Christmas – a double birth
Series: EIFACH muetig – with Jesus as a role model | Bible text: John 1:1–14
The birth of Jesus Christ marks a new beginning for everyone. Jesus Christ is the Word, the life and the light that overcomes the darkness. No one can ignore this little child in the manger. To share in this, you have to be born again yourself. That is why Christmas is about a double birth. First Jesus comes into the world, followed by my response and I am born again of the Holy Spirit.
John begins his Gospel with many descriptions of Jesus. Jesus as the Word. Jesus as the life. Jesus as the light. In his prologue, John shows that something new begins with Jesus. However, it has actually been there from the beginning, but becomes visible anew in the person of Jesus.
Christmas – a new beginning for everyone
«The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness could not extinguish it» (John 1:5 NLB). There are various separations in creation. For example, water is separated from land, but darkness is also separated from light. Already in creation, Jesus Christ as the Word gives life through natural light. The divine light that is now added brings divine life and the kingdom of God to people. Life and light are close to each other. «Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to all people» (John 1:4 NLB). Here the word life is used twice, not for biological life, but for divine life, which outlasts biological life. This life has its origin in Jesus Christ. The motto of last Sunday’s Christmas celebration was «God’s yes shines in the night». In St John’s prologue, darkness stands for the killing power of evil. But Jesus Christ is the true light. There are many things that pretend to bring light into our earthly lives. Good things become the best. We promise ourselves security and fulfilment from friends, family, possessions, prestige etc. security and fulfilment. But all these things can never overcome the power of evil, i.e. darkness.
Towards the end of John’s prologue, everything comes to a head and the point is reached: there is no getting round Jesus Christ! He was there from the beginning and will be there for eternity. Nobody can get past him. Either we hope for security and fulfilment from him or something else, but it cannot give us that!
Christmas – a one-way street
The usual reaction to Jesus Christ still looks like John described it: «But although the world was created through him, the world did not recognise him when he came. He came into the world that belongs to him, and his own people did not receive him» (John 1:10–11 NLB). We often have the feeling that if Jesus were still on earth today, everyone would worship him and run after him. But this is not the case – nor has it ever been. Because this is where the root lies. Because literally translated, it means that Jesus came into his own and his own did not receive him. My interpretation of this is that his own means the people on the one hand, but also the people as a whole on the other. The text speaks of recognising. Recognising means perceiving the other person in their entirety. Jesus is often reduced to a social critic, a reform Jew or simply a good person. But recognising Jesus means recognising him as God.
To belong, you can’t get past this little child in the manger! «The child in the manger is none other than God himself. Nothing greater can be said» (Dietrich Bonhoeffer). Those who do not recognise Jesus» claim to self are not recognised by God. The word flesh is often used in the New Testament to describe man’s tendency to live according to his own standards. «He, who is the Word, became man (flesh) and lived among us. […]» (John 1:14 NLB). Jesus was also challenged by the power of evil to do something good for the best and to hope for security and fulfilment from it (Matthew 4:1–11). To care more about food than God’s words. To be more concerned with one’s own protection rather than obedience to God. To worship the possessions and wealth of this world, including the rulers of the world, instead of God. Yet in all of this, Jesus Christ chose to make his security and fulfilment dependent on God.
Again to verse 14: «He, who is the Word, became man and lived (camped/dwelt) among us. […]» (John 1:14 NLB). God lived on this earth in Jesus Christ! Just as he lived among people in the tent and in the temple in the Old Testament, he will also live among people in the future. «[…] Behold, the dwelling place of God is now with men! He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them» (Revelation 21:3 NLB). Living means close fellowship! Christmas is a one-way street – there is no way round Jesus!
