In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. 14 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. (John 1:1-5 and 14)
At Seminary, there were two professors that taught a required class on the Gospel of John. Both teachers had completely different teaching styles and focused on different parts of the book. When asking a friend about the professor that he had for the class, he told me that his professor spent over three weeks (in a ten-week course) on the first 18 verses alone! I was amazed to hear that. I wondered how someone could find so much content in those opening verses that it takes over three full weeks to teach it!
But he is not alone. A look at commentaries reveals a similar thing. In Leon Morris’ commentary, he devotes 59 pages to the opening verses. In R. C. H. Lenski’s work, he gives 76 pages to the prologue. In William Weinrich’s new commentary on John by Concordia Publishing House, he devotes 108 pages to the material. Luther takes the crown with 148 pages of writing in his sermons on John. There is so much in John’s opening verses to his book.
John 1:1–18 introduces one of the Bible’s greatest and grandest books—the Gospel according to St. John. These eighteen verses contain some of the most important words written—ever. They explode with light and brilliance, truth and grace. And John 1:1–18 is chock full of dearly loved Advent and Christmas themes, with the most famous one being, “The Word became flesh.” (John 1:14). This will be the focus for our series of sermons on John 1:1–18. The lineup is as follows:
Advent 1, Nov. 28: “You Have My Word!” (John 1:1–5)
Advent 2, Dec. 5: “A Man Named John” (John 1:6–9, 15)
Advent 3, Dec. 12: “Chosen Children” (John 1:12b)
Advent 4, Dec. 23: “The Word Dwelt among Us” (John 1:14a)
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24: “We Have Seen His Glory!” (John 1:14b)
Christmas Day, Dec. 25: “Grace upon Grace!” (John 1:16-18)
As life becomes crazy, busy, and hectic this Advent season, I invite you to join us for our midweek services as we slow down and look at this rich, deep, full, and comforting passage of Scripture. Let these services help you to focus on the season, and the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ for you! Each week, we will focus on a different set of verses, and we will begin to see why so much has been written and said about them. Blessings on the upcoming Advent season!
Pastor Kooi
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XX, Number 4, November 2018)