Here's the message I offered during the celebration services in the Presbyterian Church of Hopedale, Ohio on Sunday, January 3, 2021.
The Word was in the world,
but no one knew him,
though God had made the world
with his Word.
He came into his own world,
but his own nation
did not welcome him.
Yet some people accepted him
and put their faith in him.
So he gave them the right
to be the children of God.
They were not God’s children
by nature
or because
of any human desires.
God himself was the one
who made them his children.
The Word became
a human being
and lived here with us.
We saw his true glory,
the glory of the only Son
of the Father.
From him all the kindness
and all the truth of God
have come down to us.
John spoke about him and shouted, “This is the one I told you would come! He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born.”
Because of all that the Son is,
we have been given one blessing after another.
The Law was given by Moses,
but Jesus Christ brought us undeserved kindness and truth.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son,
who is truly God and is closest to the Father,
has shown us what God is like.
Don’t Let It Win
If you remember, during the service last week, we talked about how we were about to enter a new year. Well, since this is January third, the deed has been done; the entering has taken place and “Happy New Year” is yesterday’s news as sure as Clemson’s hope of being national champions. This is where are right now.
But a few days ago, before that happened, I heard something that caused me a stop and say, “Whoa.” You see, every morning, as I’m walking the dog and eating breakfast, I listen to the Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin on ESPN radio. But since it was the week right after Christmas, the guys must have been on vacation, because Jordan and Shae Cornette were filling in. Anyway, on Wednesday, Jordan said something that really got me thinking, particularly in light of both our situation as we enter a new year and the passage we just read. Now I can’t recall what they were talking about, but I do remember Shae saying something about 2021, and without missing a beat, Jordan said, “Man, I don’t like how that sounds, 2021. Given what we’ve all gone through in the last year, I really don’t want to think about how 2020 has won or will win anything.” Now, that’s what he said, more or less.
And even though I know he was just making a little play on words, I’ve got to admit that I agree with him. I mean, there’s no part of me that wants to believe that 2020 won, you know, that the twelve months we’re entering will be like the ten months we’ve just endured. Of course, having said that, I don’t want to suggest that everything last year was bad. I mean, I saw a commercial that focused on the number of births in 2020 just to remind us that the pandemic didn’t cast it’s shadow over everything. Even with all the lock-downs and closures, there actually was some genuine good news. Still, the idea that the general feelings we experienced behind our masks in 2020, well, speaking for myself, I know that I don’t want to believe that they will somehow carry over into 2021, in other words, that what shaped last year will also shape this year.
As a matter of fact, if 2020 were to win in 2021, I believe we’ll probably see folks continuing to experience three feelings that, unfortunately, we’ve kind of gotten used to since early March. For example, first, I believe a lot of people will continue to feel isolated and separated from one another. I mean, think about it. A year ago nobody was talking about social distancing and wearing a mask to buy your groceries or to pay for your gas or my goodness, to make a deposit at a bank, man, that would have gotten you arrested, right? But now, everything has changed. And even though around here we can still go over to Naples for spaghetti right after coming to church, that’s not the case for folks living in a lot of other states. I mean, since my father lives down there, I know first hand that in Norfolk, Virginia, both the restaurants and the churches are closed until the pandemic eases. But even around here, I think one of the saddest consequences of this disease is that patients in hospitals are pretty much alone, without family and friends, and that’s a separation that cuts two ways. Sadly, that sense of isolation has become one feeling we’ve experienced during the last ten months.
And second, in the face of all this, I think most of us know what it feels like to be powerless. My gosh, it wasn’t that long ago when we were being told that it’s no worst than the flu and that it’ll be gone by the summer. How many people have died since we believed that, and I’m not just talking about folks who had major health problems before getting COVID? I’m sure that 41-year-old, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow didn’t expect to die 19 days before he was going to be sworn into the office he just won in November. Now that’s what I mean by powerless. And even though several different vaccines are being rolled out, both the infection and death rates continue to climb. Yes sir, I think we’ve learn more than we wanted to know about being powerless.
And third, if you don’t find that sense of isolation and that lack of power discouraging, you’re a better man than me. Man, 2020 has been one discouraging year, hasn’t it? And although some of this talk about mutated strains is certainly scary, what I find most discouraging isn’t the disease itself. It’s how it continues to effect us. I mean, people have lost their jobs and their homes and whatever sense of security they had last year this time. And while Congress can’t agree on an amount for emergency relief, folks are trying to figure out how they’re going to move forward. And friends, as you watch your bank account dwindle and your unemployment length, now, that’s what I call discouraging. And since, this is the kind of thing a lot of people are carrying on their shoulders and in their hearts, I can sure understand why Jordan Cornette doesn’t like the possibility that 2020 won.
