Introduction

Good morning, dear family of believers. Isn't it a blessing to gather together in the house of the Lord, to sit in these pews, to feel the warmth of fellowship, and to open our hearts to the Word of God? Today, we will be turning our attention to the Gospel according to John, specifically the first five verses.

Let me read it to you:

"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."

These verses are rich in meaning, profound in their implications, and absolutely central to our understanding of the person and work of Christ. They speak to the manifestation of the Messiah, the mystery of the Incarnation, and the message of Advent.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Though creation may be a majestic organ of praise, it cannot reach the compass of the golden canticle—incarnation! There is more melody in Jesus in the manger than in the whole sublime oratorio of the creation."

Isn't it wonderful that we serve a God who is not only powerful but also personal? A God who chose to reveal Himself to us, to become one of us, to shine His light into our darkness?

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the privilege of gathering together in Your name, and for the opportunity to hear Your Word. We ask that You would open our hearts and minds to the truths contained in these verses. Help us to see You more clearly, to love You more dearly, and to follow You more nearly. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, amen.

Let’s get started!

Manifestation of the Messiah

As we consider the passage from the Gospel of John, we find ourselves standing at the dawn of creation, witnessing the divine dialogue that brought forth all that exists. The Word, as John refers to Christ, was there, not as a mere observer but as an active participant. This Word was not a concept or an idea, but a person. A person who was with God and was God. This is the mystery of the Trinity, a truth that defies our human understanding yet invites our faith-filled acceptance.

An active role: The Word was not only present at creation but was the agent through which all things were made. This is not a passive role but an active one. It is the Word who speaks the cosmos into existence, who forms man from the dust of the ground, who breathes life into his nostrils. This is the Word who is not only with God but is God, the Word through whom all things were made. This Word is not distant or detached from His creation but intimately involved in it. He is the life that animates every living thing, the light that illuminates every corner of the cosmos. This is the Word who is not only with God but is God, the Word in whom is life.

This life is not a mere biological function but a spiritual reality: It is the life that is the light of men, the life that shines in the darkness, the life that the darkness has not overcome. This is the Word who is not only with God but is God, the Word whose life is our light. This light is not a physical phenomenon but a spiritual one. It is the light that shines in the darkness of our sin and despair, the light that guides us on the path of righteousness, the light that reveals the glory of God in the face of Christ. This is the Word who is not only with God but is God, the Word whose light shines in our darkness.

This darkness is not a mere absence of light but a presence of evil: It is the darkness that seeks to extinguish the light, to hide the truth, to keep us from seeing God. But the darkness has not overcome the light. The light shines on, revealing the truth, exposing the lies, leading us to God. This is the Word who is not only with God but is God, the Word whose light the darkness has not overcome.

In these verses, we see the Word/Messiah revealed in all His glory: He is the Creator, the Life-Giver, the Light-Bearer, the Darkness-Overcomer. He is not a distant deity but a personal Savior. He is not a concept to be grasped but a person to be known. He is not a mystery to be solved but a reality to be experienced. He is the Word who was with God and was God, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, the Word who is the manifestation of the Messiah.

Mystery of the Incarnation

The Gospel of John introduces us to a profound truth, a truth that defies human understanding and yet is the bedrock of our faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO