Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 15, 2013

Christmas Message

For Who He Is

John 1:14-18

Ultimately, Christmas is not about our gifts to each other or even our gifts to the Lord. It is a celebration of God’s immeasurable gift of His Son to us. This morning we will turn to the prologue of John’s gospel to identify some particular truths about Jesus. These truths are important because they indicate the clear distinction between the Christ revealed in Scripture and the Christ other religions claim to honor. As you anticipate Christmas, let the truths of this text encourage you to see Jesus for who He really is. When you understand who Jesus really is, you value Him above everyone and everything.

I. See Him as the Word

• Before He became flesh, John called Him the Word.
• for communication with the Father
• divine communication to us
• God expressing Himself

II. See Him as the Word existing eternally

• with God
• was God
• second person of the Trinity

III. See Him as the agent of creation

• underscores that He is God
• indicts the world’s guilty blindness
• origin and explanation

IV. See Him as the Life and the Light

• the life you need because you are dead
• the light you need because you are blind

V. See Him as the exclusive Savior and King

• incarnation: word…flesh…dwelt
• glory of the only begotten…
• full of grace and truth
• Jesus Christ: leading out

VI. So What?

• “…we will never face life alone, now that God has made Himself known, Father and Friend, with us to the end, Immanuel.” (S.C. Chapman)
• Repudiate the reduction of Jesus to a product of history since John plainly asserts that history is the product of His sovereign action.
• “In Jesus Christ we discover an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies.” (J. Edwards)
• “Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.” (C. Rosetti)
• “We the sons of men rejoice, the Prince of Peace proclaim, with heaven’s host lift up our voice, and shout Immanuel’s name.” (C. Wesley)