The Word
Text: John 1:1-5
Core Idea: This Advent season, when the world feels chaotic, remember the Eternal Word who never changes. When you feel empty or weary, remember the Life-Giving Word who restores. And when darkness feels heavy, remember the Darkness-Breaking Word who conquers, for He will hold you fast.
INTRODUCTION
As we enter this Advent season, we have an opportunity to return to a story that, for many of us, feels very familiar – maybe too familiar. We’ve heard the Christmas story so many times that it’s easy to drift through December without truly engaging our hearts. Everywhere we go, we’re surrounded by the familiar signs and sounds of the season – houses glowing with Christmas lights, trees decorated with ornaments, carols playing at the mall, holiday movies, school concerts, and of course, the pressure of purchasing gifts. None of these things are necessarily bad. In fact, many of them are good and wonderful. But here’s the danger – in that we can make Christmas about everything except Christ Himself. We can be consumed by the tradition of Christmas and miss the truth of Christmas. We can be distracted by the sentiment of Christmas and forget the Savior of Christmas. And if we’re not careful, Jesus can become just one small part of a very busy holiday season – one more thing we have to add to an already packed schedule. But my desire this morning is that we would shift our attention back to Christ – the only true reason we celebrate this season. Not to add Him to our Christmas, but to center our Christmas on Him. And I firmly believe that today’s passage will help us do just that. So, if you have your Bibles, please turn to John 1:1-5. And let me read this for us.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let me point out three things about the identity of Jesus from this passage:
· THE ETERNAL WORD
· THE LIFE-GIVING WORD
· THE DARKNESS-BREAKING WORD
1) THE ETERNAL WORD
Verse 1: “In the beginning was the Word.” Doesn’t this sound familiar? If you’ve read the Bible, this should take you back to the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, which says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is no accident. John deliberately reaches back to Genesis to tell us that just as something extraordinary and marvelous happened at creation, something just as astonishing is about to unfold here. And here, he tells us that before anything came into existence (before light, matter, or even time itself), the Word already was. He doesn’t say the Word came into being. He doesn’t say the Word was created. He simply says, “In the beginning was the Word.” In other words, there was never a time when the Word did not exist. Now, John uses a very specific word here – the Greek word logos. And that choice is incredibly intentional since this word carried deep meaning in Jewish theology and Greek philosophy in the first century. To the Jewish mind, logos (the Word) represented God in action. In Scripture, God creates by His Word, reveals Himself by His Word, rescues His people by His Word, judges the world by His Word, and orders history by His Word. So, logos was the powerful self-expression of God. On the other hand, to the Greek mind, logos was the rational principle that ordered the universe – the reason why everything had structure instead of chaos. In other words, it was the force that held the cosmos together. It explained why math worked, why the stars moved in patterns, why nature followed laws instead of randomness, and so on. So, when John wrote, “In the beginning was the logos,” he was saying to both Jews and Greeks that the power that created the world, the wisdom that sustains the world, and the meaning that defines the world is not an abstract concept but a Person – and that Person is Jesus Christ. This is astonishing because it implies that Jesus existed in eternity – before the manger, before history began, and even before the heavens and the earth were created. And if that weren’t shocking enough, John says, “The Word was with God.” This is not talking about physical location. It refers to personal, relational intimacy – face-to-face communion. In other words, the Word wasn’t merely near God – He was in perfect fellowship with God. In fact, John reinforces this idea in verse 2: “He was with God in the beginning.” It’s as if he were saying, “If anyone thinks I’m still talking about an abstract concept, let me make it very clear: I’m talking about a Person – a ‘He.’” And then comes the most mind-blowing statement of all – he said, “The Word was God.” Jesus is distinct from God the Father yet fully divine. In fact, this is the consistent message throughout the NT. For example, Colossians 1:15 says, “The Son is the image of the invisible God.” Philippians 2:6 says, “Jesus who, being in very nature God.” And Hebrews 1:3 says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.”
