CHRISTMAS EVE SERMON

Theme: Why should we know (Experiential) Jesus

Topic: What are the alternatives?

Text: John 1:1-19

John 1:1–19 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

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. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

What are the Alternatives

1. Why was John using this language?

2. How did the people Understand him?

3. How should we understand Him today?

John 1:1–3 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jesus as Wisdom

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

the Word : John uses the term “Word” as a title for Jesus throughout this prologue. But he doesn’t specify that word, “Word” refers to Jesus until John 1:17.

John 1:17 (ESV)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

It is not like Jesus brings the word in the same way Moses does, but rather Christ Himself is brought forth as the word full of Grace and Truth.

THE Greek term used here, logos, had a rich network of associations in the Hellenistic Judaism of the first century AD due to its ability to evoke both biblical and philosophical concepts.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

the Word was with God This phrasing testifies to the distinction between God the Father and Jesus while emphasizing the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son.

The Arche

This was what was considered to be the first principle

The unknown God or Creator

The Demiurge

The impersonal Determinant

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

the life A key word for John; it is used 36 times in the Gospel. This Gospel and other NT writings associated with John account for more than 40 percent of the total occurrences of this word in the NT. For John, Jesus’ ability to grant life to those who walked in “darkness” or “death” is the key issue at stake. Jesus has the ability and authority to do so because He was there in the beginning when God’s creative works took place.

But Philosophy Ends on

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

overcome A variety of figurative senses are available for the Greek verb used here, katalambanō—which means “take hold of” or “seize”—making its meaning ambiguous.

Classical Greek Concepts of a God vs Jesus

TEXT: Luke 15

Luke 15:31 (ESV)

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

“The reason for the absence of God’s presence in our lives is rather to be found in our persistence in sin or unbelief than in any supposed sovereignty of His will!”

1. The High Privilege of the Children of God

a. Noah walked with God and he understood that it was a privilege

b. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph knew that it was a privilege to belong to God

C. These men made alters when they met with God because they wanted these places to constantly remind them of God.

d. Moses said that he did not want to go where God would not be - He wanted his presence.

e. David was a might worshipper who made mistakes but placed value on God’s involvement in what he was doing.

The unfortunate in our time

A Lot of Christians seem to regard the whole work of the Holy Spirit as confined to conviction and conversation, not so much as indwelling with us.

1. But there are imperatives in the Bible that urge us to be filled with the Holy Spirit

2. If we walk in faith and obedience, the Divine presence will be enjoyed in unbroken continuity

3. “And he said ti him, Son you are with me, and all I have is yours” The Father said

2. The Low Experience of too many of us

1. Why is the majority of us not enjoying the presence of God

2. May be you have been trying over and over - But there is where the problem is.

3. We do not enjoy the presence of God because of our performance or religious works

4. God never withholds a rich experience with Him

5. And it is not because we do not have the capacity to receive certain blessings from God

What is the real Issue?

1. At the bottom of our Hearts do we really trust in Jesus

2. Do we really think that Christ is enough - is he all we need

3. The Seemingly contradiction between God’s gifts and our low experience

a. Now that we have Jesus Does that mean we have the the full Blessings?

b. If Yes, Does that mean we will always feel like we have everything we need? What if we feel empty?

c. Are we serving God in the Spirit of bondage where we create a certain standard to determine what it means to be blessed: Some of us, emotions are the measure of God’s feeling, Some of us it is possessions, Some of us it is the approval of others, Some of us it is the approval of important people etc.