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Born For This (John 1:1-5)

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We are in the middle of December, the Christmas season. And while the decorations surround us with beautiful colors, shiny ornaments, and the smell of fresh evergreen and peppermint spice, there are many that just are not feeling the Christmas spirit.

  • It can be difficult to enjoy the vibe if people are missing from your tribe.
  • It can be difficult to sing falalala or joy to the world if the weight of the world feels on your shoulders with bills, burdens, and betrayal.
  • When everyone around you sees radiant red and luxurious gold but you’re feeling gloomy blue and hopeless old.

What do we do with these thoughts, feelings, and unfortunate realities? I think we need to draw closer to the church calendar with seasons like Advent, Epiphany, Lent, and Eastertide with Ascension & Pentecost. It is these liturgies that tell the story that God is faithful in every season.

So, today, we continue our recognition of Advent and look to the wonder and marvel of the incarnation from John 1.

EXAMINE           Born Eternal (John 1:1-5) [1]   3 characteristics of Jesus

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.

Jesus is the language of God.

Each of the Gospels give a report of Jesus’ birth.

  • Luke investigates and reports the details between Joseph and Mary and their families.
  • Mark declares Jesus to be “Son of God” from OT prophecy ~730BC.
  • Matthew opens his account with a genealogy that details Jesus’ roots as far back as Abraham, ~2000BC.
  • John goes back even further – to a time that is undatable: In the beginning.
    • Notably, this phrase echoes the book of Genesis and the creation account. John’s purpose is to communicate that the same Creator of the heavens and earth is recreating life and will restore the original design of light and beauty, love and grace with truth. And thus, he’s capturing a Jewish audience.
    •  Jesus is the author of beginnings. He helps anyone to start over.

Further, John captures the Gentile audience by being deeply philosophical and theological, and describing Jesus as the Word (λόγος=logos). Logos simply means “word/speech” or “reason.”[2] Yet, culturally its semantic range is more profound with philosophers using the term to describe principal reality which gives order to the universe and coherence to life.[3] But John wasn’t just copying an impersonal concept but transforming it with depicting Jesus as pre-existent Creator and involved in creation becoming flesh to dwell among us and define humanity’s purpose.

As Bible-believing Christians we believe that life starts at conception. And the wonder of development, maturity, and a woman’s LABOR of love reveals the wonderful image of God in humanity. But Jesus is the only person who existed before he was conceived. Jesus, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 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.

Jesus isn’t just one of many gods. Nor is the Word THE God, since the Word was WITH God indicating uniqueness, which we understand the Triune God as Father, Son/Word, and Spirit.

In all, John wants us to know that Jesus is the ultimate revelation and final word from God. And God’s word is central to understanding the fullness of the Triune God.

So, if someone (not me) could pay you $1-million to not read your Bible, would you host a book burning? If YES, then that’s revealing to your shallow understanding of faith. If NO, then why do so many spend such little time truly reading or asking questions or being involved with study groups? – – – and asking/proposing this realizes that “guilt” seldom motivates, but let me suggest the benefits…

  • Jesus’ words are the rock foundation for our house to survive storms of life (Mt 7:24-27)
    • Disruptions/ Disasters/ Divorce/ Diagnosis
  • Jesus’ words lead to life (Jn 6:68) and His words are truth and trustworthy (Jn 17:17)
    • Sorting media & sifting info for decisions…
      Scripture saturation brings clarity to dishonesty
       
  • Jesus’ words provide us access to a personal relationship with God (Jn 14:23), and if we follow/abide, then they come with promises to be blessed (Jn 15:7).
    • Heaven as our home and Jesus as our friend is key to life.

Jesus as the language of God means He is the only way we can interpret our Creator, and His words as the only way to effectively navigate existence in creation.

*Be careful of devotional material that overshadows Scripture…

*Begin now your 2025 plan to read books of the Bible.

*Jesus is the language of God desiring every tribe & nation to hear the good news in their heart language (Rev 5:9; 7:9). Consider giving generously to LMCO.

Jesus is the life of 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.

John’s next claim is that in Jesus is life as the creator of all things.

There is a true story about a man named Charles Steinmetz.[4] In early 20th C, he  was a wiz with mathematical equations and electrical engineering.  Thomas Edison & General Electric purchased the company he worked for and acquired Steinmetz’s services. Steinmetz influenced many companies and engineers for how they understood circuits and machines… In fact, Henry Ford was having issues with one of his giant generators in his plant that his engineers couldn’t solve. So, he hired Steinmetz. Upon arriving, Steinmetz rejected all assistance and simply scribbled his calculations on a notebook for multiple days. Then Steinmetz asked for a ladder, climbed to the top of the generator and made a chalk mark on its side. He told Ford’s engineers to remove a plate at that mark and replace sixteen windings from the field coil. After much suspicion, they followed Steinmetz’s instructions and the generator performed to perfection.

Henry Ford was thrilled – – until he got an invoice for the amount of $10K. While Ford acknowledged Steinmetz’s success, he balked at the amount and asked for an itemized bill. Steinmetz wrote: 1) Making chalk mark on generator: $1. 2) Knowing where to make the mark: $9,999.

Likewise, since Jesus is the one who formed us, Jesus is the one who can fix us. You see, repeatedly 28x in Scripture, God is called “the living God.”[5] The contrast is with other religious idols made with human hands, and have eyes but don’t see; ears but can’t hear; noses but can’t smell; hands but can’t feel; feet but can’t walk; and mouths but they can’t speak words (cf Ps 115).

