The Word, The Life, The Light
John 1:1–5 – That You May Believe
Third Sunday of Advent – December 15, 2024 (am)
As we turn our attention to the coming of Christ during our Advent season, we’ll be spending the next two weeks focusing on the birth of Christ. And since we’ve been working through the gospel of John – we’ve decided to look at Christ’s coming through John’s eyes – and so we’ll be returning to John 1 this morning.
I can think of at least two reasons for turning our attention to the birth of Christ at this time: First, to ponder the question posed to us in the hymn – “What child is this? Who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? To help us SEE & SAVOR Christ.
Second, because there is so much going on at this time of year that serves as a distraction from our being able to see and savor the birth of Christ during this particular season of the year.
Illustration: Distractions at the birth of our son.
And while you may not be distracted for the same reason – there is much that serves to distract us and keep us from seeing and savoring the birth of our Savior during this season.
So our goal this morning is to take some time to forget about the distractions - the shopping and hosting and decorating and cooking and training for hand to hand combat – as we ask “What child is this?” that came to us 2,00 years ago? In asking the question – we want to see & savor Jesus more.
Prayer of Illumination
John 1:1-5
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.
John’s Take on Jesus’ arrival
John’s account stands out from the accounts of Matthew & Luke
Matthew & Luke – the human side of Jesus’ beginnings
John – the divinity of Jesus
As J.I. Packer says, “The Christmas message rests on the staggering fact that the child in the manger was—God.” (Packer, 57)
And this is exactly what John wants us to see.
And as John opens his gospel, he answers the hymn writers question “What child is this?” by using three terms to describe him – and it’s these three terms that we will explore this morning.
Jesus is - The Word, The Life, and the Light – what is John telling us about Jesus?
The Word
Probably the most abstract of the three
How can a person be described as “the Word” – what does that mean?
“The Word” doesn’t seem to have much symbolic meaning in our day and age
If someone came up to you today and said someone is the Life or the Light, you might make an educated guess at what they are saying about such a person
But if they came up and said, “That guy is the Word!” It wouldn’t make much sense.
BACKGROUND
But in John’s day, that wouldn’t have been the case, because “the Word,” or LOGOS in Greek, had some pretty profound meaning attached to it
Logos in the Greek thought and Greek philosophy of John’s day
In John’s day and the years leading up to it – when Greek philosophers believed there must be some power, or soul, or energy, or life, or wisdom that explained the order found in the universe – and they landed on the term “the word” - Logos – to define it (Summary of Morris, 102-103)
So the average person, even without knowing much philosophy, would know it referred to something supremely great, something that played an important role in the creation and upholding of the universe.[1]
More importantly for John, Logos was a significant term in Jewish thought & in the Old Testament
Jewish religious thought
Often in the Targums (Aramaic translations of Hebrew Bible), out of reverence for God’s name and a desire to not break the third commandment by saying it, they would substitute it with something else, like “The Holy One” or “the Name” but another substitution was “the Word” – so Jews familiar with Targums would know “the Word” had divine connotations.
When they heard “the Word” they would have thought of Yahweh, God, the divine
The Old Testament – we see why they used the Word to speak of God
Though spoken by God, it something somewhat separate from God – almost as if it has a life of its own
something that proceeds from God with power and authority, especially to create
something that acts as an agent of God to communicate who he is and what his will is and even to accomplish that will
Genesis 1 “Let there be light . . . and there was light”
Proceeding, power
Psa. 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
Agency, creation
Gen. 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
Separate agent, revealing God’s person
Is. 55:10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
o Infallible agent, accomplishing God’s will
JOHN’S GOSPEL
John connects Jesus to this rich background in John 1.
Divinity – he “was God”
Agency – he was “with God”
Creation – That he was there “in the beginning”
Powerfully working God’s will – all things were made through Him
We can even hear the connection to Greek philosophy and how Jesus is the explanation behind the order in the universe
With John likely being the last gospel written, it makes me think he sat and pondered these opening lines to his gospel for many years before writing them.
John builds on these ideas to answer our question – “What child is this?”
