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
John 1:1 states “In the beginning was the Word,” which, in the Greek, is En archê ên ho logos—meaning “in the beginning”? It points to a time before creation—to a timeless eternity. “In the beginning” affirms the preexistence of Jesus Christ. He was before all creation. In other words—eternal.
We also read about the eternity of Christ in John 17:5 “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” And in John 17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” This helpless baby is from eternity. There was no time when he was not.
We can understand from John’s statement that Jesus is the One who reveals God to us. Without him, we cannot truly know God. Jesus is the Word of God personalized. In Psalm 33:6 we read, “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made,” and in Revelation 19:13 we read, “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.” This Word reveals God’s thoughts to us.
II. Jesus Was with God
Next, John tells us, “The Word was with God.” In the Greek text we read, ho logos ên pros ton theon, “the Word was toward God.” What does that mean? It confirms that Jesus is equal to God the Father, but also distinct from him in terms of personality. God exists as one God in three Persons: God the Father; God the Holy Spirit; and Jesus, the Word. This is a difficult concept for human beings to understand, but it is the declaration of God’s infallible Word.
Additionally, when John says “the Word was with God,” that implies a certain intimacy, fellowship, and communion between Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father. We read about this communion elsewhere.
In John 17:5 when Jesus prayed, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” We see great fellowship and intimacy in the one Godhead among the three Persons.
In John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” Physical beings cannot see the invisible being of God. Not even Moses saw God. But Jesus enjoyed close intimacy, fellowship, and communion with God. Equality, but distinct in personality.
In John 15:26 “And when the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” Here we see the Trinity: God the Father; Jesus Christ, the Word, the One and Only Begotten Son; and the Holy Spirit—who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
III. Jesus Is God
John continues, “and the Word was God,” which, in the Greek, is theos ên ho logos. In the Greek text the predicate, theos, is placed first, which means the emphasis is on the subject, ho logos, the Word. Without the article it would say “God is the Word,” but here God is the predicate.This phrase also speaks about the unity of the being of God--one God in three distinct Persons--unity of being and plurality of persons. And there is great intimacy, fellowship, and communion within the Godhead. Some people say, “God is love, and so he had to create something so that he could love it and to be loved by it.” But God didn’t need to create anything. Within the three Persons of the Godhead there is full, satisfying love and fellowship. Nothing else is needed.
IV. Jesus Is Life
In verse 3 John writes, “Through him all things were made,” panta di’ autou egeneto. John is telling us the Word created everything visible and invisible. This speaks against the philosophies of monism, pantheism, and the eternality of matter. The world had a beginning, which was given to it by the Word. It also tells us Jesus Christ is not a part of creation; rather, he is the Creator through whom all things were made.
In verse 4 John writes, en autô zôê ên, meaning “in him was life.” This Word is the source of all life. Do you want life? It is found in him. He embodies all life, physical and spiritual. In verse 17 John gives us a name—Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of all life. We breathe because of him. A bird falls to the ground only at his will. “In him was life.”
Jesus mentions this aspect of his personality many times. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” In John 10:10 he tells the purpose of his coming: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
No wonder Jesus declared at the tomb of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life.” When he commanded, “Lazarus, come out!” the dead man came forth. Why? Because in Jesus, there is life!
V. Jesus Is Light
The next thing John writes is kai hê zôê ên to phôs tôn anthrôpôn, meaning “and the life was the light of men.” Jesus is the light that gives us a general revelation and a special revelation of God. Jesus gives us general revelation through creation in which we can know his everlasting power and divinity. He also gives a special revelation of God the Father through his life and death. In the midst of darkness, moral corruption, falsehood, errors, cults, religions, and philosophical speculations of the world, Christ still shines.
In Hebrews 1:1-3 we also read about this ultimate, perfect, final revelation of God which has come to us in Jesus Christ:
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After He had provided purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Jesus Christ is the only perfect, authentic light of God, to all men. In John 14:9 Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Knowing the Son, therefore, is knowing God, the Father.
VI. Jesus - The Word Became Flesh
In John 1:14 we read, kai ho logos sarx egeneto, meaning “the Word became flesh.” We have learned that this Word was from all eternity, and now, in time, the Word became flesh. Without abandoning or reducing his deity, God took upon himself human nature in body and soul. The incarnation of Christ is essential to the Christian faith. In 1 John 4, John warns that any person who denies that Jesus came in the flesh is a heretic and an antichrist.
Why did this second Person of the Trinity take upon himself a frail human flesh? So that he might procure our salvation. Christ became flesh so that he might be the mediator between God and man.
How did the Word become flesh? It was not through man. This Word became flesh through a mighty act of the Spirit upon Mary of Nazareth. In Luke 1:30-35 we read, the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.” The incarnation of Christ is a supernatural work of God.
SUMMARY:
Luke gives a warm, personal account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. We all love to read his account of this historical event. But his account doesn’t really define the character and majesty of Christ like John does. When we hear the account of Luke being read, let us also remember John’s account of Jesus. Because of John’s account, we can better see that Jesus is the eternal God and Creator of all things. He is life and light, the eternal Son, and the second Person of the Trinity. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Anointed One, and the King of Israel, as Nathanael declared in John 1:49. He is the Son of Man as seen in Daniel 7:13 and 14. He is the Savior of the world as the Samaritan observed in John 4:42. He is the Holy One without sin, as stated in John 6:69.
Why is it important to truly recognize who Jesus is? In John 8 we read about a man born blind that Jesus healed. When his eyes were opened, he cried out “Lord, I believe.” Jesus gave him physical sight, but He also have something else—spiritual sight. We cannot have spiritual sight unless we recognize fully the character, the majesty and the divinity of Jesus.
Now Church, Who Do You Say Christ Is?
In this Christmas season, let’s not lose sight of who Jesus was and still is. It isn’t about giving and receiving gifts. It’s more than just families getting together. It is about the Savior of the world. It’s about our eternal hope. It’s about the giver of life. As we prepare to depart for the Philippines, we will not be here for Christmas. We will celebrate Christmas with our most precious gift from God—our daughter Kendall Ann. We will also have the wonderful opportunity to share with many who are less fortunate. Even though we will celebrate with people who are very poor, in a sense, we are most fortunate. Yes, we will give a simple gift to everyone in our church—both children and adults. But the message of Christmas will not focus on the commercial appeal to buy, buy and buy some more. It will be a humble Christmas with family, friends and church. We will focus on Christ. I suppose we will read the account from Luke, but we will emphasize the account of John.
Challenge:
We have asked the question, “Who is Jesus Christ?” Yes, Jesus was that little baby born in Bethlehem, wrapped in rags. But He is much more. He is the eternal One, the Revealer of God, God himself, the Bringer of light and life, grace and truth. He is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, whose glory we beheld. How should we respond to this truth during the Christmas season? Of course, we will all give gifts and get together as a family. But it shouldn’t end there. We must recognize and celebrate the fullness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all.
