Jesus - Who He Is And Why It Matters

November 14, 2020

Of the 4 gospels John is the only one who almost exclusively points to Jesus’ divinity.

• Matthew – Opens with the genealogy of Abraham

• Mark – Opens with the story of John the Baptist

• Luke – Opens with the birth of John the Baptist

John begins his Letter in an unusual way. He moves beyond human history to “in the beginning.” John starts with God.

John 1:1-5 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

• The Word has existed from all eternity.

• The Word is a separate person.

• The Word is equal with God the Father.

• The Word is Creator and Sustainer of all life – all of creation owes its existence to the Word. {Colossians 1:15-17}

• The Word is the originator of both life and light.

To the Greeks, the term “the Word” (Logos) represented the soul of the universe. The place from which everything came.

To the Jews, the term “the Word” (Logos) was identified with the Word of God – God’s active power & self-revelation.

From his opening statement, John used a term that would capture the attention of both Jew and Gentile.

John 1:14 - So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.

Who is this WORD?

• Philippians 2:5-7 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

• 1 John 1:1-3 - 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. 2 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. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

The WORD is Jesus – He:

• Has existed for all time

• Is Separate yet equal with God the Father

• Is Creator and Sustainer of all life.

• Is the source of life and light – both physical and spiritual.

Why it Matters:

When Adam and Eve decided that they were smarter than God and believed the snake, sin entered our world. They had no ability to save themselves and neither do we, so if there was going to be any saving done it was going to have to come from outside of ourselves, so our Creator, Sustainer and Source of Life invaded humanity:

• Hebrews 2:14-18 - Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death -- that is, the devil -- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death….. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

• Hebrews 4:14-15 - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin.

Jesus:

• Was born in a barn. {Luke 2:7}

• Was tempted. {Matthew 4:11}

• Got tired. {Mark 4:35-38}

• Got angry. {Luke 19:45-46}

• He did not levitate around Palestine – He walked the same dusty roads everyone else walked.

• Was moved with emotion. {John 11:35}

• Desired human contact and friendship. {Matthew 26:40-41}