The Word

Intro

The Christmas Season! Oh how wonderful is the season of Christmas, the fun, the warmth, the presents, the parties, oh we have fun at Christmas don’t we?

More than the fun, though, is the reminder of the birth of our Savior. The One. Jesus Christ.

Generally, when we think of Jesus Christ and His birth, we think of the manger scene, the Inn, the beautiful star! But, prior to the events of the virgin birth was a lengthy history of the people of God. Ups and downs. Pains and triumphs! Yet, the entire time, every second, every day, every generation, the promise of a Chosen One, a Prophet, a Priest, a King, a Messiah … a Redeemer reigned from the mouth of the Father.

Yet, the people of God lost hope. They didn’t seem to care. They were weary.

Then came Jesus.

Just as was foretold by prophets of old. Just as was proclaimed by God the Father Himself. Jesus, Yeshua, Salvation came. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

As we remember what Christ Jesus did on this earth, as we are thankful for our salvation which we obtain through His stripes and sacrifice on the cross, let us remember too, as the Word became flesh, and souls were changed, not one of those souls should have been surprised.

For the rest of this month, we are going to look to Christ. Why did Jesus come, what is fulfilled in Christ, and what does it have to do with us? We are going to take the Word of God and see the Word of God made flesh for our sake.

Turn with me to John 1:1–5

John 1:1–5 (KJV 1900)

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 any thing 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.

The Word was from the Beginning

When we think of Christmas, rarely do we think about anything other that Mary and Joseph, a manger, Matthew, Mark, Luke, maybe even John — dare we say Isaiah! When we look at Christmas we look at the story we are all familiar with, Luke chapter 2, and move on.

However, as we examine Christ, the Savior, the Son of God come to dwell in the flesh, we must go deeper. We must go back. We must return to the basics of our faith to see the true value in a Savior born for us.

Many of you know the story of Creation. God spoke, things came to be. So often we read about Creation and we see the Father, we even see the Spirit of God, but we don’t see Christ. So, then, we think Jesus didn’t come onto the scene until Matthew chapter 1. Oh, how wrong we would be.

Not only do we see Jesus appear to His people all throughout the Old Testament, but here in John 1 we can see the truth that Jesus wasn’t just a baby born in Bethlehem, but is God Himself come from before the beginning of time.

As John 17:5 repeats, Jesus, the Word, the Savior has existed for all of eternity and will exist for all of eternity here on out.

Jesus was not created by God, rather Jesus, who is God, is eternal.

Genesis 1:1 contains no hint of the creation of God, and here in John 1:1 there is no hint of the creation of Jesus. This is what sets Jesus apart from so-called gods—gods made by human hands and invented by human minds—Jesus has always existed.([1]Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 10.)

Church, today, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us so that by faith through grace He could dwell in us!

Jesus has come. Jesus has always been. Jesus is from before the foundations of the world. Jesus’ story didn’t start in Bethlehem.

The Word has been made flesh, celebrate that today!

The Word Brought Life

A Christian is someone who was dead in sin but now has received life.

A Christian is someone who was cut off from God but has now been reconciled.

A Christian is someone who was a spiritual corpse but now has the life of God flowing through him or her.

A Christian is someone who was dead to God but has now been made alive by and for him.

(Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 12–13.)

What is death? Separation. When we die, we are separated soul and body. Our body, our shell, remains on earth while our soul departs to heaven or hell.

What, then, is spiritual death? Separation… But a much different kind of separation. When we are dead in our sin, we are separated from a holy God entirely. Our soul is separated from God.

Until the Word. Until Christ Jesus.

Why did Jesus come to begin with? Why do we celebrate Christmas?

Jesus came to call you and I from death unto life. He came to be the great restorer of your soul to God.

Jesus, the Word, He is life. He came not to condemn you and I but to save us from sin, to save us from separation, to bring us life, abundant life.

Jesus came to bring life to a dark world. As our light, Jesus brought the good news that we no longer have to walk in the darkness of our sin, but can live afresh and anew in his wonderful light.

Before Christ, we wander in darkness. We don’t have clarity for the truth. We are confused. Even when we think we have it figured out, we are still truly in spiritual darkness and our souls see not the real truth of God and His Word.

