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2024 Christmas Message #1

John 1:1-14

Key verse 1:14

THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND

MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US

1. What does the phrase “In the beginning” reveal about the Word (1a)? With whom was the Word (1b)? Who is identified as the Word (1c, 2, 14)? What do you think about the glory the Word had with God before creation (Jn 17:5)?
2. How is Jesus connected to creation (3; Col 1:16)? Why is it significant to believe that Jesus is the Creator God? Who is the source of life, and who owns life (4a)? What role does this life play (4b-5a)? How does this life assure us of victory over darkness (5b)?
3. What was John’s purpose in coming into the world (6-8)? Why is it necessary for someone to testify about the light? Who is the true light (9)? What makes Jesus the true light?
4. How did the world and God’s chosen people react to Jesus (10-11)? Why do you think these reactions were unreasonable? What promise does God give to those who believe in Jesus (12-13)?
5. Read verse 14. Who is Jesus, and what did he give up to live among us (Php 2:6-8)? How does his coming and life in the world reveal “grace” and “truth”?

The Word Became Flesh

John 1:1-14

John 1:14”The Word became flesh and make his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Merry Christmas! Today is the first Christmas message this year. This is only message from the New Testament, specifically from John’s Gospel. Among the four Gospels, only Matthew and Luke’s Gospel record the birth of Jesus. Mark’s Gospel skips the birth of Jesus and directly jumps into Jesus’ earthly ministry. As we see, the three Gospels already contextualize Jesus’ life, which was 2000 years ago in Bethlehem Judea. Therefore, we need to study the historical background to understand Jesus.

John’s Gospel also does not record the birth of Jesus but brings up a fundamental question about who Jesus was and why Jesus became flesh. May the Holy Spirit help us accept Jesus who came down heaven to save us through this message!

Part I. Who Is Jesus?

Look at verse 1. “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. 

We know that Genesis also started with “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1).” What is the difference? In Genesis, “the beginning” refers to the point when the creation began. God already created time and space in Genesis. In John’s Gospel, in the beginning refers to the point before creation began. It is the time when time does not exist. We call it eternity or spiritual status.

As the time line was pulled back to the eternal level, we could not find any historical or geographical names in this passage. There is no distinction between Israel and gentiles. Whoever people were, like Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or atheist, they just existed as the world or mankind. There is no time setting to study this passage. St. John removed the historical and cultural backgrounds to reveal who Jesus truly is. In today’s passage, St. John focused on the essence of Jesus’ being. Who is Jesus? What are his intrinsic virtues?

First Jesus is God. In this passage, St. John did not even call Jesus Jesus because the name Jesus was given at his birth. Right now we are talking about Jesus in his eternal status before he was born and before creation. So, the Bible named him “the Word” as his original name. The Word in Greek is Logos. The meaning of Logos is also word, principle, logic, reason, or universal divine reason. Greek Stoicism philosophers used the term Logos. I believe that Logos is important not because Greek philosophers used the term, but because the Bible used the term to name Jesus. Also the Word means a lot. We hardly hear God’s voice with our own ear. We think God is silent and does not say to us. But actually God has so many things to say to us through Jesus Christ. So, Jesus’ original name was the Word.

Verse 1 consists three statements, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The first statement is In the beginning was the Word. As we discussed before, “In the beginning” means before the creation or eternity. It means the Word was not a created being. The Word preexisted. The second statement is “The Word was with God.” It means the Word was not part of God. The Word was not an attribute of God. The Word was a distinct being from God. It existed with God harmoniously and equally. Verse 2 reinforces the first and second statement. “He was with God in the beginning.” This is a combination of pre-existence and co-existence. Lastly, the Word was God. The Word itself was God. The Word was God as much as God was God. In Exodus, Moses asked God, “What is your name?” At that time, “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM (Ex 3:14)” God should be self-existent. God cannot be created by another God. Overall, the Word pre-existed since eternity, coexisted with God harmoniously and equally, and self-existed as God. The Word exists within the trinity of God.

Why these two verses are so significant? Some people think that Jesus did not exist until Mary gave birth to him. That is common sense for humans. Who can exist before we are born? Is anyone older than their parent? Nobody! But Jesus is different. Before Jesus was born, Jesus existed with God from the beginning. John 8:58 states, “before Abraham was born, I am!” Historically, Abraham had lived 4000 years ago, and Jesus lived 2000 years ago. If Jesus was a mere human being, it was impossible. But Jesus preexisted as God before Abraham. Through this statement, Jesus himself affirmed that he was God and he pre-existed from the beginnin.

