Pasadena Presbyterian Church Sermon Text
January 4, 2004

"Humble Enough to be Seen"

Preached by The Rev. Dr. Barbara Anderson

Scripture:  John 1: 10-18

(10) He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. (11) He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.(12) But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, (13) who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. (14) And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

(15) (John testified to him and cried out, 'This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me."') (16) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (17) The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (18) No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

- John 1: 10-18

One day, when human beings had been on the earth for thousands and thousands of years, there was a meeting in the Heavenly Council - that group of heavenly beings which, according to the Bible, existed when the world was created. 

The world had not gone as God had hoped it would:  people were killing each other over possessions and land; money and food were being hoarded by some while others were sick and cold and hungry.  There was way too much loneliness and despair, fear and terror. 

Neighbors weren't speaking with neighbors and lawsuits were flying. Teachers were scrounging for textbooks and children went to bed without knowing for sure that their parents loved them. 

Far too many people were living as if God did not exist, and they believed the only reason they existed was to enjoy their own life without giving thought to anyone else.  Something had to be done to bring the creation back to its original purpose.

"Make a flood," said one voice in the Council.  "Cover the whole face of the earth with water, wipe them all out and start over.  They're not worth it.  They keep breaking your heart, God, and making you really angry when you see how they carry on."

"Yes, I know," said God.  "But I tried a flood once and promised I wouldn't do that again.  Whether they keep their promises or not, I always keep mine."

"How about sending the usual suspects," said another voice.  "You know, Moses, Elijah.  You could try Jeremiah again.  He always got attention."

"Yes ... but they only listen to the prophets for a little while, then they go back to being self-centered and treating each other like trash."

"You could go down there as yourself," said another voice, "except no mortal can look at your face and live." 

"Good idea," said the first voice.  "You could go as the Queen of Heaven, with stars around your head, robes the color of the sky, and the moon on your scepter."  Or you could go as the Judge of Heaven and Earth, with lightning bolts at your shoulders and a sword of fire coming from your mouth.  That would get them!"

God grew pensive.  "If I showed up as the Queen of Heaven, with stars around my head, robes the color of the sky, and the moon on my scepter, would anyone ever invite me into their home when I knocked on their door?  Would anyone invite me to join them for potluck at their table that evening?  Or would they feel small and worthless by comparison? 

"I think they'd wonder how I could ever know what their life was like, what it means to worry about a problem at work, to be anxious about Christmas bills, or to wipe tears from their eyes as the pain wells up inside and overflows.  'Who does she think she is,' they might wonder, 'wanting my food when all around her world children are starving, soil is eroding off hillsides, and people just down the street are in despair about how to feed their family?  Why doesn't she fix her world instead of coming to my door?!'

"If I went to them as the Judge of Heaven and Earth," continued the Eternal One, "don't you think they'd be frightened to see lightning bolts coming down the street, and fire like a dragon when I spoke?   They would be so afraid of me that no one would listen to anything I said. 

"They'd never hear that all I want is for them to love one another and themselves as much as I love them.  That if they would live that way, the world would be the wonderful creation I always hoped it would be.  That if they'd live that way, they'd have all they need and all their wants would be supplied.  If I came to them as a mighty judge, I don't think they'd ever get past the fear of judgement to hear my word of grace.

"If I showed up in my true form with all my glory," continued God, "people would probably fall down dead from the shock.  Who could see such a sight and then go to the market to buy kielbasa for supper, or take laundry out of the dryer, or balance a checkbook? 

"Just as the poor often disdain the rich, and people talk about their real-life experience while sneering at professors in ivory towers, I think they'd denigrate me, too:   'Did he think we could relate to a savior who admits he owns the universe while we're sleeping in a homeless shelter, terrified of rape or lice or violence?  Who does he think he is, showing up with a golden sash and a handful of stars when the world's breaking out in war again?'

"No.  There must be another way to reach them."

The Council was quiet.  Although God had asked their advice, they'd run out of ideas.  Besides, the greatest wisdom resided in the Creator of the Universe, anyway.

"I'll go as one of them," said God.  "Not as a wealthy person born in a palace or a big house with two Beemers, a Boxster and a Mercedes in the garage.  I don't want them to believe that being faithful to me is dependent upon their worldly wealth or power.  I'll find a poor, working-class family to live with so they know I understand what it's like to be fully human.

"I'll go as a little baby born to carpenter parents in a no-account town in Palestine, a baby who longs to receive love, who needs to receive care.  I'll grow into a little child responding to teachers who make learning sparkle, become a teenager who gets angry at his parents and feels excluded by his friends.  I'll grow into a young adult who dreams of a better world and dares to tell people what that world would look like.  I'll go with my heart on my sleeve, letting it be touched by friendship, broken by love, angered by injustice, letting people see my heart leap in joy and weep in sorrow." 

"Yes," said the Almighty and Gentle One,  "I'll go to them as one of them, God in human flesh, for those with the eyes to see.  I've never tried that before.  It's a risk, I know, but I think it will make the difference."

The Council broke into mayhem."How can you do that, God?  Human beings are such a hopelessly sinful, greedy, selfish, violent and ungrateful part of creation!  Why would you want to walk in their shoes?!"

And God responded,   "I want to walk in their shoes because there is much in humankind that is good and kind and true and faithful. They have the capacity to look at the sky and marvel at eternity, to hold a baby's fingers and marvel at the miraculous intricacies that make life possible.  They can send space ships to Mars and vaccinate children against measles.  They can love enough to take soup to a sick friend or stay up all night with a dying parent. 

"Mortals have the capacity to learn and change, growing more and more into the wise and humble, loving and grateful people I created them to be.  They can realize so fully that their life is a gift from me that they pour it out humbly and selflessly for others.  I created them in my own image, so they have the capacity to see injustice and oppression, and then work to right it.  I created them in my own image, so their capacity for love and selfless living is second only to mine. 

"If I live among them, they can know how much I love them, see first-hand how I want them to live, and seek to follow in my own steps."

"It will be a privilege to live among mortals," said God, "for they are good.  They just need to know how good they can be.  They will see God in me, and themselves in me as well.  I can see it now:  My Incarnation will be a joy and a sorrow, and ultimately a great act of hope that I will always remember.  I pray they will remember it always, as well."

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. And the Word became flesh and lived among us.  We have seen his glory, full of grace and truth.  From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who has made God known.

- John 1: 1, 10, 18

(c) Copyright 2004 by Barbara A. Anderson.  All rights reserved.  Permission granted for non-profit use with attribution.