Great Reasons to Praise the Lord
Series: The Gospel of John
John 1:14-18
Sermon by Rick Crandall
Grayson Baptist Church - April 6, 2016
(Revised June 15, 2019)
*Sometimes it's hard to praise the Lord. God knows that, and sometimes He uses little things to put the praise back in our hearts.
*Christian mom, Dayle Shockley told about one of those days. It was one of those days when everything seemed to be going wrong. The phone rang non-stop. Dayle lost one of her contacts down the drain. Their dryer died, and their dog, Princess, was out on the deck barking non-stop.
*Dayle's head was reeling, so, she told her very young daughter, "Anna, please go tell Princess to be quiet." But Anna replied: "Mom, Princess is singing 'Jesus Loves Me.' -- I just know it!" (1)
*Well, probably not. But Dayle's whole day was turned around when she thought about God's creatures praising Him. And Psalm 150:6 says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. . ."
*Sometimes God uses little things to put the praise back in our hearts. But the best thing that can put praise in our hearts is the Word of God. And tonight's Scripture gives us three great reasons to praise the Lord.
1. FIRST: PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GODHOOD.
*Jesus Christ was no ordinary man. He was, is, and always will be the only begotten Son of God! This truth means that Jesus is just as much God as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
*In the opening verses of John's Gospel, he declared the absolute truth that Jesus is God. Calling Jesus "The Word," in vs. 1-3, John said:
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
*Forever in all eternity past, the divine Word Jesus Christ was and is God. Then through His miraculous birth, God connected His divinity with humanity in a totally unique way.
*That's why vs. 14-15 say:
14. . . The Word was made 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.
15. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
*"The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." Or as Eugene Peterson said in "The Message," "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood." For 33 years God the Son moved into our neighborhood. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."
*The word picture for that word "dwelt" is "pitching a tent." When Jesus came at Christmas, God pitched a tent right here among us.
*Now Mary and I don't do a lot of camping. In fact, we don't do any camping. But way back in 1976, Mary and I went all the way from south Florida to Toronto Canada. And most nights we stayed in a pup tent. Let me tell you, there is not a lot of privacy in a pup tent!
*To say that God "pitched a tent among us" tells us that He wanted us to get to know Him very well. And He did this in a way that should have been impossible. Jesus had to be, and He was born through a miraculous virgin birth.
*And when Jesus was born there was a miraculous connection between divinity and humanity. Jesus Christ was not half God and half man. He was fully God and fully man. The Lord Jesus is 100% God. All that God is, Jesus is.
*But at the very same time, Jesus is all that we are, except for the sin that is. God Almighty humbled Himself to become a human being. Just like us, Jesus learned how to walk and talk. Just like us, He got hungry and He got tired. Just like us, He laughed, and He cried.
*Jesus threw up on His mother. He dirtied His diapers. Imagine: You are in school and sitting next to you is God! You go to the store to buy a chair, and the nice young man waiting on you is God!
*Here is the wonder: The God who holds the universe in His hand humbled Himself to become a man. Jesus made a miraculous connection between divinity and humanity.
2. SO PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GODHOOD. AND PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GLORY.
*The Apostle John talked about the glory of Jesus Christ in vs. 14. There John said this about Jesus: "The Word was made 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."
[1] THIS VERSE POINTS US TO THE PAST GLORY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
*Think about how it was when Jesus walked on the Earth. Again John said, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. . ." That takes us back to the word picture of "pitching a tent." Well, there is some privacy in a tent. And that's the way it was when God came down to earth and lived among us in the tent of a human body.
*It reminds me of the Old Testament Tabernacle. On the outside it looked like a plain, ordinary tent. And much of the time there was nothing special to see. But on the inside, it was filled with hidden beauty, and the glory of God!
*For the most part, that's also the way it was when Jesus walked on the earth. But John said, "We beheld His glory!" "We saw His glory!" This takes us to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration, where Peter, James and John saw Jesus' face shining like the sun!
*The story is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke's Gospels. And I have blended all three Gospel accounts for us, because each version adds something we need to know:
(Luke 9:28) And it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on (a high) mountain to pray.
(Luke 9:29) And as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
(Matt 17:2) and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
(Mark 9:3) His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
(Luke 9:30) Then behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
(Luke 9:31) who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
(Luke 9:32) But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.
(Luke 9:33) Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said.
(Mark 9:6) because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
(Matt 17:5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!''
(Matt 17:6) And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
(Matt 17:7) But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid.''
(Matt 17:8) And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
(Matt 17:9) Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.''
*This miraculous event gives us a small taste of God's infinite, "excellent glory." John said, "We saw His glory!" This also takes us to the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. And in John 2:11, John later reported: "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."
*"We beheld His glory!" This also takes us to a graveyard in Bethany, where Jesus' friend Lazarus had been buried for four days. And in John 11:39-40, we hear Jesus say:
39. . ."Take away the stone.'' Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.''
40. Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?''
