Sunday Morning Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

April 27, 2003

1. Some might think this sounds like a "Christmas sermon." However, Christmas is a man-made holiday not mentioned in the Bible. We don't know what date Jesus was born. It is good to study about His birth at any time of the year.

2. Jesus coming to earth fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies.

a. Micah pinpointed the place of His birth in Behtlehem [Micah 5:2 (NKJV) "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."

b. Isaiah prophesied that He would be born of a virgin [Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."]

c. The Old Testament Scriptures testified of Jesus [John 5:39 (NKJV) "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.]

3. When we think of the coming of Christ, we likely think of the birth accounts given in Matthew and Luke.

a. They record in detail the events surrounding the Savior's birth.

b. We want to study, today, however, the events recorded in the first chapter of John.

(1) John's gospel was written many years after the other three.

(2) John's readers were familiar with the accounts given by Matthew and Luke.

4. Let us look at two passages in John chapter 1:

a. John 1:1-5 (NKJV) 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 nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

b. John 1:14-18 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

I. THE WORD WITH GOD [John 1:1-5]

A. Christ is described as being "the Word."

1. John refers to a Being -- a Person -- not just principles or attributes of deity.

2. The dictionary defines "word" as something that "symbolizes and communicates a meaning without being divisible into smaller units capable of independent use."

a. "C-A-T" fits the definition. When you hear those letters put together to form the word "cat," a definite meaning is communicated.

b. We sometimes give a broader meaning to "word"

(1) A soldier in Iraq receives a letter from home -- he might say he has "word" from his mother.

(2) The Bible is the word of God [2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.]

3. Christ is called "the Word" because He communicates a message from God to us. More than that, His coming to earth and dying on the cross is the message of our salvation. Boiled down to its simplest elements, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ [1 Corinthians 15:1-4].

B. The Word in the Beginning [John 1:1-2 (NKJV) 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.]

1. Christ is eternal.

a. Eternity is a difficult concept for us to grasp.

b. Christ existed in the beginning -- before the world was created [John 17:5 (NKJV) "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."]

2. Christ is God.

a. He was not only present with God at the beginning, but He shares the same nature with God [John 10:30 (NKJV) "I and My Father are one."]

b. "Three-Beings-Yet-One-God" is clearly taught in the scriptures.

(1) Baptism is to be in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit [Matthew 28:19].

(2) 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

3. Christ is the assurance of the Word's communication.

a. He was ever-present with God.

b. He shared the nature of God.

c. The message of Christ is the word of God [Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom . . . ."

C. The Word in Creation [John 1:3 (NKJV) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.]

1. The Word was the active agent in creation. Compare with Hebrews 1:2 (NKJV) "[God] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;"

2. Jesus is Creator of all [Colossians 1:16-17 (NKJV) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.]

D. The Word and Life [John 1:4-5 (NKJV) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.]

1. Christ is not only alive, but He is the giver of life!

a. As Creator, He was the giver of physical life.

b. He is also the giver of spiritual life.

2. Christ's life is the light of men.

a. Jesus is the Light of the World [John 8:12 (NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."]

b. His light shines into the darkness of sin [John 12:35-36 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.]

c. Darkness cannot overcome light [John 1:5 (NRSV) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.]

II. THE WORD WITH MAN [John 1:14-18]

A. Jesus was a Man among men [John 1:14 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.]

1. The divine being took on a fleshly body.

2. He was the only human since Adam and Eve to come into existence without a human father.

3. His glory was evident.

a. Glory evident at the Transfiguration [Matthew 17:2, 5 (NKJV) and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. . . . 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"]

b. Glory demonstrated by His miracles.

c. Glory shown in His teachings [Matthew 7:28-29 (NKJV) And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.]

4. He was full of grace and truth [John 1:14, 16-17 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. . . 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.]

a. Jesus' grace is shown by His compassion for others.

(1) Compassion caused Him to heal the sick [Matthew 14:14 (NKJV) And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.]

(2) His compassion is especially seen in His sacrifice -- giving Himself to die for all lost mankind.

b. Jesus' grace was superior to the Law of Moses [v. 17].

B. Jesus was Superior to other teachers [John 1:15 (NKJV) John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me."]

1. John the Baptist was a great teacher who prepared people for the coming of the Savior [Matthew 3:3 (NKJV) For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'"]

2. John recongized that Jesus was God's Son and was superior to him [Luke 3:16 (NKJV) John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.]

C. Jesus is the Revealer of God [John 1:18 (NKJV) No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.]

1. No human being has been permitted to see God in His full glory [Exodus 33:18-23 (NKJV) And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." 19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." 20 But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." 21 And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 "So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 "Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."

2. All believers become sons of God [v. 12] but not in the sense that Jesus was God's Son. No one else could be so close to God.

a. The names given to Christ have significance.

(1) Jesus -- Matthew 1:21 (NKJV) "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

(2) Christ - anointed [Acts 10:38 (NKJV) "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.]

(3) Word - refers to communication or revelation

b. Christ was more than a messenger; He was a manifestation of God. [John 14:9 (NKJV) . . . He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?]

CONCLUSION

1. The coming of Jesus Christ was an event of such significance that it is overshadowed only by His death.

2. These events made a way to God available to man [John 14:6]. No other way existed before. No other way exists now.

3. Blessings come to those who are in Christ.

4. Invitation