Thursday, December 25, 2025
The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Day)
Text: John 1:1-18
Sermon Audio
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
What makes this day (night) so special? The world around us rejoices that they can finally open all of their presents that are under the tree. They can’t wait to stuff themselves to the gills with ham, potatoes, and endless cookies. And… they can finally walk into a store without hearing “All I want for Christmas is you.” Ok, I rejoice in these things too. Yet we rejoice in something so much more than these treasures that will fade away. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Even on that day when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, it didn’t seem that special to most. Sure, Joseph and Mary knew what was going on. The angels made certain that a select group of shepherds did too. Let’s not forget to mention that a bright star began to be seen in the sky, but apparently unless you happened to be a magi who was well versed in both Holy Scripture and astronomy, you had no idea what that was about. For the vast majority of the world they thought it was a night like any other. Most of the people of the Roman Empire were probably quite frustrated with all of the travel due to the census. The names of Caesar Augustus and Quirinius were probably being cursed on the highways. The lines at WalMarts, gas stations, and hotels had to have been horrendous. People were being uprooted and forced to travel for the sake of their government… I’m sure they were all filled with the holiday spirit. Yet this is the moment in time in which our LORD decided to dwell among us and make His glory known. On this day (night) the Word was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. What does it mean that the Word became flesh when the Spirit overshadowed the Virgin Mary at her conception and dwelled among us that first Christmas?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” The Child that was cradled in the arms of Mary in Bethlehem is the very Word of God who created the world and sustains all things from the very beginning. The Word was with God. This with carries a directional meaning. You could even say that the Word was toward God. Only Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, can be wholly positioned toward the Father. Only Jesus can be in the bosom of the Father. Ever since the fall, mankind has been positioned away from the Father. Our spiritual darkness had to have the light of Christ shine on it. The life of the world had to be given to the world so it can have life. He who was, is, and ever will be had to become flesh. That which can’t be made,God, had to be enfleshed in the person of Jesus so that all who are born of God can be toward God.
Only the only begotten of the Father can be so close to the Father to truly understand the will of the Father. He who is full of grace and truth must then do what no man has ever done. He must fulfill the will of the Father. The Father consecrated His only Son to become flesh and do that very thing. He was born to make all things new. He was born to be sinless for the sinful. He was born so that God’s truth, light, and life can shine among men. He was born to die so that man no longer needs to fear death, since death was swallowed up by the grave of Christ. The grave that can’t hold the Word made flesh. The Word springs forth from the grave so that all may live in His resurrection. He fulfills all things, “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” The Word must become flesh so our flesh can once more be positioned toward God. But how does that apply to you, how can those who are not Jesus be sons of God?
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” You who have received Him and believed into His name, have been given the right to become children of God. Those born from God. Jesus gives us even more depth on this in John 3 where He tells Nicodemus that unless one is born from above, of water and the Spirit a person cannot enter the kingdom of God. Or to put it as plainly as Mark 16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” In your baptism you have been made children of God and united to Christ. You have put on the only begotten Son. In doing so, you, who were once away from God, have put on the One who is toward God. The Spirit of the very Word made flesh dwells in you. The person who has the Word in them abides in Christ. Wherever Jesus is there you are. Through Jesus, you are adopted sons of God and full heirs of God’s kingdom for the sake of the Child born this day (night). Galatians 4 says it best, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
The fullness of time has come. God’s messengers have joined with the angels and revealed to you this truth throughout your life and I will join in their echo, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” This great tidings of great joy of the birth of our Savior resounds from the lips of those who receive Him and believe in His name. This joy that we want the whole world to know will continue to resound from the mouths of the children of God until the Christ comes again. The joy of salvation through this Holy Child quiets all fear and turmoil in the world. You have come to Bethlehem and seen that what was foretold truly has come to pass; that which the LORD has made known to you. You certainly rejoice in the earthly pleasures that this day brings with the world around you, but as you rejoice with them you can’t help but make known what you have seen this day (night) in Bethlehem. You are toward God and rejoice and marvel with the shepherds, glorifying and praising Him. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The one who is born this day in the city of David is, the Word who became flesh and dwells among us, and we see His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
So, while you enjoy opening presents, you rejoice even more in the gift of the Word made flesh this day (night). While you enjoy your feast on earthly food, rejoice that our Savior has come to give you an eternal feast which you partake in this day (during Divine Services) here at His table in the Lord’s Supper. While you enjoy the last of the Christmas songs that the world has reveled in this past month, rejoice that your songs of praise and joy to the world echo into eternity with the angels and saints. The joy that was born unto us this day is one that exceeds all earthly joy. You have seen the Christ, the Word made flesh, the very LORD God Himself in all His glory. This Child who was born to be glorified on the cross for us has been revealed to you.
The world may not know Him, but you have been given the right to be children of God through Jesus. He is the light that gives light to all mankind. The Word has become flesh and dwells among you. Rejoice, Christ our Savior is born. Thanks be to God!
The peace of God which passes all understanding guard and keep you in the true faith unto life everlasting. Amen.