The First Advent
(John 1:14-18)
Intro:
A. Its a time of year when some Christian denominations talk about “Advent.” The word simply means “the coming of someone or something important.” Traditionally “advent” is the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day, in which people celebrate the coming of Christ. This morning I want to look at the WHY Jesus came, next week we look more that the birth and how we can respond to it.
B. Listen to the beginning of the gospel according to John (READ John 1:1-5). John writes about the very Logos, Word, that is God and is the message of God. John states that the Word was what brought forth creation, not that he was creation, but he was the source of the creation. John goes on to say that Word is also the source of life. John gives no more information about this strange statement of a living Word that is God and brings life and light. Instead, the Apostle John writes about a man named John (the Baptist).
C. So, who is John speaking about? To get that answer, we need to jump down to vs 14-18. Today we will see what we gain from that first advent of Jesus.
I. The Word Became Flesh
A. In verse 14, John writes “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The answer to who is the Word, is answered, Jesus is the Word and Jesus, who is God, became flesh and lived among us. We all go to the story of the baby in the manger, and I will again next Sunday, but the purpose is not so we can get caught up in “the reason for the season,” but something bigger than a celebration of a birth.
B. We often look at Mary and her story, but listen to what the angel tells Joseph. READ Matt. 1:18-23. Everything about the pregnancy would be a miracle. The big news is not so much about a virgin becoming pregnant, but about who the baby is, his name and the prophecy about that name.
C. “God with us!” As John writes, “The word became flesh and dwelt among us.” I am not asking you to forget that Jesus was a baby, what I want us to hold on to is that Jesus is God and as God he came in the flesh for a purpose.
II. We Beheld His Glory
A. The second statement John gives is “We have seen his glory.” After Jesus is born and laid in a manger God continues to tell us what happened outside. Lk 2:8-9.
B. What I want you to see in this passage is the phrase “the glory of the Lord shone around them.” That “glory” is what the Jewish Rabbi’s called “Shekinah.” It is a word to describe the presence of God. It literally means “the dwelling.” It is the fullness of all the attributes of God and it is expressed in the concept of light, pure, bright light.
C. At the birth of Jesus, we read the glory of the Lord. God dwelling, not in the form of the great light surrounding the shepherds, but in the form of a baby lying in a manger.
D. The idea of glory of God is really connected to the OT. When Moses went up on Mt. Sinani, he ask God, “Please show me your glory.” (Ex. 33:18) But God said no man can see his face and live. God covers Moses in the cleft of the rock and allows his goodness to pass before Moses. When Moses came down from the mountain, the Bible says concerning Moses, “his face shone (illuminated) because he had been with God.” Light is what the effect of the glory of God.
E. Now John writes, “we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son of God, full of grace and truth.” This “glory” that we see is in Jesus is that he is the light shinning in a dark place. Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus is essence, glory, exact representation of the Father and is the way, the truth and the life to all mankind. Therefore, John writes, “We have seen his glory, glory as the only Son of God.” Let me quickly take you to Mark 9:2-3. When the cloud came over them, we read this (Mark 9:7-8). John is very literal when he said “we saw his glory, glory as the Son.” Jesus is the glory of God in human flesh. But there is one more thing John tells us.
III. Grace Upon Grace
A. John 1:16-17. We were told in verse 14 that Jesus is full of grace and truth, but what we hear now is that because of the first coming, that first advent, we (you and me, all people around the world) have received “grace upon grace.”
B. The idea is that grace never ends. We have received the fullness of grace. Listen to Rom. 5:1-2. I want to read it to you again, but this time from the New Living Translation. (NLT Rom. 5). We stand in peace, harmony, with God because of grace. And through that grace we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.
C. Let me put this as clearly as I can. You can spend eternity in heaven because of the first advent of Christ. Because Jesus, as God, became flesh. Because in Jesus we have seen the glory of God. Because through Jesus we have been given grace that never ends. I love that many people honor the birth of Jesus because what that advent means.
Conclusion:
A. I cannot end this sermon without reminding you of another advent, a second coming of Jesus. The first coming came with grace and truth, the second coming is with judgment – eternal life to those who are saved, and eternal death to those who are condemned.
B. The reason for the first advent is to save me from the death of the second advent. So let’s come back and accept that grace upon grace that comes through Jesus and what he did for us at the cross.
C. The apostle Paul wanted Jesus to remove what he called his “thorn in the flesh.” The answer Jesus gave Paul was not that he would remove it. The answer Jesus gave Paul was, “My grace is sufficient for you.” The grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient for you also. If you need to accept that grace by dying to the idea that you are Lord and instead being buried with Jesus in the waters of baptism, rising a new creation with Jesus as Lord and Savior, then come as we stand and sing.
