Eddie arthur is director of strategic initiatives for global connections, a network of uk agencies, churches, colleges and support services that seeks to serve, equip and develop churches in their mission. The author goes to considerable length to explain the background and circumstances around john s birth before coming to jesus. Johns christmas story is found in the first chapter of johns gospel. When we think about the christmas story, we usually start with the gospel of luke and gospel of matthew.
Mar 25, 2010 but the second christmas story comes from the gospel of john and it is more difficult to visualize. John, are ideal for contemplation of the mystery of the incarnation, celebrated during advent and christmas. In the title for his gospel, in the scripture texts quoted, in the two contrasting figures of john the baptist and jesus, and in his description of the baptism of jesus, he gives us plenty to celebrate in recognising the loving activity of god in our world, a god of whom jesus said, no one is good but god alone mark 10. Told carelessly, the christmas story sounds like gods plan b. Christmas story from the gospel of matthew matthew 1.
Those words, from the opening of the gospel according to st. The surprising christmas story in johns gospel jim. We love the telling of the virgin being with child, his humble birth in a cattle stall, the wise men, the gifts, etc. The christmas story in the gospel of john bellator christi. Dec 17, 20 only two of them, matthew and luke, say anything about christmas. Dec 21, 2017 the gospel of jesus christ can tame the most ferocious sinner and then send him back to spread the good news with his family, who could see his radical change.
Why we need the gospel of john at christmastime timothy. John s christmas story is abstract and philosophical. In other words, we can make the christmas story sound like god turning to a new plan, rather than fulfilling all that he had promised. Early morning worship songs for prayers gospel music praise and worship songs gospel music cover songs 526 watching live now three wise men matthew 2 the magi christmas bible story. The first time we see jesus in this gospel is when jesus comes to be baptized by john. There is no traditional christmas story about the birth of jesus in the gospel of john. This gospel, written by the disciple that experienced such love from jesus that he identifies himself as the one loved by jesus, present his narrative of the birth of jesus as a second genesis. The notsovirgin birth of the christmas story raw story. The same joygiving gospel was changing lives in london, and the time had come for these new christians to return home to testify of the gospels power in their own lives. The most common chapter for reading the christmas story is luke chapter 2, but it can be found in any of the 4 gospels matthew, mark, luke, and john asked in christmas, literature classics. Instead of putting the christmas story up front with its explanation, john weaves the story of christmas and the purpose of christmas. How is the christmas story different in different gospels.
Anybody wanting to read the earliest account of the christmas story could be forgiven for thinking that the beginning of the new testament would be the best place to start. This is the second of a series of posts on the christmas story in the gospels. Part 2 the coming birth of john the baptist is announced. John didnt retell the christmas story or give any details about jesus childhood, but he clearly expected that his readers would know enough to fill in the missing details for themselves. The books of matthew and luke both give accounts of the birth of jesus, while the book of john gives a more ethereal account of how the word became flesh john 1. John has been a staff writer for in touch ministries, crown financial ministries and the billy graham evangelistic association. Johns christmas story introduces the interactive mission of jesus. Meditations on christmas and the gospel of hope 2015, and broken vows. John goes straight to the point with the profound message that god has come to us in human form to live. Johns christmas story sermon by asun delong, john 1. This chapter of the new testament tells the ageold christmas story, but its also extremely relevant to our. Mary was an unlikely candidate to be honored with the role of mother to the savior.
Why do matthew and luke have different nativity stories. Somewhere beyond the traditions of the holiday lies the truth. Mark begins with john the bather, while the fourth gospel has a hymn beginning before the beginning and then starts the story at. Dec 24, 2015 unbeknownst to many, johns gospel holds a christmas story as well. He tells the story without the angels and the shepherds, without the wise men and the manger. Lukes gospel focuses on marys role and includes seven stories pertaining to events surrounding jesus birth and childhood. They were both truly religious people, blamelessly observing all gods commandments and requirements. Already by the year 200, john s gospel was called the spiritual gospel precisely because it told the story of jesus in symbolic ways that differ sharply at times from the other three. Thru the bible gospel of john the gospel of john, a. Dec 31, 2007 christmas is about the birth of jesus christ and the gospel.
Sixth, john s prologue, and especially his teaching on the incarnation of our lord, fleshes out for us the true spirit of christmas. He tells it in language that we can all understand, images that speak to all of us today in our world. Vernon mcgee lead you through the entire book in these 21 summaries from thru the bibles tried and trusted five year study. Before opening presents or starting that christmas party, grab your bible. In which gospels was the christmas story told answers. In the first chapter of john, we see 7 important facts about the true meaning of christmas christmas is about eternity, not just about bethlehem. Jan 18, 2019 the gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god. Seeing that christmas is really a celebration of the incarnation of christ, john tells at least three things about christmas. Matthew and luke recount the christmas story from a human perspective. Your life in the story of god forthcoming, manger king.