The gospel is the good news that you no longer have to wander about in the darkness and despair of sin, but you can enjoy the light of righteousness through Jesus Christ (Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 13. )

The light helps us to see. The Light of the World, Christ Jesus, helps us to see our sin and our way out. He helps us to see our spiritual death and how to have spiritual life.

Jesus is born! The light of the world has come. Life for all mankind has been presented. See it. Believe it. Accept it.

The Word is God

As we look at Jesus, the one final deciding factor for believers is this: The Word, Jesus Christ, is not just some pawn of the Father. He isn’t some special agent sent to accept a mission. Jesus didn’t just perform miracles because of the power of God. Jesus. Is. God.

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 any thing 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.”

When you work through church history books you will find argument after argument claiming that Jesus was not God. On the other hand, you will find plenty that say Jesus is God. So, how do we determine the truth?

As important as church history, the early church Fathers, and church counsels and creeds are, they pale in comparison to the Word of God. The Holy Scriptures. As we just read, Jesus claims divinity through John in these first few verses but if that isn’t enough, look down the chapter with me some.

John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

Another way to word that is John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.”

As you keep reading in John you will see Jesus declare Himself as God again and again. He even boldly declares in John 5 that all of the OT was written about HIM.

Jesus is God. There is no way, when we look at Scripture wholy, that we find anything different or contrary. So, what does that mean for you and me?

The Promises of Jesus Hold Significant Weight

As we look in the NT and see all of the promises of Christ, knowing that He is God Himself, we can see more value in them and can trust them more and more.

Jesus, the Word, the Message, God Himself has promised us peace, love, holiness, and among many other things, Heaven! We can now rest in those promises knowing that our Creator Himself made those promises directly.

Jesus promises eternal life to those who believe and eternal judgement for those who don’t. Which promise are you holding to this morning?

Jesus promises answered prayers, the Holy Spirit, life, power to do what we are called to do, and an imminent return.

Hold fast.

Christmas Means That Much More

As we are in the Christmas season, we can’t help but to look at that story as we think about Jesus.

We so often hear “Oh, Baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger” and we love that story, right? And we should. But how much more gravity does that story hold when we remember that baby Jesus was God incarnate, God in the flesh, come to provide those promises to you and me?

How much does the birth of Christ mean to you? Is it just a great story? Or is it the redemptive plan of the Father taking shape in your soul?

Eternity is That Much More Secure

Because Jesus is God, then we can rest assured in our eternity.

How often at Christmas do you think of eternity in heaven? Likely, unless you are a major pessimist, you don’t associate Christmas with the death of our bodies. But, should we?

Should we associate the birth of our Savior with our eternal state? Yes, we should.

Because Jesus came. Because Jesus lived a perfect life. Because Jesus died on the cross. Because Jesus rose from the dead. Because Jesus is God, we can certainly go to heaven for eternity!

Conclusion

As we enter Christmas 2024, let us not think of it as some commercial holiday. Think not of Christmas as just an opportunity to see family, eat good food, and get good gifts. Remember what Christmas truly is: a reminder of our eternity.

Because of Christmas, the birth of our Savior. We can be saved.

Jesus, the Message, the Holy One of Israel, the Word has been from the beginning. Foretold by the prophets of Old with Him He brings life, and because Jesus is God, we can rest in His promises, hold on to our eternal state, and remember, this Christmas, Jesus, our God and Savior, must mean much to you!

Before Christmas can be powerful to you, you must know the savior.

The Savior who came, lived, died, and rose again to pay the price you must owe for your sin. The savior who loves you even IN your sin so much that he paid it. A Savior that looks at you and says “Oh, child, I know you are weary, I know you are tired, would you come find rest?

A Savior that makes salvation easy and heaven obtainable.

*Salvation plea*

This Christmas, I am not going to pretend that everyone here is excited. I am not going to pretend that each one of you enjoys Christmas. For many, Christmas brings bad memories, memories of loss, maybe you aren’t where you want to be for CHristmas this year. I invite you, would you come seek comfort from the Savior? Would you come pray?