Then, we can’t help but ask, “How can the Word be with God but also be God? How is that possible?” And the Christian answer is the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that God has eternally existed as one being in three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. They are equal in essence, power, and glory but distinct in personhood. Now, I realize that this would raise more questions – and rightly so. But we need to remember that God is infinitely greater than we are. If we could fully explain God with human categories, He would no longer be God. He would just be a god of our own making – manageable, predictable, and safe. St. Augustine said, “If you can fully comprehend God, it is not God that you comprehend.” The Trinity isn’t meant to fit neatly into our minds – it’s meant to stretch our minds toward worship. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we should never talk about this – the Bible is not saying, “Don’t question. Just believe.” So, Lord-willing, I want to do my best to explain this concept later in the future – but not today, since I don’t want to keep you all day wrestling with this idea. Now, people have tried to refute this idea by saying, “Wasn’t the concept of the Trinity invented by the early church since we don’t find the word ‘Trinity’ in the Bible?” But did you know that the word “omnipotent” is not in the Bible as well? And yet we use it to describe God’s infinite and incomparable power. In the same way, yes, the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible – but the church uses it to faithfully articulate what Scripture reveals. All that to say, the point I want to make here is that the God of the universe is more glorious than our minds can grasp and more personal than our hearts can imagine. Here, John is saying, “Jesus is not a created being. He’s not a heavenly messenger. He’s the eternal Word – fully God, in perfect communion with the Father from all eternity.” Then, let me ask you, “Is that how you see Jesus today?
Brothers and sisters, I pray that we would never reduce Jesus to something small or manageable. He’s not merely the baby in the manger. He’s not simply a wise teacher with helpful sayings. He’s not just a moral example or inspirational figure. He is infinitely more – more than we can imagine or comprehend. This is why we should never reduce Christmas to a sentimental holiday – instead, it should create awe in us. Christmas demands our worship, for it’s not just about a baby being born. It’s about the Eternal Word stepping into time – the Infinite became an infant. He’s the eternal God – worthy of our awe, our reverence, and our obedience. C.S. Lewis said, “People often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” So, let me ask you: Have you reduced Jesus to something less than who He really is? Do you worship Him as the Eternal God or approach Him casually? Has Christmas become more about comfort than Christ? This Advent season, may the Spirit give us fresh eyes to see the majesty of Jesus – the Eternal Word who existed before all things.
2) THE LIFE-GIVING WORD
After revealing Christ’s deity and eternality, John moves to Jesus’ role in creation – verse 3: “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” John could not be clearer – not one thing exists apart from Christ. In other words, not only was He before all things, but He’s also the One through whom all things came into being. Think about how mind-blowing that is. Every star in the sky, every cell in your body, every heartbeat you feel, every breath you take, every living thing on earth – everything that exists owes its existence to Him. In fact, the rest of the NT affirms the same truth. For example, Hebrews 1:2 says, “In these last days [God] has spoken to us by His Son, through whom He made the universe.” And Colossians 1:16-17 says, “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” All that to say, Jesus is not merely a historical figure or a moral teacher – He’s the Creator and Sustainer of everything. Now, this truth alone is staggering. But John wants us to see something even deeper because his focus doesn’t stop with physical creation – he moves immediately into spiritual salvation. Verse 4: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” Notice what John doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, “He gives life” – although that certainly is true. He says, “He is life.” Life is not merely something Jesus possesses. It’s not merely something He distributes. Life is in Him because He Himself is life. That is a massive claim. In creation, Christ gives life – but in salvation, Christ is life. Let me explain it this way. You can receive life from someone without remaining connected to them. Every one of us received life from our mothers. At conception and through pregnancy, our mothers nourished us, protected us, sustained us, and gave us the conditions necessary for us to live. But once we’re born, we don’t need to remain physically attached to our mothers to stay alive. We received life from them, but we don’t live in them. But spiritually, it’s completely different. When Scripture says, “In Him was life,” it’s not describing life you receive once and then move on from. It’s describing life that exists only in union with Him. You don’t just receive life from Christ – you receive life in Christ. And unlike physical birth, spiritual life cannot exist apart from ongoing communion with Him. Jesus Himself said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” A branch cannot receive life from the vine once and then go off and live independently. The moment it’s separated, it begins to wither because the branch doesn’t simply receive life from the vine – it receives life in the vine. That’s what spiritual life is like. We live only as we remain in Christ, because apart from Him, there is no life. Brothers and sisters, Jesus is not simply the One who starts your life – He’s the One who is your life. In creation, He formed you – but in salvation, He transforms you. In creation, He brought you into existence – but in salvation, He brings you into relationship with God. That’s why Christianity is not self-improvement or self-discovery. Christianity is union with Christ – being brought into the very life of God Himself.
