A Christmas Thought

This past Sunday marked the second Sunday of Advent. Christmas trees now line our West Hall (Westside King’s Church primary gathering space) and “jingle bells” were actually rung Sunday morning by the smallest ones in our community. For lovers of sentiment and tradition, this is the best of seasons, and I have to admit that I am one of those people. For me, Christmas represents the simplest of human joys, the way we can make meaning by gathering with those we love, clearing time and space to celebrate life. Of course we know that this season carries only the barest connection to the Biblical story which precipitated it. But I like to think of Christmas as something of a cultural achievement: to take the darkest and coldest time of the year (as we experience it in the northern hemisphere) and find a way to focus our attention on the hope of joy and peace is a good in itself. So cheers! And drink the eggnog.

But if I could break away from the festivity for just for a moment – I promise not for long – I would like to consider the animating center of Christmas. In other words, what’s the big idea?

Our text on Sunday was from John’s gospel, chapter 1, which includes these words:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... 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.
[John 1:1-5, 14]

This is highly symbolic and poetic language, of course, and it needs to be said that it carries a rich literary background in both Greek philosophy and the Hebrew scriptural tradition. For the Greeks, the logos (translated “word” in this text, but also the root of our “logic”) was the principle of meaning in everything that existed. If someone were to ask why things were meaningful and not absurdly chaotic, the answer would be because there is a logos, a word or reason in the universe. For them, life could have no other explanation. The Greeks would have affirmed that purpose is inherently built in to the universe.

What John does in these opening words to his gospel is unite this classic Greek concept of logos with the biblical language of creation: in the beginning was the logos... through him all things were made. He ties the principle into the Biblical story, and then makes it personal – order and meaning are centered in a person. The logos idea of the Greeks and the creation story of the Hebrews are now met in the story of Jesus. And he is the one from God, who was with God in the beginning, and who is God. We cannot understand the story of Jesus, which John is about to tell, if we miss this. The logos (the meaning and reason of everything) is a person, and that person defines who God is.

The power of these words from John is that, in Jesus, we find a unifying point for the whole human search for meaning. Everything is summed up and focused in him, the logic of the universe, the creator who has made his home with us. To finish my thoughts with a sentimental flourish (I am allowed at this time of year), I want to remind you how the classic carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem says it:

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Our Christmas series, The Story, continues this Sunday at Westside King’s Church with a talk entitled “The Boy”. See you among the Christmas trees at 9:29 or 11:11 am.

Bob