In The Beginning Series

INTRODUCTION

 (DRAMATIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE DISCIPLES)

 Go back with me to the crucifixion and arrest of Jesus. Think of the disciples and the way that they reacted when Jesus was taken away by the Roman soldiers. They all ran and hide, they did not want to take up any cross! In John 20, Mary Magdalene had told the disciples that she had seen the risen Jesus. Later that evening we find that the disciples were hiding in fear of the Jews. (John 20:19 ) So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."

 Early in Acts we find Peter boldly preaching the message of God. The Apostles died martyrs deaths. They were all carrying their crosses, even to the point of punishment and death. They were able to present their bodies a living and Holy sacrifice acceptable to God when they truly understood who Jesus was! 1 Corinthians tells us that Jesus appeared to Peter, James and all of the disciples (1 Corinthians 15:7).

 The turning point for them was when they knew who Jesus was.

 Have you met Jesus, has He changed your life? That has to be the beginning of your journey.

 Today we are going to really get started on our journey with Jesus through the gospels. Today we will start our journey, “IN THE BEGINNING.”

 As we journey with Jesus, I pray that you will get to know Jesus so well and that you will grasp the love that He has for you to the point that you will surrender your life to Him.

SERMON

In the beginning Jesus was with …

I. GOD. 1-2

A. The significance of John calling Jesus “The Word”.

 Why did the Holy Spirit inspire John to call Jesus the “WORD”? Why didn’t John just say “Jesus” in these passages? Was it to confuse people, or was it to convey a truth about Jesus.

 The Word. The Bible gives many titles or names to Jesus (“Christ” for example). Each title describes an aspect of Jesus. When He is called “the Word,” we are reminded of His role in the Godhead from the very beginning. Human speech has the capacity to unveil thoughts, feelings, and emotions; to reveal the person behind the words. God expresses Himself through Jesus. This title, “the Word,” teaches that Jesus is now, and always has been, the One through whom God expresses Himself.

B. Jesus is eternal. V1-2

 In verse 1 and 2 we find that Jesus was with God in the beginning, He is eternal. Jesus is not some created being.

 The Greek language, the language that the New Testament was written, is very precise in the meanings of words.

 John uses the imperfect tense of the verb “was” to indicate that Jesus had no beginning, that He is eternal

 JOHN 17:5 "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

 In John 8:58 Jesus says, “Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." If Jesus had a beginning, John would have used the word meaning, “to become”. He uses this word in this verse when talking about Abraham. In verse 3, John says, “all things came into being” because of Jesus. The verb that he uses shows us that that “all things” had a beginning point. By contrast, the verb He uses for Jesus shows He had no beginning.

 The pre-existence of Jesus is taught in 1 John 1:1-2, Philippians 2:6-ff, Colossians 1:17, etc.

 Jesus is worthy of our love and praise because HE always has and will always be. He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end! (Rev 22:13)

C. The nature of Jesus. V1-2

 When Philip asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, Christ answered in gentle rebuke. “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John14:9). Another time Jesus explained to His disciples, “No one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him” (Luke 10:22). He is distinct personality from the Father because for Him to be with God, He must be a distinct personality from God.

 Being “with” God is more than just hanging out with God, Jesus shares God’s nature, Jesus is divine, He is God! The Word was with God as a deity, not just “a” god as the JW’s say.

 Jesus is fully God and was fully man. Philippians 2:6-ff tells us that He emptied Himself of the Glory He had in order die on the cross for our sins.