Christmas Series: Jesus has Come (John)

When we begin John’s gospel, we see he takes a completely different approach to the birth of Jesus. He doesn’t start with the Mary and Joseph narrative, or a lineage, or even the prophets. John sees Jesus coming into the world as a cosmic event and so he starts where it all began, Genesis 1.

His poetic beginning to the gospel reflects the ideas of Jesus not just as human but as divine. Jesus is the Word of God and he is the light of the world (1:1, 9). John gives us the meaning of Jesus coming into the world, “he gave the right to become children of God” (1:12). This was God’s plan all along. Since the beginning of time, God had planned to send His Son in the flesh to die and resurrect so that we could reunite with our Holy Creator. 

JOhn’s unique approach to Jesus gives us a window into John’s thoughts about the Messiah. He concludes his introduction by stating, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (1:17-18). John knows that Jesus brings grace and truth. He knows the laws were good, given by God. He knows of the prophets and who they spoke of. He wants us to know Jesus personally. Jesus is God and is one with the Father above and he has been revealed. He hasn’t been revealed just to the wealthy or privileged. He has been made known to everyone and everyone can know Him. John says if we just receive him, believe in him, we become not just righteous but His children. We become a part of God’s eternal family and that is the greatest Christmas gift of all.