Joy in the Incarnation

The Incarnation is part of God’s eternal plan

The Son of God (The Word) existed along with the Father from eternity past - John 1:1-2

John 1:1–2 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

What is meant by The Word?

The Greek word is Logos or Communication

Jesus was the ultimate communication of God’s character and will - John 1:18

John 1:18 NIV

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

The Word was involved in the creation of the world - John 1:3

John 1:3 NIV

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Why is this important?

Jesus precedes all of creation - Jesus did not come into being at His birth

Jesus equates with God the Father

Jesus was life and light to a dark and dying world - John 1:4-5

John 1:4–5 NIV

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John the Baptist came to point people to this light - John 1:6-8

John 1:6–8 NIV

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Jesus was the true light for the whole world - John 1:9

John 1:9 NIV

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

There are two responses to the light

Unfortunately, most people rejected the light - John 1:10-11

John 1:10–11 NIV

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Those who rejected Jesus preferred hiding in the darkness - John 3:19-20

John 3:19–20 NIV

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

Those who did receive Jesus became children of God - John 1:12-13

John 1:12–13 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Becoming a child of God is not the result of any act or choice of man, but an act of God

The Incarnation of Jesus is the full revelation of God - John 1:14

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 Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John emphasizes God’s grace and truth - John 1:16-17

John 1:16–17 NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Grace is unmerited favor and is added to the grace God has already shown in the Old Testament

Truth is reality, to deny Jesus is to deny reality