Sermon Notes for the Third Sunday of Advent 12/15/2013 (John 1:1-18; Genesis 1:1-5)
The God Who Created the Universe Became a Man! Mari Ikeda
a) The God who created the world (1-9, Genesis 1:1-5)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
(Genesis 1:1-5) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning--the first day.
b) Light and life (4-9)
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 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 as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
c) God's desire (10-13)
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
d) The God who became a man: Jesus Christ (14-18)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This is he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' ") 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only [Son], who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known
e) We are called to be like John (6-8, 15)
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This is he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' ")
Summary
God's great love for humankind began when he created the world, but it was demonstrated in a most profound way at Christmas 2000 years ago, when Jesus Christ, God's only son, came into the world. Jesus came to reveal to us that God is the one who gives us light and life in this dark world. Let us not dwell in darkness, but receive the light and life that Jesus offers, and let's remind ourselves, as John did, that we are not the light, but that we carry Jesus' light to others.
For Discussion
1) What does it mean that Jesus is the Word and that he is our light and life?
2) What is the relationship between the God of creation and Jesus Christ?
The God Who Created the Universe Became a Man! Mari Ikeda
a) The God who created the world (1-9, Genesis 1:1-5)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
(Genesis 1:1-5) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning--the first day.
b) Light and life (4-9)
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 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 as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
c) God's desire (10-13)
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
d) The God who became a man: Jesus Christ (14-18)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This is he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' ") 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only [Son], who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known
e) We are called to be like John (6-8, 15)
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This is he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' ")
Summary
God's great love for humankind began when he created the world, but it was demonstrated in a most profound way at Christmas 2000 years ago, when Jesus Christ, God's only son, came into the world. Jesus came to reveal to us that God is the one who gives us light and life in this dark world. Let us not dwell in darkness, but receive the light and life that Jesus offers, and let's remind ourselves, as John did, that we are not the light, but that we carry Jesus' light to others.
For Discussion
1) What does it mean that Jesus is the Word and that he is our light and life?
2) What is the relationship between the God of creation and Jesus Christ?