Psalm 126

It was like a dream. When I was growing up each Christmas morning was like a dream. I can remember rushing to the living room where the tree was set up. Just the sight of the Christmas tree all lit up in the darkness of the morning was magical enough. But to see it surrounded by gifts - it was like a dream.

As I got older I matured, but that same sense of wonder remained. As a youth I sang in the youth choir at the midnight candle light communion service. On Christmas Eve we would sing and celebrate, and the image of the sanctuary at midnight illuminated by candlelight was like a dream.

But just when I thought I had grown beyond that feeling of wonder along came my children. And I had the opportunity to experience the dream once again through them. Sure my own understandings of things had matured and grown. But as I saw it all again through their eyes, it was like a dream.

In Psalm 126 the psalmist said that it was like a dream. When the Lord had restored the fortunes of Zion it was like a dream. We are not sure when this psalm was written. Most Bible scholars think it was written about the people returning from exile. When they returned to Israel it was beyond belief - it was like a dream. To be allowed to return to the Promised Land after being carried off into captivity. But this psalm could refer to any number of episodes in Israel's history. Times when God rescued them from the hands of enemies.

If you look at Psalm 126 in your Bibles you will find that it's called a "Song of Ascent." These were hymns sung as worshippers were making their way up the mountain to Jerusalem. One possibility is that people might have sung this psalm while going to the winter festival of dedication also known as Hanukkah. This festival recalled a time when Israel had gained independence from the Greeks who had desecrated the Temple. When the temple was rededicated the oil for the lamps, which was supposed to last one day, lasted all eight days.

Can you imagine pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem to celebrate this festival singing this hymn? They would recall how God had restored the fortunes of Zion when he had defeated those who persecuted them. They would recall the joy experienced at the rededication of God's Temple. And they would call on God to restore the fortunes of Zion once again just as he had in the past. It's no wonder that the psalmist said it was like a dream.

That first Christmas was like a dream! To Mary and Joseph it was like a dream. It started with an angel coming to announce the birth of the Messiah. Then through the nightmare of doubt and homelessness and fear the words of the angel came to pass. Like a dream the baby was born; God became human.

To the shepherds it was like a dream. God had promised the coming of a Messiah and for centuries the Children of Israel had looked for it. Then all of a sudden angels appeared in the night sky. They said that the Messiah had come as a baby and was laying a manger. And they went and beheld the king.

To the wise men it was like a dream. As they looked to the stars one shown bright. It heralded the birth of a new king that would bring peace. And after following the star they found the source of its light. And they worshipped this poor Galilean boy born the King of Kings.

Christmas is like a dream. It's all about God restoring the fortunes of the human race. When God created the human race we were rich. Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden and walked and talked with God. But sin came and ruined all that. The fortune was lost.

But then Jesus came and restored the fortunes of humanity. Through Christ we once again became heirs to paradise. Through him we once again could walk and talk with God. At Christmas Jesus came into the world so that we could know the glory of Zion once again.

It's just like the psalmist said, "Then our mouths were filled with laughter..." "The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad, and when those who turn to God have their fortunes restored then those who sow in tears will reap in rejoicing. And those who go forth weeping will come home with shouts of Joy.

As we make our way to Christmas, let it be like a dream for you. It's not just the gifts and the lights and the decorations. It's more than the food and the parties. It's more than the music and the laughter. It's about God restoring the fortunes of Zion.

Through Jesus, God gave us eternal life. Through Jesus, God came into the darkness of our lives. Through Jesus God turned our sorrow into joy; our weeping into laughter.

Christmas is like a dream. When you see the gifts think of the gift of Jesus Christ given for our salvation. When you see the Christmas lights remember that at Christmas the light came into the world. When you see the evergreen trees and garlands remember the eternal life we have been given. When you see the gold and silver decoration remember that God had restored to us the fortunes of salvation. For when the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion we were like those who dreamed.

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Do you know what the darkest day of the year is? No, it's not April 15th! It's December 21st, the winter solstice. As you know the days are getting shorter. December 21st will be the shortest day of the year. It is the day when the sun shines the least and there are the most hours of darkness.

It is no accident that Christmas comes just a few days after this darkest day. Every ancient society had a festival at about this time of the year. People long ago depended upon the sun for heat and light. They needed the long days of the growing season to provide food and fibers for their clothing. The ancient Greeks and Romans placed lights in their windows at this time of the year to celebrate that the days were getting longer again. It is also in December that Judaism has its festival of lights called Hanukkah.

The darkest time of the year was chosen for the celebration of Jesus' birth. It is symbolic and representational of what God did on a spiritual level. God sent his Son, the light of the world, into the darkness of human sin and lostness. It is also no accident that as Luke tells the story, Jesus was born at night because it is those who dwell in darkness that need a light.

We live in dark times. No, I am not talking about the month of December. I am talking about the age we live in. We live in an age of darkness and sin. Politicians may be speaking of a new age of peace, but it is only surface deep. There are still many deep rooted troubles beneath the surface.