St. Augustine said, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Friends, is that the confession of your heart? Or are you trying to quiet your restlessness with other things? John is telling us that you were made through Him, made for Him, and sustained by Him – which means that the moment you try to find life apart from Him, you will begin to die inside. You may still look fine on the outside, but spiritually you’ll dry up, and emotionally you’ll become exhausted. You’ll lose your sense of identity and purpose. So, let me ask you: Are you living from the life of Christ – or living spiritually disconnected? Where are you looking for life apart from Christ? Is it an achievement? “If I succeed, I’ll feel alive.” Relationships? “If this person loves me, I’ll matter.” Approval? “If people admire me, I’ll have worth.” Distraction? “If I stay busy or entertained, I won’t feel empty.” But these things will fail you again and again because they were never meant to carry the weight of your soul. Then, anchor yourself in this truth today: unless you are rooted in the One who is life, you will never truly live. Then, turn to Christ today, for He will revive your soul, awaken your heart, and make you alive again.
3) THE DARKNESS-BREAKING WORD
Verse 4: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness.” Darkness in Scripture is not simply the absence of light. It’s a symbol for sin, despair, fear, spiritual blindness, and hopelessness. It describes the world as it is when we turn away from the Word. But here’s the most devastating truth: We didn’t just stumble into darkness – we chose it. Even though life is found in Him, humanity turned away and chose darkness over life. In fact, this is exactly what we see throughout the Bible. Adam and Eve chose their own desires over God’s Word. Israel chose idols over the Lord. And we do the same – we choose to sit on the throne of our hearts instead of surrendering it to the rightful King. And the irony is that we walk away from the Giver of life and wonder why we feel dead inside. We walk away from the God who is light and then wonder why we cannot see. Now, many of us don’t feel the weight of darkness because we’re constantly surrounded by artificial light. But Pastor Tim Keller gives a vivid picture of what darkness does – he said, “If you’re in utter darkness, you can’t even see your hand in front of your face. And to stay in utter darkness for an extended time can have a radically disorienting effect on you. In such deep darkness, you can’t see forward, so you don’t know where you’re going. You have no direction. You can’t even see yourself; you don’t know what you look like. You may as well have no identity. And you can’t tell whether there is anyone around you, friend or foe. You are isolated. Physical darkness brings disorientation, but according to the Bible, so does spiritual darkness.” That’s exactly what spiritual darkness produces: disorientation, confusion, and loss of direction. You don’t know where you’re going. You don’t know who you are. And you feel isolated – even when you’re surrounded by people. And the most crushing part of darkness is not just that life feels confusing now – it’s that darkness casts the shadow of death over everything. You can laugh, work, achieve, and keep busy, but underneath it all is the haunting reality that life will one day end. And apart from Christ, what lies ahead is not light – but deeper darkness. I know it’s a sobering place to begin Advent – a season of celebration. But it may be the right place because only when we recognize our hopelessness will we become grateful for hope. Only when we see our deadness will we long for life. And this is why the next line is so glorious: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John tells us that darkness is real – but it’s not ultimate. The Word is the light of all mankind – and when He shines, darkness cannot conquer Him. The truth is that throughout history, darkness tried to extinguish the Light: Pharaoh tried, Herod tried, the religious leaders tried, Satan tried, and even death tried. But darkness could not overcome the Light. We can even see this in the natural world. If you turn on a light in a dark room, the darkness doesn’t fight back. It doesn’t resist. It doesn’t linger. It immediately disappears. Darkness has no power against light – Light always wins. And John wants you to know that Jesus is not merely a light among many – He is the Light of the world. Just as darkness cannot defeat the sunrise, the darkness of sin, evil, and death cannot defeat Christ.