Marks gospel records nothing about the birth of jesus. As the final of the four gospel accounts, it reveals the deeper meaning of the events in bethlehem that first christmas. John s christmas story is found in the first chapter of john s gospel. Though it is one of easiest books to read, john is also one of the most profound books to understand. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god. But today, we are going to focus on the christmas story from the. Simply read them the christmas story from the gospel of luke. In the first chapter of john, we see 7 important facts about the true meaning of christmas 1. But this gospel tells the christmas story in a very different way. Marks account of the good news begins with the baptism of john. Many people think that the christmas account is only found in matthew and luke with all the traditional band of characters including shepherds, sheep, angels, joseph, mary, an innkeeper, king herod and, later, the magi from the east, etc johns gospel approaches the story differently. Luke on the other hand has no genealogy and instead focuses heavily on john the baptist as a foil to jesus. Johns gospel encapsulates the christmas story in a couple of verses.
From the birth of christ and the gospel, comes the new birth of many brothers. In the title for his gospel, in the scripture texts quoted, in the two contrasting figures of john the baptist and jesus, and in his description of the baptism of jesus, he gives us plenty to celebrate in recognising the loving activity of god in our world, a god of whom jesus said. Dec 19, 2019 the christmas story from the gospel of john most of the sermons and bible lessons you have heard about the birth of jesus have been from the gospels of luke and matthew. This little book is perfect as a gift or for use in ministry during the christmas season or any other time of the year. The christmas story from the gospel of john grace digest. There is no christmas story in john s gospel, because matthew and luke had already said what needed to be said. This christmas season, luke 2 will probably be the mostread passage of scripture. Learn the bibles christmas story of the birth of jesus.
Dec 24, 2011 we read the christmas story in the gospels of matthew and luke. You wont find a narrative in the gospel of john, but you will find there the theology, purpose and riches of christmas. Its important to see matthew and luke have completely different accounts and agendas about christmas. The christmas story john basic gospel, december 20, 2019. The christmas story, a harmony of the gospels celebrating. The surprising christmas story in johns gospel jim buchan. He hits you right off with the answer to the crucial question, the answer that perhaps you werent even aware that you needed. Through the word, god created all things, including life and light. Unlike matthew and luke, there is no nativity story in john. Mark starts with john the baptist, and in john theology takes first place in the beginning was the word, which became flesh, without any specifics. There are no wise men, virgin birth, angels, shepherds, or even a single account from jesus youth, like luke has.
There is no christmas story in johns gospel, because matthew and luke had already said what needed to be said. Hes not being careless, nor is he rewriting history. Johns christmas story is abstract and philosophical. The christmas story is then told in luke s gospel in the following scriptures for the purpose of theophilus and us knowing the certainty of those these things. It tells of mary and josephs journey to bethlehem, the birth of jesus, the angels announcement to the shepherds in the fields, the shepherds visit to the stable, and even jesus childhood. The sermon title is that of the delightful carol, i wonder as i wander, which reflects something of the wonder joseph experienced. The expression, has made god known might be rendered by a seminarian, exegeted him. The gospel of john, a favorite book of the bible, gives us the story behind the stories of the gospels. His mother mary was pledged to be married to joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the holy spirit. An angel announces the birth of john the baptist luke 1. The christmas story from the gospel of luke all pro dad. As the final of the four gospel accounts, it reveals the deeper meaning. Matthew has a christmas story in which joseph is prominent. Gospel christmas the story of the birth of the gospel, the.
John s gospel is forcing us, dramatically at least, through the storytelling mode, to think of jesus as a passover lamb. The apostle john shares the story from heavenside, from gods perspective. Listen to john macarthur, pastor of grace community church, explain the true reason for the season. Christmas sermon on jesus becoming flesh wonder of. Even john has a christmas story from a cosmic perspective where the word became flesh. The birth of john the baptist 57when it was time for elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. As an eyewitness to the love and power displayed in the miracles of jesus, john gives us an upclose and personal look at christs identity. One of the wonderful things about christmas is that the celebration of the birth of jesus christ is just the beginning of the story. In todays gospel, john is telling us the christmas story, now that the symbols have been packed away. We are left to consider if we will allow jesus christ to be born in us as we leave from this place. While john does not provide many of the historical details that matthew and luke do, john provides a deep christmas story. Jun, 2019 the christmas angel, gabriel, appeared not only to zechariah and mary but also to daniel the prophet more than 500 years before the christmas story.
