December 25, 2023
Pastor John Hering
John 1:1-5, 14
John 1:1-5, 14
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. 3 Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 The light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
14 The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
It has been a wonderful couple of months in the hearts of Christians. We have enjoyed the Christmas carols, hymns, recitations and Christmas greetings. You entered stores and shopping malls and heard the Christmas anthems over their speakers. However, everyone you saw was not an enthralled with Christmas as you have been. For some the familiarity of Christmas almost breeds contempt. The sales lady at the counter spent hours and days listening to the Christmas music and said under he breath, “It wouldn’t bother me if I never heard another Christmas song again!” It is a great tragedy if we lose our love and respect for Jesus and his Word. It is a fitting prayer for us to say, “Lord, help me always bow before Jesus’ manger with awe and respect, like Moses at the burning bush, or Isaiah before the throne of God in heaven. Lord, give us a heart like the shepherds and the wise men who came and humbly knelt at your manger.”
Today marks the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth. It is an occasion filled with joy! Let this day also be a day of sincere humility as well. Even though the second person of the Trinity took on human flesh, we dare not treat him as just a man. Jesus is so much more than that. Jesus is worthy of the greatest music, the most beautiful decorations, the highest honor and adoration. Therefore, we have gathered in God’s house on this Christmas to do just that.
Oh, Come, Let Us Adore Him!
Jesus is the Mighty God
The Word of God before us on this Christmas Day is recorded by St. John. He calls Jesus by a strange name. John calls Jesus, “the Word.” Those who translated the Greek into English wrote this title with a capital “W.” John is not just talking about a spoken word, or a printed book. Jesus is talking about “The Word” that is alive! John is inspired to share this earth-shaking message: “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.” And then the Christmas message in verse 14 “14 The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Remember who John is. He was a disciple of Jesus and knows his identity personally. Put John’s words into your own words. “When God, who is spirit, took on flesh, God was born a child.” The Athanasian Creed speaks this way: “So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord. For just as Christian truth compels us to confess each person individually to be God and Lord, so the true Christian faith forbids us to speak of three Gods or three Lords. The Father is neither made nor created nor begotten of anyone. The Son is neither made nor created, but is begotten of the Father alone.” This is what happened when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
John gives further testimony to Jesus being God by describing the characteristics of the Word made flesh. “2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made.” In the opening verses of Genesis we hear about all three persons of the Trinity present. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was undeveloped and empty. Darkness covered the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” There is the Word creating who took on flesh and was born at Bethlehem. How exciting! Yes, we drop down on our knees with the prophets, the apostles, the shepherd and the wise men. Listen as Joseph gives him the name, “Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins“ (Matt 1:21). Oh, Come, Let Us Adore Him! This is Jesus the Mighty God!
We might find it rather strange that John just didn’t write, “In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus is God.” It was the Holy Spirit who inspired John to use these words. This isn’t the only place in the Bible where Jesus is called, “The Word.” Jesus gave further explanation of the importance of this title in his Revelation to St. John. “13 He is also clothed in a garment that had been dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God” (Rev 19:13). Here Jesus is pictured as the victorious Savior with the blood of his enemies splatters on his garments. Jesus came and defeated the enemies and he is alive and well. From God’s Word we learn about Jesus’ saving power in his living Word that saved us.
Let me see if I can illustrate this for you. There was a missionary working in a remote area and there was a sickness that was killing the people. He called his team and asked for medical supplies. They said help was on the way. He was waiting for days and nothing yet. Then one day a plane landed, and they brought the medicine needed to save the people. The message that promised help became reality. The word was made into action when the plane arrived and medicine shared. Likewise, think of all the Old Testament promises and the time it took before the help arrived in Bethlehem to deliver all people from the curse of sin, the power of the devil and the threat of death. God’s Word was made Flesh! What an appropriate name for Jesus who came as God’s answer to our greatest need—forgiveness for all our sins and the holiness we need to enter heaven. Oh, Come, Let Us Adore Him! For our Jesus is our Mighty God. Our
Jesus is the Life & Light of All People
Now that we rejoice that Jesus is the Word made flesh, it’s time to dig down deeper. John said, “4 In him was life.” Yes, we would agree that every baby born alive is born with life. But, John is not talking about the obvious. He is talking about another life. I’m going to use my newest grandson, Cooper, for my example. When Cooper was born he was alive. But, in him was also death. Jesus spoke of this death to Nicodemus in John 3 “6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. Whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be surprised when I tell you that you must be born from above.” The Bible uses the word, “flesh” when it speaks about our natural sinful condition. For instance, St Paul wrote in Galatians 5:16 “Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out what the sinful flesh desires.” So, Cooper was born alive in his flesh and blood, but was spiritually dead according to his sinful nature. He needed to be “born again” in holy Baptism. At his baptism the Holy Spirit worked through the Word connected to the water to create faith and give Cooper the Life in Christ. In Jesus Is the Life of God. Jesus’ life was as human as our life, only without sin. Jesus’ life was as powerful as God’s life in order to pay for the sins of all people. Jesus talked about his “Life of all people” in John 10:10 “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Dear Christian friends, this is God’s Christmas Gift to the world! All who believe in Jesus received God’s blessings of forgiveness of sins, eternal life and deliverance from the devil. Oh, Come, Let Us Adore Him!
John further explains, “4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 The light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Light and Life belong together. Jesus is the eternal Life of the world and Jesus is the eternal Light of the world. Again the Bible uses this picture of Jesus to break out into the darkness of sin as the true Light. I hope this is the reason we put lights around our church, or here on the Christmas Tree, or at your home. These lights stand as a testimony to whose birth we’re celebrating! Jesus breaks the darkness of sin with his glorious light! Oh, Come, Let Us Adore Him!
Come beside the manger and look closely. There you see a baby with human flesh and blood. Did I just say, “blood”? All through the Old Testament the word “blood” was understood to mean “life.” God commanded, “3 Every living, moving thing will be food for you. I have given everything to you, just as I gave you the green plants. 4 But flesh that has the blood (which is its life) still in it, you shall not eat. 5 In fact, I will hold each animal and each person responsible for your lifeblood” (Genn 9:3,4). Then God gave the command that to receive the forgiveness of their sins they were to sacrifice the blood of an animal, although this forgiveness didn’t last and needed to be repeated. Then John and Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus had the perfect blood we needed to be sacrificed on the cross in our place. Jesus had the precious blood powerful enough for all people to be forgiven. Today, on the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we are going to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Listen to Jesus say to you, “Drink from it all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:27,28). In Jesus’ blood is new life, the light to bring us to heaven!
It has been a wonderful couple of months and weeks setting aside time to celebrate Jesus’ birth. But, it is so much more than decorations or Christmas songs at the store. It is the birth of our Savior, Jesus! It is good for us to be in God’s House on the day Christianity set to observe Jesus’ birthday. God has given his Son, the Word, to take on flesh and give us eternal life. Jesus is our life and our light. We are his redeemed children and heirs of heaven. May we celebrate Jesus Christ who came to save us today, and every day. Oh, Come, Let Us Adore Him! Christ the Lord. The Almighty Word who is our Life and our Light! Amen!
