Here to Stay

Title: Here to stay
Date: 5 January 2025
Preacher: Rev Enoch Keong

Introductionn
Today is the first Sunday of 2025. Over the past week, we bid farewell to 2024, welcomed the new year with cheers and celebrations, and many of us have already settled back into our routines of school and work for the year ahead.

While some of us may get to enjoy a few extra days off, but come tomorrow, most of us will be back at it, ready to take on our goals for the year ahead.

I.
This morning, I hope our reflection on the lectionary passages would add onto such readiness for the new year, a greater readiness to join our Lord in his work. And Wanling reminded us last week that joining the Lord means aligning ourselves with the Father’s business—one focused on souls and salvation, restoration, and revival.

I like to begin the reflection by drawing our attention to the Liturgical calendar. Each year, the Liturgical calendar follows a cycle that begins with Advent, followed by Christmas, Epiphany, and continues through the seasons that guide the rhythm of worship and reflection.

On the Christian calendar, today marks the twelfth and final day of the Christmas season. So, we are here today to observe the wonders of Christmas as a church.

As we step into the new year, celebrating Christmas 2024 this morning might feel a bit out of place for some of us. The feeling is like that of passengers on Cathay Pacific flight CX880 from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. Crossing nine time zones, they welcomed the New Year as their flight departed Hong Kong at 12:21 a.m. on 1 January 2025, only to land in Los Angeles at 8:33 p.m. on 31 December 2024. [1] You can say that the passengers effectively travelled back in time. But perhaps, for some of them, it was also a rare opportunity to experience firsthand the sense of living in two realities at once, shaped by the time difference between the two countries.

For people of faith, living in two realities is meant to be the norm. However, this isn’t shaped by time zone differences but by two calendars that express two distinct realities: the calendar we fill with our daily activities and the Christian calendar.

The Gregorian calendar tell us what to pack into our bags for tomorrow and the week ahead. It reminds us of the tasks to be completed, the meetings and the meet up to attend. It helps us plan our time, so that we can experience some pickleball fever that happens every Tuesday evening at Jubilee. All JYAs are invited. The rest of us who are keen to try it out, please check with Eric on the details. Pardon my slotting in an advertisement on behalf of JYA ministry.

The Christian calendar, on the other hand, reminds us that Jesus is actively about the Father’s business in our world today. It does so by guiding us to reflect on His words and actions during His first coming and prompting us to shape our actions and responses based on these reflections.

So, as Christians, we live in two realities, shaped by two calendars. One is filled with schedules we set, while the other invites us to seek God’s heartbeat, guidance, strength, peace and joy.

II.
God’s heartbeat is seen clearly in the Gospel passage chosen for this year’s twelfth and final day of Christmas, especially in verse 14, which says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

We celebrate Jesus’ coming into the world on Christmas Day each year. This verse tells us that He who came dwelt among us—meaning He is here to stay. Using 2 calendars makes sense for us because the one who came as God the son is here to stay, guiding us through both the rhythms of life and our spiritual journey.

The bible tells us that God the Father created the world. That He chose Israel to be His people and visited them multiple times throughout their long history. When Moses led them out of Egypt toward the promised land, God “…went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light...” (Ex 13:21) Much later, when the people of Jacob were taken captives in Assyria and other distant lands, God remembered them and led them back. He even made it possible for the handicapped and pregnant women to make the long and tough journey. Through all these acts, Israel saw and experienced God’s mighty power and glory.

The psalmist praises God with a song for what he had done, acknowledging that it is He who makes the world works, that this vast, seemingly impersonal and uncaring universe is actually upheld by a saving and caring God [2], and that He faithfully provides for His people.

Yet, all of these were God’s occasional visits and temporary dwelling among them. God had never made His home with them permanently—until Jesus came, visible and tangible, living as a member of the society.

John goes on to tell us in John 1:14 that “we have seen his glory”. In saying this, John seems to have a different understanding of what is glory. His view contrasts with the psalmist’s depiction of God’s glory as mighty acts and, even more so, it sharply contrasts with the what the world understand as glory, which is typically linked to success, fame, and publicity.

John says that Jesus manifested his glory by turning water into wine, adding to the joy of the people by giving more wine to those who were starting to get tipsy. That’s glory, says John.

For John, Jesus’ glory was most evident in His humble acts of service. He washes the disciples' feet to model for them a heart of service. He serves bread at the table—even to the traitor. And ultimately, he gives Himself up to be arrested and crucified.

And when he rose 3 days later, he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in those who receive him and believed in his name. In this way, the one who came on stays, and he stays on in our world through his people.

What I’m trying to say this morning is this: no matter how we prefer to celebrate or observe Christmas, one thing should be clear. Christmas isn’t something to be forgotten once the season is over, nor is Christmas just a special event to look forward to at the end of the year.

Christmas happened at a specific moment in time some 2000 years ago, but its effect is a lasting reality. Christmas isn’t just a day to be remembered once a year; it points to a newness, a reality that Christians live in every day. We do this by following two calendars, living in two realities, and being in but not of the world.

