What Child Is This? (Part 3)

"The claim that Christianity makes for Christmas is that at a particular time and place God came to be with us Himself. When Quirinius was governor of Syria, in a town called Bethlehem, a child was born who, beyond the power of anyone to account for, was the high and lofty One made low and helpless. The One who inhabits eternity comes to dwell in time. The One whom none can look upon and live is delivered in a stable under the soft, indifferent gaze of cattle. The Father of all mercies puts Himself at our mercy."—Frederick Buechner

“There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John” (v. 6).

“John” = John the Baptist. Who was John the Baptist?
· Vital statistics: parents – Zechariah and Elizabeth; distant relative – Jesus; home – Judea; occupation – prophet (there had not been a prophet in Israel for 400 years).
· His coming was predicted in Isaiah 40:3: “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God’” (cf. John 1:23).
· He is known for his unusual lifestyle. “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4).
· Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).
· His purpose was to prepare people to receive Jesus, the Messiah (the Christ).

The ministry of John the Baptist (vv. 7-8):
· He was not the Messiah. “He himself was not the light” (v. 8a; cf. vv. 19-28). Some people wondered if John was the Christ (Luke 3:15). “I am not the Christ” (v. 20).
· He pointed people to the true Messiah—Jesus. “He came only as a witness to the light” (v. 8b; cf. vv. 29-34). John is the first in a series of several witnesses presented in this Gospel. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (v. 29).
· He led many people to follow Jesus. “He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe” (v. 7; cf. vv. 35-51). “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ When the two disciples [Andrew and probably John] heard him say this, they followed Jesus” (vv. 35-37).

“Through him” = through John. Application: As people believed in Jesus through John, so today people can believe in Him through us (through our witness). Are you leading people closer to Jesus or turning them farther away?

“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (v. 9). KJV: “That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Because the entry of Jesus into the world is such a frequent thought for John, the first reading is the better interpretation (cf. 1:10; 3:17, 19).

The coming of the Messiah is frequently described in the OT in terms of light:
· “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17).
· “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).
· “The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2)
· Zechariah: “The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness” (Luke 1:78-79)
· By saying that Jesus is the “true light,” John indicates that Jesus is the fulfillment of OT hopes and expectations.

How does Jesus give light “to every man”? John may mean that Jesus lights not every man without exception, but every man without distinction (i.e. not Jews only; cf. Acts 1:8; Colossians 3:11).

Two astonishing facts:
(1) God became a man;
(2) When God did this, people would have nothing to do with Him.

John is concerned that we should miss neither the good news of the incarnation of God, nor the tragedy of the human rejection of God.

1. The world did not recognize its creator.

“He was in the world [earth], and though the world [earth] was made through him, the world [people] did not recognize him” (v. 10; cf. v. 3).

Jesus came to earth because of God’s love for the world (John 3:16). When the Bible says that God loves the world, it is not an endorsement of the world’s goodness but a testimony to the greatness of God’s love. God’s love is to be admired not because the world is so big but because the world is so bad.

The statement “he was in the world” tells us that God did not make a quick visit to earth.

"The Maker of man became man that He, Ruler of the stars, might be nourished at the breast; that He, the Bread, might be hungry; that He, the Fountain, might thirst; that He, the Light, might sleep; that He, the Way, might be wearied by the journey; that He, the Truth, might be accused by false witnesses; that He, the Judge of the living and the dead, might be brought to trial by a mortal judge; that He, Justice, might be condemned by the unjust; that He, disciple, might be scourged with whips; that He, the Foundation, might be suspended upon a cross; that Courage might be weakened; that Security be wounded; that Life might die.

"To endure these and similar indignities for us, to free us, unworthy creatures, He who existed as the Son of God before all ages, without a beginning, designed to become the Son of Man in these recent years. He did this although He who submitted to such great evils for our sake had done no evil and although we, who were the recipients of so much good at His hands, had done
nothing to merit these benefits."—Augustine

“Did not recognize him [knew him not (KJV)]” refers to more than intellectual knowledge. There is also the thought of the failure to know and love as a friend. The world missed its great opportunity. It did not come to know God when God was in its very midst.

