John, Part 3
Series: Clear the Way, Part 3
John 1:14-18
- Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you’ve come to worship today
-- Dismiss kids for Children’s Church and Nursery (9 and under)
- I never want to assume that we all have the same knowledge … intro:
• A young Jewish man; referred to as youngest Apostle (late teens / early 20s)
• John wrote 5 books in NT: 3 epistles, Revelation, and this Gospel (~90 AD)
• John centers on the truth of Christ: He is the Messiah sent from God to save
- Read John 1:14-18 / Pray
Point 1 – The Word Became Flesh (v14)
- The first eighteen verses of John's gospel not only introduce Jesus …
-- John also teaches us how to oppose long-held “false religious” teachings
- One of these combatted is the idea that Jesus was not real (spirit, ghost)
-- REALITY: He was an authentic human being; 100% flesh and bone (born)
-- John makes this explicitly clear: tells what the “Word” (GR: logos) DID!
- Last week called The Word the apex of completeness; all of God in Him
-- Now adding - very directly - that He has “become flesh”; a physical person!
- This means Jesus was not a mythical creature disguised as a human being
-- As a result, He could comfort b/c He experienced everything! Hebrews 4:15
- Further: Greek word: skenoo, to tent or camp (literally: to dwell inside of)
-- Gives suggestion to the tabernacle of the Old Testament (Moses built)
- SEE: John writes that Jesus was with us, among us, in complete human form
-- TIE IN: Just as much as God was among His people in the tabernacle (dwelling)
- Also appearing here is a key word, seen also in John 1:18 and John 3:16
-- Greek: monogenes; one of a kind (trans: "one and only," or "only begotten,")
-- APP: Jesus brings to us (shows) the very characteristics of God! Hebrews 1:3
- Why does this matter? Consider words from the bulletin encouragement:
“Imagine a God, who loved His Creation so much, that He would be willing to be "personally invested" in its redemption because He wants YOU and I that much! Truly, Jesus' arrival showed us that God "made His home among us", and for that we ALL have so much to praise Him for!”
Point 2 – The Word Displays God’s Grace
- John the Baptist is the first of seven witnesses to call out Jesus' divinity (v15)
-- His proclamation reinforces the points of our last 2 messages from John:
? Reveals the True Light; Christ is Eternal; He is Creator; He is the Light of Life
-- REM: John the Baptist was prophesied to be a messenger sent Malachi 3:1
-- We also saw this in Isaiah 40:3 – be a “single voice in the wilderness …” BUT!
- V15 emphasizes the purpose of his ministry: it was NOT his own ambition!
-- Believer: This must be your purpose also – to tell, to witness, to show, to share!
- TALK: This is who the Jews had been longing after for centuries
-- Unfortunately, assumed that the Savior would be a political/military leader
-- They sought someone who would defeat their enemies and satisfy their “wants”
-- They were not looking for One who would call them to repentance and holiness
- SEE: Jesus spends lots of time correcting this misinterpretation in Gospel
-- From parables to sermons to His actions: all of these point to God’s holiness!
-- Very clear in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
- Don’t miss: The expression of God's love for mankind is His grace (v16)
-- Grace is best described as being given what you have not earned: blessings
-- It’s different from mercy, which means not getting what you deserve: wrath!
- The Greek phrasing “charin anti charitos”; translated as "grace upon grace"
-- It implies a constant, overflowing gift; Think: too many blessings to count
- Right now, we are being flooded with an offer of grace from God
-- It began with God reaching out to us to bring (offer) salvation to us
-- Why? Because of His love for us … but He will not force us to accept it
- He desired a covenantal relationship with us; have a deep, binding commitment
-- This is different from a “contract” - it is built on trust, mercy, promise of rescue
-- TR: So, what did God do in order to put this covenant in place for us?
Point 3 – The Word is God’s Covenant
- SEE: John even shows an important distinction between Moses & Jesus (v17)
-- Moses' ministry brought knowledge of the Law; was God’s expectations for us
-- But the Law could only show us how broken we all are Romans 3:20
-- Instead of only bringing truth - Jesus brought grace to cover our sinful behavior
- APP: Human efforts will always fall short to cover our sin (internally wicked)
-- But, instead of leaving us to face that truth and God’s judgment req. by the Law
-- He provided a way for us to experience real forgiveness Hebrews 4:15–16
- Closing this passage out: John affirms Jesus' divinity, closeness to God (v18)
-- We have not seen God, but what we have seen is the monogenes; one and only
-- Demonstrated in the righteousness, the goodness, the mercy of God in Christ
- Jesus is the physical, depiction, of God in the flesh – given to us to know God
-- He brings the Word of God to life; gives clarity for us to understand the Father
- The fact that God came in human form is critical for us to KNOW
-- He emptied Himself of divinity to be able to relate to what we deal with
-- HOW? By becoming part of the creation He created! Philippians 2:6-8
- HUGE: Jesus became human so He could experience our struggles
-- It means that He became the only one who could relate to us: FULLY
- APP: This is what allows Him to be our comforter – to fully understand our need
-- But also … to represent us BEFORE the Father for the forgiveness of sin
-- He understands what we go through, and so He is able to offer us grace for sin
MUSICIANS / TAKEAWAY
- SEE: Jesus became hope from God in a language we understand: relationship
-- He became what we needed most, intercessor God’s righteousness and our sin
-- He lived/died as God’s portion of the covenant: redeem us if we’d come to Him
- What will you do with this truth is what matters right now …
- Pray / Invitation Song
