As we look at the manger and the birth of Jesus it is very important to remember who Jesus is. We can look at the baby in the manger and forget that he is the God of the Universe and the Creator of all things, who took the form of a man so that he could show us the way to the Father and save us from our sins. John begins his gospel, not telling the Christmas story, but sharing who Jesus is.
John 1:1-34
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Behold, the Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
Who is the Word? (1)
How long has the Word existed? (1-2)
What is in the Word? (4)
What does the Word give to those who receive him? (12)
What came through Moses? (16)
What does that mean?
What comes through Jesus? (17)
What does that mean?
Who did John the Baptist say he is? (23)
Who did John say Jesus is? (29)
What does that mean?
THOUGHT QUESTIONS:
Why is Jesus referred to as the Word? What is the purpose of the Word? How do you know the Word is God? Who are the three persons of God? How is the trinity (the three persons of God) evident in verses 32-34? (Note: The three persons of God make up the one, true God, in the way the three dimensions of a book make up just one book. You can’t take away one of the dimensions and still have the book.)
PRAYER:
Thank the Father that he sent his Son as a man to show you who God is and to save you from the penalty of your sin. Pray that you would understand his truth and walk in his light. Thank Jesus for giving you his Holy Spirit to work in you and deliver you from the power of sin.
FOCUS VERSE: John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.