Christmas in John 1
Just Another Baby?
John 1
December 15, 2002
Intro:
A. [2002 Poll on Uniqueness of Christianity, Citation: "Faith in America," U.S. News & World Report (5-6-02), p. 42; source: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/features/religion_survey.htm]
PBS’s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly/U.S. News & World Report poll conducted March 26–April 4, 2002
In a spring 2002 poll, those who call themselves Christians in the U.S. were asked, "Which [of the following] statement[s] comes closer to your own views?" They replied:
The religion you practice is the only true religion: 19 percent
All religions have elements of truth: 77 percent
Don’t know/not applicable/refused: 4 percent
1. Now I suspect that the way the responses were worded threw some Christians off a little because there are certainly some elements of truth in every religion, but is Christianity the only true religion or not?
2. Is Christianity just one of many religions that all lead to God?
3. Is Christ just one of many religious leaders?
4. Is there nothing unique about Christianity?
5. Is there nothing unique about Jesus Christ?
6. Is this just another baby that had an interesting story surrounding His birth?
B. Today we return to John 1 for our third sermon in this series from this chapter to see if there are any answers to these questions.
I. He is uniquely the sovereignty of God
John 1:1-2 (NIV), In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
A. I stressed that these verses tell us that Jesus did not come into existence at the time that we call Christmas.
1. These verses tell us that Christ has always been in existence.
2. Christ was God and He was there in the beginning with God.
3. The word “Word” here refers to Jesus Christ.
4. The time that we call Christmas is actually verse 14 where it says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
5. Jesus Christ was the Word that was with God in the beginning and He was God.
6. When Christ was formed in Mary’s womb was therefore not when He came into existence, but simply the time when He put on some flesh and became a human.
7. This is therefore no ordinary baby. This baby is God.
B. This baby is the sovereignty of God.
1. The word “sovereignty” means, “super reign.”
2. Sovereignty means the super reign or rule over everything and everyone.
3. This baby is God and is the super-reigner of God.
C. Daniel 2:21 tells us that God rules over nature and kings.
Daniel 2:21 (NIV), He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
D. Acts 17:31 tells us that God has appointed a day when the world will stand before Christ for judgment.
Acts 17:31 (NIV), For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
E. 1 Corinthians 15:25-28 tells us that God has put everything under the reign of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:25-28 (NIV), For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
F. Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV), Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
G. This is no ordinary baby—this baby is the sovereignty of God!
II. He is uniquely the source of life
John 1:3-4 (NIV), Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
A. First, John says that all things were made through Him and without him nothing was made that has been made.
1. This baby is the creator of the world!
2. This is no ordinary baby.
3. Everything that has been made was made through Him!
4. He created the heavens and the earth!
5. He created the plants and the animals!
6. He created mankind and He created you!
7. There is nothing that has been created that was created without Him!
8. This baby is the source of physical life!
B. But not only is this baby the source of physical life, he is the source of eternal life.
1. Jesus tells us in John 3:16 (NIV), "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
a. Jesus said that by simply believing in Him, we can live forever!
b. Jesus told us that if we believe in Him, we will not perish but have eternal life!
2. Paul describes what it will look like in the exciting text of 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (NIV), Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. The baby is the source of physical life and the source of eternal life…
C. And He is the source of abundant life!
1. John 14:6 (NIV), Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
a. Jesus said that He is the life.
b. And I hope that we understand that when He said that he was the life, He meant it just exactly the we do when we say, “This is the life!”
2. John 10:10 (NIV), The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 (KJV), The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
a. This baby is the only way to have life and have it to the full!
b. Many can promise, but only Jesus can deliver the abundant life!
D. This is no ordinary baby—this baby is the source of life!
III. He is uniquely the savior of souls
John 1:29 (NIV), The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
A. John told us that Jesus is the only one who can take away sin.
1. The Bible tells us that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin.
2. The Bible tells us that no priest can take away sin.
3. Only this baby can take away sin.
4. There is NO ONE ELSE who even claims to be able to take away sin!
5. There is NO ONE ELSE who can take away guilt and shame!
B. John 14:6 (NIV), Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1. I might say as well that no other religion denies that Christ is a way to God.