Since Jesus is the one who formed us, Jesus is the one who can fix us. @dave_dwb

And Jesus is the living God who invites others to receive abundant life.
– – – In the NT there are 3 words for “life”

  1. Βίος: biological and natural life. Plants, animals, humans.
  2. ψῡχή : psychological life; inner being; our soul.
  3. ζωή: life that we are not born with,
    like 2 above, but a source of life & quality of existence; absolute full abundance of life.
    This is what Jesus offers us (cf Jn 5:24; 10:10; 11:25).

Difference between photo & place / statue & person…Jesus offers qualitative life.

Jesus is the light of God.

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 continues writing with imagery and depth of reflection. Light points back to the start of creation where the earth was formless and void with darkness over the face of the deep (Ge 1:2).

Light also points us to the nativity settings, which occur in the darkness

  • Preceding prophecies about people walking in darkness seeing a great light with a child being born to a virgin, called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting God, Prince of Peace (Isa 9:2-6)
  • Joseph after a long day at the carpenter woodshop, lays in bed and has a dream that his wife is pure in her pregnancy being from the Holy Spirit; so he wakes and reaffirms his marriage pledge to Mary (Mt 1:18-25). 
  • Shepherds in field keeping watch over their flock by night with an angel appearing with glory bearing good news of great joy for all the people: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Lk 2:10-11).
  • Mary’s labor in the crowded inn and cold night, and wrapping her baby in swaddling cloths to be laid in a manger (Lk 2:12).
  • Wise men seeing a bright star in the night sky, rejoicing and laying down treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Mt 2:9-11).
  • Nativity Family having a dream and being warned about Herod’s edict to kill newborn males; so they fled to Egypt “at night” (Mt 2:14).

Many key events of Jesus’ life and ministry occurred at night, and thus He repeatedly reminded us that Jesus is the light of the world.

And John’s reminder light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome also communicates the world around us appears weary and woeful.

  • Selfishness and arrogance
  • Greed and violence
  • Slanderous and without self-control
  • Ungratefulness and unholiness
  • Reckless hostility and rumors of wars
  • Even hypocrisy and betrayal in the church

But John exhorts us that the light of a single candle is a profound and powerful act to push away the darkness, and God’s light cannot be overcome.

During this season, many are impacted with what is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression related to the season being colder, harsh climate, less daylight and dark surroundings.

I’m not a professional therapist, though am a studied and experienced counselor to give you a few encouragements today.[6]

Knowledge vs Motivation.

  • Seasons bring change, which is normal, even sad is not abnormal.
  • Some genuinely lack knowledge for how to get through season or circumstances of depression – so, see dr and research applications.  
  • Others have knowledge but lack motivation, which reveals the power of depression.
    • Knowledge Tips
      • Get ready. Prepare during previous season for upcoming. Like Eskimos who prepare by working hard in summer and resting in winter.[7]  
      • Get out of bed and look outside. Take a walk for fresh air, if possible.
      • Gratitude habits each day.
        – blankets / heat / hot choc./
      • Graze God’s word. Like the holidays with lots of appetizer, dessert and food trays tempt us to grace from it all, we must heavily graze portions of God’s word.
      • Go more than stay – wherever it is. While it may be ok to shelter in, find some things to attend and fight the habit of isolation.
  • For most, it’s not knowledge prob but motivation. Motivation Tips
    • Notify friend(s) of your proclivity; they can help you or reach you
    • Pray for help and hope. Spend ample time in Psalms & Gospels.
    • Look for fellow sufferers – not to bring each other down like a crab pot, but as tree roots who grow deeper together and hold tightly to survive the storm winds.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY  

Jesus is the language of God, the fullness of life, and the light of the world.

But the older we get each of these fade…

  • Language & vocabulary lost.
  • Life aches, ages, and declines.
  • Light shadows and dims, then darkens.

But the only thing that can reverse this fading is our faith.

In C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, Lucy encounters Aslan, the lion king, her hero [and Savior].

Lucy sobs: “Aslan, Aslan. Dear Aslan. At last.” 
The great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half sitting and half lying between his front paws. He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath came all round her. She gazed up into the large wise face. 
“Welcome, child,” he said. 
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.” 
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he. 
“Not because you are?” 
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” 

And another Chronicle of Narnia book

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight.
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more.
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death.
And when he shakes his main, we shall have spring again.

C.S. Lewis, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe”

Our prayer for you this Christmas is that you will see Christ as bigger and clearer in your circumstances, and that you will know God’s resurrection power to endure unto everlasting life.

[1] Logos Bible video

[2] https://biblehub.com/greek/3056.htm

[3] Steve W. Lemke, “Logos,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1045.

[4] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/charles-proteus-steinmetz-the-wizard-of-schenectady-51912022/

[5] Dt. 5:26; Josh 3:10; 1Sam 17:26, 36; 2Ki 19:4, 16; Ps 42:2; 84:2; Isa 37:4,17; Jer 10:10; 23:36; Da 6:20, 26; Hos 1:10; Mt 16:16; 26:63; Ac 14:15; Ro 9:26; 2 Cor 3:3; 6:16; 1Ti 3:15; 4:10; Heb 3:12; 9:14; 10:31; 12:22; Re 7:2

[6] Additional helps: https://www.ccef.org/tag/depression, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/too-depressed-to-believe-what-we-know, https://bradhambrick.com/a-resource-for-seasonal-or-holiday-depression/,  https://bradhambrick.com/my-favorite-posts-on-depression/

[7] https://bradhambrick.com/seasonal-affective-disorder-eskimos-and-cultural-intelligence/

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