John 1:1-18 Jesus came in the flesh
1. He is the Word, the Life, and the Light (1:1-4)
His nature as God:
A. Pre-Existence before the creation; His Eternity; He is not part of creation
B. Co-Existence with God; His Equality with God
C. Self-Existence: His Essence (In Him was life)
* about the nature of His existence, I learned from John McArthur’s sermon
2. Came the Word, the life and the Light
A. the Word came - “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.” (John 1:14)
B. The Life came - the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us (1 John 1:2)
C. The Light came – “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.” (1:9-11)
3. Even before He came, He was the Word, the Life, and the Light: He created the world and spoke as the Word, gave life as the Life and illuminated truth as the truth. Why did He have to come in flesh? Why did He have to go through as He went through as a human being, including dying on the cross as human being?
The Answer: to reveal God - “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained (revealed) Him.” (John 1:18)
4. God already spoke and revealed through His creation, the history of Israel – the Law, the tabernacle, the sacrifice, the festival, kings, prophets and priests. Then why was it necessary the only begotten God came to reveal (explain) God?
The Answer: “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.” (John 1:14)
5. Before Jesus came, God spoke to people in many ways (Heb 1:1), but all these communications and manifestations were like a copy or symbol or shadow of who was to come who would reflects God as He is. (Heb 8:5; 10:1) In other words, they reflected only partially grace and truth, but not completely as Jesus did. Until Jesus Christ came, no one would have known who God is. Then, why was it necessary the word became flesh to reflect “full of grace and truth.”?
The Answer:“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, ""Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” (Heb 2:14-15)
Jesus had to come in the flesh so that He could die on the cross.
Because of His death on the cross, God demonstrated His grace forgiving sinners.
Because of His death on the cross, God demonstrated His righteousness punishing His own Son, thus revealing truth.
6. Paul shares the same truth as John the Apostle.
“For God, who said, "" Light shall shine out of darkness,'' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Cor 4:6
What is the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”
The Answer: the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ - “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Cor 4:4
7. Only the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and only Christ crucified and only the gospel reveals who God really is.
Facts about knowing God (1 Cor 1:21-24):
1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
1:22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
1:24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
It’s not through human wisdom or search for wisdom
It’s not through signs
But only through the gospel message, one will know God
8. Why preaching Christ crucified is the only way to know God? Why preaching the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is the only way to know God?
Answer: Know God means knowing His love and His heart. It’s good and important to know how great God is in his majestic power and intelligence. But, God wants to be known for His love because He loves us and wants to relate with us. To know God means to know His love. That is the message of the cross.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8)
“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” ( 1 John 4:9)
9. We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
He called us to receive and believe in Jesus. (John 1:12)
He called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 1:9)
*all scripture reference is from NASB