2. The Jewish nation did not receive its Messiah.

“He came to that which was his own [his own home], but his own [his own people] did not receive him” (v. 11).

Jesus did not go where He could not have expected to be known. He came home (to Israel), where the people should have known Him.

The Jews’ response to Jesus was hostile among the leaders and divided among the people.

When Jesus came to earth, there was no room for Him in most people’s lives:
a. The people of Bethlehem - “And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).
b. Herod - “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed…. Herod is going to search for the child to kill him" (Matthew 2:3, 13).
c. The religious leaders - “When [Herod] had called all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied….” (Matthew 2:4-6). Bethlehem was only a short distance from Jerusalem. Why didn’t they go?
d. The people of Nazareth - “They said, ‘Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I came down from heaven"?’” (John 6:42).
e. The people of Jerusalem - “‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ asked the governor. ‘Barabbas,’ they answered. ‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?’ Pilate asked. They all answered, ‘Crucify him!’ ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’” (Matthew 27:21-23).

Why?
· Some people (like Herod) are actively opposed to Jesus.
· Some people (like the people of Nazareth) don’t really understand who Jesus is.
· Some people (like the people of Bethlehem) are preoccupied with other things they think are more important. Illustration: Christ gets lost in the busyness and commercialism of Christmas.

3. Those who do receive Jesus will become children of God.

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (vv. 12-13).

When Jesus came to earth, there was room for Him in a FEW people’s lives:
a. The shepherds (Luke 2:15-16).
b. The wise men (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11)

The shepherds “hurried off” (Luke 2:16). The wise men traveled “from the east” (Matthew 2:1). The shepherds and wise men would have been looked down on as outcasts and foreigners, but God made them His children.

The new birth:
· Becoming a child of God is not a right we deserve or earn; it is a gift of grace (“gave”).
· Becoming a child of God is not a natural event; it is a miracle of God.

The end of the story is not the tragedy of rejection, but the grace of acceptance.

The big difference between Jesus and Santa:
· Santa is about me and the stuff I so desperately want.
· Jesus is about something more—the grace I so desperately need.
(Based on Jesus and Santa Video by Igniter Media Group)

Christmas Trivia

1. Which angel told Mary she would give birth to the Son of God?
a. Michael
b. Gabriel
c. Clarence
d. The Bible doesn’t say

2. What was the nature of Mary and Joseph’s relationship when Mary became pregnant?
a. They were friends
b. They didn’t know each other
c. They were engaged
d. They were married

3. Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
a. An angel
b. God in a dream
c. Caesar Augustus
d. Mary’s parents

4. What did the innkeeper say to Mary and Joseph?
a. “We have no room in the inn.”
b. “You can stay in our stable.”
c. “Try the Holiday Inn.”
d. The Bible doesn’t say

5. When did baby Jesus cry?
a. Whenever babies usually cry
b. When he opened the wise men’s gifts
c. He never cried
d. When the cattle started lowing

6. Who many wise men visited Jesus?
a. 4
b. 7
c. 3
d. Who knows?

7. Where did the wise men find Jesus?
a. In a house
b. In a cave
c. In a stable
d. In the temple

8. Where did Mary, Joseph, and Jesus live after they left Bethlehem?
a. Nazareth
b. Jerusalem
c. Rome
d. Egypt

9. Which one of the following statements did Jesus make?
a. “I came to bring peace.”
b. “I did not come to bring peace.”
c. “On earth peace, good will toward men.”
d. None of the above

10. Why was December 25th chosen as Christmas Day?
a. That’s when Jesus was born
b. To compete with a pagan celebration
c. That’s the day Santa chose
d. That’s when the Bible says to celebrate Christmas

Answers: 1-b (Luke 1:26), 2-c (Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:27), 3-c, 4-d (Luke 2:1), 5-a, 6-d, 7-a (Matt. 2:11), 8-d (Matt. 2:14), 9-b (Matt. 10:34), 10-b

(If you disagree with any of the answers or have any questions, please leave a comment.)

