The Christmas Story: A Saga Of An Awesome Journey!

Subject: The Christmas Story: A Saga of An Awesome Journey!

Text: John 1:1-14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Introduction: The gospel of John is considered by many to be the deepest and most spiritual book in the Bible. John had one goal in mind, to inspire faith in Jesus Christ as the son of God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ gives a more complete revelation of himself and of the God the Father, than in either of the synoptic Gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke view the coming of the Christ at Christmas from earth's viewpoint. John helps us see the picture of the first Christmas from God's viewpoint. In the gospel of John, we are presented the "I AMs” of God, the divinity of Christ, a fresh introduction to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and his new work and the divine mission of God through Christ Jesus. In John chapter 5, Jesus declares himself to be sent from God six consecutive times. He refers to God as his father in John more than 100 times. The gospel of John devoted more than half of his writing to the last days of Jesus' earthly ministry. Several conversations and discourses are found only in the book of John such as the Nicodemus story, the Samaritan woman, the discourse at the feast of Tabernacles, The Good Shepherd, and the intercessory of prayer of Jesus found in Chapters 14-17. John gives us only six miracles or signs to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the son of God. The reoccurring statement in the book of John is "that you might believe that Jesus is the son of God."

John does not retrace in genealogy of Jesus. John’s Christmas story includes no shepherd stories or no manger scenes. There are no angelic choirs or no wise men visits because this gospel is written from heaven's perspective. John gives us God's view of salvation coming into the world. The Christmas Story is a Saga of An Awesome Journey! The journey that John describes in our text is the most amazing journey ever taken. It is almost an unbelievable journey because it stretches our imagination and gives us a glimpse of the Father's love for humanity. Many peoples and cultures of the world cannot receive the idea of Christianity because they refused to believe that God would undertake such journey. It seems too good to be true. But the word of God says…."In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1, 14 Let’s begin our journey, Jesus journeyed from heaven into earth…John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

1. Jesus Journeyed from Heaven to Earth – Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God began his journey as the word, the logos, the Son of God who had existed forever. He built and designed the heavens and the earth, for without him was not anything made that was made. Jesus left from a perfect place, with perfect provision and perfect praise, and a place of perfect satisfaction to enter into a world of darkness, sin and shame and trouble and turmoil.