“Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!”

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

—John 1:1

Of the four gospel writers, the Apostle John offers the most penetrating view of Jesus.

Matthew writes to the Jewish mindset and portrays Jesus as King. Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus is like a richly textured oil painting, full of light and shadow.

Mark writes to the Roman mindset and portrays Jesus as a servant. Mark’s portrayal of Jesus is like candid photographs that provide snippet views of the events in Jesus earthly life.

Luke writes to the Greek mindset and portrays Jesus as a man. Luke’s portrayal of Jesus is like a motion picture that smoothly dissolves from scene to scene and captures all the intensity of the action.

These first three gospels are what Bible students call the synoptic gospels—the story gospels. They tend to weave a loose timeline of the events in Jesus earthly life.

Then there’s John. John writes to all humankind and portrays Jesus as God’s Son, or the Son of God. John’s portrayal of Jesus is like an X-ray examination of all the internal thoughts and motives of Jesus. Thus, the mystery of this gospel.

John writes about the birth of Jesus—the Incarnation—in a most unique way. Here's John 1:1-14:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John (that is, John the Baptist). He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John reveals many important truths in this passage. Among them is the startling revelation that not all humans are children of God. Yes, all humans bear the image of God—the Imago Dei—and all humans hold access to the common grace of God.

But, only to all those who “receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”

This day, this Christmas Day, we who believe have reason to celebrate. We also have an enormous responsibility to partner with the Holy Spirit in sharing God’s love and the good news of His salvation through His one and only Son.

We want everyone whom God has chosen to belong to Him to hear of the great gift He has given them. Yes, it is a great mystery that has come alive in our hearts and minds.

But with all the host of heaven we can gloriously sing: "“Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king!”

 

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