Do turn me to John chapter 1.
John 1.
So it's on page 886.
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What's the identity of the baby?
That's the core and the heart of the Christmas message.
And John in his gospel focuses not on the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.
There are no shepherds.
There are no angels.
But John identifies for you why the baby was born.
At the carol, who is he on yonder stall?
And our worship depends at this Christmas on our being able to grasp who is this baby that lies in the manger.
And so I've got three answers that I want to give you from John 1.
The first answer is this.
The baby in the manger is God.
Secondly, the baby in the manger is God made man.
And thirdly, the baby in the manger is God made man for our salvation.
And if you take those three statements, in lots of ways they encompass the whole of the message of Christmas.
The baby in the manger is God.
The baby in the manger is God made man.
And the baby in the manger is God made man for our salvation.
The first points are much longer than the other two.
So first of all, the baby in the manger is God.
John, in his gospel, gives us the larger backlog in how Christmas is to be seen and to be understood.
Matthew and Luke, they tell you the story.
They give you the immediate context.
They tell you of Herod and the wise men and the angels and the shepherds.
But John doesn't do that.
John gives you the larger context for the coming of Jesus Christ.
It's here that our minds and our understanding are enlarged so that we see the real meaning of Christmas.
And we see the real sheer glory of Christmas.
So, verse 1, can you hear the echo?
If you know your Bible, surely you hear the echo, don't you?
In the beginning.
In the beginning, God.
The Bible begins, Genesis chapter 1.
But in John chapter 1, it's in the beginning was the word.
In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God the creator is at work, isn't he, to form the heavens and the earth and to form human beings in his own image.
He's the creator.
But in John 1, we have the same creator, God, revealing himself again in power and glory and grace.
And here he is coming to make a new beginning, a new creation.
And so Genesis 1, creation.
John 1, a new creation.
He's saying in John 1, the only parallel for what I'm about to tell you is the creation of the universe.
And that is the backlog that John wants us to see in the coming of this baby lying in a manger.
Echoing the creation of the universe at the beginning of time.
Here is the creator God at work in his fallen world to recreate man.
And four men and women are fresh in his image.
And that new humanity that God here in Christ is setting about creating consists in verse 13 of those who are born not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but born of God.
Now that is the point of the description of Christ as the word.
We often look at verse 1, let me read to you verse 1.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.
And what preachers often do is they often want to say, well, John is talking about here a means of communication.
A means of self-expression.
A means of revelation.
So in the same way that my words this morning reveal what I'm thinking, and what I'm speaking to you reveals what's going on inside,
they communicate a message to you.
And that is true.
That is what John is saying in one way about the Lord Jesus.
That Jesus is the word.
Jesus is the one who reveals.
He manifests what God wants to say to human beings.
It's the revelation of God in all his glory.
But the word in John 1 is much, much more than that.
Because do you remember in Genesis chapter 1, how did God create?
Do you remember that?
How did God create?
He spoke, didn't he?
Catechism says God spoke all things into being by the word of his power in the space of six days and all very good.
He speaks and says, let there be light.
And there was light.
And so we discover that the word of God is God acting in creation.
And now here in the new creation, God is acting again, isn't he?
That is the significance of Jesus being called the word.
The word is God in action.
God bringing the world into being by his word.
And here in Christ, God is bringing in a new world.
A new age.
God is bringing a new humanity into being.
As he sends his son forth from the heavens.
And so John is preparing you and I for the fact that in Christ's coming,
God is beginning to do something of majestic proportions.
And that is what we need to grasp.
That the baby in the manger is the living God acting in his world.
There's the same dynamic in that little baby.
As when God called out into the darkness.
And commanded light to come forth.
That when he spoke and created the universe.
That same authority.
That same creation power.
Is there in this tiny little baby.
That's what John is saying to us.
It's a very remarkable thing.
That as the only begotten son was the agent of creation.
Verse 3.
All things were made through him.
And without him was not anything made that was made.
So the only begotten son.
Is the agent of the creation.
But of the new creation too.
It is he who invades this fallen world.
And gives life and light and hope.
