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Weekly Message | December 2nd, 2007
Passage: John 1:1-18
Key Verse(s): John 1:14
Hello and Merry Christmas! I am a graduate of University of Toledo and currently working as technology coordinator for Toledo Christian Schools. I have been participating in Toledo UBF since my freshman year of college in 1989. It is my great joy and privilege to share this Christmas message with you today.
Christmas is special for Christians. It is the season of Christ. On behalf of students we celebrate the birth of Christ a few weeks early, before exams and before students leave for Christmas break. So we have this special Christmas worship service today. Increasingly, the words “Merry Christmas” are replaced with “Happy Holidays!” As we remember the birth of Jesus Christ, we say, “Merry Christmas!
John’s gospel, different than Matthew, Mark and Luke, introduces the story of Christmas, not from a historical context of wise men, mangers, Mary or Joseph, but from a cosmic and heavenly perspective. John goes behind the events. John's was interested, not so much in what happened, but in what it all meant. From the beginning of time in verse 1, to the climactic arrival of “The Word who became flesh,” God was at work to bring the message of Christmas to our hearts. Let’s pray that we may open our heart to the “Word who became flesh” and receive the glorious message of Christmas today.
First, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (14a). The Gospel of John calls the character of God the “Word.” In v.1 we read, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (1a). The “Word” is both God and with God at the same time. Through the “Word” all things were made. In the “Word” was life, and that life was the light of men. Finally, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Simply stated, God became a man. Just a little latter, John reveals that the Word who became flesh was Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is God – The Word who became flesh! Theologians call this the “Incarnation,” a Latin word that literally means, “God incorporated in flesh.” There is a mystery in Jesus' incarnation that is not easy for anyone to fully comprehend.
However, the Bible presents Jesus as both fully man and fully God. Entirely human and completely divine. Jesus as a man experienced temptations and hunger (Mt 4:2), thirst (Jn 19:28), weariness (Jn 4:6), grief (Jn 11:35, 38) and agony (Mk 14:32-42). At the same time, Jesus as the Almighty God walked on the water (Jn 6:19), changed water into wine, (Jn 2:9), drove out evil spirits (Mk 5:8), raised the dead to life (Jn 11:44), and said to the storm, “Be still!”, then it was calm (Mk 4:39). Jesus is God who became flesh. This is the heart of the Christmas message—simple and yet very profound.
When I was a boy, I loved to gaze into space through my telescope and marvel at the vastness of the Universe. The closest star Alpha Centauri is mere 4 light years away. Meaning you would have to travel at the speed of light – 186,000 miles per second, for 4 years just to reach it. That’s just the closest star, in a galaxy which is 55,000 light years across. But our galaxy is just one of billions of galaxies in the expanse of space. Yet God, in the person of Jesus Christ, bridged the infinite gulf between God and creation, and became flesh. Out of all creation he came to a small speck of dust we call earth. In doing so, out of this gigantic universe God made this world very special. God also brought honor to our dishonored humanity. Martin Luther once said that the angels of heaven are not as blessed as we are, even though they are greater and stronger. For the Son of God did not come as an angel, but as a man. It is the ultimate honor that God can bestow, to take up our human nature and become one of us. God dignifies our flesh and blood by wearing it as his own.
Then the question arises, “Why?” Why would God do such a thing? Why would he leave all the comforts of heaven to come to this place? The answer is in the words, “and made his dwelling among us.” Literally it means to “pitch his tent with us.” More figuratively, it means to be with us and to have fellowship with us. God’s desire and plan for man from the beginning, was and still is, for man to dwell with God forever. But when man disobeyed God, he was separated from God. This separation from God resulted in loneliness that nothing else in this universe can ever satisfy. This is our fundamental need.
Personally, I have no particular reasons to feel lonely. I have a great family—a very loving and devout wife, Ruth, a very intelligent and handsome boy, Caleb and a sweet and loving niece, Patricia. I am surrounded by my dear friends who love and care for me. Even so, I sometimes feel lonely. This has very little to do with what others do or don’t do. Rather, this is primarily because of the real needs in everyone. It is our deep thirst for God who alone can satisfy our lonely souls. In important moments of life we are basically alone. We make critical decisions alone. Even the most wonderful friends and all the loved ones cannot satisfy this deepest spiritual hunger for communication, connectedness, and relationship.
When John wrote “and made his dwelling among us” he was so excited. He was referring to God who was with him and satisfied his needs for fellowship. He probably was thinking of all the wonderful times with Jesus. He was never lonely as long as Jesus was there. When Jesus ascended to heaven, John was probably expecting to be lonely again, but Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In the flesh Jesus left this earth, but through Jesus death and resurrection, Jesus restored the way back to God. Jesus gave his disciples the one thing they need most—knowing God and being with God now and forever.