There we see the shepherds, the magi, and the angel gabriel s stunning declaration to mary. Why we need the gospel of john at christmastime timothy tennent. Mary is much more central to the story than in matthew with her visit to elizabeth and her magnificat in 1. We read the christmas story in the gospels of matthew and luke you wont find a narrative in the gospel of john, but you will find there the theology, purpose and riches of christmas so, here is something different this year with your family and friends at christmastime christmas through the eyes of john. Dec 01, 2005 and if youre also waiting for a christmas story with mary and joseph and angels and shepherds, youre reading the wrong gospel. The christmas story according to matthew thinking faith. Dec 07, 2017 neither mark, the first gospel, nor the gospel of john thought it necessary to begin the story of jesus with his birth. These sections are all weaved together to form a more robust narrative of the christmas story. Christmas sermon on jesus becoming flesh wonder of messiah. We must be very careful to tell the christmas story in such a way that. This narrative of omission serves the unique purpose of marks gospel. Johns christmas sermon by bishop robert barron december 21, 2011 i would like to take the opportunity this christmas season to reflect, however inadequately, on one of the most magnificent passages in the scriptures, indeed one of the gems of the western literary tradition. The gospel of john, possible the last of the gospel to be produced, records the birth of jesus in heavenly, if not spiritual terms and language. This christmas story is drawn wordforword from the bible.
Dec 27, 2019 matthew and luke recount the christmas story from a human perspective. This verse from johns gospel also tells us the same story as recorded in matthew and luke yet without mary and joseph, the stable, angels, shepherds, and wise men. The christmas story from the gospel of john most of the sermons and bible lessons you have heard about the birth of jesus have been from the gospels of luke and matthew. Other colorful characters appear, including elizabeth and zacharias, simeon and anna. Put simply, if we get the christmas story wrong, we get the gospel wrong. If one of those four gospel writers was an alcoholic or an addict, my moneys on john. One such religious classic is the fourth gospel, commonly known as the gospel of john. This is the fifth of a series of posts on the christmas story in the gospels. Mark starts his story of jesus with the calling of john the baptist in the wilderness. The word became a human being and lived here with us. Lukes christmas story 5 things to notice as you read. Before easter, we meet the samaritan woman, the man born blind and lazarus who was brought back from the tomb. God became a man the word became flesh and dwelt among us. If we mean by the christmas story the story of jesuss miraculous birth to mary, then there is no christmas story in mark.
Jesus doesnt eat a passover meal, jesus is the passover meal, at least. From first appearances, one would have to say that there is no christmas story. Christmas story varies in the gospels denver post blogs. Story, theology and drama in the gospel of john thinking. Each gospel s emphasis is different, and by studying them both individually and side by side, we catch deeper glimpses into this marvelous event, that god. Finding christmas in the gospel of john lc3 life blog. Dec 24, 2006 john begins his gospel with no introduction. Dec 11, 2017 johns gospel encapsulates the christmas story in a couple of verses. John s christmas story introduces the divine nature of jesus. In the gospel of luke, luke starts with the birth of john the baptizer who jesus said was the greatest prophet of all the old testament men. The case for christmas invites readers to consider why christmas matters in the first place.
Its wonderful to see the christmas story from this perspective. He shows us that jesus, though fully god, came in the flesh to distinctly and accurately reveal god, and that christ is the. The gospel of mark is possibly the first of the gospels to be written and although done so by mark, according to early church tradition, probably represents the preaching and message of the apostle peter. The only begotten one, himself god, who is in the presence of the father, has made god known john 1. The first one concerned matthews account, the second concerned marks account, and the third and fourth concerned lukes account then there is john. Christmas is about eternity, not just about bethlehem. Our modern christmas story is a composite drawn from two gospels, meaning devotional accounts of the life of jesus, known as the books of matthew and. Jesus, mary, joseph, christmas, john the baptist, ancestry. Christmas is about god stepping into human history, clothing himself in our frail humanity to rescue us from sin and death. The gospel writer john is known as the most mystical of all the gospel writers. The story of the storytellers the gospel of john from. Neither mark, the first gospel, nor the gospel of john thought it necessary to begin the story of jesus with his birth.
Each gospels emphasis is different, and by studying them both individually and side by side, we catch deeper glimpses into this marvelous event, that god. Dec 24, 2015 john also notes that jesus is the source of life in 1. John also skips the nativity, the baptism of jesus, and any mention of bread and wine at the last supper, to name a few signature moments in the christian story. Dec 08, 2010 the christmas story in john begins not with angelic visitors, but with the word of god active in the beginning jn. But, johns christmas story does not only include the divine nature of jesus, he also includes information about jesus mission on earth. Naturally during the christmas season, we focus on the christmas story from the gospels of matthew and mark. Mark begins with john the bather, while the fourth gospel has a hymn beginning before the beginning and then starts the story at the same point mark didwith john the bather, which probably shows his dependence on the. This is the gospel from which we hear most often in the sunday liturgies of the most solemn part of the churchs year, lent and easter.