The Christmas Story Week 2

The Intro – In the Beginning

Message by:
Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

• “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”
• 'Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,
• “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice (1813)
• A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

The Christmas story is eternal not “once upon a time. ”

John 1:1-3 ESV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

With God, distinct from God the Father, but one in unity of essence.

Jesus had universal not just local significance.

This is important because people can focus on Jesus’ humanity and the location he lived or the country he called home and make comparisons and excuses that ours isn’t like that. Every location, every town, every created thing was made through Christ. He matters in every situation, at any time because he is familiar with it all. He is not confined to Jerusalem or Bethlehem or Nazareth. He is universally significant.

John 1:4-5 ESV
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.

The Christmas story is a story of life and light.

The beginning of all life. Physical, spiritual, moral, all life. If you are alive today, and I hope you are, then this story relates to you. And the life was the light of men — He who is essential life, and the giver of life to all that live, was also the light of men; the fountain of wisdom, holiness, and happiness, to man in his original state. People are looking for significance and the meaning of life. They want a full life. A happy life but many find loneliness and darkness.

John 1:6-8 ESV
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

Two important things to remember about John the Baptist:

1.
1. He was sent from God.
2.
2. He was not the light.

It is easy for us at times to replace the true light with not the light.

John 1:9-11 ESV
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

He came — In the fullness of time, to his own - Country, city, temple: And his own - People, received him not.

It is possible to miss the light.

John 1:12-14 ESV
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 man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In our darkest times we need the grace and truth of Christ.

This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation.

Next Steps

• Today I commit to read and meditate on John 1 this week.
• Today I commit to give grace and truth to others in any situation.
• Today I commit to receive and believe in Jesus as Lord of my life.