects everything around us, it affects us. It complicates the powerful and simple truth that every human life is someone created and redeemed by the Word of Life.
The sinful world does not understand the value Jesus gives to human life, whether it is at the beginning of life, the living of life, or the ending of human life. Because we live in this dark sinful world and are sinful ourselves, we make wrong decisions.
Maybe you have not honored God in matters concerning life. Maybe guilt and regret gnaw away at you. Maybe they are consuming you in such as way that you feel there can never be any real forgiveness. Your sin is just too big to be forgiven. Oh, if only I had made a different decision, and the guilt piles up.
Hear the Good News! Jesus is the Word of Life and he shines on all of your wrong decisions, flooding them with his Light of forgiveness. There is no sin that can separate you from his love, for there is no condemnation for those that trust in him. He took all of your wrong decisions with him to the cross. Accept that forgiveness, for you are blameless and clean of all of sin’s condemnation.
It is my prayer that if you came to this service hurting, fearful, or just indifferent, God’s Word has touched your life this morning, touched it in such a way that you are changed, for you can not leave God out of life issues, whether they be in the beginning, middle, or the end of life.
The Word of Life, Jesus, in the beginning of time, gave value to human life through his creating hands. The Word of Life, Jesus, brought a new beginning in time giving value to human life through his redeeming hands. The Word of Life, Jesus, shines in our lives and in our darkness bringing us light and hope. And yes, the Word of Life, Jesus, shines through us, as we reflect that light helping others to know not only their value, but the value of all human life, whether it is at the beginning, middle, or end of life. Amen
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 2:17 PM
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