John 1:1-14

Well, how did you get on with today’s readings?

They’re a challenge, are they not?

The Proverbs’ reading is that wonderful personification of Wisdom.

The Psalm sings of God’s awesome creative power.

St Paul writes of Christ being the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

And, St John introduces the whole theme of his Gospel with those mysterious, poetic and powerful words that always end our ‘Carols by Candlelight’ Service.

With such profound words lingering in this space, what can I say?

I’m tempted to say nothing.

I’m tempted to let those words linger in our minds.

To invite us to simply allow those words to gently tumble over each other, calling out images, feelings, associations from deep within.

To reveal to each of us the truths they wish to bring.

But, I’m going to resist that temptation!

Instead I’m going  to offer a few words of my own against the Gospel passage and yet trust that we will make time this week to let all these beautiful words from today’s Scripture readings marinate in our souls ...

The words that I want to focus upon are those that I set as our ‘Verse of the Week’ – “... to all who have received Christ, who believe in His name, He gives the power to become children of God.”

Let’s pick at those words a little ... 

“... to all who have received Christ,” – “have received”  - now that’s an interesting
thought!

When we receive guests at home we open our home to them, we welcome them in, we want them to feel relaxed, comfortable and at ease with us.

Is that how we are to receive Christ?

To open our hearts to Him?

To welcome Christ into our lives?

To make Christ relaxed, comfortable and at ease with us?

I ask myself, ‘Have I received Christ or is He still standing on the doorstep or still waiting in the hall?’

Let’s look at the next few words, “to all who ... believe in His name,” – “believe in His name” – what’s so special about “His name”?

When a King sends a messenger in His name that person represents the King in the fullest sense.

So, the messenger must be accorded the same courtesy as the King.

The messenger stands in the place of the King and how the messenger is received that’s how the King is received.

What’s more, what the King says the messenger says – the messenger relays the words of the King.

If we believe in His name - ‘the Christ,’ ‘Emmanuel’, ‘The Son of God’ – then we accept that He stands in the place of God, so how we treat Him is how we treat God.

Then we accept that what He says God says.

Then we afford Him the same courtesy as we would God.

I ask myself, ‘Do I?’

I also wonder if in this we touch something in the meaning of St Paul’s words that Christ is the “image of the invisible God ...”?

Now we come to the closing few words of this sentence and what wonderful words they are - “... to all who have received Christ, who believe in His name, He gives the power to become children of God.” – “He gives the power to become children of God.” 

 “... children of God.” – what a gift!

What are the hallmarks of a good parent?

I’d list the following:

They pick you up when you fall down.

They put plasters on your grazes.

They hold you when you feel scared.

They take all your anger and share all your joy.
 
They search for you if you get lost or even if you run away.

They share their wisdom but never force you to follow it.

They stand back and let you learn – sometimes even if that involves your getting hurt - but not too much.
 
They’d give their very lives for you ...

Now God is the wise and perfect parent – so, what a beautiful privilege it is to be His child!

I wonder if in this we touch something of today’s Psalm in the creative power of parenthood and something of wisdom as spoken of in our Proverbs’ reading?

Our Verse for the Year challenges us to come near to God with the wonderful promise that as we do so God will come near to us – who wouldn’t want to be a child of such a  parent, who wouldn’t believe in such a name, who wouldn’t receive such a Christ?

That’s why this coming Lent I invite us to explore how we may come nearer to God and to this end I’d like to give you each an invitation ...

Tragically, as St John tells us in these chilling words, “He came to what was His own and His own people did not accept Him.”

However, through God’s grace, we are asked to hold out and to freely offer to others this marvellous gift: to become God’s child – how can we not want all to receive and to know such a gift?

So, if you know others who may wish to come nearer to God this Lent, then please take them a invitation – I’ve put some on the table at the back.

Finally, on this day when we focus on our Abba Father’s healing, He holds out His hand to pick up those who have fallen, to heal the wounds that this rough life causes, to reassure those who a little scared by this world’s darkness.

Come, let us sit for a moment on our Abba Father’s knee, let His strong gentle arms wrap around us and in those arms we will know that we are and always will be His child ...