What Child Is This? (Part 2)

People like to go home for Christmas. We long for familiar sights and sounds and smells. We sing songs about going home to celebrate Christmas.

I’ll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree

Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays
‘Cause no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home!

There is no Christmas
Like a home Christmas
With your Dad and Mother
Sis an’ Brother there

But Christmas isn’t about going home. It’s about leaving home. That’s what Jesus did. He left His heavenly home to come down to this dark world.

John 1:3-5

1. He is the Creator.

“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (v. 3).

Jesus was the agent of creation: “Through him all things were made.”

Some people say that Jesus was the first creation of God and through Him God created everything else. But this verse is clear: “Without him nothing was made that has been made.” Everything that has been made was made by Jesus. If Jesus was created, He would have to have been created by Himself, which would require Him to both exist and not exist at the same time (impossible!).

He created both light and life:
· “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,” and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3).
· “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

2. He came to earth to bring us light and life (vv. 4-5).

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).

If Christ had not come to earth, we would forever live in darkness. What does darkness symbolize?

· Confusion

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night…” (John 3:1-2). In the darkness of confusion, Nicodemus misunderstood the new birth.

· Hopelessness

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark…” (John 20:1). In the darkness of hopelessness, the followers of Jesus thought this was the end.

This past Wednesday, teenager Robert Hawkins opened fire in a mall in Omaha, Nebraska, killing eight people and injuring several others. He had recently broken up with a girlfriend and lost his job at a McDonald’s. In a suicide note, he wrote, “I’ve just snapped. I can’t take this meaningless existence anymore. I’ve been a constant disappointment and that trend would have only continued.”

· Sin

“…[Judas] went out. And it was night” (John 13:2). In the darkness of sin, Judas betrayed Jesus.

Sin = commitment to self (righteousness = commitment to God). Judas followed Jesus because he wanted a revolution. When he realized that Jesus wasn’t going to do what he wanted Him to do, he betrayed Jesus.

Robert Hawkins, though depressed, was still devoted to himself. In his suicide note, he wrote about how he would “be famous” because of the killings.

Jesus doesn’t want anyone to live in spiritual confusion, hopelessness, and sin. He said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).

Two translations of verse 5b:
· “…the darkness has not understood the light.”
· “…the darkness has not overcome the light.”

Perhaps John wants us to read it both ways: darkness could not “understand” the light (could not grasp with the mind), and darkness could not “overcome” the light (could not grasp it with the hand).

Because the hearts and minds of people are dark, Jesus was rejected (misunderstood) and crucified. But light is stronger than darkness.

No matter how dark a room is, a candle will always shine.

The crucifixion and resurrection prove that light is more powerful than darkness:
· “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour [from noon to three in the afternoon], for the sun stopped shinning” (Luke 23:44-45a).
· “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb” (Matthew 28:1).

The darkness of the crucifixion led to the light of resurrection morning. Light has overcome darkness.

Light reveals. A flashlight reveals what is in a dark room.

Jesus came to reveal many truths to us:

a. Jesus is the light who reveals the only way to eternal life.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

The teaching that Christ is the light of men reminds us of the Israelites who—after their exodus from Egypt, and during their time in the dark wilderness—followed the pillar of light. Those who followed it and did not rebel against its guidance reached Canaan. The others had died in the desert. We could say that a “second exodus” is currently underway. Followers of Christ are leaving the darkness of this world and entering the light of God’s kingdom.

b. Jesus is the light who reveals the hope of eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not sent his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

c. Jesus is the light who reveals the freedom of eternal life.

“If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).

There is a connection between hope and spiritual freedom. You don’t need to get all you can because this is not all there is. You are free not to live for yourself.

Challenge

Followers of Christ are lights who reflect His glory:
· “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).
· “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

What Child Is This? (Part 1)

John’s Gospel has been called the Gospel of Decision. In its pages we are urged to believe the truth about Jesus Christ.

“I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all of history.”—H. G. Wells

“Who is Jesus?” is the most important question any person will ever encounter.

