Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 2 (2025)
Illustration
Jeremiah 31:7-14
I am a fan of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. At the end of that story, Ebenezer Scrooge experiences visits from three ghosts that lead him to radically change his life. Initially, he is miserly, cold-hearted, and dismissive of Christmas and the human condition. However, the experiences with the ghosts — who show him the consequences of his actions and the joy of generosity and compassion — awaken his empathy and transform him. The last scenes of the story show Scrooge wildly celebrating that it is still Christmas. He sends a boy to buy the finest goose to send to the Cratchit family and even attends a celebration at his nephew Fred’s house. Whether you are watching the play or reading the story, you can’t help but get caught up in Ebenezer’s celebration.
In this passage, God’s people are celebrating as well. “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel’” (vs. 7). God is going to bring his scattered people back to the land of promise. It was to be a time of joy and celebration. Mourning would be turned to joy (vs. 13). As the people of God celebrated then, so should they now. What we celebrate is what we remember.
Bill T.
* * *
Jeremiah 31:7-14
In speaking about the joy experienced by the people returning from exile, Jeremiah says, “…their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. (31:12). The word translated as “life” is nefesh, sometimes incorrectly interpreted as “soul.” It literally refers to “breath,” or our “life’s breath,” because to the ancient Hebrews, without breath there is no life. But it also means who we really are, our essential self. This section is about the relief from pain, disability, and struggle, and the appearance of new life, as the prophet talks about the blind and the lame returning, alongside those who are pregnant and those in labor. Sharing life with children who have not experienced our traumatic times gives us hope. And redefining our lives to include living with pain and pain management, which may not mean getting rid of pain, but ceasing to define ourselves as the pain, and managing the pain, gives us new hope as well.
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 1:3-14
John Calvin provides a penetrating insight about the teaching of predestination which seems to be endorsed in this text. The Genevan reformer writes:
The very time when election took place proves it to be free; for what could we have deserved, or what merit did we possess before the world was made? (Calvin's Commentaries, Vol.XXl/1, p.198)
Martin Luther's 1525 summary of the eternal will of God nicely summarizes the main theme of this lesson. Luther wrote, "Scripture teaches me that... this is God's eternal will: that men believe in Christ and rely on his suffering blood and death." (What Luther Says, p.1439) The fact that this text only refers to the believer's destination to holiness, not the damnation of human beings, suggests the idea that from the foundation of the world God has placed the gift of salvation in the laps of every human being, and the gift remains there as long we do not foolishly and actively throw it away.
Mark E.
* * *
Ephesians 1:3-14
An inheritance can often, at least in our earthly existence, be disputed. People stop talking to family members, argue with each other, and sometimes even go to court to dispute the allocation of an inheritance. Fortunately, that is not the case with our inheritance from God. Paul reminds us that our inheritance is grace, redemption, and forgiveness. The birth and life of Jesus, even the death and resurrection of Jesus, guarantee this level of care and love we receive.
Jesus is our example of how to live in deep connection with God, to live freely knowing we are loved and are a part of the family of God. Maybe our New Year’s resolutions need to include thankfulness for these gifts, the recognition that we are all a part of the family of God through God’s grace, the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. That may be enough.
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
Commenting on this text in the spirit of Christmas John Calvin said that Christ "is an inexhaustible fountain of grace and truth." (Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. XVll/2, p.48) In the same spirit while preaching on this text and regarding who Jesus is Martin Luther observed:
Thus the most precious treasure and the strongest consolation we Christians have is this: that the word, the true and natural Son of God, became man with flesh and blood like that of any other human; that he became incarnate for our sakes in order that we might enter into great glory, that our flesh and blood, skin and hair, hands and feet, stomach and back might reside in heaven as God does, and in order that we might boldly defy the devil and whatever else assails us. We are convinced that all our members belong in heaven and heirs of heaven's claim. (Luther's Works, Vol.22, p.110)
Luther along with the ancient theologian Origen offers us some helpful images for understanding how Christ can be both God and human, when at first glance he only appears human. Luther writes:
Again, you give someone a purse full of gulden. You only see a purse and not gulden, and yet the gulden are in it. This is far more truly the case in the instance before us, in which God and man are in one person. Origen compares this union of the divine and human natures with a glowing iron. As fire is wont to heat an iron through and through and to permeate it completely, so the eternal word has assumed a human nature and completely filled it with divine light and life. This human nature is as completely united with the word as heat permeates an iron when exposed to fire or beaten upon with an iron. (What Luther Says, p.172)
Mark E.
