The story of Christ’s birth doesn’t signify His beginning. While the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke tell us about His incarnation, John’s gospel draws our attention to His work in eternity past.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)

The truth is that while we’re prone to looking at Christ in His infancy at this time of year, that’s only a very small sliver of who the Son of God is in His fullness. In the familiar birth narratives, we only see a glimpse of His glory. For a more comprehensive view, we return to the prologue of John’s gospel.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John [the Baptist] testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (John 1:14-18)

It’s that broader view of the glory of God expressed through the incarnate Christ that John MacArthur highlights in his sermon “We Beheld His Glory.” John’s sermon reminds us that Moses longed to see the glory of the Lord, and only received a fleeting glimpse as it departed (Exodus 33:18-23). Contrast that to the full unfolding of God’s glory we see in the Person and work of Christ. The gospels resound with His eternal, divine attributes, as we witness the righteousness, mercy, power, and grace of God on display in the life of Christ.

We should joyfully celebrate the incarnate Christ this Christmas and worship Him as He has revealed Himself in His Word. To that end, John’s message brings us face-to-face with the glorious Christ—that we might worship Him rightly and faithfully declare Him to our unbelieving friends and family.

Click here to listen to “We Beheld His Glory.”