Christmas – The Light Has Come

Sunday, December 22^nd 2024

John 1:15-18

Introduction

Jesus, the Son of God Makes the Father Known to Us

1. Jesus Eternal Existence

“(John bore witness about him and cried out, ‘This was he of who I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me).

The apostle John wants us to see that Jesus is greater than John the Baptist and all the other prophets because, Jesus is the eternal Word. He had a higher rank than John because He existed before John, although he was younger than John.

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

John 8:58

“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. John 17:5

1. Jesus is Abounding in Grace

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

We have all received - John has just used received (lambano) in John 1:12 those who received Jesus Christ as Savior and who thereby became children of God. 

All of those who received Jesus, receive His grace upon grace. Remember that salvation is not something we achieve but something we receive. By grace we receive it and by grace we live it out. 

• Jesus is Greater Than Moses

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

The Law was given - Strictly speaking the Law referred to the Torah. It is a reference to the entire OT, especially in view of the fact that the entire OT pointed to the Logos, the Messiah. The present passage John is in effect presenting a contrast between Old and New, Moses and Jesus, Law and grace and truth.

Under the law, God demands righteousness from people; under grace, He gives it to people. 

Under law, righteousness is based on Moses and good works; under grace, it is based on Christ and Christ’s character. 

Under law, blessings accompany obedience; under grace, God bestows his blessings as a free gift. 

The law is powerless to secure righteousness and life for a sinful race. Grace came in its fullness with Christ’s death and resurrection to make sinners righteous before God. 

1. Jesus has Made Known the Father to Us

“No one has ever seen God; the only (begotten) God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

Jesus is the only one qualified to interpret God to man.

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him” Matthew 11:27

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation…” Colossians 1:15

“He (Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature…" Hebrews 11:3

1. Conclusion