* * *
John 1: (1-9) 10-18
I don’t think you can get to the bottom of these exquisitely crafted words, and as often as I return to them, I discover new insights. I have mentioned on more than one occasion that the Greek used in this gospel is deceptively simple, possibly the limited vocabulary of someone for whom Greek is a second language. But for all its apparent simplicity, there are layers of meaning that are astonishing.
Now I think it’s unlikely that the author knew anything about DNA and genetics, but people did talk about sharing the same bloodlines. However, because of the high incidence of premature death, through disease, accidents, infections, war, and chance, adoption was often used to preserve family names, family wealth, family heritage. Verses 11-13 emphasize that when it comes to being children of God, it’s a matter of receiving and not rejecting God’s will that we become one family. Not genetically, not nationally, but because of God’s plan together with a touch of our free will. We can willingly make this choice become the children of God together with all of God’s children.
Frank R.
* * *
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
I came across this story the origin of which is unknown. A long time ago, the story begins, a Persian ruler, a good and wise king, wanted to know and understand how his subjects lived. He wanted to understand their hardships and difficulties. Many times, he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar and went to the homes of his subjects. No one recognized him as the king. Once he visited a poor man. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He did not criticize the poor man, but spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, “I am your king!” The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn’t. Instead, he said, “You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!”
I like that story, and I think it connects well to what Jesus did. John makes it clear that the Word (Jesus) was in the world, but the world did not know him. However, he became flesh and lived among us. Like the poor man in the old story, “we have seen his glory.” May we, on this first Sunday of the year, see the glory of the one who lived among us to save us. May we see Jesus is all his glory.
Bill T.
* * *
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
The Word — Jesus, the Word — was with God at the beginning of all things. The Word became flesh and lived among us. The birth of Jesus into the human world was to bring light to us — the light of love, the light of peace, the light of joy, the light of hope — the light of God. This light cannot be overcome. In fact, this light abolishes darkness. In the difficult and challenging times of my life, I have clung to the light, knowing that the light is with me, can surround me, and can abolish whatever darkness is in my heart.
It is this light that John came to tell the world about, came to prepare the world for. What a gift that one came to proclaim the light even before the people knew the light. I hope you cling to the light, walk into the light, and embrace the gift of Light this Epiphany season.
Bonnie B.
I am a fan of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. At the end of that story, Ebenezer Scrooge experiences visits from three ghosts that lead him to radically change his life. Initially, he is miserly, cold-hearted, and dismissive of Christmas and the human condition. However, the experiences with the ghosts — who show him the consequences of his actions and the joy of generosity and compassion — awaken his empathy and transform him. The last scenes of the story show Scrooge wildly celebrating that it is still Christmas. He sends a boy to buy the finest goose to send to the Cratchit family and even attends a celebration at his nephew Fred’s house. Whether you are watching the play or reading the story, you can’t help but get caught up in Ebenezer’s celebration.
In this passage, God’s people are celebrating as well. “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel’” (vs. 7). God is going to bring his scattered people back to the land of promise. It was to be a time of joy and celebration. Mourning would be turned to joy (vs. 13). As the people of God celebrated then, so should they now. What we celebrate is what we remember.
Bill T.
* * *
Jeremiah 31:7-14
In speaking about the joy experienced by the people returning from exile, Jeremiah says, “…their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. (31:12). The word translated as “life” is nefesh, sometimes incorrectly interpreted as “soul.” It literally refers to “breath,” or our “life’s breath,” because to the ancient Hebrews, without breath there is no life. But it also means who we really are, our essential self. This section is about the relief from pain, disability, and struggle, and the appearance of new life, as the prophet talks about the blind and the lame returning, alongside those who are pregnant and those in labor. Sharing life with children who have not experienced our traumatic times gives us hope. And redefining our lives to include living with pain and pain management, which may not mean getting rid of pain, but ceasing to define ourselves as the pain, and managing the pain, gives us new hope as well.
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 1:3-14
John Calvin provides a penetrating insight about the teaching of predestination which seems to be endorsed in this text. The Genevan reformer writes:
The very time when election took place proves it to be free; for what could we have deserved, or what merit did we possess before the world was made? (Calvin's Commentaries, Vol.XXl/1, p.198)
Martin Luther's 1525 summary of the eternal will of God nicely summarizes the main theme of this lesson. Luther wrote, "Scripture teaches me that... this is God's eternal will: that men believe in Christ and rely on his suffering blood and death." (What Luther Says, p.1439) The fact that this text only refers to the believer's destination to holiness, not the damnation of human beings, suggests the idea that from the foundation of the world God has placed the gift of salvation in the laps of every human being, and the gift remains there as long we do not foolishly and actively throw it away.