Speaking of the Word - John 1:18 brings the prologue to an end by saying
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (or declared or described or expounded Him)
Jesus is the one who reveals God to us – who shows us just who God is
“Just as men’s speech is called the expression of their thoughts, so it is not inappropriate to say that God expresses himself to us by his speech or Word.” (Calvin, 13)
So perfectly did he reveal the Father that he could say in John 14:9 – Whoever has seen me, has seen the Father
Conclusion: Following all the words God had spoken thus far as He created the world and guided his people . . . Jesus is sent as God’s greatest and clearest message to a lost world
He is God and he is sent by God, to show to the World who God is
He has not come just to tell us about God – but to show God to us, in all that he says and does – for he is God in the flesh
That is who this child is – born to us at Christmas
SEEING & SAVORING
Times we long for self-disclosure
For Children – new school year, new teachers – long to know their true temperament and character
For employees - New boss; new manager
For those interested in marrying – what is behind an online dating profile
For those purchasing an used car – wishing to see the true movites, intentions of the ones selling the car
If we long for these things in human relationships, how much more so in our relationship with the divine?
If we long for this in the classroom and the office and the dating scene and car dealership – how much more so when we come to worship?
In many religions, both past and present, the god or gods they worship are mysterious, crafty, duplicitous, easily upset, hard to appease, and have unknown wills and desires
For thousands of years humanity has assumed that gods were unpredictable and unknowable, but two thousand years ago, the one true God sent Jesus so that we might know just who it is that we worship
What He is like
His heart for those created after His image
And the lengths He was willing to go to rescue them from their sin
So He sent them His Son – His eternal Word
TRANSITION
As we saw in the Old Testament passages discussed – when God sends out his word, things happen.
Two things John wants us to see happen in the sending of Jesus Christ are that he brings Life and Light to the world
So He says in verse 4 – in Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
So what is John telling us about Jesus by using those terms?
The Life
BACKGROUND
We have a category for someone being the “Life”
Life of the party; life of the group – they animate and energize and enliven the places they go
To understand what John means, we have to go back to Jesus as the Word
Clearly, John has in mind here is the life found at creation
Which wasn’t just a great party – but was where inanimate objects were first made and then had life instilled into them
We know this happened through God’s Word – when God said, “Let there be – whether plants or animals or insects or humans – and then there was, and it was alive!
But then John takes this life giving Word of God – and connects it to Jesus
Such that he can say, about Jesus, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
§Plants and trees and animals and insects and humans – All life came through Jesus back at the beginning of time!
Giving us a picture of Jesus as God’s divine life giving agent
Which is both marvelous and mysterious
For those who want to ponder it more go to Hebrews 1:1-2
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
JOHN’S EXPLANATION
As we read John’s gospel – we see that the life that is found in Jesus is more than just physical life
Later in our passage – we see in vv. 12-13
2 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.
What does this mean?
This Word – through whom all physical life came – there comes another kind of life
Spiritual life now – the resurrection of souls destroyed by sin, the enlivening of dead and wicked hearts that do not and cannot follow God
John 10:10b I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Everlasting life – life that will continue long beyond our physical death
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus is the exclusive source of this life
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
As in v. 3 – nothing is given life but through Jesus
This Jesus – God’s life giving Word – is who the child was that was born to Mary in stable in Bethlehem
SEEING & SAVORING
There is much about this time of year that drains life from us
At the top of my list is shopping – of any sort – but especially online
Or how about remembering someone you forgot to get a gift for – like right now!
Or the grocery shopping and cooking
Just when you think you’re done your kids classes decide to do secret Santas
Or just the constant flow of events (or traditions) to keep up with
But nothing drains life from us as much as our sin
Sinful attitudes we experience this time of year – anxiety, frustration, anger
Sinful consumerism – wanting more, worshipping of stuff
Are you feeling drained of life? Do you feel the life sapping effects of sin and this season?
