**John - Day 1: The God Man
The miracle of Christmas is found in the snapshot taken by John. The big idea of John’s account is that at the first Christmas, God showed up in a manger. The creator in a cradle; the infinite was an infant. John says that God literally wrapped Himself in skin (vs.14). This is not only amazing, but very distinctive! Of all the religions of the world, Christianity has a God who became a man, not a man who became a God!!! God was in the manger. Jesus was God wrapped in skin. He cried when sad, bruised when hit, bled when cut, and laughed when happy. Our God became a man! Not only that, the Bible says that He wrapped Himself in skin and He pitched his tent among us (vs.14). That is literally what it means that He made His dwelling among us!! This is the story of Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Our God pitched His tent in our backyard so to speak. Lastly, John says Jesus is not only God wrapped in skin, pitching His tent in the backyard of our life, but He also is the explanation of God. Verse 18 says He is the “exegete” of the Father, meaning He is the explanation of the Father. If we ever wondered what God is like, we can look at Jesus. The fact that God became a man means I can know Him and that He can sympathize with me.
Read John 1:1-18
Q: List all the things you think of when you think of God.
Q: List all the things you think of when you think of a baby.
Q: Why is it significant that God became a man?
Q: How does God becoming a man change the way you and I can pray and interact with God?