The Light And Life Of Men Series

Christmas is in high gear at Cross Church and allow me to say to wish you a very merry Christmas! Thank you for joining me for a Christmas sermon series entitled, A Timeless Christmas.

I invite you to find John 1 with me.

People are increasingly talking about the holiday as Christmas Day approaches. We all know it’s the most wonderful time of the year. You are cueing up your favorite Christmas songs, choosing your favorite holiday recipes, and choosing which Christmas parties you attend. We all know about the Wise Men who came to the Christ child.

I loved this from Ruth Marshall, a retired pastor’s wife in Missouri: Her dishtowel reads, “Three Wise Woman would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stables, made a casserole, brought practical gifts and there would be Peace on Earth!”1

There is so much happiness for so many when it comes to Christmas. Others struggle to find happiness even in the merriest of times.

Pearl Harbor

On this past Thursday (December 7), our nation observed the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The bombing began at 7:55 am local time in Hawaii. Hours later, the last bomb was finally dropped, and 2,403 lives were lost. In just a few hours, America would declare war on the Axis powers of Japan, Italy, and Germany. If you are like me, we often forget just how close the bombing of Pearl Harbor was to Christmas. After all, coffins and Christmas carols don’t go together.2

A number of families were burying their dead sailors on Christmas 1941. No matter if you are riding the highest of highs or the lowest of lows, Christmas promises everlasting joy and a profound meaning in life for each and every one of us.

Christmas brings us, Jesus. And Jesus promises everlasting joy and a profound meaning in life for each and every one of us.

Let me show why in John 1.

Today’s Scripture

“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 any thing 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 as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:1-11).

Have you ever seen that in the stained-glass windows of some of really old churches? Often, John would be depicted as an eagle. In the early church, whenever the different gospel writers were depicted, ordinarily John was depicted as an eagle. Do you know why? One of the theories on why that was true is because the eagle is one of the few birds that can fly into the sun. The eagle was thought to be one of the few birds that could actually gaze on the power the beauty, and the glory of the sun.2 So why does the eagle often portray John’s gospel in old stained glass? Because John is someone who can get us to look straight into the matchless majesty of Jesus. John shows us an angle on Jesus that no one else does. John shows us the promise of Jesus and the everlasting joy Jesus brings.

You have to ask, “Just who was in the manger on that first Christmas morning?”

1. The Appeal of Jesus

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). To understand why Jesus is so satisfying, you have to ask. “Why Does John Call Jesus ‘the Word?’” Why not simply call Jesus the Son of God and be on your way?

1.1 Logos

John uses a word for Jesus that is unusual, even mysterious, if you will. It’s the Greek word, Logos. Now we know John is calling Jesus Logos because of verse 14: “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” (John 1:14).

Since the Father has one and only one true Son, the Word is Jesus Christ.

1.1 Why Word?

John’s readers would have recognized logos as a dual reference. Logos means “word” and it speaks back to the powerful, creative Word of God in the Old Testament. Remember, it was the word of God that created the heavens and earth.