We need to turn our eyes to Jesus and see, that the baby born to us at Christmas came so that we might have life
John’s purpose statement
John 20:31 these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
This is life for today
“Abide in me, and I will abide in you” – like a branch on a vine – there is no true life apart from Him
This is life for forever
John 5:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
TRANSITION – To life, John adds that Jesus came also to be the light
The Light
BACKGROUND – as with the past two, light also brings with it meaning from its use in the Old Testament
Creation
In Genesis 1:2 the earth is described as being without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep
Then, as the first of God’s creating acts, he said, “Let there be light” and through God’s divine Word – physical light was born
Light as God’s agent of truth
Psa. 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
Psa. 43:3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
Light as God’s agent of salvation
Psa. 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
JOHN’S GOSPEL
Once again, with these ideas in mind, John points us to Jesus and says – He is the one in whom true light is found
He plays an important role in the new creation as the one through whom comes both truth and salvation
The agent of truth
John 1:9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John distinguishes Jesus from all the other truth claims of his day or ours
He is the true light, the source of all truth
As light reveals what can’t be seen in darkness, so Jesus reveals God to a darkened world
John 12:45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.
He didn’t just come to be a walking encyclopedia
He came to shed light on who God is and his heart for His people
The agent of salvation
Light and darkness are very significant in John
While darkness represents the evil, sinful, ignorant condition in which all humanity exists due to their sin –
Light is the word John uses to describe not only truth, but the truth that saves evil and sinful humans from their darkened condition
John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
In this way – light and life go hand in hand in John’s gospel
The one who gives life leads us into the light and out of our wickedness, sin, and ignorance
John 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
This is who Jesus is at his birth
He is both the life giver and the true light
SEEING & SAVORING
·We have no light within ourselves
Despite what the sentimental Christmas movies and secular Christmas songs may tell us
We, as sinful humans, are not able to generate the light of life or truth on our own
So no matter how many times you hear the idea that the light of Christmas is found in our being kind to one another, don’t believe it
For the light of Christmas must come from outside of us – not from within us
Psalm 36:9 says of God, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.”
It is only in the light of Christ that we see light
Apart from Christ we are in utter darkness – about God, about ourselves, and about the means of salvation
So let us see and savor Christ at his coming to us this morning as the coming of true light that leads to true life
John 8:12 . . . “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Conclusion
He is God’s divine Word
He is the bestower of life
He is the true light
But we must conclude by saying that his glory is found not simply in his being each of these things, but in his being each of these things – for you and for us
If we’re to see and savor Jesus appropriately today – we must do so not just by marveling at who Jesus is – but by marveling and who Jesus is for us
For this Word, this life, and this light all have an object towards which they are directed
Jesus is God’s divine Word to us, His real, flesh and bones message to us
Jesus is the bestower of life for us, he came to lift us out of the deadness of our sin and teach us to find true and meaningful life now as we abide in him and then spend eternal lives with Him in heaven
Jesus is the true light for us, he has shown into our present darkness, his work is to expose the dark corners of our hearts, he came to lead us in the truth of who God is and how He will save us from our sin.
If we’re to receive and enter into the life and light that Jesus brings to us as God’s Word – John’s gospel and all of Scripture is clear – that all we must do to receive these marvelous gifts – is to put your trust in him.
As we see and savor these precious truths, let’s consider once again the question for this morning – “What child is this, who laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping?”
In the words of William Dix, the author of this hymn
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
_____________________
Works Consulted
Calvin, John. John. Crossway Books: Wheaton, 1994.
Carson, D. A. The Gospel According to John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, 1991.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, 1995.
Packer, J. I. Knowing God. IVP Books: Downers Grove, 1973.
Pink, Arthur W. Exposition of the Gospel of John. Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, 1945.
Reeves, Michael. Delighting in the Trinity. IVP Academic: Downers Grove, 2012.
[1] “The average person would not know its precise significance to the philosophers. But he would know that it meant something important. John could scarcely have used the Greek term without arousing in the minds of those who used the Greek language thoughts of something supremely great in the universe. But though he would have been unmindful of the associations aroused by the term, his essential thought does not derive from the Greek background.” (Morris, 103)
NEXT SUNDAY: John 1:14–18, Immanuel, Pastor Kipp Soncek