The Miracle in the Manger is a sermon that delves into John 1:1-14, exploring the concept of Jesus as the Word (Logos). The speaker explains that John was addressing Gnosticism, a miracle belief system that posed a significant threat to Christianity in the 2nd century. Gnostics believed in a higher, unknowable God and viewed the physical world as evil. They sought salvation through secret inner knowledge that would allow them to escape the material world – a miracle.
John counters these beliefs by asserting that the real miracle was that the Word (Jesus) was with God and was God from the beginning. The pastor emphasizes how John’s language challenges Gnostic ideas:
1. Jesus, as the Word, existed before creation and was the agent of creation (John 1:1-3).
2. Life (Zoe) was in Him, referring to the divine life that Gnostics sought (John 1:4).
3. Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, bringing Revelation and truth (John 1:5).
The speaker explores the themes of light and darkness throughout John’s gospel, citing various passages (Isaiah 42:7, Matthew 4:16, 1 John 1:5, John 8:12, John 12:46) to illustrate how these metaphors represent the contrast between sin and salvation.
A crucial point in the sermon is the significance of the Word becoming flesh (John 1:14). The pastor explains how this concept was unthinkable to Gnostics, who viewed the physical world as inherently evil. However, this incarnation reveals God’s love and desire for a relationship with humanity.
The speaker emphasizes that true freedom and deliverance come not through pursuing mysticism or rationalism, but through knowing Jesus Christ personally. He challenges the audience to recognize that we don’t need to become great thinkers or highly spiritual; instead, we need a relationship with the Word who became flesh.
Throughout the sermon, the pastor weaves in references to other Biblical passages, demonstrating the consistency of this message across Scripture. He concludes by reiterating that Jesus is not merely an idea to pursue but a person to know. It is through this relationship that we are liberated from the world of darkness and transferred into God’s kingdom of light.
The overall message of the sermon is clear: Jesus Christ, as the Word made flesh, is the source of true life, light, and salvation. Believing in Him and knowing Him personally is the path to eternal life, as John intended his gospel to convey.