JOHN 1:6-18
• There are lots of images of Jesus out in the world today. You could fill a room with all the ideas people have of who He is. It would be nice to be able to ask, ‘Will the real Jesus please stand up?’ John, the last living Apostle tries to do just that.
• First John recognizes who John the Baptist truly was and emphasizes that.
BRIDGE: You need to understand through all the contradictions who this real Jesus is and what that means for your life. John knew what the world of his day needed to know and understand about Jesus and he tried to communicate that. We need to understand ourselves so we can be effective in our witness and our own person walk with Him.
JESUS IS THE ONE WHO CAME AS PREDICTED:
1. PREDICTED BY JOHN THE FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH: 6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
• John the Baptist was given his name in a special way by his father who was approached by Gabriel in the Temple. John’s better description was ‘a man sent from God’: Great MOVIE TITLE.
• John’s life had a very distinct purpose: ‘testify about the light’.
• John knew that it was not about him but about his work of pointing others to someone else.
2. PREDICTED TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
• John pointed us to the TRUE LIGHT: This light ENLIGHTENS every man.
• John makes an amazing statement: Jesus was with us, made us(and the world) and yet was unrecognized by most.
• Jesus even came to His own: Those He had promised to come to for centuries and they even missed it. I AM COMING…I AM COMING….HERE I AM..Who are you?
• The major point is that they did not RECEIVE Him: He proved over and over who He was but RECEIVING Him demanded something of them they chose not to give.
AMAZING VERSE: Simple verse that describes the childlike nature of those who respond to the Gospel. What is becoming a Christian really all about? RECEIVING HIM>
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
RECEIVING HIM MEANS:
1. Being given the AUTHORITY/RIGHT to become God’s child
2. It means believing in His AUTHORITY/NAME
3. It means being BORN ANEW not of blood or flesh but of God.
JESUS IS THE ONE WHO CAME IN THE FLESH:
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• WORD BECAME FLESH: The Word was God so GOD BECAME FLESH. WHY DID GOD CHOOSE TO BECOME FLESH? Like us?
1. To DWELL among us:
God "dwelled" among us. It literally means that Jesus pitched His tent here. He lived among us, worked among us, prayed among us, suffered among us and died among us. God walked upon the earth and was unrecognized by many who came into close contact with Him. What a tragedy that men came in contact with the Savior and still failed to recognize Him.)
• The concern of God was so huge that He was willing to actually enter this world and sinful human life in order to address man’s need of salvation.
1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
• Jesus responded to Philip’s request to see the Father with, ‘He who has seen ME has seen the Father’.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us to declare to us the father – show us God
1) Idea is Face to face contact – Closeness intimacy
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU ALLOW TO TOUCH YOUR FACE? Blind people touching face to determine identity
The Word became flesh – touch his face – see His heart – Have that intimacy
Paul declared in Philippians 2:7 – Jesus made himself of no reputation –
Literally He emptied himself in becoming a man.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. ILL. Son of Man has no place to lay His head.
He borrowed a manger to be born in – Boat to preach from / donkey to ride on / upper room for Passover / Cross / Tomb to be placed in
He made Himself dependent upon His Father – Dependent upon the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
As a Man – His glory was veiled in His humanity.
THE WORD WAS VEILED IN FLESH.
OT picture when He says – The word John uses here for Dwelt literally means to tabernacle, or to pitch One’s tent among us.
Reference here is to the Tabernacle which was built to be the house of God during the time that Israel wandered in the desert Exodus 25
• 13 Chapters are given to the pattern for the Tabernacle but only two Chapters to the subject of CREATION The Creation of the Stars – just 6 words
Tabernacle was a picture of Jesus
#1 Humble in appearance – From the outside it was just a tent – made of Badger skins
Inside housed the Glory of God – Holy of Holies
Isaiah 53:2 He had no special beauty or form to make us notice him; there was nothing in his appearance to make us desire him.
#2 The Tabernacle was the Dwelling place of God among men
It was there in the mist of Israel’s camp{Tribes camped around.
No lamps in the Holy of Holies because the Glory of God Lit up the room
2Corinthians 5:19 “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.”
#3 The meeting place of God with man.
Christ is the meeting place between God and men. John 14:6).
No man comes unto the Father but by Him:
One Mediator between God and men—the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
#4 Tabernacle was the Center of Israel’s camp - Configured in Cross
Center of the Church - Lord lead us !!!!
2. To show His GLORY: Nothing is accomplished unless the Glory of God is demonstrated. Our lives and the purpose we are here for is not accomplished unless God’s glory is made evident/manifest.
Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus’ face became as bright as the Sun and his clothing became as pure light.
The glory that was on the inside just couldn’t be contained.
Peter referring to that event – 2 Peter 1:16.17 we were eyewitnesses of his glory.
How is this glory defined?: glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Glory that points to God’s ONLY Son. He is from the Father and the Father answer to man’s need. Not other options are on the table. His coming and our message stresses two things: GRACE and TRUTH
Two very descriptive words –
GRACE: God has Chosen to deal favorably with you even though you don’t deserve it.
TRUTH: God has chosen to tell it like it is. Jesus is here about SIN, out sin which condemns us.
HIS WORD CONFRONT US AND HIS LIFE CONDEMNS US.
BIBLE is a MIRROR that shows us all the flaws. TRUTH.
Put on our MAKE UP or that which hides our flaws. NOT REAL/Made up.
We don’t look God in Jesus’ mirror and that is why we need His grace.
JESUS IS THE ONE WHO CAME TO BE PROCLAIMED: What is our message to contain when we share to the world about Who Jesus is?
15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' " 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
1. John pointed to His HIGHER POSITION: Jesus said that ‘If I be lifted up I will draw all men to Myself’.
• We are to constantly be elevating the person of Jesus before the lost world.
• John did this LOUDLY(cried out)
2. John pointed to His ETERNALPOSITION: He existed before me Before I was He is. Before the world was created He is.
3. His LIFE FULFILLING POSITION: 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace
The Greek word that John uses here for “fullness” is really interesting. It referred to a ship that was fully loaded with cargo and crew. All that you have to do is to walk on board and it is ready to go. Cruise ship
That’s what we have in Christ, everything that we need, in abundance.
It’s all there and ready to go. Enough grace for whatever your situation is!
• Wave after wave of GRACE UPON GRACE
4. His LAW FULFILLING PERSON: 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
• Jesus brought what the Law never could: SATISFACTION OF GOD’S HOLINESS.
THE CROSS is a great image of grace and truth together. TRUTH that sin must be dealt with and only through the shedding of blood but GRACE in that the only one who could die for another was choosing to do so that His death might pay for their sin.
Shirley Mclaine – New Ager – On the Beach – I am God
She was conducting one of her Seminars at the Long Beach Arena Teaching people about their own Divinity During the seminar she had everyone light a candle – they turned off the lights so those candles good be seen shinning in the dark. She said – Just those candles have individual flames – all of you have the divine light with in you. Well Just as she said that the smoke from the candles set off the sprinkler system in the arena and all of those divine lights were extinguished GOOD TIMING LORD