*And they did see God's glory, when Jesus called Lazarus out of that grave! But Jesus' past glory was not just when He walked on the Earth 2,000 years ago. Jesus had the glory of God before the world began!
*Verse 15 reminds us of this truth. Here the Apostle John was speaking about John the Baptist, and vs. 15 says: "John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, 'This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.'"
*Physically, John the Baptist was about 6 months older than Jesus Christ. But by the revelation of God, John the Baptist knew that Jesus had existed forever, because Jesus is the eternal Son of God! That's why in Revelation 1:8, Jesus could say: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,'' says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.''
*Jesus' past glory was not just when He walked on the Earth 2,000 years ago. Jesus had the glory of God before the world began. He also had it in Old Testament days.
*Verse 18 points us to this important truth. This verse is speaking of God the Father, when it says, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." So, whenever the Old Testament talks about someone seeing God, they were meeting with the pre-incarnate Christ.
*Walking and talking with Adam and Eve in the garden in the cool of the day, it was Jesus! And listen to Genesis 17:1-5, for just one more example:
1. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
2. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.''
3. Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
4. "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
5. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations."
*There in Genesis 17, it was Jesus! Whenever anyone saw the Lord God in the Old Testament, it was Jesus.
[2] AND THAT'S THE PAST GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST. BUT ALSO THINK ABOUT HIS FUTURE GLORY.
*This is a good thing for us to do! C.S. Lewis once said, "A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. . . If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither." (2)
*Church: Think about the future glory we will see! In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul said: "Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."
*1 John 3:1-2 says:
1. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
*Think about the infinite glory we will see! God gives us a glimpse in Revelation 5:6-12. There, the Apostle John said:
6. . . I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9. And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10. and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.''
11. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12. saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!''
[3] THAT'S THE PAST AND FUTURE GLORY OF THE LORD. BUT WHAT ABOUT TODAY?
*Can we see the glory of God today? -- Most people don't. Most people are like Rob Lowe's little boy when he went to the White House. Rob Lowe is a pretty famous actor, and years ago, he got to take his sons on a special visit the White House.
*Unfortunately, the boys did not understand the magnitude of the moment. They were busy looking out the window. And Rob later said, "One of my great memories is standing in the Oval Office introducing Matthew to the President, and him going, 'Dad, Dad, squirrels!'" (3)
*Most people go through life with their eyes on the squirrels. And they never see the glory of God! But by the Holy Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God, we can see the glory of God even today.
*That's why Hebrews 2:9 can tell Christians, "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." Right now, we can surely see the glory of the Lord with our spiritual eyes.
3. SO LET'S PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GLORY. AND PRAISE HIM FOR HIS GRACE.
*The Apostle John put a strong emphasis on Jesus' grace in vs. 14. There John said: "The Word was made 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." And in vs. 17: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
*Jesus tells us the truth about our life. Then offers His grace to give us His life. As Max Lucado once said: "God loves me just the way I am (that's grace), but He loves me too much to let me stay that way (that's truth)." (4)
*Larry Libby put it this way: "Jesus is truth. He is grace. In His truth, Jesus tells me the real story about my life and where I stand. He tells me I am spiritually dead, booked on a one-way flight to hell, incapable of achieving heaven on my own power. Incapable of lifting myself out of the despair of an empty life or releasing myself from the iron chains of habitual sin.
*In His grace, Jesus loves me, seeks me, calls me, redeems me, walks with me through the hours of the day, and stands guard over my slumbers at night." (5)
*Church: Vs. 16 also tells us that we have all received "grace for grace" from Jesus Christ. That's grace on top of grace, new grace, daily grace, growing grace, God's continual grace in our lives.
*Think of Niagara Falls. Well, God's grace is like that, but infinitely greater, and it never stops flowing! It's the grace that led Jesus to die on the cross for our sins! And it's the grace that can save our souls, IF we will receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
CONCLUSION:
*God wants us to never forget His wonderful, amazing grace!
*So, praise the Lord for His Godhood. Praise Him for His glory. And praise Him for His grace. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:6)
(1) Dayle A. Shockley, Spring, TX. Today's Christian Woman, "Heart to Heart." - Source: The Bible Illustrator, Topic: Praise to God, Index: 1451-1454, Date: 4/1998.1117, Title: "A Still, Small Voice"
(2) C. S. Lewis - 1898-1963 - Source: The Bible Illustrator, Topic: Heavenly Home - Index: 1356 - Date: 10/1995.11574 - Title: Heaven
(3) "Pop Quiz with Rob Lowe," People Magazine, April 29, 2002, p.22 - Source: Dynamic Illustrations, Oct. Nov. Dec 2002 - Topic: Jesus
(4) SermonCentral sermon "The Christmas Collision" by Brian Bill - John 1:14-18
(5) Discipleship Journal, Issue 126, 2001 - Source: SermonCentral sermon "The Christmas Collision" by Brian Bill - John 1:14-18
