Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Day Mass · Year A
John 1:1-18 or John 1:1-5, 9-14
The Word Became Flesh Among Us
December 25, 2025
Overview & Insights
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)
The prologue is widely read as a hymn into which prose notes about John the Baptist have been inserted (vv. 6-8, 15); the shorter form offered here removes them, which leaves a continuous poem and shows how cleanly the seams come apart. Its first words repeat the opening of Genesis in Greek, and its subject is therefore placed before the first day rather than at it. The verb in v. 14 means to pitch a tent, and it carries the tabernacle vocabulary of Exodus with it: the dwelling that the glory filled (Exod 40:34) is now a human life, and the pairing of grace and truth renders the Hebrew formula of steadfast love and faithfulness from Exodus 34:6. The longer form closes with a deliberate tension. No one has ever seen God (v. 18; cf. Exod 33:20), and yet the only Son has made him known, the verb being one used of expounding a text.
From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.
Take it further: John 1:1-18 or John 1:1-5, 9-14
Commentary
Commentary on John 1:1-14Commentary on Jn 1:1-14 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary commentary on the Prologue as John's birth story, the Word who was God becoming flesh.
Enduring Word Bible Commentary John Chapter 1Enduring Word Bible Commentary Jn Chapter 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse exposition of the Word, the light, and the incarnation in John's Prologue.
John 1:1 CommentariesJn 1:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentary on In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God.
John 1 CommentaryJn 1 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep verse-by-verse study notes gathering many conservative scholars on the Logos and the incarnation.
The Nativity of the Lord (Year B), Dr. Pitre Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
Dr. Brant Pitre's Catholic exegesis linking the Day Mass Prologue with Isaiah 52 and Hebrews 1.
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass During the Day Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Loyola Press Sunday Connection background, reflection questions, and family prayer for the Day Mass gospel.
Background & Word Study
John 1:1 InterlinearJn 1:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word by word with parsing for Word (logos), was (en), and with God (pros ton theon).
BibleProject: Gospel of John Overview (John 1-12)BibleProject: Gospel of Jn Overview (Jn 1-12) BibleProject
Animated literary overview showing how the Prologue introduces the themes of John's first half.
Jesus the word become flesh in John 1Jesus the word become flesh in Jn 1 Psephizo · Ian Paul
Ian Paul's Anglican study of the Prologue as an overture anticipating the whole gospel.
The Church Fathers
Prep at sermons.com
Ready to write?
- Full sermons on John 1:1-18 or John 1:1-5, 9-14
- Illustrations cleared for use in worship
- Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Trusted by pastors since 1995.
Free every Tuesday
Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox
The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.