Then, what does this mean for us? Some of us may be living in darkness right now – in that there’s unconfessed sin, shame you’ve never dealt with, bitterness you’ve been holding onto, unbelief, loneliness, fear, exhaustion, or despair in your life. And you feel stuck. You’ve tried. You’ve done everything you can to break out of the chain that enslaves you – and still, the darkness feels stronger than you. If that’s you, hear what John is saying: Jesus did not come to accuse you of your darkness – He came to break it. He came to lift you out of it. He came to shine on you, heal you, forgive you, restore you, and free you. Then, Christmas is not about pretending everything is fine. It’s about honestly admitting that everything is not fine – and trusting the One who stepped into our mess. So, let me ask you: Are you still hiding in darkness? What sin, pain, or fear do you avoid bringing into the light? What darkness has been shaping your life – and what would it look like for the Light of Christ to break in? Yes, our darkness is deeper than we know – but God’s love is stronger than we can comprehend. And that’s what we celebrate at Christmas: The Word did not stay distant – but He stepped into our darkness as the Light of the world. He stepped into our sin, our brokenness, our pain, our shame, and even our death. He didn’t shout instructions from heaven. He didn’t offer a principle to follow from a distance. No, He came into our lives. Jesus is not intimidated or irritated by our darkness because He is greater – and He has conquered it. So, run to Him, for He will overthrow your darkness and give you hope.
Now, if you’re here today and you’ve never trusted in Jesus, I want you to hear this clearly: He came for you – He came to pull you out of darkness, forgive you, make you alive, and bring you home. And today, the Eternal Word, the One who existed before time, the One who gives life, the One who breaks the darkness, stands ready to save you. Listen to what John says at the end of his Gospel, after spending 20 chapters describing who Jesus is and what He has done – John 20:31, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” This is not merely John’s purpose statement for the book – it’s an invitation. An invitation to believe. An invitation to receive life. An invitation to come out of darkness and enter His marvelous light. Notice John doesn’t say, “So that you may have better advice,” or “so that you may become more religious,” or “so that you may improve your life.” He says, “So that you may have life.” Real life. Eternal life. Life that begins now and will last forever. So, as you enter this Advent season, don’t let Christmas pass you by without responding to Christ. Don’t keep Him at the edges of your life. Come to Him because if you do, you will not be turned away. He’ll embrace you with His arms wide open.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, this Advent season, when the world feels chaotic, remember the Eternal Word who never changes. When you feel empty or weary, remember the Life-Giving Word who restores. And when darkness feels heavy, remember the Darkness-Breaking Word who conquers, for He will hold you fast.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Why do you think the Christmas story can lose its impact over time? How have you personally experienced that? What are some ways Christmas can subtly shift from being Christ-centered to tradition-centered in your life?
2) Why do you think it’s tempting to reduce Jesus to something “manageable” (a teacher or moral example)? How does seeing Jesus as the Eternal Word call us to greater awe, reverence, and humility?
3) Why is it significant that John says Jesus doesn’t just give life but is life? Jesus says, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). What does that look like practically in daily life? How do you recognize when you are spiritually disconnected, even if things look fine on the outside?
4) Are there areas of your life you’ve been reluctant to bring into the light? Why? What fears or lies keep people from running toward Jesus when they’re in darkness? How does the image of light overcoming darkness help you understand Jesus’ power over sin, fear, and death?
