Read the Scripture: John 1:1-4, 14
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Introduction
I want to begin a new series of homily on “History Is God's Story” A Christian sermon should have Christ at the center of it. In the opening verses of the book of Colossians, the Apostle Paul declares the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel (verses 9-14), in the creation (15-17), in the church (18-23), and in genuine ministry (24-29). In verse 28 he comes to a climactic statement. "Him we preach," he says, “So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ."(Colossians 1:28 NLT) tells us why and how Christ must be preached. From this verse, in its context, we can draw four propositions:
1. Christ must be preached, because He is the only hope of sinners. To preach Jesus Christ is to proclaim the person and work of Jesus Christ as the Creator of the Universe, the Savior of sinners, and the Lord of the Church.
2. Christ must be preached, because every person needs to be warned.
3. Christ must be preached, because every disciple needs to be taught.
4. Christ must be preached, because every believer needs to become mature and perfect in their relationship to Christ.
Notice once again that Paul says that it is "Him" that we preach. The genuine preaching of Christ preaches a Person. The first focus is on the person of Christ, on who He is. The second focus is on the work of Christ, on what He has done. So the oration in this series focuses on God the Son, the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that there is no greater theme in history for preaching or teaching than Jesus of Nazareth. We Preach Christ and Him Crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23) In St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, with these profound words, he lays out the heart and center of all Christian proclamation. There is no greater person in History than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world, and who rose from the dead in triumph over sin and death. The story of Jesus is credibly the most influential narrative in human history. There is no one who ascends to the level of Jesus Christ in History. There is no subject that can match Him. And He is the theme of all History, both B C and A D. If we are to preach Christ and are to know Christ in all the fullness of the glory of His majesty, then we have to pursue all that is revealed about Him. And He is the theme of all Scripture, both Old and New Testament.
The Gospel of John is a portrait of Jesus Christ and his redemption work. It focuses on the last three years of Jesus’ life—and especially on his death and resurrection. Its purpose is clear in John 20:30-31: John says “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The book is written to help people believe on Christ and have eternal life. The threefold utterance in John first chapter verse 1 carries us into the depths of eternity, before time or creatures were. Genesis and John both start from 'the beginning,' but, while Genesis works downwards from that point and tells what followed, John works upwards and tells what preceded.
Christ, the Word
The Gospel of John begins, “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 were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-14).
There are two primary Greek words that describe Scripture which are translated word in the New Testament. The first, logos, refers principally to the total inspired Word of God and to Jesus, Who is the living Logos. The second primary Greek word that describes Scripture is rhema, which refers to a word that is spoken and means “an utterance.” A rhema is a verse or portion of Scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation or need for direction. The words of Jesus are significant on this point. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word [rhema] that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus also stated, “The words [rhema] that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). In the regular course of our daily reading of God’s Word (logos), we need to ask God to speak to us through His Word and give us insight into it. The Holy Spirit can cause certain passages to stand out with significant meaning or application for our lives. These are the rhemas of Scripture and should become a part of our daily thoughts and actions.
Logos is used in many ways, yet in John’s Gospel Logos is a clear reference to Jesus, the God who both created us and lived among us. Logos is the Greek term translated as “word,” “speech,” “principle,” or “expressed thought.” In Greek philosophy, it also referred to a universal, divine reason or the mind of God. This idea develops itself in the Old Testament the Word, as embodying the divine will, is personified in Hebrew poetry. Consequently divine attributes are predicated of it as being the continuous revelation of God in law and prophecy (Psalms 3:4; Isaiah 40:8; Psalms 119:105). The Word is a healer in Psalms. 107:20; a messenger in Psalms 147:15; the agent of the divine decrees in Isaiah 55:11.
John uses the word in a peculiar sense, the nearest approach to it is in Revelation 19:13, where the conqueror is called the Word of God; and it is recalled in the phrases Word of Life, and the Life was manifested (1 John 1:1, 2). Compare Hebrews 4:12. It was a familiar and current theological term when John wrote, and therefore he uses it without explanation. The word here points directly to Genesis 1, where the act of creation is effected by God speaking. The idea of God, who is in his own nature hidden, revealing himself in creation, is the root of the Logos-idea, in contrast with all materialistic or pantheistic conceptions of creation. The most important thing to know about this Word is found in verse 14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Word refers to Jesus Christ.
John knows what he’s about to write in these 21 chapters. He is going to tell us the story of what Jesus Christ did and what he taught. But still we ought to ask, why did he choose to call Jesus “the Word” John calls Jesus the Word because he had come to see the words of Jesus as the truth of God and the person of Jesus as the truth of God in such a unified way that Jesus himself—in his coming, and working, and teaching, and dying and rising—was the final and decisive word of God. “I am the truth,” Jesus said (John 14:6) He came to witness to the truth (John 18:37) “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31), and he also said, “Abide in me” ((John 15:7). When we abide in him we are abiding in the Word. He said that his works were a “witness” about him ((John 5:36; 10:25). In other words, in his working he was the Word. So John 1:14 tells us what really happened 2000 years ago-and what it means to us today. John here, as it were, draws back the curtain, and shows us the transcendent miracle of divine love, for which he has been preparing in all the preceding. 'The Word became flesh,' are the foundation of all our knowledge of God, of man, of the relations between them, the foundation of all our hopes, the guarantee of all our peace, the pledge of all blessedness. This verse reveals four great certainties: Jesus became human; Jesus lived among us; Jesus revealed his glory; Jesus invites us to himself. John’s Gospel begins by using the Greek idea of a “divine reason” or “the mind of God” as a way to connect with the readers and introduce Jesus to them as God. In John’s use of the Logos concept, we find that
-Jesus is eternal (“In the beginning was the Word”)
-Jesus was with God prior to coming to earth (“the Word was with God”)
-Jesus is God (“the Word was God.”)
