The Christmas Gospel According to John

During the Christmas season we expect to hear the Luke 2 account of our Savior’s birth.  During the season of Epiphany we hear the story of the visit of the Magi as told by Matthew.  Both Gospel also contain narratives on the announcement of the Jesus’ birth; Matthew tells the story from Joseph’s perspective and the more detailed account of Mary’s story is found in Luke.  But, there is another Christmas gospel.   It is found in John 1.  While Matthew and Luke provide the details of the event, John provides insight into the meaning of Jesus’ birth.  While Matthew traces Jesus lineage back to Abraham and Luke connects the story to Old Testament prophesy, John goes one better and connect Jesus birth with the beginning of the world at creation.

“In the beginning was the Word.” (John 1:1).  The fact that the “Word” is capitalized causes us to assume it is a proper noun, meaning Jesus is the “Word.”  John links Jesus, “The Word,” to creation.  That means that all three persons of The Trinity were present at the beginning of the world.  God the Father was the creator who called things into existence, and the Spirit was present “hovering over the waters” but what role did Jesus play in creation?  Translated into Greek, “The Word” is Logos.  In this context term “The Logos” appears twice in the scriptures, at creation and at the birth of Jesus.

In the beginning “the earth was formless and empty.” (Genesis 1:2).  It was encompassed in darkness.  I would propose that Jesus' role was to enter into that chaos and bring a sense of peace.   I believe that is the message John is delivering at the beginning of his gospel.  In John 1:14 he writes, “The Word (“The Logos”) became flesh and lived a while among us.”  Jesus brought the same sense of peace to the first century world as he brings today.  The word “Peace” is often associated with the Christmas season.  Even the secular world uses the word “Peace” at Christmas time, but those of us who get the message realize that the only “true peace” can be found in “The Logos.” 

My prayer for you this Christmas is that you may experience the “peace” of the Christ Child in an even deeper way.  I also pray that “The Logos” may bring peace to the chaos that is your world.  I further pray that through you people may see the peace of the Christ Child.  Our world may seem to have lost it way and be in a state of chaos, but the Prince of Peace has come to restore order and remove the darkness that covers the earth.  You are his instrument to accomplish that.  My God grant that through the power of His Spirit, this Christmas and in 2016.