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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor
Second Sunday After Christmas
Series B
Option #1:
"Some Inside Information"
John 1:1-18
Rev. Wayne Dobratz, M.Div.
In the motion picture
"Sink the Bismarck" the scenes shift from the German efforts to
launch the greatest battleship afloat to the British efforts to sink it. The
British are greatly interested in tracking the Bismarck before she gets out into
the open sea. Starvation and surrender for Great Britain may result if they
dont sink the Bismarck. In one scene of the film, the secretary of the
navy orders that contact be made with an agent living in Norway in occupied
German territory. This puts the agent at great risk, but the information is
vital. As the man sights the Bismarck and is in the process of transmitting the
information, German soldiers kill him.
Christians live in enemy territory too.
John gives us some inside information that is just enough to keep us going until
the Lord returns.
I. How close is the source?
A. He is the
"bosom" of the Father--v18; according to Thayers Greek Definitions,
the word can mean:
1) the front of the body between the arms;
2) the bosom of a garment, i.e., the hollow formed by the upper forepart of a
rather loose garment bound by a girdle or sash, used for keeping and carrying
things (the fold or pocket); cf. Luke 6:38, Luke 16:22-23 (2), John 13:23;
14:9-10. The word implies not only physical proximity but also a close, loving
relationship. The NRSV describes Jesus as the "One who is close to the
Fathers heart." That is precisely the meaning here. See
again John 13:23-25. See also vv1-4 & 14; John 7:15-16; 14:23-24.
II. How do we get the information?
A. He sent prophets
to represent Him and the Apostles to teach about Him--cf Matt 21:33ff; Eph
2:19-20; Rev 21:14
B. He spoke to us
Himself, personally and intimately--"The Word became flesh"--v14a,
6-9; Matt 21:37-38; Heb 1:1-3
C. He gave His Word
that we may learn and grow--Lk 18:31ff, 20:17-18, 23:37, 24:44-49; John 6:68-69,
14:26-27, 20:29-31
III. How valuable is it?; v16: From the
fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
A. It is the
blessing of a meaningful and fruitful life--John 15:1-5; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 1:4-9;
Eph 4:11-12
B. It is the
blessing of grace and truth; v17: For the law was given through Moses; grace and
truth came through Jesus Christ; see also Col 1:19-24; John 8:32; Acts
13:34-39; Rom 3:21-26, 5:21, 6:14; 2 Cor 1:20-22; Heb 11:39-40; Rev 5:8-10,
7:9-17
New Commentary on the Whole Bible:
14 And the Word--continues the theme of
the prologue and should therefore be connected with 1:1ff and not directly with
1:13.
was made flesh--is better translated
"became flesh." The word "became" indicates a transformation
process occurred. The Word, who is God, became what he never before was:
man.
and dwelt--literally,
"tabernacled" or "pitched his tent." To the readers of this
Gospel, the Greek word for "tabernacled" would have evoked the image
of the OT tabernacles being inhabited by Gods shekinah glory. God in his
glory tabernacled in the midst of his OT people. A new tabernacle was pitched
among Gods NT people: Jesus, God incarnate. The first believers beheld [gazed
upon] his glory. His glory was special; he was the one and only Son come from
the Father. And he was full of grace and truth. "Grace," a carryover
from a Hebrew word for "loving-kindness," means "favor,
kindness" and "gift that brings joy." Christ was full of
grace--and truth, which means reality.
Leon Morris explains John 1:14,
quoting A.M. Ramsey: "We are reminded both of the Tabernacle in the
wilderness and of the prophetic imagery of Yahweh tabernacling in the midst of
His people, and of the Shekinah which He causes to dwell among them. The place
of His dwelling is in the flesh of Jesus. ...All the ways of God tabernacling in
Israel had been transitory or incomplete: All are fulfilled and
superseded by the Word made flesh and dwelling among us." (Leon
Morris, Commentary on John)
+
+ +
Option #2: "Christmas
Clothes"
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Rev. Kelly Bedard, M.Div.
A. Faith up our
sleeves
1.
Wearing garments of damnation, unrighteousness, and malaise
2.
Dressing in private and unfruitful gardens
B. Faith on our
sleeves
1.
Dressed--a passive "activity"!--with salvation, righteousness and
praise
2.
A community garden of the rarest and choicest fruits
Notes
1. ma`iyl {meh-eel'}
(61:10): in the sense of covering; robe, mantle, cloke, coat; robe; a
garment worn over a tunic by men of rank; a long garment worn by David's
daughters; a garment of the high priest; figuratively, of
attributes.
2. naqab {naw-kab'}
(62:2): curse, expressed, blaspheme, bore, name, pierce, appoint, holes,
pierce through, strike through; to pierce, perforate, bore, appoint; (qal)
to prick off, designate; (niph) to be pricked off, be designated, be
specified; (qal) to curse, blaspheme.
3. The
"righteousness" (tzdhaqah) of the fourth clause of the verse
does not refer to the righteous acts which, to be sure, believers in the Messiah
do in the course of a life of sanctification [BDB, 842]. The
"righteousness" here, on the contrary, is a "robe" [BDB,
591]) with which we are simply "covered" [BDB, 418)...here employed
with the force of a present perfect explaining the basis of the future joy of
the church. (Douglas Judisch)
4. Note the two
metaphors for righteousness: first as the robe, on which the perfect
comment is "the best robe" of Lk 15:22, festive and wholly undeserved;
secondly as shoots of plant life, products of what is sown, whose
inherent vitality issues in growth and form. The former depicts righteousness as
conferred from outside (cf. Rom 8:10); the latter as springing from
within (cf. Rom 8:10); both make it the gift of God. (The New Bible
Commentary: Revised)
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