Christmas in the Gospel of John

Christmas is a big deal. The world, of course, perverts this event to distract people away from Jesus Christ (Dt 32:5, 20; Acts 2:40; Phil 2:15). The battle for the mind and the heart enjoys no cease-fire when Christmas lights shine in the darkness. Millions of false lights vie for the gaze of men, who love darkness (Jn 3:19), and who dwell there in ignorance (Mt 4:16; Lk 1:79).

Those who prefer a Christ-less Christmas are unaware they are spiritually dead to God, being dead in sin (Eph 2:1). They are being groomed for a Christ-less eternity (Eccl 12:5; Mt 25:46). Demons, posing as angels of light (2 Cor 11:14), entice people to bask in false light, provided by cheap imitations. The world of darkness is only the front porch to one’s eternal home in outer darkness (Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). Simply put, the way to life is not illumined by any light of any fabrication of men (Jn 8:12). The way of peace with God is illumined by the light of life.

Not only is this dark world ruled by its dark lord (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11); but Satan blinds the minds of men from seeing the light of truth (2 Cor 4:4; Eph 5:9), as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21). Unless God has mercy upon spiritually blind men (Rom 9:15–16), who are deaf to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is, unless God makes the soul of a spiritually dead man alive to God (1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:1, 5; Col 2:13)…that man remains without God, hence, without hope in the world (Eph 2:12).

When God sent His only begotten Son into the world (Jn 3:16; 5:23; 10:36, Gal 4:4; 1 Jn 4:9). He sent Light and Life from a heart of love (Jn 1:4; 8:12; 2 Cor 4:6). This is Christmas in the Gospel of John. It begins in John 1:1; and it finds its climax in chapter one, verse 14.

In the beginning…God….tells us that it is all sourced in the eternal council of our Triune Godhead (Rom 11:36). Christmas originates in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The eternal purpose of Christ was eternally decreed (Eph 3:11), so the second Person of the Godhead would come into the world, in order to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Who is this One, the Son of God and second Person of the Trinity?

First, He is identified by the Apostle John as the Word of God (Jn 1:1). God is there; and He has spoken to the fathers in the prophets (Lk 1:70; Heb 1:1). The Word took on flesh (Jn 1:14). Here is the gift of God…in Person. Here is the Word of promise…fulfilled (2 Cor 1:20).

Second, we learn that this Word, the divine logos, is the Creator of everything (Jn 1:1; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2; 3:4). The world was made through Him (Jer 10:12; Jn 1:10; Heb 1:2); and apart from Him, nothing came into being, that exists. The creator of the story has entered His own story to be the Hero of the story.

Third, Christmas is light in the darkness and this One Himself declared, “I am the Light of the world” (Jn 8:12). The darkness did not comprehend it (Jn 1:5). God has spoken His Word; and it is the light of truth (Eph 5:9). By this true Light (Jn 1:9; 1 Jn 2:8), the eyes of the blind are opened (Jn 9). Seeing Jesus, one sees his or her salvation (Is 12:2). In this, Christmas is eternally connected with the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement of the now glorified Son of God, who became the Son of man through divine conception and the virgin birth.

Fourth, Christmas is life from the dead. It is the life of God enfleshed, sent to give light, life, and love to those for whom He came to Him by the will of God (Mt 11:27; Jn 1:12–13; Jn 6:44, 65). It was these who received Him by the grace of God (Eph 2:8–9). The Father gave these chosen ones to the Son before the world was (Jn 17:2, 6, 24). Jesus laid down His own life for these elect ones that they may receive the life He gives to them (Jn 6:63; 10:11, 15).

Fifth, Christmas is all of grace. God sent His Son (Jn 3:16). The Son has come to visit us (Lk 1:68) — to accomplish our redemption. The Word of God reveals the will of God, which is for God to do this good work for the glory of God (Is 26:12; Rom 11:36). Born to die, the Son of God has actually saved His people from their sins (Acts 4:12), with His one time, once for all time, once for all His people sacrifice of Himself on the cross of Calvary (Heb 10:10). There is no offer, no sales pitch for men to decide to believe in Christ or not. There is no work for people to do. It is all grace (God’s work for the benefit of those He saves). Salvation belongs to God from beginning to end (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1).

Sixth, Christmas is for children, that is, the children of God (1 Jn 3:1, 10), given that right by receipt of the Spirit of Christ (Jn 1:12–13), the Spirit of Christmas, the Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15, 23). The chosen orphan has a home, where forever is in the eternal now (Rom 14:17; 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21–22). The gift of salvation is a token (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5, Eph 1:14), today, but it is truly the gift that keeps on giving from this day forth and forevermore.

Finally, Christmas is truth unveiled. The gift of salvation, with your name on it, is being unwrapped for you to be filled with all the fullness of God. The morning star is rising in our hearts (Lk 1:78; 2 Pet 1:19; Rev 2:28; 22:16). We are being warmed by the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2). O Christian, heaven’s “I love you” has come in Word and deed.

In conclusion, the Christian response to Christmas revealed in this way in John 1:1–14, is sincere gratitude for so great a salvation. The Son of God has condescended to do exactly what was required to redeem His people, given to Him by God the Father. God sent His only begotten Son to reveal the Father to us, so that we might repent and worship Him.

The world was oblivious to Messiah’s entry into the world, save for the Magi. The Jews did not receive Him as Messiah, save for the shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and a few others like them…who believed at that first Christmas. Jews and Gentiles still miss Him; but those to whom He sends His Spirit (Jn 14:26; 15:26), they receive the gift of heaven, an inheritance reserved for them in heaven (1 Pet 1:4), with the pledge, today, and pleasures forevermore (Prv 16:11; 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5). Thank God for His indescribable gift (2 Cor 9:15)!

David Norczyk

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

December 23, 2024

John 1:1–14