Second, Jesus is the Creator God. Look at verse 3. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. The declaration that Jesus is the Creator God is one of the most stunning statements. Jesus performed many miracles in his earthly ministry, but not all the time. His earthly life was a series of hardships, such as being born in a manger, escaping to Egypt, fasting forty days, facing persecution from religious leaders, riding on a donkey, praying tearfully, undergoing trials and suffering, being whipped and nailed, dying on a cross. These images give the impression of his poverty, weakness, rejection, sacrifice, or sorrow. But the Bible declares that Jesus was the creator of all the universe. Jesus is the owner of all things and Lord of all. Jesus is sovereign Lord. Colossians 1:16 states, “16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Therefore, Jesus was the Creator God in Genesis 1. “Let there be light.” “Let us make mankind in our image.” I believe all these words of God were set forth from Jesus. How about the refrain? “God saw that the light was good.” “God saw that it was good.” I suppose that God the father was so moved by Jesus’ creation and felt it was good.

Third, Jesus is the life.  4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  In Greek, there are three words translated into life: Bios, Psuche, Zoe. Bios refers to a life of a biological body. Psuche (Su-ka) refers to a living being, a life of a human soul (Matt 16:25, 26). Zoe refers to the eternal, spiritual, complete life that only God can endow us.

Where does our life come from? All of us received our lives from our parents. But the Word did not receive the life even from God the father. In Him was life from the beginning. Life is intrinsic value of Jesus. Jesus self- existed through the life in him. Jesus is the source of life for the universe. With life, Jesus created and maintains the whole world.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus defined himself with seven “I AM” statements:

1. I am the bread of life (John 6:51).
2. I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25, 26).
3. I am the light of life (John 8:12).
4. I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
5. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (John 10:9).
6. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
7. I am the vine…You will bear much fruit (John 15:5).

The seven “I AM” statements reinforce that Jesus is life and life-giver. How can death swallow life? It is impossible. Death cannot swallow life. So, Jesus rose in the morning after death swallowed him.

Fourth, Jesus is the light of all mankind. The author John talks about light in verses 4 to 9. Look at verses 4-5.  “4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” According to John, light has two functions. First, light conveys life. Jesus shines his light to provide his life to mankind. We do not know what light looks like. We cannot touch or smell it. But light shining from the sun or other stars is able to travel the whole universe while intact (#Universe Picture). Jesus shines the light and maintains the whole universe whether visible or invisible, power, dominion, and all authorities. Look at verse 9. “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” True light should be universal and shine to everyone without discrimination. God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good alike, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike (Mat 5:45b). We studied Acts this year and saw that Jesus gave the Jews and gentiles the same Gospel and the same Holy Spirit to those who accepted Jesus. Jesus is the true light. Jesus is the true light and light of all mankind. It does not matter where we are from, or what cultural background we have. Only matter is whether we accept Jesus or not.

Second, light expels darkness. When we open our heart, the light comes in and darkness disappears. When we close our heart, the light turns off and darkness comes upon immediately. We do not have light within ourselves. Even John the Baptist was not light. Humans are not light. Only Jesus is the light that gives us life. When we open our heart to Jesus, darkness is expelled. Darkness symbolizes ungodly thoughts, hate, condemnation, sin and death. Satan lures us to give everything in the world and tempts us to close our heart to Jesus. Satan comes only to steal and kill and destroy our soul. But Jesus has come that we may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).

So what does it mean to receive light? Light and life are deeply interconnected. I brought an illustration from the nature (#Plant Picture). Let’s take a look at a plant. Once a plant receives the light, the plant starts to perform photosynthesis. Light enables a plant to digest carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. If we keep breathing carbon dioxide, we die. Sin is like carbon dioxide to our souls. The Bible warns us through Lot who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. 2 Peter 2:7-9 states “. 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard (2Pet 2:7-9).” Whether Intended or unintended, we are surrounded by sins in this world. If we do not receive light from Jesus, our soul will be distressed and tormented by the sin we see and hear. We would say “everybody does that, what is the matter?” and we would be perished with the ungodly alike. But if we receive the light from Jesus, we are able to detect and repent of our sin. If sin is removed away, God’s presence will come back to our heart. Our heart will be filled with God’s eternal peace and joy.

Also light enables a plant to turn water into glucose to bear fruit. We suffer a lot in this world especially in New York. It is a tough and draining environment. But the light of Jesus gives us power to endure suffering and enable us to put our faith and trust in God. The light of Jesus makes us bear much fruit glorifying God’s name. (John 15:5,8)

Part II. The Word Became Flesh

Look at verse 14. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In the beginning, Jesus was with God gloriously (John17:5). Being with God means to lack nothing, to be full of joy, to have eternal life. But the Word gave up the glorious heaven and came down to earth. The Word wore a body and confined himself as a human. This is called the incarnation of Jesus. Why did Jesus incarnate himself and put on flesh?

