God's Word Became Life

THE REAL CHRISTMAS STORY - God’s Word Became Life

John 1:1-5 (p. 739) December 4, 2016

Introduction:

I have a picture that hangs in my office that was given to me by a wonderful Christian woman after her husband’s funeral. It is an amazing piece of art done by a Korean artist named Elder Rhee. It took him over two years to complete. He meticulously drew this picture by hand with shaded letters. Its John’s Gospel written by hand.

SHOW PICTURE OF JESUS (GOSPEL OF JOHN)

The letters are drawn, some thick, some thin, some light, some darker so they bring out a picture of christ. The image of Christ isn’t imposed onto the words…but the words reveal Jesus. The words have become flesh…The words have become a person.

As E. Stanley Jones said, “Out of the gospels arises the Gospel. Jesus is the Gospel, the Gospel lies in His person. He did not come to bring the Good News. HE IS HE GOOD NEWS!

John the Beloved wants us to know through his Gospel that Jesus is…

I. THE WORD OF CREATION

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

The beginning John refers to isn’t God’s beginning…It’s our beginning. God has no beginning. He has always been and He will always be. God isn’t limited by past, present and future. He created days and nights. He is the creator of our starting point. God is infinite. He is “I AM.”

But as Creation Jesus was there. He is the Logos…the word God uses to make everything.

And it is through Jesus, the Logos, the Word of God that all of creation is made.

“Through Him all things were made without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3)

Do you know how God made everything in creation? It’s an important question. And the answer is: He spoke everything into creation.

He spoke…and it was! He said, “Let there be…” and it came to be.

The Hebrew Word for create (Bara) is only used in relation to God…Because only God can make something out of nothing.

At creation’s beginning the world was formless, empty and dark. God filled, God formed, God enlightened by speaking “Let there be,” and the world took shape, and the darkness was replaced with light.

John lets us know that Jesus, the Word of creation brought this light and life. He is the catalyst of all creation.

[I cannot explain completely how God can be One…and yet three perfectly, but maybe this will help our “finite brains.” I am Mary Ann and Jack Burdette’s son, I am also Ricky, Tyler, Cyndi and Karissa Burdette’s father, while at the same time I am Kari Lynn Burdette’s husband…I am one person, but have 3 distinct identities.]

John records that God has always had the Word with Him…and that Word was Him. Jesus wasn’t created…He is and always has been and will always be God.

But John also reveals “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”

(v. 14)

The Creator of all creation becomes one of His creation…Amazing!!!

Not only did Jesus create all things, but all of creation is His inheritance.

Paul writes to the Colossians about this truth and says:

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 (p. 821)

The Greek word for firstborn here is “prototokos” and it’s and adjective, not a noun. It isn’t referring to Jesus’ physical birth it is referring to Jesus’ position to inherit creation…In Jewish law, the firstborn inherited a double portion of the father’s estate. This word has nothing to do with Jesus being “created” as some would suggest out of context…It has to do with His authority…His supremacy…His inheritance.

In fact in Colossians 2:9 we read, “For in Christ all the fulness of the deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fulness. He is the head over every power and authority.

This World was made through Jesus - and everything in it, including you and me. We were created “for Him” but something horrible messed up this relationship.

“Sin.” Our sin.

It’s the very reason:

II. THE WORD OF CREATION BECOMES OUR REDEEMER

Sin brought darkness and death into a creation that was created for light and life.

Jesus created both of those in creation as the Word of God.

“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 1:5)

Which is greater? Light or darkness? LIGHT! There is no darkness so dark that a single match can’t penetrate it.

Jesus penetrated darkness at creation. When everything was empty and formless…The first words of creation “Let there be light…and there was light.”