A Cosmic Christmas
John 1:1-14
Introduction
Jürgen Moltmann reminds us that “The child in the manger opens up a cosmic horizon: in him the new creation begins.” But that story doesn’t begin in Bethlehem. It begins before the beginning. It truly does open up a cosmic horizon. The Bible's most important story echoes Genesis with "In the beginning” … before time itself… beyond our imagination.
John 1:1 NASB “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John steps back before the nativity to begin with a cosmic Christmas story. As we celebrate all of the facets of this season, take some time to remember that this story began before the beginning. That gives us some insight into God’s vision for the incarnation of the Messiah.
A Cosmic Christmas reminds us …
1. IT WAS PLANNED BEFORE TIME. (John 1:1-3)
The Word WAS: He already existed in the beginning. God has no beginning; the Word was not created.
John 17:5 “Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed.” John 17:24 “Father … You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
The Word was WITH God (1b, 2)
A.T. Robertson: "face to face" with God. No opposition between Word and Father; At the same time the Word is distinct from God.
The Word WAS God (v. 1c). Without question, we see the deity of Jesus Christ.
Other translations:
"And what God was, the Word was" (NEB)
”And he was the same as God" (TEV)
Equal in Godhead, equally honored, adored, worshiped.
The Word was CREATOR (v. 3) - Nothing made without Him. Though we are not told exactly how Christ involved in creation, the Scriptures affirm it. (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2).
The Word was Life and Light (v. 4-5) - God reveals Himself through Jesus. John uses "life" 36 times—characteristically eternal life. He is light in that he illuminates the way to God in a dark world. No one could find their way to God without Jesus. He is life in that he alone can give us eternal life. He came that people might have life abundantly (10:10). He died so people might have everlasting life (3:16). Without Him we would be reaching for God in the darkness of sin and this wayward world.
All of this tells us that before the creation… God planned to create the world, cosmos, human beings. God desired relationship with humans but gave free choice. God knew when choice established, He'd have to find way to redeem man. All happened before Gabriel approached Mary.
Ephesians 1:4-5 "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…”
Before you were born, Before you needed a Savior, a cosmic Christmas was planned before time began.
2. A COSMIC CHRISTMAS REMINDS US OF THE VICTORY OVER DARKNESS (1:9-13)
The world did not know him (9-11). In spite of being Creator, Redeemer, Savior, he faced rejection from those who would not accept Him. Even his own people, who would most naturally be the ones to accept him - rejected him.
Spurgeon: "He was a stranger in his own house. He was unknown amidst his own handiwork. Men whom he had
made, made nothing of him.”
But not everyone rejected the Light (12-13). Those who receive Him are children of God! Those who believe in His name were born again! Unlike human birth—tied to passion and choice spiritual birth stems solely from God's grace through faith. Those who give their lives to Christ are brothers and sisters, born into the same Family, loving the same Father, and given the same Future.
3. A Cosmic Christmas Reminds Us Jesus Dwelt Among Us. (14)
This may be the closest John comes to the nativity story. We see his Glory! He dwelt among us as a human being. “Tabernacled” - pitched his tent - made his home among us. He was the only Son from the Father - there is no other path to eternal life. He was full of grace - a gift no one deserves. He was full of truth - teaching us how to escape the darkness of the world and embrace the light of eternal life.
In this incarnation…
-Our need for salvation is directly addressed. We cannot save ourselves, only God can do that.
-Our value is directly affirmed. Despite sin and brokenness, Christ embraced us with acceptance and forgiveness.
-Our weakness and suffering is acknowledged by One who has walked in the dust of the earth with us.
-Our worship and adoration is awakened and we worship Him with all our heart.
Conclusion
Mark Copeland writes: Such are the claims made by John in the prologue of his gospel…
-In relation to deity, Jesus is the essence of God
-In relation to the physical world, Jesus is the creator
-In relation to the moral world, Jesus is the life and light
-In relation to darkness, Jesus is challenger and victor
-In relation to humanity, Jesus is creator and benefactor
-In relation to the Father, Jesus is revelation
-In relation to grace and truth, Jesus is fulness
Today you have the opportunity to embrace and believe the light of Christ in your own life. Whatever darkness has found its way into your heart, He can dispel it. Whatever sin you are dealing with, He can forgive it. Whatever loss you have experienced, new life can be yours today.
John 3:5, 16-17 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. … For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”
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Discussion Questions
1. The other Gospels begin the story of Jesus with familiar elements like shepherds, angels, magi … Why do you think John starts his Gospel so differently? What does this tell you about his purpose?
2. How does John's "In the beginning" echo Genesis 1:1, and what does it reveal about Jesus' role before creation?
3. In what ways was the Incarnation "planned before time" (Eph 1:4-5), and how does that shape your view of God's love?
4. What does it mean that "the darkness has not overcome" the light? Can you think of times in history when darkness tried but failed?
5. Why do you think "the world did not know him" and "his own people did not receive him"? What were they expecting that Jesus didn't match?
6. What's the difference between "believing in his name" (v. 12) and just believing in his miracles or his moral teachings?
7. Jesus is "full of grace AND truth" (v. 14). Why do we sometimes emphasize one over the other? How can we hold both together in our relationship with God?
8. If someone asked you "What is God like?" and you could only point them to stories about Jesus, which stories would you choose and why?
9. As we approach Christmas, how can focusing on the "Cosmic Christmas" (John's perspective) enrich your celebration of the "Bethlehem Christmas" (the nativity story)?
Note: There may not be sermon notes posted to Sermon Central next week, December 28, 2025.
Resources:
Copeland, Mark. That you May Believe.
https://executableoutlines.com/topical_series/that-you-may-believe/tymb_01.html