Christmas – being born again
Now we come to the core of life and today’s sermon. So how can I belong? This is not just for people who have not yet decided to live with Jesus! To belong, you need to be born. Jesus says: «[…] I assure you that unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God» (John 3:3 NLB). The new birth is described in John’s prologue as follows: «But to all those who received him and believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.» (John 1:12 NLB). Followers of Jesus are called children. There is a Greek word for this, which means to give birth/witness. However, the emphasis is on the fact of birth. In other words, something that cannot happen of its own accord, but something that happens to you. Exactly three months ago, our youngest son Joel Emanuel was born. He couldn’t do anything about it, from his conception to his birth. But he is part of it. Everything we have is also his! But now comes the big difference to human birth. «Jesus replied: I tell you: No one enters the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. People can only bring forth human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from God» (John 3:5–6 NLB). Here, human life is again represented by flesh. Divine life cannot be conceived through life in the flesh. Therefore, a new birth is needed. Only then are we in a position to make our security and fulfilment dependent on God. Everything you long for will never be fulfilled if you are not born again. It is our deepest longing to receive fulfilment and security. But only God can give this.
«They did not become this by their descent or by human endeavour or intention, but this new life comes from God» (John 1:13 NLB). Our children are all unique. But they all come from my wife and me. Much is laid down in their genes, which they received in equal measure from us. There is the possibility of blonde hair and blue eyes. But as brown hair and eyes are more dominant, it’s rather unlikely. If we are born again from the Holy Spirit, then everything that is possible or not is dependent on him. Do you know what? Everything is possible for the Holy Spirit! A life free from anxiety? Possible! A life free from feelings of inferiority? Possible! A life free from other people’s opinions? Possible! A life free from hatred, resentment and anger? Possible!
We often have such low expectations of our life with Jesus! We hope for a life that is a little better. But Jesus wants to give us a life in abundance. Many are satisfied with little. When we trust in Jesus, we trust in the one who has everything under control from the beginning to the end and emerges victorious! We do not achieve this through human endeavour, but many who walk with Jesus still strive to achieve human things. «He, who is the Word, became man and lived among us. He was full of grace and truth, and we became witnesses of his glory, the glory that the Father gave him, his only Son» (John 1:14 NLB). Either what is said about Jesus is true or it is not. Either Jesus Christ was full of grace and truth or he was not.
Jesus is the only Son of God. The Greek word behind it describes the relationship between Jesus and God. It becomes clear that Jesus Christ is explicitly called the Son of God. Because he is the only Son, this is the highest proof of God’s love for the world. «For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life» (John 3:16 NLB). Jesus is a son in the sense of descent with an emphasis on dignity. In contrast, the followers of Jesus are referred to as children, with an emphasis on birth.
«God did not even spare his own Son, but gave him for us all. And if God gave us Christ, will he not also give us everything else with him?» (Romans 8:32 NLB). If we have not recognised this, we will always be in danger of pursuing our fleshly desires and doing something good for the best. I chose consciously recognised. Recognising in the biblical sense includes perceiving the other person right up to the sexual experience. It is not just a feeling, cognitive, but can be experienced in our bodies. For this we need the Holy Spirit.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: John 1:1–14
- «Christmas – a new beginning for all»: Where are you currently experiencing darkness in your life – and what does it mean for you in concrete terms that Jesus as Light not only illuminates this darkness, but overcomes it?
- Jesus as word, life and light: Which of these images appeals to you the most at the moment – and why this one in particular?
- Christmas as a one-way street: The sermon contains the statement: Nobody can get past Jesus. Where do you personally find it difficult to recognise Jesus not only as a good teacher or helper, but really as God?
- Recognition vs. knowledge: The prologue of John speaks of «recognising» Jesus. How do you notice the difference in your everyday life between knowing about Jesus and truly recognising Jesus?
- Be born again: Jesus says that no one becomes part of God’s kingdom through their own efforts. Where do you still find yourself wanting to «improve» your Christianity through your own efforts?
- Life in abundance instead of «a little better»
The sermon is about the fact that we often expect too little. In which area of your life do you want more of God’s fullness – and what could be the next concrete step in trust?
