Our text for today is from John chapter 1. Let me read verses 4 and 9, “In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” Here ends our text.
In the beginning was the Word. The Word is the eternal Son of God—the second person of the Trinity. He has no beginning. He existed from all eternity. He was with God the Father. He was fully God and He participated in the creation of the entire universe along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Just moments ago, we confessed in the Nicene Creed that the eternal Son of God is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.”
In the beginning, darkness was over the face of the deep. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God’s creation was very good. It was full of life—life in plants and animals, and life in Adam and Eve. It was perfect in every way: no sin and no death. It was beautiful.
God has given you life from the womb of your mother. You were created in the image of God, and He continues to sustain your life with daily bread. You have a purpose for living. You are loved by God. He is our source of light and life.
But Satan tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. They ate, and sin, darkness, and death entered our world. Their fall into sin has affected each and every one of us. Our sinful nature leads us to do what we should not do and it prevents us from doing the good we ought to do. We live in the darkness of sin, and someday we will die.
We cannot win God’s favor on our own. We cannot pay for our sin. We cannot prevent death. We need a Savior. We need a Savior who is like us, yet without sin. We need a Savior who will fulfill the law we cannot. We need a Savior who will defeat our enemies of death and the devil. We need a Savior who will bring light into our dark world.
Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive the adoption as sons.” So, at the right time in history, God sent forth His Son—the second person of the Trinity. He became flesh and dwelt among us. The Creator took on human flesh, yet remained Lord of all creation. God became man and yet remained God. The Infinite entered the finite. The eternal broke into time. The fullness of the deity dwelt among us bodily.
The heart of Christmas is this: the Word had taken on human flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary and they called Him Jesus. He was born on a dark and silent night. He is the true Light, and the darkness did not overcome Him. Many Christmas cards depict the baby Jesus shining brightly—and rightly so because He is the true light.
God and man are now one in Jesus Christ. He is like us in every way—bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh—born of a woman, yet without sin.
Where is God? He has come down to us in Jesus. We cannot ascend to God or reach up to Him, but He has come down to us. What we cannot do, Jesus has done for us. We fail to fulfill the law, yet Jesus fulfilled it perfectly for us. We do not seek God; rather, God in Christ Jesus sought us and found us. When we cry out, “Where are you, God?” Jesus answers, “I am with you. I have come to give you comfort in the midst of trial and tribulation. I have come to give you peace and forgiveness. I have come to give you light and life.”
Jesus’ public ministry began at His baptism in the Jordan River. The Father declared of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son,” and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove.
Our Holy Gospel for today tells us that John the Baptist identified Jesus as the promised Savior. John was not the light, but he bore witness that Jesus is the Light.
Jesus is the Word made flesh. During Jesus’ ministry His Word was powerful. He spoke and things came to be. By the power of His Word, He stilled the storm and raised Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus taught and preached, His Word accomplished it’s mission. It created faith in the hearts of people. They were even amazed by the authority of which Jesus spoke. Afterall, He is God in human flesh.
Isaiah 9:2 speaks of Jesus: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” The people during the time of Jesus walked in darkness, but they looked to Jesus as the great light. They dwelt in the land of deep darkness, but Jesus was their true light who shined upon them.
Just as the light of creation shone in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it, so also Jesus shines in the darkness of our fallen world, and the darkness has not overcome Him. As light broke into the darkness at creation, so Christ entered our world of sin and death.
Our Gospel says that Jesus came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Instead, they cried out, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” When Pilate asked Jesus, “Who are you, and where have you come from?” Jesus answered, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37). Notice that in the context of Jesus’ upcoming death on the cross, He speaks of His birth. He was born so that He could die on the cross and rise from the dead. He was born to save us from sin, darkness, and death. Christmas and Good Friday belong together.
On Good Friday, darkness covered the land from noon until three in the afternoon. That darkness symbolized the darkness of sin and God’s judgment. Jesus bore our sin on the cross and He suffered God’s wrath in our place.
Good Friday and Easter belong together. And so, three days later, Jesus rose from the dead. The darkness of sin and death could not keep Jesus in the tomb. It could not overcome Him. Easter is a season of light and life. As our Gospel says, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Jesus is the true Light, who gives light and life to you through faith.
There was a day when you were born from your mother. You celebrate a birthday. But your greater birth took place at your baptism. There, you were born from above by water and the Word. You are now a child of God. God is your Father, and Jesus is your brother.
Verse nine says that the true Light gives light to everyone. Jesus has given you light and life.
Verse 17 says that the law was given through Moses. God’s law is good for us. It shows us how to love God and our neighbor. It teaches us what is pleasing to God, and it protects us from sin and evil. Yet because of our sinful nature, the law also reveals our sin. We repent and seek forgiveness in Christ.
Verse 17 goes on to say that grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Because of the cross and the open tomb, God is gracious and merciful to you. He gives you grace upon grace. In other words, God’s grace is abundant because of Jesus. In Christ, there is forgiveness. Faith hears this wonderful news and says, “Thank you.”
Jesus came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. Jesus came to you. He gave you light and life in Him. You believe in Him. You look to Him in faith. You are a child of God.
Jesus is the Word made flesh, but you now hear the written Word and the Word preached. They both point to Jesus, your one and only Savior. God’s Word is your light. It guides you and comforts you. Hear God’s Word on a regular basis.
When you will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil. The darkness of eternal death will not overcome you, because Christ is your Light and your source of eternal life.
Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Today the Word dwells among us. Today is a day of light and life. Today we behold God’s glory—not with physical eyes, but with the eyes of faith. Today is a day filled with hope and joy. Today our Savior comes to us in bread and wine giving us His body and blood.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