-Jesus is Creator (“All things were made through him”)
-Jesus is the Giver of Life (“In him was life”)
-Jesus became human to live among us (“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”)
A noted historian, H. G. Wells, made a list of the ten greatest men of history and number one on that list was Jesus Christ. But, Jesus doesn't belong on that list. He doesn't belong on anybody's list. He is the First and the Last. Jesus said in Revelation, "I am Alpha and Omega." Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Omega is the last. If Jesus was speaking to an English audience, He would say, "I am A and Z." Did you know that the Bible is made up of just twenty-six letters? What Jesus is saying about the written word is true about the living Word. John chapter one tells us that "In the beginning was the Word…and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Jesus was in the beginning as the Word of God. And He is God's final word for all eternity. First John 4:2 says, " By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." John uses two names, Jesus, which refers to His human name, and Christ, which refers to His divine title. Jesus Christ is fully man and fully Messiah at the same time. Christ, which means Messiah, the Anointed One is His divine title. Jesus is God in human flesh. This is the fundamental doctrine of Christian faith - that God stepped out of heaven and took upon human flesh. We call that the incarnation.
The history of civilization is built around one focal point --the advent of the Savior of the world. Advent provides an opportunity for us to consider how Jesus fulfilled not just specific predictions, but all of the Old Testament during His earthly ministry. When we consider the coming of the Lord Jesus in this context, we discover that all of the Bible is history - and HIS story. Jesus expressed God’s love when He came to earth the first time. The next time, He will express God’s wrath on the disobedient. Therefore we should make a conscientious effort to study History and social science with an eye to discover God’s timing, God’s provision, God’s purpose, God’s planning, and God’s truth. When History and social science are taught with a focus on God, we can see that history truly is His Story. Since the creation of the first man Adam, and throughout the history of mankind, there has never been a greater and more righteous person than Jesus Christ that ever lived, in example of humility, service, love, and compassion, sacrifice and in dignity, wisdom, majesty, authority and power.
There is no other person in history who can claim that his coming was the fulfillment of numerous prophecies written hundreds and even thousands of years before His appearance. Jesus stands alone. Between Jesus Christ and every other person there is no possible term of comparison. Modern civilization marks his birth by dividing time B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. stands for the Latin term "anno Domini" which means "year of the Lord.” In other words B.C. ended and A.D. began with the arrival of Christ. The entire Bible is about Jesus. The Old Testament says, “Behold, He comes.” The Gospels say, “Behold, He dies.” Acts says, “Behold, He lives!” The Epistles say, “Behold, He saves.” Revelation says, “Behold, He reigns.” That's Jesus! In this world, many people have come and gone! Whether they be rich or poor, strong or weak, famous or ordinary, everyone will eventually die! But Jesus, who was raised from the dead, is alive and lives forevermore. Jesus said “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”(Revelation 1:18) There is not any other single fact in the history of man more profound than that fact.
In the history of the world, many billions of people have lived and died. Many have left their mark on the tapestry of time, but no one has made as indelible an impression like Jesus. The Name of Jesus is the sweetest Name ever to fall upon human ears! That Name is a cause for celebration in Heaven. That Name is what changed millions to live a godly life and serve sacrificially the humanity. There’s Just Something about That Name. His name is “above” every name. He became the wisest man ever to walk the earth and the greatest teacher who ever lived. His words are the words of God. It was said of Him, "Never man spoke like this man." He taught the highest truths that were ever taught. He promoted the purest ideals that were ever presented. He gave the greatest wisdom that men ever heard. He was the wisest of men and the greatest of men. Millions may wear the same name all over the world today, but there is only one Jesus Christ.
Let me conclude with an Anonymous Quotes about the Incomparable Christ,
“More than nineteen hundred years ago there was a Man born contrary to the laws of life. This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He did not travel extensively. Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived; that was during His exile in childhood.”
“He possessed neither wealth nor influence. His relatives were inconspicuous and had neither training nor formal education. In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled doctors; in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if pavements, and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His service.”
“He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the country could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all the song writers combined.”
“He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students. He never marshaled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun; and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under His orders, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot fired.”
“He never practiced psychiatry, and yet He healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near. Once each week the wheels of commerce cease their turning and multitudes wend their way to worshipping assemblies to pay homage and respect to Him.”
“The names of the past proud statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone. The names of the past scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone; but the name of this Man abounds more and more. Though time has spread nineteen hundred years between the people of this generation and the scene of His crucifixion, yet He still lives. Herod could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him.”
“He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the living, personal Christ, our Lord and Savior.”
To be continued…………