Mark E.
* * *
Ephesians 1:3-14
An inheritance can often, at least in our earthly existence, be disputed. People stop talking to family members, argue with each other, and sometimes even go to court to dispute the allocation of an inheritance. Fortunately, that is not the case with our inheritance from God. Paul reminds us that our inheritance is grace, redemption, and forgiveness. The birth and life of Jesus, even the death and resurrection of Jesus, guarantee this level of care and love we receive.
Jesus is our example of how to live in deep connection with God, to live freely knowing we are loved and are a part of the family of God. Maybe our New Year’s resolutions need to include thankfulness for these gifts, the recognition that we are all a part of the family of God through God’s grace, the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. That may be enough.
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
Commenting on this text in the spirit of Christmas John Calvin said that Christ "is an inexhaustible fountain of grace and truth." (Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. XVll/2, p.48) In the same spirit while preaching on this text and regarding who Jesus is Martin Luther observed:
Thus the most precious treasure and the strongest consolation we Christians have is this: that the word, the true and natural Son of God, became man with flesh and blood like that of any other human; that he became incarnate for our sakes in order that we might enter into great glory, that our flesh and blood, skin and hair, hands and feet, stomach and back might reside in heaven as God does, and in order that we might boldly defy the devil and whatever else assails us. We are convinced that all our members belong in heaven and heirs of heaven's claim. (Luther's Works, Vol.22, p.110)
Luther along with the ancient theologian Origen offers us some helpful images for understanding how Christ can be both God and human, when at first glance he only appears human. Luther writes:
Again, you give someone a purse full of gulden. You only see a purse and not gulden, and yet the gulden are in it. This is far more truly the case in the instance before us, in which God and man are in one person. Origen compares this union of the divine and human natures with a glowing iron. As fire is wont to heat an iron through and through and to permeate it completely, so the eternal word has assumed a human nature and completely filled it with divine light and life. This human nature is as completely united with the word as heat permeates an iron when exposed to fire or beaten upon with an iron. (What Luther Says, p.172)
Mark E.
* * *
John 1: (1-9) 10-18
I don’t think you can get to the bottom of these exquisitely crafted words, and as often as I return to them, I discover new insights. I have mentioned on more than one occasion that the Greek used in this gospel is deceptively simple, possibly the limited vocabulary of someone for whom Greek is a second language. But for all its apparent simplicity, there are layers of meaning that are astonishing.
Now I think it’s unlikely that the author knew anything about DNA and genetics, but people did talk about sharing the same bloodlines. However, because of the high incidence of premature death, through disease, accidents, infections, war, and chance, adoption was often used to preserve family names, family wealth, family heritage. Verses 11-13 emphasize that when it comes to being children of God, it’s a matter of receiving and not rejecting God’s will that we become one family. Not genetically, not nationally, but because of God’s plan together with a touch of our free will. We can willingly make this choice become the children of God together with all of God’s children.
Frank R.
* * *
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
I came across this story the origin of which is unknown. A long time ago, the story begins, a Persian ruler, a good and wise king, wanted to know and understand how his subjects lived. He wanted to understand their hardships and difficulties. Many times, he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar and went to the homes of his subjects. No one recognized him as the king. Once he visited a poor man. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He did not criticize the poor man, but spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, “I am your king!” The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn’t. Instead, he said, “You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!”
I like that story, and I think it connects well to what Jesus did. John makes it clear that the Word (Jesus) was in the world, but the world did not know him. However, he became flesh and lived among us. Like the poor man in the old story, “we have seen his glory.” May we, on this first Sunday of the year, see the glory of the one who lived among us to save us. May we see Jesus is all his glory.
Bill T.
* * *
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
The Word — Jesus, the Word — was with God at the beginning of all things. The Word became flesh and lived among us. The birth of Jesus into the human world was to bring light to us — the light of love, the light of peace, the light of joy, the light of hope — the light of God. This light cannot be overcome. In fact, this light abolishes darkness. In the difficult and challenging times of my life, I have clung to the light, knowing that the light is with me, can surround me, and can abolish whatever darkness is in my heart.
It is this light that John came to tell the world about, came to prepare the world for. What a gift that one came to proclaim the light even before the people knew the light. I hope you cling to the light, walk into the light, and embrace the gift of Light this Epiphany season.
Bonnie B.