How the Story Begins:

· Mark begins his Gospel with the ministry of Jesus.

· Matthew and Luke begin their Gospels with the birth of Jesus.

· John begins his Gospel with the preexistence of Jesus.

The word of God in the Old Testament is the means by which He expresses Himself. Also, His word is often personified (described in human terms).

· In creation: Genesis 1 says that God created the universe through His word. We read repeatedly that “God said…and it was so.” “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made” (Psalm 33:6).

· In revelation: “The word of the Lord came to Isaiah” (Isaiah 38:4).

· In salvation and judgment: “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

John is not simply personifying the word of God. He is talking about an actual Person.

“The Word” (Greek: logos) = Jesus

As our words reveal who we are, so “the Word” (Jesus) reveals who God is.

1. WHAT JESUS ALWAYS WAS

a. He was always existing (1:1a).

John 1:1 reminds us of Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

When the beginning began, Jesus was already there. Greek word for “was” means “continually was.” In other words, He is eternal. He did not have a beginning.

Genesis 1 introduces the story of the old creation; John 1 introduces the story of the new creation.

Mark’s Gospel begins this way: “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” John may be saying, “Mark has told you about the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry; I want to show you that the starting point of the gospel can be traced father back than that, before the beginning of the universe.”

b. He was always with God (1:1b).

The Greek word for “with” (pros) can be translated “face to face with.” It indicates distinction and association. The Word was distinct from God and in close association (in fellowship) with God.

Before there was anyone, Jesus enjoyed a personal relationship with God.

c. He was always God (1:1c).

“The Word” was a title for God in the Jewish Targums (simplified paraphrases of the OT). These Targums were produced at a time when Jews ceased to pronounce the divine name (because of a fear of breaking the third commandment: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God”). When they came to this name in the original, the translators substituted some other expression, such as “the Holy One” or “the Name.” For example, where our Bible reads, “Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God” (Exodus 19:17), the Targum reads “to meet the Word of God.”

How could Jesus be distinct from God (“with God”) and also be God? God is triune: thee Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) but ONE God.

What about the claim by the Jehovah’s Witnesses that the correct translation is “the Word was a god”?

· The argument for this translation is based on the absence of “the” before “God” (theos) in the original Greek. However, this is done to show that “the Word” is the subject of the sentence.

· Their interpretation has been followed by no recognized Greek scholar anywhere. It is commonly known that the sentence follows a regular rule of Greek grammar (called “Colwell’s rule”).

· If the Greek said “the God was the Word,” it would make the Word and God identical. That would contradict the previous statement: “The Word was with God.” John 1:1 is saying that Jesus is both distinct from God and equal to God.

· If the Jehovah’s Witnesses translated the rest of John 1 as they do verse1, verse 6 would say, “There was a man sent from a god,” verse 12 would say, “power to become children of a god, verse 18 would say, “No one has ever seen a god.” However, their New World Translation reads “God” in every case. What is the reason for the inconsistency? “The Word was God” does not fit their theology.

· If John had wanted to say, “The Word was God,” John 1:1 is exactly the way he would have said it.

John asserts the deity of Jesus in three very important places in his Gospel:

(1) The pre-incarnate Jesus was God (1:1).

(2) The incarnate Jesus was God. “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, [“the only begotten Son,” KJV] who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (1:18).

(3) The risen Jesus was God. “Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and My God!’” (20:28).

Jesus Himself claims to be God in John’s Gospel:

· “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (8:58).

· “I am the Father are one [one in nature]” (10:30).

· “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (14:9).

John intends that his Gospel be read in light of its first verse. Jesus is God. The words of Jesus are the words of God. The deeds of Jesus are the deeds of God.

2. WHAT JESUS BECAME

a. He became a man (1:14a).

Jesus is God in the flesh. He is the God-man. He is fully God and fully man.

“The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.”—Martin Luther

“‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

b. He became our Savior.

“Jesus” = “the Lord saves”

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The real message of Christmas: God became a man so that He could die for our sins.

John 1:1-18 is not about a message that offers hope; it is about the message that is the only hope.