In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

It is said that King Charles V, the king of Scotland, many years ago, wondered what life was like for the people of his kingdom. In a desire to better know them and to more graciously govern them, he would occasionally exchange his royal robes for common clothes and walk from his lofty palace into the soiled streets. Completely disguised as a commoner, he walked through the market place, worked in the fields and ate at the tables of his peasant people. All of that was done by King Charles in an attempt to better understand and more fully identify with the people of his kingdom. But what he did partially and imperfectly, God did completely and perfectly. In Jesus Christ, God became human and lived on this earth. He did not come to learn more about us and to identify with us. He came to help us know and identify with Him.

We read about the glorious incarnation in the Gospel of John. The first verse of the first chapter says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." Then in verse 14 we find out what God did: "And the Word became flesh and lived among us ..." You see, God became a human being in Jesus, the Christ. The same event is described by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2 where he wrote about Christ who "humbled himself, taking the very nature of a servant and came in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient unto death ..."

The incarnation is central to our celebration of this Christmas Season. It is central to our Faith, to believe that in Jesus, God stepped down from heaven, and became completely immersed in the life of humanity. It was such a perfect incarnation that the Church for centuries has called Jesus "true God and true man." Many will ask how it is possible for Jesus to be completely human and completely divine at the same time - that is not logical or reasonable! The Church then replies as did Martin Luther, that no one can understand or adequately explain the natures of Christ because it is simply one of the great mysteries of our faith. It is something that Scripture affirms as true while we simply stand in awe, trying to illustrate it and symbolize it, even though we cannot explain it. But we believe that Jesus of Nazareth was, at the same time, fully human and fully divine.

Now, when some people read the Gospel narratives, they try to divide the events of our Lord's ministry, concluding that there were certain times when Jesus was acting according to his Divine nature - such as when he healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, and walked on the water - and there were other times when Christ's humanity was dominant - such as when he wept at the tomb of Lazarus, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, angrily cast out the money changers from the temple, and when he slept, ate and rested his body. But such a dissecting of our Lord's humanity and divinity is both inadequate and inaccurate. Dr. Fred Schott of Southern Seminary used to illustrate this heretical practice by gluing two boards together. On one board was written "Divine Nature" and on the other board were the words "Human Nature." Those who hold to this view believe that Jesus sometimes acted divine and other times acted human as he "flip-flopped" between his two natures. But we Christians believe that Jesus was, at the same time, human and divine. In all that he did, the two natures participated fully. The humanity and divinity were totally and completely inseparable in Jesus. Perhaps the inseparability of Christ's two natures could be illustrated with a glass of water and a cup of sugar. The two substances are distinct and different in appearance. But when the sugar is dissolved in the water, they become one. The sweetness of the sugar completely permeates the water. We should never push an illustration too far, but this is a helpful example of how the two natures of Christ completely permeate each other. Jesus was totally human and totally divine; one could not be separated from the other. In him, God became flesh and lived among us in order to be fully revealed to us.

Now in the same mysterious way that God became flesh and entered the world in Jesus, we Lutherans believe that our Lord comes into our midst and into our lives in Holy Communion. We believe that Christ is really present "in, with, and under" these elements of bread and wine. What God did in a cosmic sense on the first Christmas by coming into the World, he does in an individual sense in Holy Communion by coming to you and me! And in the same way that the two natures of Christ were inseparable, the body and blood of Christ are inseparable from the bread and wine. We don't believe we can look at the bread under a microscope and see molecules of Christ's flesh. We don't believe that the wine actually changes into Christ's blood. But we do believe that Christ is present in Holy Communion.

As Martin Luther wrote: "We are ... not so mad as to believe that Christ's body is in the bread in a manner as crude and visible as bread is in a basket or wine in a cup.... We do, however, unhesitatingly believe that His body is there, as His words 'This is my body' indicate.... He is where the bread is ..." (What Luther Says, Vol. II., p. 796) We believe that Christ is really present when we eat the bread and drink the wine of Holy Communion. This is not something we can explain but something we can experience. When we go to the altar with repentant hearts and humble faith, we experience the mysterious and powerful presence of Christ. He comes to each of us individually - and personally. Christ is present to relieve our hearts of the tremendous load of guilt for which we need forgiveness. The Lord is present to strengthen us to overcome our temptations and weaknesses. He is present to lift from our shoulders the weight of our worries and fears. Jesus is present to assure us that no matter what has happened or will happen, we will be all right because he is always with us.

Several years ago a beautiful story appeared in the "Bible Expositor and Illuminator." It was about a Christian man whose wife was killed in a tragic automobile accident leaving him to care for their three-year-old daughter. All the joy he had known seemed to vanish in his grief. The night after the funeral, he was preparing his daughter for bed when the lights went out all over the house. His little girl became afraid so he held her right in his arms. At first she snuggled against him in silence, but when her fears subsided she said, "It's so dark! But I'm not afraid daddy because you are here with me!" Tears welled up in the father's eyes. He buried his face in his daughter's hair and reflected on what she had said, saying: "Yes dear, my life is dark right now. But I'm not afraid either, because I know that my Heavenly Father is with me too." That man received courage and comfort from knowing that God was with him.

That same comforting reassurance is ours today. No matter how dark your life is right now ... No matter what struggles and troubles you are having to endure, I want you to rest assured in the knowledge that Christ is really present with you today through these elements of bread and wine. As you go to the communion table, Christ will come to you in mystery and power. Don't try to explain his presence, just experience it. Experience the cleansing power of his forgiveness, offering you newness of life. Experience the reassurance of Christ's constant presence, not only at this altar but in your daily life with him. Experience the warm embrace of his loving arms and know that you will be all right because Christ is with you.