And even though I can identify with that feeling, because I’ve felt isolated and powerless and discouraged just like everybody else, I’m telling you right here and now, we don’t have to let 2020 win. You see, we don’t have to let what we’ve gone through define who we are or how we feel or what we ultimately do. In other words, I believe we can move into this new year with a different attitude. And that can start when we decide to recognize and to trust the one whom the Evangelist John described in the verses we read just a little while ago. As a matter of fact, if we listen and believe, I think we can actually turn some of these 2020 feelings right on their head. Let me explain what I’m talking about.
You see, first, when we consider what Christ suffered, I believe we can actually feel a sense of comfort rather than isolation, and I’ll tell you why: he knew exactly what it felt like to be separated and alone. I mean, this was what John said about what happened to Jesus, the one he called the Word. He wrote: The Word was in the world, but no one knew him, though God had made the world with his Word. He came into his own world, but his own nation did not welcome him. [John 1:10-11, CEV] In other words, Jesus, the Son of God, the Word made flesh and the light of the world, man, he knew what it feels like to be alone, to be separated, to be cut off from his own people. You see, he had first hand knowledge of isolation. And I’ll tell you why that can offer us some comfort. When we go to him in prayer and when we lay before him our feelings of loneliness and isolation, not only does he hear us, he knows exactly how we feel. And this was exactly what the author of the Letter to the Hebrews understood when he wrote this:
We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help. [Hebrews 4:14-16, CEV]
You see, we can experience comfort when we remember what Jesus suffered, and I think that’s the first thing we can do to keep 2020 from winning.
And second, when we start feeling powerless, we can focus on what Christ offers us, something that I believe can become a tangible source of strength. I mean, remember what John wrote. After explaining how the Word, you know, Jesus, was rejected by his own people, the Evangelist said:
Yet some people accepted him
and put their faith in him.
So he gave them the right
to be the children of God.
They were not God's children
by nature
or because
of any human desires.
God himself was the one
who made them his children. [John 1:12-13, CEV]
God himself was the one who made them, who makes us his children. Now I want you to think about what that means.
Because God has made us his children, he’s brought us into a new family, a new community, and of course, I’m talking about the church. And it’s right here, with the help of our brothers and sisters, where we can find strength. And I’ll tell you, personally, I think this was what he promised when “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.’” [John 14:1-4, CEV] You see, in my opinion, Jesus wasn’t talking about, something for which we have to wait. No, this is the Father’s house and this is the place that Jesus has prepared for us. And I’ll tell you, when we’re feeling powerless, I don’t think we’ll find a better source of strength than with God’s people. And I believe when we remember this, well, that’s the second way to keep 2020 from winning.
And third, right along with comfort and strength, I also believe that Jesus can offer all kinds of hope when we’re discouraged. And it’s grounded in what he brought into the world. I mean, I think John was crystal clear about this when he wrote:
The Word became
a human being
and lived here with us.
We saw his true glory,
the glory of the only Son
of the Father.
From him all the kindness
and all the truth of God
have come down to us. [John 1:14, CEV]
And a little later, just listen: “Because of all that the Son is, we have been given one blessing after another. The Law was given by Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us undeserved kindness and truth. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.” [John 1:16-18, CEV] You see, Jesus Christ was and is the revelation of God himself; therefore, in him, we can see God’s glory and his kindness and his truth. That’s exactly what he brought into our time and space. And I’ll tell you, when we’re discouraged and when we’re scared and when we’re so doggone tired we’re not sure we can take another step forward, I think we can remember that we’re in hands that are glorious and kind and true. And for that reason, our future is secure. And you know, I believe this was what Jesus wanted us all to know when he said, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30, CEV] Believe me, when we feel overwhelmed by discouragement and fear, we can remember what Jesus brought and feel hope. And that’s the third way we can keep 2020 from winning.
Now I doubt that Jordan Cornette understood or appreciated the potential impact of those words he used on ESPN radio. Maybe he did, but I kind of doubt it. But whether he did or not is not relevant. Speaking for myself, in these last ten months, I’ve felt isolated and powerless and discouraged, and for that reason, I really don’t want to believe that 2020 won. But you know, I don’t think it will. I don’t think it will for me or for you, not if we decide to remember what Jesus suffered and feel comfort and to remember what Jesus offers and feel strength and to remember what Jesus brought and feel hope. You see, if this we decide to do, 2020 will not win, certainly not in 2021.
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