The basic institutions of our society are falling apart. Even liberal politicians are acknowledging that the break up of the family is at the root of many social problems. And the drug problem is only a symptom of the emotional and spiritual lostness of our society. This is on top of all the old prejudices and hatreds that have been tearing us apart for centuries.

It's true that more people are turning to religion, but it is not the religion of the Bible. It is the so called New Age religion of astrologers and gurus. There's really nothing new about it. It's the same old paganism rehashed.

This dark world needs some light. So, in the midst of all this darkness, God shines the light of Christ. For a society with an epidemic of absentee fathers. More and more children, even those whose fathers live under the same roof, have no real relationship with their fathers. To this society Jesus offers a Father in Heaven whose love is steadfast and faithful. God is a Father who will never abandon us or forget us. In the mist of a world where "love" can refer to a mere physical act, God offers real love. A love that doesn't take advantage of or abuse others. A love that gives its very life for the sake of others.

In the midst of a world where people feel alone, God offers a friend for life. "What a friend we have in Jesus!" That's not just a pretty song, it's the truth.

In a world that suffers because of sin, but where everyone says "you're O.K., a world that ignores sin and the pain it causes, God says, "You're not O.K., but I still love you. Come, let me heal your brokenness." In the darkness of our world, God shines the light of Christ. In the middle of the night of human pain, at the darkest moments of human existence, God comes to earth to bring light.

John the Baptist came to bear witness to this light. He was not the light. He made that clear. He was no great Messiah. He even shunned the title "prophet." He was just a witness to the light. God had shown him the light and he was testifying to what he had seen and heard.

When asked who he was, John said, "I am nothing more than a voice crying in the wilderness." Not a Messiah or prophet. Not even a "man of God," but merely "a voice" saying, "Prepare the way of the Lord." He saw the light coming. Like the head light of an oncoming locomotive. And that light would wash out all darkness and cast aside all that got in its way. And it would bring light to the darkness and eternal life to the spiritually dead.

God had commissioned this ordinary man to prepare the people. So he told them that the one who was coming would bring the fire of the Holy Spirit. He told them that the Messiah was already in their midst. And he warned them to repent and to be baptized.

God called John to bear witness to the light and God is calling you to bear witness to the light of Christ. A witness is one who testifies to what they have seen and believed. If you haven't seen the light you cannot bear witness to it. If you try to bear witness without having seen it you will be lying and people will see through it. If you haven't seen the light; or, in other words, if you don't know the love of God in your heart, Ask God to reveal it to you. If you haven't believed in the light then you can't bear witness either. Sometimes people see God's love but they write it off a mere human good will or as some illusion. If you saw God's love but just thought it was an illusion, then you can't be a truthful witness. Ask God to help you believe.

I know for a fact that many of you have seen the light. I have heard the testimony of how God is at work in your lives. Share that testimony. Tell others what God has done for you. Don't make things up. Just tell the truth no matter how simple it is. Because the truth will set people free.

We live in a dark world, and the only light that can cut through the darkness is the light of Christ. I have seen the light. And I can tell you that Jesus Christ is here, today, saving sinners and healing lives. Simply repent and give your life to Christ, and you will see that light too. If you have seen the light bear witness to it, not to glorify yourself, but to glorify God.

The light has come into the world. It is in our midst as I speak but many miss it. Help them see, so that the light of God can shine in the darkness of human lives.

Once upon a time there was a politician who was running in a very close election. He had a firm grasp of the issues and many good ideas. The problem was he had no name recognition. The voters simply did not know who he was or what he stood for. To make up for this handicap he had to get out and meet the voters. He needed to advertise and get the word out. He had to shake every hand and kiss every baby he could.

To handle this most important public relations part of the campaign he had a very good friend. The problem was his friend wasn't very good. Often times the advertisements were muddled and even wrong. Once during a whistle stop tour no one showed up not even the mayor of the town they were in and the mayor was a supporter. The problem was that this advance man had failed to tell anyone that the candidate was coming.

The others who worked for the candidate began to wonder why he kept this guy around. In the last days of the campaign it all fell apart. In the end the candidate lost the election by a very slim margin. If his advance man had not been so incompetent they would have won. You see, we are supposed to be advance people for Jesus, just as John was. Sometimes I wonder why he doesn't fire us.

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John's Gospel is written on a different plane. As one Bible scholar described it, "In John's Gospel Jesus appears to be walking two feet off the ground." The Gospel of John seems to look at things from a cosmic perspective. Matthew, Mark and Luke all start off with events which lead up to Jesus birth or ministry: like the birth of John the Baptist or the baptism of Jesus. John, however, begins: "In the Beginning..." What a place to start! He goes all the way back to creation to begin telling about Jesus. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." Now the writer has jumped completely out of the realm of temporal events. This is not just the beginning of time; it is talking about the source of the beginning of time. Instead of starting with the temporal realm the writer has gone straight to the eternal realm of God.