III.
The second reading of the day offers us further encouragement to live in this way.

In his letter, the Apostle Paul explains that God chose the Ephesian church—and, by extension, the universal Church—in Him before the foundation of the world. This reveals that God’s intention for His people to live lives patterned after Jesus was not an afterthought but His plan from the very beginning. In fact, God made a commitment to shape the Church into a holy and blameless people, a promise fulfilled through the gift of the Holy Spirit as our teacher and helper.

There’s no doubt that Paul is offering encouragement in his passage. However, some of the ideas he brings up have caused a lot of confusion and debate. Words like “chose” in verse 4 and “predestined” in verse 5 point to doctrines like election and predestination, and these are often at the centre of heated discussions.

Paul however, did not introduce election and predestination as doctrines to be unpacked and dissected. To debate over them is to miss Paul intention altogether.

The phrase “to the praise of his glorious grace” or “glory” appears three times in this passage. Paul's point is clear: election and predestination reveal a God who loves and saves. Therefore, praise God, who has always desired and continues to help the church become a holy and blameless people.

In other words, if questions and doubts continually arise whenever we hear the words 'election' or 'predestination,' it means that we have misunderstood Paul’s intention. The proper response to hearing these words is not endless debate, but thanksgiving and praise, giving God the glory.

IV.
Speaking about glory, we mentioned glory in three forms. One is related to God’s greatness, seen in Him creating and governing the world. Another is related to God’s goodness, seen in Him electing the church. The third is the glory that appeared in a quiet manner, which John saw in the things Jesus did and modelled for His disciples.

If Christmas indeed represents a reality that Christians live in every day, then our response would be to follow Jesus’ footsteps and manifest His glory.

The church as a whole and each one of us individually have been given gifts by God to bring to life one or more of these words. For Jubilee Church, it might be compassion; for you, it might be justice. Yet a word remains just a word until we give it flesh. The list is far from exhaustive, but we don’t even have to do all of it. By embodying one or two of these words, you will be about the Father’s business, communicating to others the glory of Christ.

Let’s unpack a few of these words.

Generosity. Let’s consider it in the context of Christmas. I often hear Christians uncomfortable for focusing on giving during the Christmas season. The commercialized world we live in only adds to the uncertainty, leaving them unsure if they are truly doing the right thing. Perhaps Christmas should be spent entirely in church and in communion with God?

I recently came across an article on the website, Firstthings.com, with a beautiful title, “Two Birds on a Christmas Tree.” The author reflects on the well-known verses, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matt 6:19-20) and shares this insight:

“We are, after all, embodied creatures, and it is only meet and right that we should give each other presents. If they are good presents, carefully chosen, they will be imbued with meaning for both giver and gifted…”

The article concludes with these words.

“I do not really know how to lay up treasure in heaven, but I must believe that earthly treasures, too, are important. For now, I will…decorate the tree, buy too many presents, and sing too loudly. God will have to sort it out.” [3]

Generosity touches lives, could this be the way you emulate Jesus?

Next, reaching out. Christmas reminds us that God did not give us something, he gives us himself. In this profound act of love, we are given the status as sons and daughters of God. However, as one author points out, that “all too many Christians are happy to claim a new status, but are hesitant to treat others in a way consistent with that status.” [4]

We have all witnessed situations where this disconnect unfolds. Perhaps it disturbs you, or maybe it stirs a deeper compassion for those who have yet to receive this new status. Perhaps our Lord is nudging you to reach out—to one person or an entire community. In response, step out in faith and in the spirit of Christmas, sharing His love and grace.

Let us close this time of reflection and take it in a slightly different directio] by adding a ‘do away’ list. While not exhaustive, the list highlights behaviours we don't see in Jesus. Many Protestant churches are often busy and may not show enough care, and individual Christians can sometimes come across as judgmental—I admit, I am guilty of this myself. As we reflect on living in two realities, being in but not of the world, could there be habits or attitudes we should let go of to better align with what we’ve discussed?"

Let us go to God in prayer with these thoughts. As we pray, may we open our hearts to God, asking Him to reshape us with the abundant grace that Christmas has brought. Let us ask Him to help us let go of our pain, transform us, and to become more Christlike. Ask of him to grant us new gifts that will enable us to better manifest His glory.

[1] https://www.lifestyleasia.com/hk/travel/cathay-pacific-flight-cx-880-time-travel-2025-2024-new-years-flight-info/
[2]Mays, James L. Interpretation, A bible commentary for teaching and preaching: Psalms (p. 442) WJK: Louisville. 1994.
[3]https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2025/01/two-birds-on-a-christmas-tree
[4]Jarvis, Cynthia A.; Johnson, E. Elizabeth. Feasting on the Gospels: John, Volume 1: A Feasting on the Word Commentary (p. 10). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.

Bilingual Service Video Link: https://youtu.be/d5yYxcC0Wkg?si=bLrwLbnXIGCR5XRA