When the gospel writers introduce us to Jesus, Mark begins with his baptism, while Matthew and Luke begin with his conception and birth. For John that still doesn’t tell the whole story of Jesus’ life. John wants us to understand that Jesus’ life didn’t begin when he was conceived, like our lives do. Before Jesus was conceived, born, and named Jesus, John says he was “The Word.” Now you may be wondering what “The Word” means. Well, the “Word” is an interesting word.

Before he became a human being, Jesus had forever been “The Word” – the voice of God, the person giving expression to the thoughts and revelations of God, manifesting the power of God. That means every time God appears and says or does something in Old Testament times, it was actually Jesus. When Genesis says God created the world by speaking it into existence, John says it was the voice of Jesus. “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him” (John 1:3). And then John says something that makes my mind do somersaults trying to understand it. He says, “The Word was with God and The Word was God” (John 1:2). That makes the voice of God a separate person and yet the same person. Of course that would explain why in Genesis God says, let us make man in our own image. Somehow God is two persons, and one of those, “The Word,” is the one revealing him.

So when John writes about the birth of Jesus, he doesn’t give us the details of a star, shepherds, a manger, and swaddling clothes like Matthew and Luke. All he says is the Word became human, was born as the Son of God, and made himself at home among us. While that may not seem like a lot of detail, it is very revealing. John wants us to be assured that this baby Jesus was and is God. We should not let the package and the delivery cause us to miss the content.

From the start of creation, through Old Testament times, every time God appeared in a cloud, in a vision or dream, or through an angel, revealing something of his plans and purposes, it was Jesus the Word. And each time he revealed something of God’s character and plans, he also pointed to a day when he would become a human being, to clearly and fully reveal his character and his plans for the world and us. From the start of creation he was focused on coming to live among his people, so we could see him and look into his eyes, touch him and feel his embrace, talk to him and listen to him, know his character and experience his loving and gracious nature.

I love John’s description of Jesus’ birth. “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (John 1:14).

I hope this Christmas you are appreciating and enjoying how God came to make his home in your heart.