And this Jesus is the baby in the manger.
Now do you notice how John describes Christ as the word.
There's kind of four areas that he does that.
He describes him.
First of all in relation to time.
And then in relation to God.
And then in relation to the universe.
And then in relation to humanity.
So can you see first of all.
He describes the word in relation to time.
In the beginning.
Was the word.
He is eternal.
That's the significance of this phrase.
John is saying.
That he had no beginning.
While other forms and other things had a beginning.
The son of God was eternal.
The word was eternal.
When time began.
Christ was there.
For all eternity.
And John is emphasizing.
That the baby born in Bethlehem.
Had existed with the father.
Through all eternity.
So this beginning of days.
In Bethlehem.
Was not the beginning of days for him.
He was.
When the beginning came.
And from all eternity.
He had existed.
With the father.
So his relationship to time.
Is he is eternal.
And that's really important.
Because only God is eternal.
Do you remember the catechism again?
What is God?
God is infinite.
Eternal.
This baby in Bethlehem.
Has the very characteristic.
Has the very attributes.
Of the Godhead.
Here is the eternal son.
The eternal word.
But secondly.
He describes the word in relationship to the Godhead.
So can you see verse one again?
In the beginning was the word.
And the word was with God.
And the word was God.
God.
Notice.
The two things he says there.
It's not only that he was in the beginning.
And the word was God.
But the word was with God.
And that demonstrates to us.
That the word.
The son.
The Christ.
He has a separate entity.
A separate personality.
Within the Godhead.
He was with God.
God.
But you must understand that.
He was a kind of percentage of God.
Or part of God.
He is a separate personality.
Within the Godhead.
He is distinct from the Father.
And yet he is one with the Father.
So God the Son is a distinct person.
A distinct being.
Yet he has all the attributes.
And all the essence of the Godhead.
The word was God.
What does that do to our worship this Christmas?
Well it means we won't patronize him.
It means we won't lullabies him.
That it is God in the manger.
And so we will bow down before him.
And that is the significance of Christmas.
Here in the manger.
It is the eternal God himself.
Co-equal with the Father.
Having come down to be man.
Third way he describes.
The word is he talks about him in relation to the universe.
Doesn't he?
Look at verse 3.
All things were made through him.
And without him was not anything made that was made.
Again.
You've got the language.
All the way through.
In verse 3, 4 and 5.
The language of Genesis 1.
The language of God.
The language of beginning.
The language of made.
The language of life.
And light.
And darkness.
And so on.
And so now he who was the creator of the universe.
Has come.
To be creator again.
In his own world.
To recreate.
And reform.
Men and women.
Into the image of God.
Who have turned from him.
In.
Rebellion.
and so in relationship to the universe
he is its creator
do you grasp that?
Lo within a manger lies
he who built the starry skies
must lead us to worship
in ecstasy isn't it?
that God the creator of the ends of the earth
is a babe in a manger
fourthly in relation to men
look he is the life giver
look at verse 4
in him was life
and the life was the light of men
so John is telling us something here
which is mind bending
he's telling us that Christ is not only the creator
the agent of creation at the beginning
but he's the animator
he's the way that life came through to us
that where there was life
life came through Christ
and so God called didn't he
inanimate creation
into being
God formed mountains
and seas
and dry land
but then he brought life
and where did that life come from?
