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CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Introduction

Do you see the Christmas story according to the Gospel of John?

It is here in this text. There’s not much glitz and glitter here.

            There is no narrative of the Virgin Mary and Joseph journeying to Bethlehem.

There is no mention of the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger because there were no vacancies at the Inn in Bethlehem.

There is no story of the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, and the fear they experienced as they suddenly found themselves in the presence angels announcing Jesus’ birth.

There is no mention of the wise men who followed the star from a distant place, and brought gifts to the Christ child.

What is the Christmas story without Joseph and Mary, the Innkeeper, the shepherds, the angels, Herod, and the wise men.....and the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes? Those things are all that we normally identify with Christmas.

Unfortunately, all that many people know about Jesus is that He was that tiny babe born in a stable and laid in a manger Who was visited by shepherds and wise men. Now we all know that these are parts of the Christmas story. They are mentioned in the early parts of Matthew and Luke.

However, John has his own angle on the Christmas story. He wants to make sure that his readers understand who that tiny babe was. Why? Because it is of utmost importance. Because, if Jesus was just another babe born into this world, then what makes His birth any more special than that of a host of other famous and important people who came into this world?

You see, the Christmas story according to John is that the babe lying in that manger wasn’t just another famous or important person–He was very extraordinary. John wants to make sure that we understand some important things about this man called Jesus!

Notice the things that John tells us about Jesus.

I.         HE TELLS OF THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF CHRIST. (VS 1)

I was conceived in my mother somewhere in the neighborhood of nine months before April 11, 1956. I was born in Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital down in Brunswick, GA.

According to some who saw me following my birth, I wasn’t a very pretty baby. My parents were hoping for a girl. That was the first disappointment. I was long and skinny and was born double-breached. I was a real pain when I came into the world. So, I have an excuse for looking the way I do now. I was born this way, what’s your excuse?

            That’s how I came into being, but how about Jesus? When was His beginning?

Was it when He was conceived in Mary’s womb? Was it when He was delivered and laid in a manger? John says that it wasn’t.

John says that He was in the beginning before the creation of the world. What is John saying by this statement. He is saying that Jesus has no point of origin. He is stating that Jesus is eternal.....that he always has been. Check this out.....

            Did you know that Jesus spoke of his eternal existence ? Listen to these verses.....

John 17:4-5--“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

John 8:56-58--Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

            The statement “I am” meant - “I have always existed.”

It is the name of God from the Old Testament that was given to Moses when he went to tell Pharaoh to let his people go. Moses said, who shall I say sent me ? God said, tell them “I AM,” meaning “the self existence, and eternal one”, hath sent you.

So who does that make Jesus? If He is eternal, has always been, has no place of origin, then, who must He be?

            JOHN TELLS US OF THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF CHRIST.

II.       JOHN TELLS US OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST. (VS 1)

            “. . .the Word was God”

            There John said it. There the Bible says it for all the world to know.

            Jesus, “The Word,” was God.

What is so special about Jesus? What is so great about Him?

            Why did the shepherds rejoice to hear the news?

Why did the angels say, “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace, good will toward men.”

Why did the wise men chart their course by that special star and travel for hundreds of miles to worship him, and bring Him gifts ?

Why do we assemble in Church, read about Him, pray to Him, worship Him, and give Him our lives.

            Why? Certainly not because He was an ordinary man! It is because Jesus is God!

We have heard the testimony of John concerning who Jesus is....but what about others.....what do others say about who he is ?

            A.        God The Father Says Jesus Is God! Hebrews 1:8-10

                        Here God the Father speaks to His Son, Jesus, God the Son.

Isaiah 7:14–“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Listen to His words in Hebrews....it is God the Father speaking to Jesus, God the Son

Consider the words of God in Isaiah 43:11, “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Saviour.”

                        God says... “there is no Savior but me !”

Let me ask you, who named Jesus ? Listen to these words, you’ll remember them:

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.”

            B.        Mary Knew Jesus Was God!

If we compare these to the words of Mary in Luke 1:47, “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”

            C.        The Angels Knew Jesus Was God!

Now listen to what the angels said about Him to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11-- “I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

The works of God, and the mysteries of God are difficult for our finite minds to fathom....we don’t understand everything about the Trinity of God or about the

                        Pre-existence of Jesus.

I don’t understand how He could love us so, but this much I do know, and understand–Jesus is God !

Did you know that there some Bible denying people who call themselves Bible scholars–some of them even Baptists–who deny that Jesus is God !

            D.        Jesus Said That Jesus Was God!

I have read where some have had the audacity to say that Jesus never claimed to be God. Obviously they have not read the same Bible that we have.

