Our annual remembrance of the coming of Jesus Christ as a human baby starts today. This year the words of the apostle John (from my recent study of his letters) dominate my ponderings.

While John doesn’t recount the events we celebrate at Christmas—the birth of Jesus—he is an eyewitness to the One we celebrate—Jesus himself (1 Jn 1:1–3).

John wants us to know unequivocally that Jesus is God come to earth as a real human. In fact John makes this our dividing line. Those who acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh are from God (1 Jn 4:2). Those who do not are deceivers (1 Jn 4:3; 2 Jn 1:7). This means we also believe that he was the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One promised by the prophets to be the Savior of the world (1 Jn 5:1).

He is who we anticipate during Advent. He is what fills us with wonder. He is the ultimate gift we receive.

Apart from the topic of Love (which John teaches extensively), he mentions the other Advent themes of hope, peace, and joy only in passing. Therefore, I will explore other words he uses to describe Jesus—Life, Light, Truth, as well as Love. To round out the message, I will also draw from John’s other writings. And where possible, of course, Mary of Nazareth will make an appearance.

Today, we start with LIFE.

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Advent 1: JESUS IS LIFE

Life is the opposite of death. It signifies breath, movement, growth, work—being alive. At times our circumstances make us feel dead inside and we look to the festivities of Christmas to bring some spark to our soul. But Advent offers us real abundant life for John’s first description of Jesus is Word of Life.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

1 John 1:1–2 NIV (also Jn 1:4)

The Amplified version of the Bible defines this as “the One who existed before the beginning of the world, Christ.” John then bookends his letter repeating this fact: “[Jesus Christ] is the true God and eternal life” (1 Jn 5:20).

John is reiterating what he heard Jesus say about himself. “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6) and “I am the resurrection and the life.” (Jn 11:25).

Jesus was born in Bethlehem to give us life.

2000 years ago, this Life became a baby in the womb of a young girl from the region of Galilee—Mary of Nazareth—by the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:31–35).

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:11–12

When we believe, we receive Life and so will not die spiritually.

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Jn 5:24

But life is not only for eternity, but also for now—abundantly.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I [Jesus] came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

1 Jn 3:14; Jn 10:10 AMP

Abundant life does not arrive when we’ve received all the stuff we want. It comes with our spiritual blessings. With loving others and being loved. With Jesus himself. We don’t have to wait to start living until we get to heaven. We can enjoy life now because we have Jesus, the true life dwelling in us.

My former pastor, Pete Briscoe, describes it this way, “No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.”

Today we marvel that the One who is LIFE became life so that we might have life, not just after we physically die, but abundantly right now. He alone gives us true meaningful life (Jn 6:63, 68) enabling us to love one another.

How can you live abundantly right now?

PRAYER

As you anticipate the coming of the One who is true LIFE, may you experience his abundant, fulfilling life, now. And may it overflow in love to others.

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For further meditation:

Consider these verses. How do they expand your understanding of abundant life?

• “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Lk 12:15)
• “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Mt 6:25)
• Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. (1 Pet 3:10)
• and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thess 4:11–12)
• Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Tim 6:18-19)
• You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. (Acts 2:28)
• The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom 8:6)
• His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Pet 1:3)