Why the Incarnation? 

                                                            Thanksgiving Sermon 2017

                                                                              Sermon

     On this Thanksgiving Day Eve, we are fast approaching the season of Advent, which is the first season of the liturgical year. It begins December 3, four Sundays before Christmas. The term Advent means "arrival" and is the season where we give thanks for the Incarnation, where the God of the universe became flesh to dwell among humankind and we anticipate the second coming of Christ. But why the Incarnation? Why did the God who created the heavens and the earth, who measured the waters of the seas in the palm of His hands, decide to clothe himself in mortal flesh? This Thanksgiving eve, I want to take you on a galactic journey that will hopefully answer this question. So I need you to dawn your astronaut gear and strap yourself in your pews for the journey. In our Ebenezer Voyager mission we will need to accelerate from zero to 28,968 kilometers per hour to make into orbit. For you science nerds, that roughly 9 times the speed of a bullet. (Sound of a rocket launching for 25 seconds)

     From our new vantage point in orbit around the earth, we have a unique perspective on the creative order. Did you know that when we look at the night sky from the earth, we're actually looking back in time? The stars in the universe are actually very far from the earth. It takes a long time for their light to reach the earth. For instance, the bright star Vega is close to the earth. However, it takes 25 light years for its light to reach the earth. Therefore, we are only seeing the star as it appeared over two decades ago.

     Another fascinating fact about our galaxy is our earth's sun. As you know, the earth and other planets in our solar system orbit around the sun. However, the sun also orbits around the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. It takes 250 million years for the sun to complete its orbit around the galaxy.

     Did you know that we all are made of star dust? According to scientists, almost every element found on earth is found in the dust of collapsing stars. According to the famous cosmologist Carl Sagan, "The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff."

      The Gospel reading we heard earlier, before our launch into orbit asserts that Jesus the Word, the Logos is the creator of all things. "All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being." Indeed, it is in him that we exist and have our being. The Apostle Paul understood this when he asserted about Jesus: For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him. You see Church, as Jesus is the creator of all the universe, he wisely takes responsibility for his creation. As many theologians have wisely noted, the Lord doesn't abandon his purposes for creation. Unlike the claims of Deist through the 17-19th centuries, He is not a disengaged Creator who after fashioning the earth and the universe, winds it up like a clock, and walks away. No, such apathy would be contrary to His good nature. He who is good proclaimed after His creation of the heaven and the earth "It is good". Why the Incarnation? Because our Creator cares about His good and wondrous creatures great and small!

     The purpose of the Incarnation is also expressed in the person of Christ, the Word, or Logos as they say in Greek. Christ is the Logos who gives meaning and order and purpose to the created order. But perhaps more importantly, Jesus is God Himself. He is co-equal, co eternal with the Father. As a part of the Triune Godhead (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) his will is in perfect harmony with the Father. Yes, the Father and Son agree, we are loved. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever should believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. However, the Lord has not come to just save us. He has come to sanctify us, to restore our hearts and souls into the Imago Dei, the image of God. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism asserted that as we seek as serve Christ, we should grow and mature spiritually. We are on a dynamic journey towards spiritual perfection. In this continuous journey of transformation, we should increasingly reflect the likeness of our Heavenly Father!

     Story: In the Early years of the Methodist Movement in Britain, Charles Wesley and his followers received a lot of criticism for for using the language of perfection, as it relates to the sanctification of Christian believers. Many Anglican's thought the idea sounded extreme. However, they forgot the words in their own Book of Common Prayer:

ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

     If you look to your right, you will see a beautiful view of the earth. The earth is teaming with a multitude of life forms. We share our planet with am estimated 8.7 million different forms of life. Three quarters of these life forms, the majority insects, live on land. The remaining quarter live in the ocean. Yet the Gospel of John lets us know that Jesus, the Word has come to not only give biological life but also spiritual life to humans. Indeed, John tells us that "in him was life and the life was the light of men." Jesus is the vine, in whom living we are able to bear the fruit of righteousness and peace. He is the vine, in whom living, we have true and eternal life. Jesus calls us to share in the the Divine life, the self existent life of God. Ultimately we come to share in the eternal life of the Lord.

     The purpose of the incarnation is also expressed in the Messiah's call to deliver us from the spiritual darkness that we may know the light of Christ. For the Lord knows that without Him, we are spiritually blind. Without Christ, we cannot know the truth that sets us free from darkness, from the bondage to sin. John uses darkness as a metaphor for spiritual blindness and sin. Many of us suffer from being slaves to sin, to vices we cannot overcome on our own. Maybe your vice is anger. When you get angry, in your fiery rage you burn down villages, leaving destruction in your wake. Perhaps, you struggle with lust and the sins of the flesh. Pornography or drugs have made you their hapless slave. Or perhaps your struggle is the darkness of depression. The disappointments of this life have left you dejected in the shadows of this life. You have lost your song, your happiness in life. Fear not, the Apostle John tells us that "the darkness did not overcome the light." My friends, if you are child of the living God, he will give you victory over the sins and passions that overwhelm you, rob you of joy. Darkness will not have the last word. Let God's light shine penetrate to the deepest recess of your soul. Oh beloved children of God, the Holy Spirit intercedes for you with groaning too deep for words! You will not be overcome by the darkness!

     Why the Incarnation? All things were created through Jesus, the Logos (Word) who gives the created order meaning and purpose. Co-eternal, co-equal to the Father, he has come to deliver the world from spiritual darkness and enables us to share in God's eternal nature and life. Yes, this is the meaning of the Incarnation that we await the coming of our Lord this Advent season. Join me in Charles Wesley's Prayer "Come Long Expected Jesus." This prayer is usually sung in hymn form, however, let us recite it as a prayer:

Come, Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne. Amen

Mission control has just informed me that we need to prepare for re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. Buckle up. I hear that there are many Thanksgiving Day feast awaiting.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father,

You are the God who who we exist and have our being. You are the living, eternal Word that has come to redeem your creation from darkness. This coming Advent season, help us to be thankful for your Incarnation and to anticipate your second coming into the world. We yearn for your communion. For we know that as our Heavenly Bridegroom, you call your bride the church into holy communion with you. Help us to love you with all of our hearts, souls minds and strength.



THINKING THEOLOGICALLY, STAFFORD, VA  (571) 334-4925
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