Where is the Where is the Christmas story in Christmas story in the fourth gospel?the fourth gospel?

Beholding His Glory at ChristmasBeholding His Glory at Christmas

John 1:14John 1:14

John 1:14

I. And the Word was made flesh,

II. and dwelt among us,

III. and we beheld his glory,

a.) the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,

b.) full of grace and truth.

I. I. Word was made fleshWord was made flesh

• Word Word – (Logos = the perfect narration of God) (Logos = the perfect narration of God)

• was made was made – (come into existence)(come into existence)

• flesh flesh – (humanity)(humanity)

Incarnation

Look back Look back John 1:1John 1:1

Jesus at the TempleJesus at the Temple

• Luke 2:46-47Luke 2:46-47– And it came to pass, that after three days And it came to pass, that after three days

they found him in the temple, sitting in the they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. and asking them questions. And all that And all that heard him were astonished at his heard him were astonished at his understanding and answersunderstanding and answers. .

Look at Look at John 1:49John 1:49

The Word of GodThe Word of God

• Matthew 7:28Matthew 7:28– And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended

these sayings [Matthew 5-7], these sayings [Matthew 5-7], – the people were astonished at his doctrine the people were astonished at his doctrine

[teaching]: [teaching]:

Application

All that we All that we know about know about the Logos is the Logos is preserved in preserved in

Words.Words.

The term “flesh” carries no The term “flesh” carries no necessary negative or evil attributes necessary negative or evil attributes here. Instead the text means that the here. Instead the text means that the eternal Logos became human—truly eternal Logos became human—truly human. The usual theological human. The usual theological terminology used to describe this idea is terminology used to describe this idea is the “incarnation”—an English construct the “incarnation”—an English construct word from Latin that has come to mean word from Latin that has come to mean “God incorporated “God incorporated in flesh.”in flesh.”

Gerald L. BorchertGerald L. Borchert

1 John 1:11 John 1:1

• That which was from the beginning, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, looked upon, and our hands have and our hands have handledhandled, of the Word [logos] of life; , of the Word [logos] of life;

2 John 72 John 7

• For many deceivers are entered into the For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. is come in the flesh.

• This [he] is a deceiver and an antichrist. This [he] is a deceiver and an antichrist.

ChristmasApplication

Christmas is the time to celebrate

God’s perfect revelation of

Himself to mankind.

II. II. and dwelt among usand dwelt among us

• DweltDwelt–““Tabernacled”Tabernacled”– Tent’ed Tent’ed

tabernacled tabernacled among usamong us

Jesus’ Tent

Exodus 25:1-9Exodus 25:1-9

Exodus 29:42Exodus 29:42

This shall be a continual burnt offering This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the throughout your generations at the

door of the tabernacle of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: congregation before the LORD: where where

I will meet you, to speak there I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. unto thee.

Application

Let’s work on thinking about the beauty of

Christmas as a reminder of the glory of God!

LightsTrees & Ornaments

BowsTable Settings

Suits and Dresses

Part IIIPart III

• and we beheld and we beheld hishis glory, glory,

What did they see?

Isaiah 53:2Isaiah 53:2

• For he shall grow up before him as a For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should there is no beauty that we should desire himdesire him. .

What does John mean by the What does John mean by the glory?glory?

At Mount Sinai Moses asked about seeing the glory of

God.

Exodus 33:18-19Exodus 33:18-19

• And he [Moses] said, And he [Moses] said, I beseech I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. thee, shew me thy glory.

The Glory of the LordThe Glory of the Lord

Exodus 33:18-19Exodus 33:18-19• And he [God] said, I will make all my And he [God] said, I will make all my

goodness pass before thee, and I will goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. whom I will shew mercy.

The Glory of the LordThe Glory of the Lord

Exodus 34:5Exodus 34:5• And the LORD descended in the cloud, And the LORD descended in the cloud,

and stood with him there, and and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, proclaimed,

The Glory of the LordThe Glory of the Lord

Exodus 34:6-7Exodus 34:6-7• The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and

gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,goodness and truth,

• Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, iniquity and transgression and sin,

The Son’s GloryThe Son’s Glory

John 2:11John 2:11• This beginning of miracles did Jesus in This beginning of miracles did Jesus in

Cana of Galilee, Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth and manifested forth his gloryhis glory; and his disciples believed on ; and his disciples believed on him. him.

Notice what is said about Notice what is said about Jesus’ glory?Jesus’ glory?

John 1:14John 1:14

• full of full of gracegrace and truth.and truth.

Think about Think about everything you everything you

know about know about Jesus’ ministry Jesus’ ministry

to people on the to people on the earth.earth.

John 1:16John 1:16

• And of his fullness have all we received, And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for [upon] graceand grace for [upon] grace

Full of GraceFull of Grace

• Moved with compassionMoved with compassion• I have compassionI have compassion• Neither do I condemn theeNeither do I condemn thee• Jesus weeps of JerusalemJesus weeps of Jerusalem• Jesus weeps with Mary and MarthaJesus weeps with Mary and Martha• Father forgive themFather forgive them

Part IIIb: Full of truthPart IIIb: Full of truth

Full of TruthFull of Truth

John 1:47John 1:47• Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and

saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile [deceit]! in whom is no guile [deceit]!

Nothing He said about Himself, the Father, and Future Glory wasn’t true.

Full of TruthFull of Truth

John 2:22John 2:22• When therefore he was risen from the When therefore he was risen from the

dead, his disciples remembered that he dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; had said this unto them; and they and they believed the scripture, and the word believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. which Jesus had said.

The GospelThe Gospel

2 Corinthians 4:42 Corinthians 4:4• lest the light of the lest the light of the glorious gospel of glorious gospel of

Christ, who is the image of GodChrist, who is the image of God, , • might not see the light of the might not see the light of the gospel of gospel of

the glory of Christthe glory of Christ, who is the image of , who is the image of God. God.

•