John 1:1-5 Celebrating Jesus’ the birth: From Before the Beginning

Celebrate Christmas with lights

Youth went to the North Pole on Friday night

We use to drive through Highland Park in Dallas

Colorful lights contrasting with darkness is just pleasing to the eyes.

But the best of the lit up places include a manger scene.

Wood County Electric with their bigger than life size characters

Sometimes the scenes come in table top versions that are tailored to particular likes

Precious Moments

Peanuts characters

Resin based to make them more durable

Plastic for kids and babies

I love all of these. And it is appropriate that we honor and display the coming of Christ.

However though we celebrate with nativity scenes, we must never think that this was the true beginning of Christ. His incarnation – yes. But Jesus existed long before this event.

This morning I would like to back things up a bit. I would like to celebrate Jesus’ birth – Let us go to the gospel of John and on Jesus from before the beginning. The beginning of the incarnation. The beginning of the creation itself.

Jesus, the baby, is also the God who was before all.

I. From before the Beginning: He was

As we celebrate this baby, remember that from before the beginning HE was

(ESV) Genesis 1 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

“in eternity the Word existed.”[1]

A. The Word was with God (the Father) John 1:1a, 2; John 17:5

(ESV) John 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

As the Word, the Son of God fully conveys and communicates God[2]

Word - the expression of thoughts

(ESV) John 17 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

the Word (the Son) and God (the Father) already enjoyed an intimate, personal relationship in the beginning

B. The Word was God John 1:1c;

(ESV) John 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

The very essence of God (JW add an ‘a’ to the phrase since the article ‘the’ is not there. However, the Greek construction emphasizes that the Word is the very essence of God.)

Arian controversy in early 300s – Jesus was created by God. Early church council gathered and rejected this as heresy

(ESV) John 10 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.

Thomas got it as well

(ESV) John 20 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

(ESV) Colossians 1 15 He is the image of the invisible God, …

(ESV) Hebrews 1 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

1. Changeless

2. Central

3. Supreme

C. The Word is Jesus John 1:14, 18

(ESV) John 1 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(ESV) John 1 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

More than just a philosophical thought or distant being.

A person John knew. A friend. One he loved.

II. From before the Beginning: He was supreme over all

As we celebrate this baby, remember that from before the beginning HE was supreme over all

A. The creator John 1:3; Colossians 1:16

(ESV) John 1 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

(ESV) Colossians 1 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

(ESV) Psalms 33 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

(ESV) Hebrews 1 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 8 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

B. The source of life John 1:4a; 14:6; 1 John 5:11-12

(ESV) John 1 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

All life exists because of Him. He granted it life. All living things owe their existence to Him.

And eternal life. He is the source of eternal life

(ESV) John 14 6 Jesus said to him, “I amthe way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

All who have Him has life, because He is life

(ESV) 1 John 5 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

C. The source of light John 1:4b; 8:12a

(ESV) John 1 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

(ESV) John 8 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

But more than just shining or reflecting, the light of Jesus penetrates and enlightens hearts and minds[3]

D. The overcomer John 1:4c; 8:12b

(ESV) John 1 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Penetrates the darkness / reveals

Darkness has no substance – it is the absence of light

So it cannot overcome light

Also darkness cannot understand it

Unbelievers don’t grasp Christ’s true identity. Seek to conquer Him. Can’t

Light penetrates and exposes sin. Can’t hide from the light. Christ identified sin and exposes it regardless of a world that tries to hide it.

(ESV) John 8 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

III. From after the Beginning: Now people must choose

As we celebrate this baby, remember that because He was from before the beginning we now can choose Him

A. Some didn’t receive Him John 1:11

(ESV) John 1 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Those that should have understood did not receive Him.

Chose to be blind

The religious / the proud / the self sufficient

Follow Him not the world

And the committed sinners

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 6 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Life style of sin is not compatible with following Jesus.

Must turn from it

The world says: Self seeking is okay – Christ says self surrender is the way

The world says: Prosperity is the goal of life – Christ says the kingdom is the priority of life

The world says: I make my own rules – Christ says obey the Father’s rules

The world says: Seek pleasure regardless of what the Word says – Christ says put aside lying, gossip, sexual pleasure outside marriage

The world says: build intimate relationships any way you choose – Christ says intimate human relationships must be heterosexual and properly confined to marriage.

Lists of sin often. Self. Sin. Division. Gossips. Self gratification. Choose self over God’s way. These lifestyles are a problem. Must turn from them to what Jesus says.

Requires a realignment – trust Jesus / accept Jesus / repent and believe Him and what He did / desire to put aside the pst

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 6 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

We were once those other things, but now things have changed.

The Christian is a new person in a new family. We have been set apart for Him. Washed from sin, justified before the Father through Christ’s death on the cross.

B. Some received Him by faith John 1:12a

(ESV) John 1 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Some did receive Him. Always only some.

Turn from their own way / the way of the world

These embrace Him. Believe in Him. Born anew from God

C. Those receiving Him became His children John 1:12b

(ESV) John 1 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Have a new heritage. Children of God.

Look like Him not the world

[1] Bruce B. Barton, John, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 2. [2] Bruce B. Barton, John, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 2. [3] Bruce B. Barton, John, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 5.