that life came from the Lord Jesus
it came from Christ
in him was life
the simple fact is this
there is no life outside of Jesus Christ
that applies to physical life as well as spiritual life
it may well be that John's concentration in his gospel
is on spiritual life
but physical life is exactly the same
it is in Christ
and so if you have life this morning
if you are alive this morning
some of you don't look like you're alive
but you have life this morning
because it has come through the Lord Jesus
he is the animator of creation
that's not a very good way of putting it
the glorious truth is that John is
undoubtedly using a double meaning
that not only is life kind of vested in Christ
in its general form
but the basic meaning of life in John's gospel
is spiritual life
and that is found in Christ
so in the deepest sense
the fullest sense
the life that is in him
is eternal life
and in giving himself to us
he gives us life
and that life illumines the hearts of men
in him was life
and the life was the light of men
the light shines in the darkness
and the darkness has not overcome it
you see what John is saying
just in his opening words
he's saying whichever direction you look at
the baby in the manger is God
the eternal creating animating Lord of life
the baby in the manger is God
but then he goes on to tell us
that the baby in the manger is God made man
the climax is in verse 14
the word became flesh
the word that was in the beginning
the word that was God
who was with God
the word who created all things
became flesh
and he dwelt among us
full of grace
and full of truth
in 9 to 11
it's kind of trailed there
we're told that
the true light
which gives light to everyone
was coming into the world
that's the world of Bethlehem
in verse 10
we're told that he was
in the world
and the world was made through him
yet the world did not know him
verse 11
he came to his own
and his people did not receive him
but the baby in the manger
is God made man
is taught in verse 14
most clearly
and this is the mystery
of the new creation
that is in Christ
and so in the first creation
in Genesis 1
God made man
to bear his image
in the second creation
God became man
to bear our sin
in the first creation
God made man
to bear his image
in the second creation
God became man
to bear our sin
when he says
that the word became flesh
he was no less God
when he became flesh
our Lord Jesus Christ
didn't lessen his godness
he was not therefore
God minus something
he was God
together with what
he had made
taking on our humanity
so that he who
had made man
now came to experience
what it was like
to be a man
that's what the incarnation
means
it means that
the Lord Jesus
took on our flesh
it means that
he entered
into fully
what it means
to be human
he experienced
our frailty
he understood
our weakness
he wept
with our tears
he was exhausted
with our tiredness
he came under pressure
like you and I do
he experienced
temptation
from Satan
like we do
he was tested
and tempted
in every point
as we are
he was a baby boy
and then
an adolescent
and then a full grown
man
and at every stage
he became
what he was
for our sakes
so that he might
enter into our
humanity
and this is what
the incarnation
means
it means that
the Lord of glory
has taken on
human flesh
there's not an
iota
of your
experience
which the Lord
Jesus has not
entered into
personally
and that's what
constitutes him
as a saviour
who understands
the needs
of his people
the Lord Jesus
has entered
into every
possible area
of your flesh
in order that
he might be
your saviour
literally
what John
says there
it says that
he tabernacled
amongst us
can you see that
he dwelt
amongst us
he was made
flesh
and dwelt
among us
verse 14
and there's no
doubt a reference
there isn't there
to the end of
Exodus
where the
tabernacle is
set up
right at the
heart of the
camp of Israel
in the midst
of God's
people
and in Exodus
40
when the
tabernacle
is established
we're told
that the glory
of God
it so filled
the tabernacle
that Moses
couldn't enter it
he couldn't get
near it
because the
glory of God
filled the
tabernacle
God came
down and
filled his
tabernacle
with glory
and it
burned out
from the
tabernacle
now do you
see what Jesus
is doing here
he is coming
amongst us
making
his flesh
his tabernacle
in order that
out of his
flesh
something of
the glory
of God
would burn
and shine
and that is
ultimately the
end of his
saving ministry
the Lord
Jesus
enters into
our flesh
in order that
our manhood
and our
womanhood
would be a
tabernacle
for his
glory to
shine
we beheld
his glory
we've seen
his glory
glory as
of the
only
son
from the
father
full of
grace
and truth
you might
remember the
transfiguration
where his
glory
bursts forth
on that
mountain
and suddenly
the veil of
the Lord
Jesus
is torn
and suddenly
the glory
of who he
is is seen
on that
mountain