                        Listen carefully to these words of Jesus and tell me who He claims to be.

John 13:12-13–“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”

In John 14:8-9--“Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?”

When Jesus testified before the High Priest prior to His death on the cross, I want us to look at His testimony, especially the response to what He said.

                        Mark 14:61-64

The High Priest knew exactly what Jesus was saying.

                        He understood that Jesus was claiming to be God.

            E.        The Holy Spirit Tells Us Jesus Is God!

He is the Author of the Scripture. He also testifies the same to the hearts of believers.

            JOHN TELLS US OF THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF CHRIST.

            JOHN TELLS US OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST.

III.      JOHN TELLS US OF THE POWER OF CHRIST. VS. 3

            Genesis 1:1– “In the beginning God created the heavens, and the earth.”

John says in verse 2 and 3, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

            John stated that Jesus was God, and now he ascribes to Jesus work that God had done.

            Look at Psalms 104:5ff

Who did all this? Who made it happen? It was God.....and John said Jesus did it along with Paul and others.....Consider

In Colossians 1:16-17–“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Redeemer

By Nicole C. Mullen

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning

Who told the ocean you can only come this far?

Who showed the moon where to hide ‘til evening

Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

All of creation testify

This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives

The very same God that spins things in orbit

He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak

And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken

They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

Let this life within me cry

I know my Redeemer, He lives

To take away my shame

And He lives forever I’ll proclaim

That the payment for my sin

Was the precious life He gave

But now He’s alive

And there’s a new day

And I know my Redeemer, He lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives

Creation testifies of the creator, and that creator was the Lord Jesus.....He is God !

            JOHN TELLS US OF THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF CHRIST.

            JOHN TELLS US OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST.

            JOHN TELLS US OF THE POWER OF CHRIST. 

IV.      JOHN TELLS US OF THE PARTAKING OF CHRIST. (Vs 14)

            Now this is where Matthew and Luke begin their Christmas message.

            But John just states the facts without all the details that they give us.

            Vs.14–“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...”

            That one verses captivates the whole meaning of Christmas.

The God who is described as from everlasting to everlasting...

            The one Who is also entitled the “ancient of days”...

            The one Who tells the Sun when to rise, and set...

            The one who showed the mountains where to stand...

            The one who poured the water into the depths, and then commanded them to stay...

            The one who hung the moon, the planets, and the stars in the heavens...

            The one who made all the animals...

            The one who made all the plants...

            The one who reached down, and took dust of the ground and formed a man out of it...

The one who then breathed into him the breath of life and caused him to become a living soul.

            The one who sought man out after he had sinned.

The same God who did all of this.....and more.....made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant......He became in the likeness of sinful man......God became flesh........God became a man......He dwelt among men......He endured the hardships, the heartbreaks, the pain, the suffering, the loneliness, the temptations, the hunger, the thirst, the humiliation, the rejection of family and friends. He did it for us!

            Friend, let me tell you that only God would take a step like that.

            That’s what makes Christmas worth celebrating–God became flesh!

            But let me tell you that Jesus wasn’t just any man.....He was still the God-Man.

            God but man.......Man but God. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him.

V.        JOHN TELLS US OF THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRIST.

John says......we have seen His glory !

John would later on in 1 John 1 say this–“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life”

John says....I beheld His glory ! And then later testifies......I heard Him...I saw Him with my own eyes......I looked at Him....I touched Him with my own two hands...He was God....yet He was a man...and oh what a man Jesus was--the perfect man.

            John testifies in V. 14 that Jesus was full of grace and truth.

Not only did God become flesh manifesting Himself thru the Son...but He lived a perfect life.....though He was tempted He was without sin.....when cursed, and spat upon....He opened not His mouth.

He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him ! He lived a life of grace and truth.....even His accusers could find no fault in him!

And then finally John in his Christmas message tells us the answer to the why of Christmas...why did God become flesh ?

V.        JOHN TELLS US OF THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST. (VS 29)

John now tells of the experience of John the Baptist a cousin to Jesus who was called the forerunner of Christ. One day as John was baptizing he looked up and here is his testimony concerning Christ, and the writer John records it that we might know the purpose of His coming...

            “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”

God became flesh...Jesus was born in Bethlehem to be our sacrificial lamb...He was without spot and blemish as a lamb had to be !

To a lot of folks, Jesus is still in the cradle. They have never experienced the true meaning and message of Christmas. That sweet babe born in Bethlehem would grow up to be man of grace, and truth, and then would die on the cross for our sins that we might live thru Him.

            God became flesh. He came to us so that we might come to Him !

            Would you come and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today?

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!