John takes us on a journey at the beginning of his
story of who Jesus is and why he came to earth as a human
being. He reminds us that Jesus was there in the beginning of creation, even
though he doesn’t use Jesus’ name until later in the chapter. Jesus wasn’t only
there at the beginning of creation; everything was made through Jesus. It’s no
wonder Jesus cares so much for us, we’re his most special creation, made in his
image, made to carry on the work he began. I love how John emphasizes light and
life and how they’re intertwined with who Jesus is and how he created
everything. What a great way to start telling the story of who Jesus is and why
he came.
John is sent to get the people ready for the coming of
Jesus. God’s goal was for his people to recognize who Jesus
is when he finally appears in public to begin his work of bringing the people
to God, to be their Messiah. Jesus comes to give us a deeper and richer
relationship with God through himself, and as we learn a little later, to be
the lamb who will take away the sin of the world. John uses the image of light
shining in the darkness, a light to guide us to the Father, a light to give
hope, a light to chase the darkness away. John goes on to tell us that Jesus is
the true light who gives light to everyone.
Jesus comes for everyone, but also for all creation, since the creation the was
made through him; Jesus comes to bring new life, to bring renewal for all
creation as sin has impacted everyone and everything. The psalmist describes it
as creation groaning and waiting.
Jesus comes, this is what we’re celebrating this
evening and tomorrow in our worship. The strangest thing is that even though Israel has been waiting for
thousands of years for their Messiah to come, so many of them don’t recognize
Jesus when he comes, “He was in the world, and though
the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” Yet
there are those who do recognize Jesus; the shepherds the night Jesus is born
come to worship him, and the Magi from the east also come to worship him, and
John offers us this hope, “Yet to all who did receive
him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of
God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s
will, but born of God.” Gentiles and lowly shepherds are some of the
first people given the right to become children of God, definitely not what
Israel expected!
In verse 14, John comes to the heart of what happened the first Christmas, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have
seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth.” John uses the image of the tabernacle here,
saying, “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.”
The tabernacle symbolized the presence of God among his people during the 40
years of wandering in the wilderness after being freed from Egypt. The
tabernacle was a temporary place for a temporary time as they were looking
ahead to the Promised Land. Jesus’ time here was also for only a temporary time
as he was establishing the foundation for the kingdom of heaven’s appearance;
this is why advent also looks ahead to Jesus’ return when the kingdom of heaven
will be full established and the Word who created all things will restore and
renew all things and defeat Satan once and for all, bringing peace and
flourishing to all creation!
Can you imagine what that’s going to be like when
Jesus comes in all his glory, bringing
light and hope. This is why we light candles this evening to symbolize the
light of the world coming again, full of grace and truth! May the Lord bless
you all this Christmas!
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