COME AND SEE #1: JESUS IS… THE WORD
JOKE: A hunter walking through the jungle found a huge dead elephant with a pigmy standing beside it. Amazed, he asked: "Did you kill that?" The pigmy said, "Yes." The hunter asked, "How could a little guy like you kill a huge beast like that?" "I killed it with my club." The astonished hunter asked, "How big is your club?" The pigmy replied, "There's about 60 of us."
INTRO TO THE AUTHOR JOHN:
• He and his brother James and father Zebedee had a fishing business.
• One of the 12 disciples, also part of the inner circle of three with James and Peter.
• He was the beloved disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. He was an amazing pastor.
• When Jesus died on the Cross, He asked John to take care of His mother Mary.
• He wrote five books of the New Testament: John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John & Revelation.
• He was the only one of the 11 faithful disciples who wasn’t martyred for his faith (though not for lack of trying on the part of the Romans – boiling him in oil).
• He was exiled to Patmos where Jesus gave him the Revelation.
• Not to be confused with John the Baptist who came to prepare the way for Jesus.
INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN:
• In the New Testament, there are four Gospels – accounts of the life of Jesus.
• Matthew wrote to the Jews, Mark wrote to the Romans, and Luke wrote to the Greeks.
• John’s Purpose: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31).
o 1. Who Jesus is and how to know Him more (Christ, Son of God).
o 2. How you can experience abundant life through believing in Jesus today.
• We see this in John’s seven “I am” claims of Jesus, seven miracles, and seven sermons.
THE SEVEN I AM CLAIMS OF JESUS:
1. “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35). Jesus is the one who satisfies our souls.
2. “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Jesus is the one who gives us direction in life.
3. “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9). Jesus is the one who saves us.
4. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). Jesus is the one who cares for and meets our needs and ultimately died for us.
5. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Jesus is the one who raises us from the dead. (From the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead – we will have a Healing Service this week!)
6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Think about the awesomeness of Heaven!
7. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). Jesus is our everything!
1. JESUS IS THE WORD: (John 1:1-5).
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• The first thing we learn about Jesus is that He is called “the Word.”
• QUOTE: “The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world.” (Matthew Henry).
• Jesus was with God, and was God. One of the clearest revelations of Jesus’ Deity.
• As Christians, we believe God is triune – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Discuss different false religions’ beliefs about Jesus = Jehovah’s Witnesses & Mormons
2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 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 (overpower) it.
• Some of the things we learn about Jesus here: He is the creator of all things.
• He is Life and Light (two of John’s favourite themes in his Gospel).
2. JOHN IS THE WITNESS: (John 1:6-9).
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
• This John is John the Baptist – not to be confused with John the Beloved Disciple.
• John said about himself: “I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.” (John 1:23).
• As Christians, we too are called to be witnesses to tell people about Jesus.
3. GOD BECAME A MAN: (John 1:10-14).
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 His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, 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. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Jesus didn’t come to start a religion, but to open the doors to a relationship with God.
• When you believe in Jesus and receive Him, you are adopted into God’s family.
• What does it mean that Jesus, the Word, became flesh?
• v.14: “So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.” (NLT).
• v.14: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” (MSG).
• “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:18). Jesus came to reveal the Father to us!
• “Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.” (Heb. 2:17-18, NLT).
STORY: PUPPIES FOR SALE: (Dan Clark, Chicken Soup for the Soul).
A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies For Sale.” Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign. “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked.
The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.”
The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. “I have $2.37,” he said. “Can I please look at them?”
The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?”
The store owner explained that he had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. The little boy became excited. “That’s the little puppy that I want to buy.”
The store owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.”
The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.”
The store owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to jump and play with you like the other puppies.”
To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”
• That’s what it means that the Word became flesh: that Jesus became a human being!
THE CALL TO COME AND SEE JESUS:
A little bit later in this chapter: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
• In other words, John the Baptist says, “Behold – or take a look at – Jesus!”
• “The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" He said to them, "Come and see.” (John 1:37-39).
• Maybe you don’t believe in Jesus yet, but He has invited you to “Come and see.”
• Join us over the next few months as we journey through the Gospel of John together.
THE BIG IDEA: In the Gospel of John, we are invited to “come and see” what Jesus is like. John reveals Jesus to us through His seven “I am” claims, seven miracles, and seven sermons.
CHALLENGE:
• Read through the Gospel of John over the next three weeks – one chapter a day.
• Memorize key passages in John like the “I am” claims of Jesus.
• “Come and See” – and get ready to encounter Jesus and His abundant life!
ALTAR CALL FOR SALVATION
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
