Trinity Episcopal Church

December 7, 2008

The story of Jesus’ coming goes way back. It didn’t begin at His birth in Bethlehem; it didn’t begin with John the Baptist who came out of the wilderness proclaiming “Make ready for God’s arrival!” Some might say the story of Jesus began with the dreams of the prophets centuries before, like Isaiah, Micah, or Malachi. But the story of Jesus coming to earth, coming to us, began long before the prophets---it began in the mind of God, before the creation of the world.

The first verse of John’s Gospel says, “In the beginning (before creation) was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Jesus is the Word, and it was God‘s intention to send His Son to live among us. And before the earth was created, God had you in mind too. The “Good News” in our gospel this morning is just that: God chose to save us in Christ before the creation of the world. It is what Paul Tillich (theologian) had in mind when he wrote, “We belong to an eternal order.”

Think of it---your picture in the mind of God, before the world began---makes you feel kind of special, doesn’t it? I remember bringing home my school pictures as I grew up---1st grade, 3rd grade, high school, etc.---and they would go up on mom’s refrigerator held by a magnet. They were there because I was important to her. I like to think God has your picture on His Frigidaire---when you were 20 years old, 40, 60, etc.---because you are important to God. It’s not really practical theology, but it’s a nice thought, so smile---God loves you.

Trinity Episcopal Church

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December 7, 2008