In the past I did not know what to do about this need of loneliness. These days I affirm that Christian life is to practice being with God. Our fundamental needs of loneliness are addressed through Christ Jesus who is God with us forever. We experience growth in relationship with God. Through Jesus we learn to walk with Christ. Through Jesus our relationship with God is forever restored. Through Jesus our loneliness can be replaced with the joy and peace that only God can give. We praise and thank the eternal God Jesus who became a flesh for us.
Second, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only” (14b). Look at the next phrase in verse 14, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only.” Throughout the gospels, Jesus displayed many different aspects of God’s glory, but we do not have time to take about all of them. Instead, since this is a Christmas message, let’s focus on the glory of the birth of Jesus in the manger. At first glance the manger does not see so glorious. What was glorious about a baby, being born in an animal stall - stinky and smelly with flies buzzing and animals pooping. The manger itself was not glorious. Yet even in this God’s glory was revealed. It is because when God is there, even the most humble and lowly things of this world display glory. This is why so many Christmas Hymns, use the world “glory” We sing, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the newborn king.” Here is the second part of the Christmas message–Jesus displays God’s glorious presence even in the most humble circumstances.
Personally, what attracted me to Bible study was not an impressive church building but the presence of the humble God. It was not eloquently spoken messages of a great preacher, but a humble Bible teacher who gave up time with his family to meet me one-on-one every week to share the message of Jesus. I also experienced God’s presence in the gathering of humble Christians who devoted themselves to Jesus and his mission with their lives. In 1992 I participated in the Christmas service as a student, in a Russian dance performance as our prayer for the mission of Christ in Russia. I was so moved for knowing Christ and serving him that in the following year I also went to Russia as a short term missionary. As I accepted the humble God Jesus in a manger, I also could learn humility in my life. With humility of Christ I could welcome and love others. This image of humble God has become the very foundation of my Christian family, life of mission and friendship with others. I have slowly changed from an impersonal, project oriented computer geek, to a personal shepherd, friend and Bible teacher for others. Gradually, God’s presence in my life was no longer a theoretical concept but a spiritual reality. God has become real in my life as I accepted God who came in a form of a baby in a manger.
Today, we make a special offering for Uganda Mission. Dr. Samuel Yoo and his wife Dr. Mary could have lived a comfortable life as medical doctors. However, he went to Uganda Africa as a medical missionaries. His family suffered unbearably in that situation. Once, Dr. Yoo accidentally stuck himself with a needle that had been infected with the HIV virus. He expected to contract AIDS. As he struggled in prayer, he realized that he was suffering as the people of Uganda suffer. He accepted John 1:14, "The Word became flesh," and decided to give his life in Uganda for the glory of God and the salvation of Ugandan people. Later, he was found to be okay. He has remained there until now and God is using this humble clinic to help many AIDS patients and bring the Good News of Jesus to this suffering country. Through his example of loving Christ Jesus he inspires many young people to practice humble and giving life to others.
God’s presence is still made visible in this world if we love Christ Jesus and practice his humble and sacrificial life for God’s mission. As long as we serve Christ Jesus and do his will, all our labor is meaningful before God. In whatever form we serve Christ--taking a part of serving a small ministry, sharing the word of God with a friend or even giving a cup of cold water to those in need matter to God and the people in this world. We will not always consider the size, the form and the immediate results of what we do. Rather, we practice humility of Christ knowing that God reveals his glory through our labor of love in the name of Christ Jesus always.
Third, “Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (14c). Look at the last part of verse 14: “who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John makes it a point to emphasize that the Word who became flesh was full of grace and truth. But why grace and truth? Why not love and life? John earlier wrote in verse 12, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Children can not survive on their own. Children need basically two things - Love and Discipline. It is the same with children of God. We need Jesus grace that forgives us our sins, we also need truth that rebukes our proud hearts and guides us in our life decisions.
Here, we consider the genuine Christian hope. What do we seek with our Christian living? It is to grow in the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The reason why we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ is not to end with his birth. Rather, we affirm God’s great work through his birth and anticipate his great work through continuous growth. It is wonderful that eternal God came into this world in a form of a baby. As this tiny Baby grew up and became the Savior of the world, so must the seed of God’s presence and his glory in us grow—even to the fullest extent. Jesus makes our spiritual growth complete in that he not only gives us the joyful news of his birth but continues to work in us so that we become pure and blameless. Our Christian hope is that we grow up to be godly, healthy and influential as we become mature in the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our vision is to see the grace and truth of Christ—to the fullest extent.
In his final greeting Apostle Peter said, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever Amen” (2Pe 3:11). In this 2007 Christmas I have made a very meaningful discovery. I now know the conclusion of the matter in my journey of faith. It is the message of Christmas–The Word became flesh so that Christ now dwells in our hearts. In Christ we become more like him. In Christ we experience more of his glory both now and forever. We praise Christ Jesus who made all this possible because he first came to us as John proclaims, “The Word Became Flesh”.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
