Christmas in John 1
The Word Became Flesh
John 1:1-14
Intro: Words
1. A young man was buying a shirt in a department store.
The shirt label said, “Shrink Resistant.”
He asked the clerk what that meant.
The clerk said, “The label means that the shirt will shrink, but it doesn’t want to.”
2. Adlai Stevenson once said, “Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact ath sometimes he has to eat them.”
3. Words are both fascinating and important.
4. But this morning I want to think about a different kind of word…
I. The Realization of the Word
John 1:1-2 Genesis 1
The point is to explain that Jesus did not come into existence at what we call Christmas (He was already in existence) and to show that Christ (the Word) created the world.
II. The Recognition of the Word
John 1:10
Prophesies, yet no recognition.
The point is to explain that the creator became creation, but the rest of creation did not recognize Him.
III. The Rejection of the Word
John 1:11
The point is to show that many rejected Christ and many still do.
IV. The Reception of the Word
John 1:12
The point is to show that many did receive Christ and to show the results of receiving Him.
Conclusion:
John 1:14
[Jesus from Heaven to Earth, Citation: Leith Anderson, "A God’s-Eye View of Christmas," Preaching Today #208]
Author and pastor Leith Anderson writes:
Several years ago I was visiting Manila and was taken, of all places, to the Manila garbage dump and saw something beyond belief. Tens of thousands of people make their homes on that dump site. They’ve constructed shacks out of the things other people have thrown away. And they send their children out early every morning to scavenge for food out of other people’s garbage, so they can have family meals. People have been born and grown up there on the garbage dump. They have had their families, their children, their shacks, their garbage to eat, finished out their lives, and died there without ever going anywhere else, even in the city of Manila. It is an astonishing thing….
Amazing, but not as amazing as the journey from heaven to earth.
The Son of God made that journey, and he knew what he was doing. He knew where he was going. He knew what the sacrifice would be. He journeyed from heaven to earth on a mission to save the human race.
[Show Precious Moment Figurine of baby on the throne]
Explain the significance of this little Baby in the manger being a King and the significance of Him leaving heaven in order to do this.
Ask if He is the King your life.
