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. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not
any thing made that was made. 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. 6 There was a man sent from
God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness
about the light, that all might believe through him.8 He was not the
light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light,
which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in
the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know
him. 11 He came to his own, and his own
people did not receive him. 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. 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. 15 (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.'") 16 And from his
fullness we have all received, grace upon
grace. 17 For the law was given through
Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is
at the Father's side, he has made him known. ~ (John 1:1-18 ESV)
Christmas comes from the Old English words “Cristes
moesse” meaning ‘the mass of festival of Christ’ first celebrated in Rome about
the middle of the fourth century. Although there is much debate on the exact
date of Christ’s birth most will agree it was in September and not December. I
am not sure if the time we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior is as
important as taking time each year to remember the significance of the
sacrifice Christ made from the time He left His Fathers throne through His
death resurrection and ascension. There are accounts of Christ’s birth in each
of the four Gospels however; I would like to look at the introduction to the
Gospel of John here in chapter 1 verses 1-18.
We can see that the Gospel of John is different from
the other three Gospels. Of the four Gospels, the Book of John is the only one
that claims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple
“whom Jesus loved,” this is the disciple who is testifying to these things and
wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. (See John 21:24)
John 1:1-18, this is an exciting introduction to
the story of the Revelation of the Glory of God! We can clearly see that we are
at the onset of a story that is going to uncover to us the most hermetic mysteries
the world has ever witnessed. Simply this is the story about God, the
splendidness of His righteousness, the attributes of His life and His passion
to experience that life with His creation. This is the account of God coming to
be among us, the created and the confused reactions God received to His offer to
the creation of a heavenly life.
John provides no smooth transition into these
miraculous subjects; the writer just jumps right into the essence of the
revelation by giving in the opening an outline of the subject matters that are
going to be worked out in the commentary of the story. This beginning helps us
understand the significance of what is going to take place in the story and familiarize
us with what to look for.
The first five verses give for us a reference,
the main ingredients for the story that is coming. John gives us the perfect
vantage point starting with eternity then going to the creation with the
incarnation and conflict following as the main building blocks. John’s opening
mirrors Genesis differing where Genesis refers to the Creation as the beginning
here John teaches us of a being that existed before the Creation. “In the beginning
was the Word,” (John 1:1) therefore we are actually starting before the
beginning, outside time and space where eternity exist. In order to understand
who Jesus is John tells us that we have to start with the relationship between
“The” Father and “The” Son, “before the world began.” (See John 17:5, 24) This
relationship between God the Father and God the Son is the key revelation of
John’s Gospel this is paramount to understanding all the Christ says and does.
The very first verse so expertly written to help us understand the personal
distinctness yet the essential oneness of the Word with God. “the Word was with
God,” (Verse 1) showing the distinction between the Word and God. Here the word
“with” (pros) in a context like this is used to indicate personal relationship,
not just proximity (Mark 6:3 for reference) “and the Word was God.” (Verse
1), that is, there is an identity of being between them. Although these two
truths appear impossible to connect reasonably, they both must be held in
indisputably resoluteness.
Lets stop for a second and ponder what we have
just learned. Before creation, before time as we know it, was The Word, and
this Word was with God and was God. Let that soak in for a moment.
Ok now really let this enter into your mind,
“all things were made through him.” (Verse 3) This Word made all things, the
things we know about the things we do not know about, the things we see, and
the things we cannot see. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
(Verse 4) The Word is the source of life itself that is the light for all men.
This man name John, sent by God Himself as a witness about the light so that
all might believe through him. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was
coming into the word. (Verse 9) The Word, with God and is God, coming into the
world! He who created the world became a part of His creation. The Being that
is greater than all things, bigger and more powerful that man could imagine, steps
out of His glory and becomes a part of His creation. Just the thought of this
act alone makes me weep with joy, to know that the Creator loves me enough to
become lowly like me in order to save me. To allow His self to become an
innocent, helpless, totally dependent upon Mary and Joseph in order to offer me
salvation. Can there be any greater act of love?
Jesus Christ was born, what day exactly I do not
know. Does it really matter? The fact that He was born as flesh and blood says
it all. As we read on my weeping changes from joy to sorrow as we see that
Christ gave up so much to offer salvation and was rejected by His own people.
The sorrow does not last long because Christ offers His salvation to all people
who believe in His Name, He gives us the right to become His children. Not born
of flesh nor blood nor by our will but by God and God alone! (Verse 12) We have
seen the glory of God in the Son, His teaching, miracles, His life and death,
in His resurrection and teachings after death and in His ascension. Now read
verse 16: “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Verse
18: No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has
made him known.”
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