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Christmas Season · Second Sunday after Christmas Day · Year A

John 1:(1-9), 10-18

The Word Became Flesh

January 4, 2026

Christ Pantokrator, dome mosaic, Unknown Byzantine master ("Master of Daphni")
Christ Pantokrator, dome mosaic, Unknown Byzantine master ("Master of Daphni"), c. 1090–1100Monastery of Daphni
In the dome of a Byzantine monastery outside Athens, looking straight down at anyone standing beneath. The face is severe and asymmetrical, and the gold around it is set at angles to catch the light.No one has ever seen God; it is God the only Son who has made him known. The prologue says the invisible has been shown, and this is the oldest answer to what that looks like.Monastery of DaphniAn eleventh-century Byzantine monastery outside Athens, built on the site of a temple of Apollo, with the finest mosaics in Greece.Monastery of Daphni
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelJohn 1:(1-9), 10-18Jn 1:(1-9), 10-18
EpistleEph. 1:3-14Eph 1:3-14
Old TestamentJer. 31:7-14Jer 31:7-14 orSir. 24:1-12Sir 24:1-12
PsalterPs. 147:12-20Ps 147:12-20 orWis. 10:15-21Wis 10:15-21

Overview & Insights

“From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16)

The prologue is set apart from the rest of John’s Gospel by its designation of Jesus Christ as the Word (Gr.: logos , vv. 1, 14) rather than “the Son.” The term One and Only (implying sonship) is introduced, however, in verses 14 and 18 and sets the stage for the Gospel’s characteristic emphasis on the Father-Son relationship between God and Jesus. The prologue also stands somewhat apart from the rest of the Gospel stylistically.

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Take it further: John 1:(1-9), 10-18

Commentary

John 1:(1-9), 10-18Jn 1:(1-9), 10-18 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary's exegetical take on the prologue for this specific Sunday.

John 1:(1-9), 10-18Jn 1:(1-9), 10-18 Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed commentary with preaching notes and sermon ideas on the Word made flesh.

Bishop Barron on the Prologue of JohnBishop Barron on the Prologue of Jn Word on Fire · Bishop Barron

A Catholic reflection on John's Christmas prologue.

John 1Jn 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik

An evangelical verse-by-verse study of John 1.

Background & Word Study

Jesus the Word Become Flesh in John 1Jesus the Word Become Flesh in Jn 1 Psephizo · Ian Paul

Unpacks the Greek and theology of the Logos becoming flesh.

John 1Jn 1 Enter the Bible

A concise scholarly summary and background for the Gospel of John.

Overview: JohnOverview: Jn BibleProject

An animated overview mapping the literary design of John's Gospel.

The Church Fathers

John 1, patristic commentaryJn 1, patristic commentary Catena

Patristic and early church commentary on John 1 gathered verse by verse.

Worship & Prayers

The Lectionary Page: Second Sunday after Christmas Day The Lectionary Page

Anglican collect and full set of appointed readings for the day.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave: Second Sunday of Christmas Working Preacher

Luther Seminary faculty discuss all four readings for this Sunday.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition: Second Sunday after Christmas Day Vanderbilt

Curated sacred art and image links illustrating this Sunday's texts.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: John 1The Text This Week: Jn 1 Textweek

Aggregated links to commentary, art, and sermons for John 1 (a few links may be dated).

Questions preachers ask

How does the second Sunday after Christmas differ from Christmas Day, when the reading is nearly the same?

The lectionary extends the prologue to verse 18 and so ends somewhere else. Christmas Day stops at the Word made flesh; this Sunday carries on to grace upon grace, the law through Moses set beside grace and truth through Jesus Christ, and the Son who has made the unseen God known.

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