John 1:1-18 – “God Became Human to Live With Us”

 “In the beginning the Word already existed.  The Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He existed in the beginning with God.  God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him..  The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.  The Light shines in darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it…So the Word became human and made his home among us.  He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen his glory the glory of the Father’s one and only son.”  (John 1:1-5 and 14, NLT)

This is the Christmas story.  Although it doesn’t describe the baby Jesus with Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and wise men.  It is the Christmas Story.  God broke into the human realm and snuck His son in behind enemy lines as a human baby in a human virgin’s womb.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Fellowship of One God.

The Word is God’s Son, Jesus the Messiah.  This Living Word Jesus was one with God in creating all things.  Before Jesus became human; he introduced Eve to Adam and walked together in fellowship with them before their fall in disobedience.  It was Jesus, who with two angel companions, had lunch with Abraham; informed Sarah she would have a baby boy, this time next year and shared with Abraham what He was going to do to Sodom and Gomorrah, and allowed Abraham to intercede on their behalf.  It was Jesus who wrestled with Jacob at Peniel and blessed him and changed his name from Jacob the trickster to Israel which means a Prince with God.  It was Jesus who just before the battle of Jericho stood before Joshua with a drawn sword.  When Joshua asked, “Are you for us or against us?” he answered, “Neither.  I am captain of the Lord’s angel army.  Joshua bowed with his face to the ground.  Jesus told him to take off his sandals for he was standing on holy ground.  It was Jesus who walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.  Jesus made many appearances in the Old Testament before he became human.  He is the I Am who spoke to Moses from the burning bush.  In the Gospel of John, the Pharisees are arguing with Jesus again.  Jesus finally said to them “Abraham looked forward to my day; He saw it and was glad.”

“You are not even fifty years; how could you have seen Abraham?”  Jesus replied, “I tell you before Abraham was “I Am”.  They picked up stones to stone him because he had just called himself God.

Prayer Song by Marijohn Wilkin: “I Have Returned”–  I have returned to the Yahweh of Judah, On my knees I did fall where the wall now stands; This lesson I learned as I’ve worked my way homeward, The Savior of all is a comfort to man.

I have returned to the Father of Abraham, The shepherd of Moses who called Him the great I am; He’s Jesus to me, Eternal Deity; Praise His name, I have returned.

The Word became human and lived with us.

– Pastor Stephen Floyd, First Church of the Nazarene, Falls City