Jesus: The Logos Made Flesh (John 1:1-14)
This sermon explores the profound identity of Jesus Christ as the Logos, the very reason and order of the universe, as presented in John's Gospel. It thoughtfully examines how humanity typically rejects this ultimate truth, offering the gospel as a unique and liberating alternative.
This sermon explores Jesus as the divine Logos, the personal ultimate reality behind the universe. It contrasts the widespread rejection of this truth through relativism or moralism with the gift of becoming God's children by grace, a non-oppressive absolute.
Overview
The sermon introduces the season of Epiphany, which focuses on the life of Jesus, and uses John 1:1-14 as its central text. This passage is framed as presenting a profound claim about Jesus, detailing its widespread rejection, and then offering a liberating answer. The initial verses establish Jesus, the Word (Logos), as a divine, uncreated person, the source of all life, who ultimately became flesh.
A key point is the radical redefinition of the Greek philosophical concept of the "Logos." While ancient Greek thought viewed the Logos as an impersonal cosmic principle of order, John asserts it is a *person* to be known and loved—Jesus Christ. This transforms ultimate reality from an abstract concept to a relational being, making alignment with the truth accessible to everyone, not just an intellectual or moral elite.
The sermon then addresses the widespread rejection of this claim, highlighting two distinct forms implied by John 1:5's ambiguous wording ("overcome/understand"). One form is outright hostility and moral relativism, which the preacher demonstrates leads to incoherence and inconsistency. The other is moralism, where individuals attempt to align with absolute truths through their own effort, which is argued to be oppressive—either crushing the individual or turning them into an oppressor of others.
Finally, the gospel is presented as the answer found in John 1:12-14. Becoming a child of God is a freely given gift, not earned by performance, establishing a covenant-based relationship. Jesus, by becoming flesh, serves as the ultimate tabernacle, priest, and sacrifice, permanently bridging the gap between God and humanity. This, the sermon concludes, is the "non-oppressive absolute" that provides a consistent and liberating path out of both relativism's confusion and moralism's burden.
Key points
- The sermon outlines John 1:1-14 as presenting a claim about Jesus, its widespread rejection, and the gospel's answer.
- Jesus, as the Logos, is a divine, uncreated person and the source of all life, who ultimately became flesh.
- John's portrayal of Jesus as the Logos redefines the Greek philosophical concept of an impersonal cosmic principle into a personal, knowable divine being.
- Rejection of Jesus as the Logos manifests either as overt hostility (moral relativism) or as a misunderstanding (moralism) by those who attempt to earn righteousness.
- Moral relativism leads to incoherence and inconsistency, while moralism results in oppression, either by crushing the individual or turning them into a self-righteous oppressor.
- The gospel offers the gift of becoming children of God through grace, establishing a covenant relationship not based on performance.
- Jesus is presented as the ultimate tabernacle, priest, and sacrifice, permanently bridging the gap between God and humanity, offering a "non-oppressive absolute."
In Tim Keller's words
“If the Logos is not a principle but a person that you can know and love, anybody can do that.”
“Moralism can either bring oppression by crushing you or if you live up to them, can turn you into an oppressor.”
“The gospel is a non-oppressive absolute.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Season of Epiphany and John's Gospel
- A. Purpose: To look at the life, words, and deeds of Jesus
- B. Focus: John 1:1-14, the Prologue
- C. Sermon Outline: The Claim, The Rejection, The Answer
- II. The Claim: Who Jesus Is (John 1:1-4, 14)
- A. Five truths about the Word:
- 1. A person ("he")
- 2. A divine person ("the word was God")
- 3. An uncreated person ("Through him all things were made")
- 4. The source of all life ("In him was life")
- 5. Jesus ("The word became flesh")
- B. The startling nature of the "Logos"
- 1. Greek philosophy: Impersonal, harmonious divine structure of the cosmos
- 2. John's redefinition: The Logos is a person to be known and loved
- 3. Revolutionary impact: Ultimate reality is personal, not impersonal
- III. Widespread Rejection of the Claim (John 1:5-11)
- A. The ambiguity of "overcome/understand" (katelambano) in John 1:5
- B. Two ways to reject Jesus:
- 1. Hostile/Overt Rejection: Moral Relativism
- a. Characteristics (Christian Smith's research): Strong moral feelings, moral relativism, morality is self-evident
- b. Result: Incoherence and inconsistency (e.g., strong moral feelings without a basis to call anything "wrong")
- 2. Misunderstanding/Not Comprehending: Moralism
- a. Definition: Adopting moral absolutes and trying to live up to them by self-effort
- b. Result: Oppression (crushing burden if you fail, or self-righteousness/bigotry if you succeed)
- c. Example: The Jews' rejection of Jesus because he didn't fit their moralistic expectations
- IV. The Answer: The Gospel (John 1:12-14)
- A. Becoming a child of God is a gift (not based on performance, but on covenant)
- B. How it is procured: The Word became flesh and "tabernacled" among us
- 1. Jesus is our tabernacle (temple), priest, and sacrifice
- 2. He permanently bridges the gap between God and us
- C. The Gospel as a non-oppressive absolute
- 1. Avoids incoherence and inconsistency of relativism
- 2. Avoids oppression of moralism (grace prevents crushing, sacrifice for enemies prevents superiority)
- 3. Led to profound societal change by early Christians who comprehended it
Scripture references
- John 1:1-14
- John 1:1-4
- John 1:5-11
- John 1:12-14
- John 1:1-3
- John 1:3
- John 1:4
- John 1:14
- John 1:5
- John 1:11
- Acts 17
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by 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.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by 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 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Insights
The universe's ultimate truth is a person to be known and loved.
Life's true alignment comes through a relationship, not just self-effort.
Rejecting absolute truth can lead to incoherence and inconsistency.
Questions & answers
What is the Logos according to this sermon?
The sermon explains that "Logos" (from John 1:1) was a Greek philosophical term for an impersonal cosmic principle of order. John, however, redefines it as a personal, divine being—Jesus Christ—who is to be known and loved.
What is the significance of the Logos being a person instead of a principle?
The preacher argues that if the Logos is a person, then aligning with ultimate reality is accessible to everyone through a relationship, not just an elite few who can achieve self-control or contemplation. This was a revolutionary concept.
What are the two ways the sermon says people reject Jesus?
The sermon identifies two ways: overt hostility and moral relativism (rejecting absolute truth as oppressive), or moralism (trying to earn acceptance by perfectly adhering to moral absolutes, which is shown to be self-oppressive or leads to oppressing others).
How does the sermon connect the idea of God's children to Jesus as the Logos?
John 1:12-14 describes becoming children of God as a gift received through belief in Jesus's name. This relationship is compared to a father-child bond, based on covenant and unconditional commitment, rather than performance.
What does the preacher mean by "non-oppressive absolute"?
This refers to the gospel's solution to the dilemmas of relativism and moralism. The grace of Christ's sacrifice provides absolute truth without crushing individuals or making them self-righteous oppressors.
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