John’s Christmas Story

Theme: John’s Christmas Story

Text: John 1:1-18

Introduction:

How many are looking forward to Christmas?

Most of us don’t realize that there are two sets of Christmas stories in the gospels. One set is from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke and the other from the Gospel of John. The first set is more familiar to us. We often visualize Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, the baby in the manger, the sheep and the shepherds, the angels and angel’s choirs, the wise men and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

But the second Christmas story comes from the Gospel of John and it is more difficult to visualize. Painters haven’t painted John’s Christmas story. John’s Christmas story is abstract and philosophical. Naturally during the Christmas season, we focus on the Christmas story from the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. But today, we are going to focus on the Christmas story from the

Gospel of John.

John 1:1-18

Did you know God wants us to seek him? “Seek me and live. . . .Seek the Lord and live. . . . Seek good, not evil, that you may live” states Amos 5:4, 6, and 14.

How do mortal men seek God? How can a sinner go to heaven? How can we view the majesty of God? On his own, man cannot. God had to send his Son to seek us. Then, we in turn, seek him and live.

This study of Jesus is outlined in the first eighteen verses of John’s gospel. I pray that God will open the eyes of unbelievers that they may behold the glory of God through the face of Jesus Christ. And I pray that God would grant those whose eyes he has already opened greater perception that they may know more of God, experience greater joy and peace in God, worship God with greater reverence, and obey God with ever-increasing zeal.

The most important question that we usually hear about Jesus is.

Who is this man named Jesus? In the fullness of time, about two thousand years ago, a baby came--born of a woman, born under the law. We are told in Luke 2 that this baby, Jesus Christ, was wrapped in rags and placed in a manger in Bethlehem, the city of David.

Who is this man named Jesus? This is the question often asked today and it is the question Jesus himself asked his disciples in Caesarea Philippi. In Matthew 16:13-14 “[Jesus] asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some says John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’” They did not speak of the many other things people called Jesus—a glutton, a Samaritan, a demon-possessed man, a sinner, a blasphemer, a carpenter’s son, and a crazy man. Then Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter, representing the disciples, replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16).

The question “Who is this man Jesus?” is the most important question in the world. Why? Because our eternal destiny depends upon how we answer this question. In John 1:1-18, which is the prologue to the gospel of John, John gives a very clear description of Jesus.

John’s gospel is addressed to non-believers and is written to reveal the person and work of Jesus Christ, so that they may trust in him and have eternal life. We find this stated in John 20:30-31, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

As we study John’s description of Jesus verses 1:1-18, let’s acknowledge that John was not giving his own opinion about Jesus. Rather, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he was speaking from God, as directed by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). John’s gospel, like all Scripture, is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Therefore, whenever we think about Jesus Christ, especially during the Christmas season, I believe it is alright to ask, “Who was this baby wrapped in rags and placed in a manger? Let me assure you, not everyone will respond the same. The vast majority will still curse him and reject his claims. But a minority will bow in humility, faith, repentance, and worship before him and exclaim, “My Lord and my God!”

This morning, it is my prayer that you will be in that latter group—that you will fall before him in humility, in faith, in repentance, and in worship.

Who is this man JESUS?

I. Jesus Is Eternal