Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day Proper 3 · Year A
John 1:1-14
The Word Became Flesh
December 25, 2025
Overview & Insights
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:14)
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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Commentary
John 1:1-14 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary reads the prologue as John's nativity story, tracing how the Word made flesh sets grace loose in the rest of the gospel.
John 1 Center for Excellence in Preaching
Calvin Seminary's Reformed commentary on the prologue, dwelling on the shock of the eternal Word pitching a tent among us in real flesh.
Nativity of the Lord, Mass During the Day Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
A Catholic reading of the Christmas gospel with Incarnation background and discussion questions, framing John's poetry alongside the manger scene.
In the Beginning Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church
An Anglican sermon on John's prologue that moves from cosmic Logos language to the pastoral news that God has come to dwell with us.
Background & Word Study
Jesus the Word Become Flesh in John 1 Psephizo · Ian Paul
Unpacks the prologue as an overture that previews the whole gospel, clarifying the Logos background and the grammar of verse 14.
Overview: John BibleProject
Sets the chapter inside John's whole-book design, tying its creation echoes and light imagery back to Genesis.
John 1:1 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.
Enter the Bible: John Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to John's Gospel and its distinctive voice.
Sermons & Reflections
Questions preachers ask
Why does John begin at creation instead of Bethlehem?
Because he is answering a different question. Matthew and Luke tell how the child arrived; John tells who arrived, and traces him back past Abraham and past the first day to the Word who was with God and was God.
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