it couldn't
be contained
and Peter
speaking about
it years
later
he says
we beheld
his glory
and Jesus
says this
the night
before he
dies
he says
to his
father
the glory
you have
given me
I have
given them
the glory
that you
have given
me
I have
given
them
and that
glory
he came
to bear
in order
that
we might
know the
very glory
of God
shining through
our human
flesh
it's what the
purpose of his
grace and salvation
ultimately is
it's the glory
ultimately of what
the angels sing
the Lord Jesus
through human
flesh that he
has redeemed
and sanctified
the glory
of Christmas
is it is
possible that
through your
flesh
the glory
of Christ
might shine
and God
became man
for that
that leads me
to the last
of the three
areas
the baby
in the manger
is God
the baby
in the manger
is God
made man
and the baby
in the manger
is God
made man
for our
salvation
here's
here's the
real issue
did God
the son
the second
person
of the
trinity
why did
he become
come down
to be made
flesh for man
well it was
certainly to reveal
the glory of God
to reveal his
grace and his
truth in the
world
but it was to
deal with
wasn't it
two specific
areas
where his
glory had been
obscured
and challenged
first of all
in the area
of death
in the world
and then the
area of darkness
in the world
so think again
of Genesis 1
think of that
first creation
account
when God
spoke into
the first
creation
do you remember
what it says
there was
darkness
over the face
of the earth
and that
darkness
there was
evidence
wasn't it
evidence
of the need
for light
and life
and God
spoke into
that darkness
and there
was light
it was waiting
for God
to say
let there be
light
but here
the darkness
in John 1
is sinister
it is an
evil darkness
the new
element in
that darkness
is death
and men
loved darkness
rather than
light we're told
because their
deeds were evil
and that is why
Christ has come
into the world
he came to
give life
in him
was life
says John
and that life
is eternal life
spiritual life
because there
was spiritual
death in man
and the
fallen world
is the shadow
of death
over it
and Christ
came in our
flesh
in order
that he might
deal with the
ultimate darkness
it's what John
means when he
says in verse 9
he says the true
light which gives
light to everyone
who's coming to
the world
he was in the
world and the
world was made
through him
yet the world
did not know
him
he came to
his own
and his own
people did not
receive him
so in John 1
you've got the
first mystery
which is the
incarnation
haven't you
this mind
bending truth
that God
has become man
but the second
mystery of John 1
is the rejection
of Christ
the mystery of
the rejection
of the son
of God
because he
came for those
who were in
darkness
and he came
to bring light
but they didn't
want it
they were blinded
to him
he came to
his home
he came to
his own
people
but his own
people would
not receive
him
he was
despised
and rejected
by those
he came
for
what did
he come to
do
John tells
us in
verses 12
and 13
but to
all who
did receive
him
who believed
in his name
he gave the
right to
become children
of God
who were
born not
of blood
nor of the
will of the
flesh
nor of the
will of God
of man
but of God
he came
to bring
life
to raise
from spiritual
death
those without
God and
without hope
but the
Christ who
became man
who was in
a tiny
crib
grew up to
be the son
of God
crucified
on a
cross
in order
that by
his death
he might
put an
end to
our
spiritual
death
and raise
us
to spiritual
life
that's what's
behind John's
words to all
who received
him who
believed in
his name
he gave
power to
become
children of
God
how does
he do
that
well he
does that
by offering
himself
death
and that's
what Christmas
is about
really isn't
it
he offers
us his
son
to all
who received
him
and it is in
Christ that
there is
life
and so dead
sinners who
sit in
darkness
need
Christ
and if
Christmas
for you
is just
some kind
of nice
warm
fairy story
you need
Christ
and to
all who
received
him he
gave
the right
to become
children of
God
and so
can I ask
if you
grasped that
this Christmas
that the
eternal son
of God
the creator
of the
ends of
the earth
who has
formed you
who has
made you
offers himself
to you
he offers
himself to
you to
come into
your life
and to
recreate
you
what you
need
have you
received
him
it's not
enough to
be religious
it's not
enough to
align yourself
with God's
people
it's not
enough to
have a
reputation
as a
Christian
it is
have you
received
Jesus
Christ
because
to as
many as
received
him
he gave
the right
to be
children
of God
that you
might be
brought to
him
that you
might discover
the mystery
and glory
of having
the creator
of the
universe
inhabiting
your life
and making
it his
tabernacle
that was
true
you would
go out
of this
church
wouldn't
you
walking
on air
you would
rejoice
that the
word became
flesh
and dwelt
among us
let's pray
let's종
of
a