On Lighting the Candle of Love

On Lighting the Candle of Love--Fourth Sunday of Advent

As I was walking this morning (yes I was walking/shuffling instead of running) I couldn’t help pondering the paradox between the majesty and accessibility of Jesus. I was reminded of an old drama, set in heaven as a dialog between two angels.

One of the angels mentions a rumor that God is about to intervene in human history or as one of them explains, “He’s planning to straighten out the situation down there.” One of the angels is astounded that the rumor is that “He’s going down Himself.” The other angel assumes that Jesus will go to Rome to take over the government, but the other angel corrects him:

“I hear He’s planning His entry as a baby.”
“A what?”
“A baby. A humanette.”
“Incredible! But Isn’t He taking a big chance? The security will be fantastic. Why, we’ll have to form a couple myriads of bodyguards 24 hours a day.”
“He’s going to be on His own.”
“And turn Him loose with that pack of ‘crazies’?”

The dialog goes on for a while with the angels discussing the choice of a birth mother, Jesus’ birth in a stable/cave and the choice of shepherds as the witnesses to the miracle of His birth. They talk about what an unorthodox plan it is that Jesus would grow up as a human and somehow convey a message. They discuss how fickle humans are (yet the Father loves them) and the possibility that this plan could go horribly wrong and that Jesus could even get Himself killed.

In the poignant final exchange between the two angels, one says, “But what if the humans don’t listen? What if this plan doesn’t work?” The other angel somberly replies, “There is no other plan.”

Sunday morning, I want to look at two of the most amazing passages of Scripture, which have special significance when placed together and examined at this time of year.

From John 1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God....And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

And from John 3, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son , that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

That’s worth lighting a candle to celebrate.