2. There is no religion that denies that Christ is a way to God.
3. The others, however, claim that they are another way to God.
4. Other religions believe that Christ is one of many ways to God.
5. But Christ says He is the only way to God. No one comes to the Father except through me.
6. There is no one else who can take away the eternal penalty for the sins of man.
7. Peter said in Acts 4:12 (NIV), Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
8. Buddha can’t atone for sin. Confucius can’t atone for sin. Gandhi can’t atone for sin.
9. Buddha can’t save! Muhammad can’t save! Confucius can’t save! No priest can save! Billy Graham can’t save.
10. there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
11. "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
C. This is no ordinary baby—this baby is the savior of souls!
IV. He is uniquely the sender of the Spirit
John 1:32-33 (NIV), Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ’The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
A. John-the-Baptist is telling us how he was told about Christ and his own ministry.
1. Either God or an angel spoke to John at some point in time.
2. And John was told that he was supposed to go out into the dessert and preach Christ.
3. And when he was told what to preach and who to preach, he was told that he should recognize Him when he saw the Holy Spirit come down upon Him.
4. John said that he knew that this was Christ because he had seen the HS descend upon Him.
B. And John-the-Baptist is also telling us about what Christ would do with the HS.
1. John told us that Christ wouldn’t just keep the HS to Himself.
2. John told us that He would baptize us with the HS.
3. John told us that Christ would give us the HS.
C. And Christ said the same things…
Luke 11:13 (NIV), If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
John 20:22 (NIV), And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 (NIV), But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Christ is the sender of the HS.
D. Now listen to some of what the NT tells us about the HS…
Luke 12:12 (NIV), for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
John 14:26 (NIV), But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV), Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV), And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession--to the praise of his glory.
Hebrews 2:4 (NIV), God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV), But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
This is what the HS is and does for us!
E. This is no ordinary baby—this baby is the sender of the HS!
V. He is uniquely the Son of God
A. John-the-Baptist testified that Jesus is the Son of God.
John 1:34 (NIV), I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
B. John, the apostle testified that Jesus is the Son of God.
John 1:14 (NIV), The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
C. Satan knows He’s the Son of God.
Matthew 4:3 (NIV), The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
D. The apostles testified that He is the Son of God.
Matthew 14:33 (NIV), Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
E. Jesus testified that He is the Son of God.
Matthew 26:63-64 (NIV), But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
F. The Roman soldier guarding Him on the cross testified that He is the Son of God.
Matthew 27:54 (NIV), When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
G. Paul testified that He is the Son of God.
Acts 9:20 (NIV), At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
H. Thousands upon thousands and millions upon millions have testified that Jesus is the Son of God!
I. No one else has ever made this claim and not been disproved!
J. This is no ordinary baby—this baby is the Son of God!
Conclusion:
A. [Gandhi Can’t Compare to Christ, Citation: Michael Green, The Message of Matthew (IVP, 2000), p. 141]
Author Michael Green writes:
Only Jesus fully understands God the Father.
Great people have discovered and taught many true and noble things about God.
Nobody has known him with the intimacy of Jesus, who could call him Abba, "dear daddy."
When that holy man, Mahatma Gandhi was dying, one of his relatives came to him and asked, "Babaki, you have been looking for God all your life. Have you found him yet?"
"No," was the reply. "I’m still looking."
The humility, the earnestness, the sheer goodness of a great teacher like Gandhi shine through a remark like that.
But it stands in the most stark contrast with Jesus’ claim, "No one knows the Father except the Son."
B. Is the Babe of Bethlehem just another baby?
1. Indeed not!
2. For this Baby…
a. is uniquely the sovereignty of God.
b. is uniquely the source of life.
c. is uniquely the savior of souls.
d. is uniquely the sender of the Spirit.
e. is uniquely the Son of God.
C. [God’s Favor toward Us, Citation: Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder (Word, 1995)]
There are many reasons God saves you: to bring glory to himself, to appease his justice, to demonstrate his sovereignty.
But one of the sweetest reasons God saved you is because he is fond of you.
He likes having you around.
He thinks you are the best thing to come down the pike in quite a while….
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart.
And the Christmas gift he sent you in Bethlehem?
Face it, friend. He’s crazy about you!