But the writer does not stay in that divine realm for long. No story of Jesus' life can. After all he was - is the Son of God. In John's words he is the Word of God made flesh. John starts with, "In the Beginning was the Word," but by the sixth verse he is at, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." The Gospel has taken a sudden turn from the divine realm of God, to the temporal realm of human beings like John the baptizer.

That is the aspect of John that sets it apart from the other three Gospels. The Gospel according to John begins with the Divine realm and then moves to the human and then to Jesus who embodies both. John emphasizes that Jesus was the very essence of God, the word of God, made flesh. The Gospel of John emphasizes that Jesus is the mediator between the realm of humans and their sin, and God in God's holiness.

From this unique perspective John sets out to tell the story of Jesus, the only begotten of the Father. But in this story John the Baptist is a very important figure. John's importance is obvious in the way that he is mentioned so early in the Story. Even before there is a mention that God was coming into the world, John is mentioned. Of all the Prophets the writer could have mentioned, he mentions John. John is important because he is the one sent from God to bear witness to the light. He was the one who would prepare the way for the light of the world, Christ, to come. He was the voice prophesied in Isaiah that would cry, "Prepare the way of the Lord."

This is one of the ways that the Gospel of John shows us that in Jesus' life God bridged the gap between the divine and the human. God could have done it all by Godself. What did God need with a John the Baptist. John's voice could only carry a few hundred yards at the most. God could have ordered on angel to shout "Prepare the way of the lord" in a loud voice so that all could hear it." But God chose to make a simple person part of the plan. In fact God even called John the baptist before his birth to be the one who would prepare people for Christ's coming.

Of all the great prophets of Israel's past, John probably had the most important task. So important that the writer of the Gospel practically mentions him in the same breath with the very word of God. John the Baptist was not merely conveying a word to the people. He was preparing human hearts to accept the very Son of God.

In many ways John the Baptist is a model for the Christian life. John was an important figure in God's plan for the salvation of the world. In the same way each of us is an important part of God's plan. John was the one sent into the world to prepare people's hearts to receive the Messiah. We too are sent into the world to make the way straight for people to receive Jesus. Like him we are voices commissioned by God to cry in the wilderness, "My Jesus is coming."

What does God need with a bunch of tongue tied people like us? We can barely talk about the things of the divine. Yet the spirit of God descends from the eternal realm to the temporal. And it in-dwells every Christian, empowering us to speak to the world about the love of our God. God uses me and you to get people ready for their Lord.

As in John's Gospel. The eternal realm of the divine descends into the human realm of the temporal. And the Almighty God of heaven and earth uses human voices to prepare the way for the Christ.

When we meet the Baptist in the Gospel of John he is going about his task. He is calling people to repentance and baptizing them as a sign of their desire to be washed clean. He was actively involved in his important task of preparing the way for the King of Kings. And people took notice of how important John was. It was like he could sense the hand of God in what he was doing. Some sought to be his disciples, and it worried some of them. So they came and they asked John: What's going on here? Are you one of the prophets from of old come back to life? Are you Elijah? Are you (gulp) the Messiah?

I guess John felt like the man who had a woman walk up to him and ask him if he was Robert Redford. What man who cares at all about how he looks would like to be mistaken for a handsome movie star. It would be a boost to his ego. In the same way, a man like John who cared so much for God would find it flattering to be mistaken for God's Son.

John could have taken advantage of the situation to shine the light on himself. But instead he pointed the people to the really important one. He said, "No I am not a prophet like Elijah come back to life, and I am not the Messiah. I am just a voice that yells in the desert, and tells people to get ready for the Messiah. So the leaders of the people asked John, "If you are not the Christ or the Messiah, why are you baptizing." And he said, "I am baptizing because there is one who comes after me who is in the midst of you and you do not know him. And I tell you that I am not even worthy to untie his sandals for him." There is an old Jewish saying that a student would do anything for his Teacher that a slave would do for his master except untie his sandals." To untie someone's sandals for them was the most demeaning thing that a person could do. Yet John told them plainly he was not even good enough to do that for the Christ.

John had every opportunity to say, "Yea, I am great because I am part of God's plan to save the world." But instead he said, "You think I am so great, you just look for the one who comes after me and I will show you great." He could have said, "I am a prophet of God Almighty," instead he said, "I am just a voice." John didn't want people to know him as the one who baptized people. He wanted to be known as the one who served one so great he was not worthy to take his shoes off.

One Sunday after church, I was standing at the front door of the church. And the minister was standing there in his long black robe. And at the end of the line of people coming to shake the preacher's hand was a mother and her little boy. And the little boy was only two or three. And he pulled on his mother's coat and pointed up to the preacher and said, "Is he Jesus?" And the preacher knelt and said to the boy, "No but I am one of his helpers."

John was one of Jesus' helpers. And he knew that he had the important job of preparing the world for the most cosmic event to happen to date. But he knew that he was not even good enough to untie the Christ's sandals. So he drew the attention away from himself and pointed to Christ.

We too are Jesus Helper's. We have the task of preparing the world for another cosmic event: Jesus' return. But we need to learn from John. We need to remember that it is the one who comes after us that we need to call people's attention to.