Shocked By Christmas

2nd Sunday after Christmas

John 1:1-18

Shocked by Christmas

1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God;

3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 ¶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

9 The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.

11 He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.

12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 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.

15 ¶ (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, ’He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’")

16 And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.RSV

Grace and Peace to your from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ child. Amen

Were you shocked by Christmas?? Were you shocked by Christmas? Maybe you were shocked by the business of Christmas, maybe you were shocked by the money you spent on Christmas, maybe you were shocked by the weight you gained during Christmas, maybe you were shocked by the number of events you attended during Christmas but were you shocked by Christmas?

Were you shocked by the event of Christmas? Did the event of God coming to earth through a baby born in a manger catch you off guard?? Did the whole event which we celebrate during this time, the event of God coming to earth for your salvation did that event penetrate your senses, your emotions? Did the Christmas event bring home the point that God loves you and through the baby born in the manger has invaded your life now and in the future? Were you shocked by this invasion of God into your life?? Were you overwhelmed that the all powerful God, the God who created everything that and that is yet to come, invaded your life, your common ordinary life with his powerful message of love??

I hope you v were shocked by Christmas, but I have the sad feeling many were not. They were shocked by all the events of Christmas, but the message of Christmas did not penetrate into the core of their lives with its message of love. For many, the coming and going of Christmas meant nothing, it was and is business as usual.

Maybe we need again to find the faith, the innocence of youth to understand the shocking overwhelming experience which we celebrate at Christmas? Maybe all of us need to be like the boy in the following:

"A boy was walking home and a neighbor noticed his zig-zag path which took him from one miracle of God’s creation to another. He asked,, ’Where are you going?’

"Oh, I’ve been to Sunday School,’ the boy answered, "I have learned a lot about God.

The neighbor who was very cynical concerning religion said, ’That is a mighty fine way for a boy to spend his time. If you’ll tell me where God is, I’ll give you a brand new dime.’

Quick as a flash the boy answered,’ I’ll give you a dollar, Mister, if you’ll tell me where God ain’t."

For you see the boy understood the shocking news of Christmas which says God through this event has invaded history, our history, for the rest of eternity. God has come to earth and plans to stay with us for the duration. The promise of Christmas is that God is not only found in nature, but in each of us as He works in us and through us to bring His will of love to earth.