First, Jesus became flesh for the sin offering. Look at verse 6-8 (screen). God sent another man named John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a witness to testify concerning Jesus. God wanted all people to believe Jesus through John’s testimony. Then what did John witness? Look at verse 29b, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” What does the Lamb of God mean?

In the beginning in Genesis, the first man Adam was created in God’s image. He was able to talk with God freely and had a beautiful fellowship with God. But Adam committed sin against God’s command. Sin came into all mankind through Adam’s sin. One of the most exceptional attributes of God is His Holiness. God is Holy. He has no sin at all and will not accept any sin. Indeed all sinful mankind was banished from God, who is the source of eternal life. Therefore, mankind have been tormented in their conscience by their sin, as well as lost the source of life. Humans become futile, lost, and eventually returned to the dust. God had mercy on them and wanted to forgive their sin and restore the relationship. But the wage of sin is death (Ro 6:23). God’s law demands life. Life is in the blood (Lev 17:11). Without shedding the blood, there will be no forgiveness (Heb 9:21). God temporarily had Israelites use animal’s blood to make atonement for their sin. But animal blood has a limitation. People had to sacrifice again and again whenever they committed sin. Think about how many times we sin a day! If this old system had continued, lambs or goats would have already been extinguished from the earth. Most of all, animal’s blood can make humans appear clean ceremonially and outwardly (Heb 9:13). That is why Jesus rebuked Pharisees’ hypocrisy.

Thank God for Jesus who came into this world to be the perfect Lamb of God! Jesus was the Lamb of God without sin (1Peter 1:19). He had no sin but to be sin for us (2Co 5:12). Jesus became a sinner in place for us and shed his blood on the cross.

Unlike animal’s blood, His blood is able to take away the whole world’s sin once and for all (Heb 7:27). The blood of Christ is able to cleanse not only our appearance but also our conscience from acts that lead to death. With the cleansed conscience, now we are able to serve the living God without fear in holiness and righteousness all our days (Heb 9:14, Luke1:75). Amen!

Debtors should pay back their debt to creditors. That is universal law. We should prepare our own sin offering out of our own pocket. But the wage of sin is so great that we cannot atone it. We had to face the eternal condemnation. But 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 (John 3:16). We do not need to pay anything from our pocket but just believe in Jesus. This is grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the most amazing gift from God we must receive this Christmas! A-men!

Second, Jesus became flesh to dwell among us. “Flesh” means a “body.” Though Jesus was God, he did not consider equality with God, he became human, exactly the same human as we are. He did not incarnate to just visit us for an occasion. Jesus incarnated to dwell among us.

Incarnated Jesus shared the same weakness as we have. He was hungry, tired, and thirsty. Also, Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered (Heb 5:8). Jesus prayed with fervent cries and tears (Heb 5:7). Yet, Jesus never used his divine power to avoid his suffering. He took up his cross God gave to him. In essence, Jesus became human as we are and received sufferings just as we receive.

In my freshman year in college, my bible teacher introduced me Jesus, the Son of God, as the savior. I could not understand how the Son of God could be my savior. How can the Son of God understand humans’ suffering, pain, and weakness? I thought the crucifixion was pretence, because Jesus is God not a human. I attended a spring conference that year and read Mark chapter 15 to prepare a group bible study. Mark 15:34 “’Eloi, Eloi,Lema Sabachthani’ ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’” I heard Jesus cry and saw his pain vividly in the verse. With his cry, I recognized that Jesus was truly forsaken son of God for me and accepted him as my savior. Praise Jesus who is the eternal high priest and savior! He is able to empathize with all our weaknesses (Heb 4:15).

Look at verse 12. Whoever accepts and believes in Jesus receives the right to become children of God. Beforehand we were gratifying the cravings of our flesh, and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest of the world, we were children of wrath (Eph 2:3). But because of his great love for us, God gave us the right to become children of God (Eph 2:4, John 1:12). As children of God, we have the right to claim God’s inheritance, the Kingdom of God. In reality, no matter how smart you are and no matter how good character you have, Bill Gate will not adopt us as his heir to inherit his great fortune. But our Sovereign God is willing to adopt us as his heir and co-heir with Christ for the eternal Kingdom of God. The only condition is that we accept and believe in Jesus.

Jesus became flesh and came into this world as the Lamb of God to give us the eternal Kingdom of God. The blood of Jesus is powerful; it cleans our conscience and soul, and enables God to adopt us as children of God. May God bless us to accept Jesus as our savior this Christmas!