Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

           Text: St. John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus:

           People are generally willing to accept the fact that Jesus was a human being. The Jews acknowledged the fact that a man by the name of Jesus really lived. The Muslims list Jesus as a prophet. And history tells us that such a man lived. Most people today will generally admit that Jesus was a good man. But one thing that they aren’t so willing to admit is this – that Jesus is actually God. The only place that tells us that this is so – is God’s holy Word. St. John opens his entire Gospel account with a ringing declaration that Jesus was and is God. On the basis of these words, we too see that the Word was God.

           St. John begins his narration with these words – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He uses a term to identify Jesus that is quite foreign to us. He says that Jesus is the Word. At first glance this strange term doesn’t mean much to us – but when we study it further, we see what John means by it. “Word” is used in human language to identify certain parts of speech. A word is simply the visible or audible symbol for something. It’s the way we write things down in order to preserve them. It’s more permanent than the spoken language. When we talk, the sound of our voices soon disappears. But when we write things down in words, then our ideas are recorded for future generations – and are more or less permanent. Our words can be reconstructed again. Our words can be made into sounds again. A word, then, is a permanent expression of an idea.

           When we apply this to spiritual things, we recall that God had an idea. His idea was that human beings shouldn’t die eternally. Instead, they should be saved from their sin. To record that idea and to make it permanent so that people can grasp that idea – God used His Word. The Word, then, is the expression of God’s love. The Holy Scriptures tell us that only Jesus is the real expression of God’s love to a sinful world. Yes, Jesus is that Word.  This Word, St. John says, was in the beginning. It existed from eternity. It wasn’t created. It was always there. And that’s exactly what God tells us in other portions of Scripture. Even before He had laid the foundations of the heavens and the earth, God had provided the means whereby people could be saved from the sin that God knew they would commit. Even before the earth was created, that Word existed.

           But St. John becomes more specific in speaking of Jesus as God. He tells us that all things were made by Him, that is, by this Word – and without Him nothing was made that has been made. Without a doubt, Jesus was instrumental in the creation of this universe.

           This leads us to the second part of our contention that Jesus is God. Not only was Christ active in the creation of the world – but He was active as the Redeemer of the world and is active today as the Sanctifier of the world. St. John writes – “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Again we stumble over a word in the text. What is meant by “life”? The word “life” means that a being has vitality, that a being is animate. Applying this idea to Jesus Christ, we see that He is a being who has life in Himself.

           However, the word “life” has a higher meaning even than this.  Again God tells us through the apostle John what is meant by this word. In his First Epistle, John tells us – “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” Jesus is the means whereby we can come to that life which is of real value. He did this by giving up His own life for us – so that we now don’t have to give up our lives. It is written – “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

           St. John continues this account of our Lord’s divinity by stating that this life was the light of men. Why do we use a light anyway? Why do we take a flashlight into the dark? We do it so that we might see. We take a light so that we might not lose our way – or stumble or bump into objects in the darkness. And so Jesus is the Light of all. He comes so that all might see. He comes so that they might understand. He comes so that they might not lose their way. He comes to show them how they might be saved. Our Lord Himself declared – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

           St. John’s account of the life of Christ is a realistic one. He admits what has happened. He tells us that Jesus, the Light of the world, shone into the darkness. Our Lord came into a world that was dark with sin. He came into a world where people are disobedient and willful. He came into a world that wanted nothing to do with Him – but that needed Him so desperately. He came to those who were sick with sin, as He Himself said – “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” And this is the message of the Gospel – that Christ came into a world that needed Him most.

           But we mourn with our Lord over the unbelief of human beings – as He Himself mourned over the city of Jerusalem. It is written – “The darkness has not understood it.” Jesus knew what the trouble was with the world. He said – “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” By nature, human beings simply do not want God’s way of salvation – because God’s way gives glory to Him and not to us – and we are full of pride and want to take credit for our own abilities. What a tragedy! The darkness didn’t take the Light of life to itself.

           This statement that St. John makes about the world should prompt us to reconsider our own reception of Christ.  It should lead us into a sincere appreciation of all that God has done for us. It should cause us to run again into the loving arms of God. It should drive every thought of our own abilities away. It should cleanse us – by leading us into the grace of God. We should therefore receive Jesus Christ as the One who was made man for us.

           Think again about what John has to say about Jesus as our Creator. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” He is your Creator and mine. As the preexistent Word of God, He has created us and all things and still preserves us. For that reason it is our duty to thank and praise, to serve and obey Him.

           However, a greater reason for such thanks and praise is also given in the text. When St. John writes – “In him was life, and that life was the light of men” – he reminds us of the astounding fact that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. He could be our Redeemer only because He is God – and because this God became man. 

The incarnation of the Son of God is tremendously important for us. Only through this incarnation – “God becoming man” – could there have been a man who could keep the Law of God perfectly in our place. Only through the incarnation could there be a man who could die for the sins of all. Only through the incarnation could there be a man who could be raised from the dead – as a sure and certain guarantee that God had accepted the sacrifice made by that man. Only because that man who died and rose again was God – or rather – only because God became man, could there be a Redeemer and joy beyond compare. He has redeemed you!

           By creating life in you, He enables you to live the real life both here in time and hereafter in eternity. What is your life without Christ? Nothing! But those who receive that life which God has prepared for them in Jesus Christ receive eternal life. They also live with Him here on earth. No, He never says that you won’t have troubles – but when you live with Christ, you share your burdens with Him, and He takes those burdens upon Himself.

           When burdens are shared, the load becomes lighter for each person. The opposite is true of joys. When you share your joys, they increase. This is how we respond to the love of God in Christ. We share our sorrows and our joys with one another. This is what our Lord asks us to do while we’re here on earth. This is His command to us – that we love one another.



           Let us, this morning, see Jesus as He really is – our God, who is the Word who created the world – our Savior, who has brought light and life to us – and as the One who enables us to remain faithful to Him and to live lives of love and service. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.