"The Word Became Flesh” Series

“THE WORD BECAME FLESH”

John 1:1-18. (v.14).

I. INTRODUCTION

A. SAY: “THE INCARNATION OF JESUS CHRIST UNIQUE & INCOMPARABLE”

1. FOR HE ALONE IS…

“THE WORD BECAME FLESH.”

a. WHICH MEANS

• The transcendent is now Immanent.

2. SAY: “THIS IS ONE OF THE PROFOUND TRUTHS THAT SETS THE CHRISTIAN FAITH APART”

a. WHAT IS “TRANSCENDENCE”?

• The “otherness” of God.

• He cannot be represented physically.

EXAMPLE

• The idea of the Islamic god.

b. WHAT IS IMMANENCE?

• A God who is very active in human affairs and the working of the universe.

EXAMPLE

• The idea of the Hindu god.

3. THIS IS THE IRRESOLVABLE TENSION THAT…

• God in Jesus Christ is both apart and yet near.

“THE WORD BECAME FLESH.”

B. Q: THE DIFFERENCE-- ‘AVATARS’ AND ‘INCARNATION’

• The Hindus have had nine avatars and are waiting for the 10th.

1. AVATAR (IN MYTHOLOGY)

• A specific role played for a temporary period

• gods taking the form of half god and half creature [human or animal]

• The crux of the avatar was to destroy the evil people and bless the righteous people.

2. INCARNATION (JESUS CHRIST)

There are two differences:

i. Personhood, and

ii. Purpose.

a. PERSONHOOD

• Fully God and fully man at the same time, and

• It is permanent.

b. PURPOSE

• Jesus came not to take a life but to give life.

Jn. 10:10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

“THE WORD BECAME FLESH.”

C. OUR OBJECTIVE:

1. EXPLORE THIS MYSTERIOUS & PARADOXICAL STATEMENT:

“THE WORD BECAME FLESH.”

• See it through the eyes of John;

• As we skim through the passages found in this Gospel presentation.

2. IMPORTANT TO NOTE: THE PERFECT BALANCE IN JOHN’S GOSPEL

i. Though John presents Jesus as the Son of God;

ii. It is not at the absence of ignoring the humanity of Christ.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT MANY VERSES.

ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW WITH ME IN YOUR BIBLES.

“THE WORD BECAME FLESH.”

II. FIRST, WHAT DOES JOHN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE DIETY OF CHRIST

A. AN INTERESTING FEATURE OF JOHN IS THE USE OF SEVENS.

• 7 I AM’s

• 7 Signs

• 7 eyewitnesses

• 7 Imperatives

… as he presents the perfect Son of God.

B. CHAPTER 1 BEGINS WITH SEVEN TITLES FOR JESUS

i. The Word (vv. 1, 14);

ii. The Light (vv. 5, 7);

iii. The Lamb of God (vv. 29, 36);

iv. The Son of God (vv. 34, 49);

v. The Christ (Messiah) (v. 41);

vi. The King of Israel (v. 49); and

vii. The Son of Man (v. 51).

C. CALLS TO WITNESS THREE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS

• A good way to attest the authenticity is witnesses.

1. FIRST, MOSES (Exodus 33).

• Referenced 13 times in this Gospel.

a. THROUGH AN IMAGERY IN JOHN 1:14.

• Uses the same word.

Jn. 1:14. “Word ‘tabernacled’ among us…”

b. JESUS IS TRULY THE IMMANUEL:

• God with us.

2. SECOND, ABRAHAM:

• Appears nine times.

a. ABRAHAM SAW THE COMING OF THE JEHOVAH IN INCARNATION. (John 8:56)

John 8:58. “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

• Abraham saw the pre-existent Jesus Christ the One come down in flesh.

3. ISAIAH

John 12:41. Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. [I.e. Christ in His glory].

• Jn 12:38 cff. Is 53:1

• Jn 12:40 cff. Is 6:10.

a. John says:

• The glory that Isaiah saw [Is Ch. 6] is the glory of the Pre-existent Jesus.

D. SEVEN EYEWITNESSES WHO CONFESS TO THE DEITY OF CHRIST

1. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Jn 1:34. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

2. NATHANIEL

Jn 1:49. “…Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

3. SAMARITANS

Jn 4:42. “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

4. PETER

Jn 6:69. “…and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

5. THE BLIND BEGGAR

Jn 9:38. He said, “Lord, I believe [that you are the Son of Man –the title for the Messiah],” and he worshiped him.

6. MARTHA

Jn 11:27. She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

7. THOMAS

Jn 20:28. Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

E. GODHEAD AS A WITNESS

1. FATHER AS A WITNESS:

John 5:37 [Jn 8:18]. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,