Who Is This Jesus?
Introduction:
Who is this Jesus?
Do we really understand the awesome, splendor of our Lord Jesus?
Have we really considered the magnitude of our Lord?
Though the whole Bible preaches Jesus, identifies Him as the coming King, one scripture truly encapsulates His identity.
To get a revelation of His glory brings us into a place of holy fear and reverence
Main Text:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
FOUR IDENTIFYING REVELATIONS OF CHRIST
(I) "In the beginning"
Speaking of His eternal existence – He is forever
“…and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Lk 1:33
Christ did not begin or come into existence in the stable with Mary and Joseph
He was, since the beginning (What was the beginning?)
Clearly John is alluding to Gen1:1
Before anything was formed, Jesus was
Before all time, before all existence, Jesus was
John 1:2-5
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 it.
He was not created, He already was
Without Him there is nothing but darkenss
Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
Not just this person that we speak to now but eternally existent
Rev 1:8 “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.”
Rev 21:6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Rev 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
He has always been, without him not only can we do nothing – there is nothing
(II) "Was the Word"
“existed the Logos” – (logos - the expression of thought, the embodiment of a concept or idea)
The depth of this description, we cannot fathom
Jesus is the Word
Jesus “…who is the fountain of all wisdom; who giveth being, life, light, knowledge, and reason, to all men; who is the grand Source of revelation, who has declared God unto mankind;… who has illustrated life and immortality by his Gospel, and who has fully made manifest the deep mysteries which lay hidden in the bosom of the invisible God from all eternity,…” - Adam Clarke Commentary
John 1:14 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.
The very thoughts, intentions, expression of God became flesh – voluntarily
Jesus, the embodiment of the thoughts, ideas, expression of God, manifested in the flesh
By the Holy Spirit is still dwelling among us
Rev 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
I Jn 1:1-2
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
** John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
Heb 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
(III) "The Word was with God"
Speaking of His personality – He is the Son.
God is a triune being, part of the Godhead
He identifies Himself to us in three distinct personalities
“Was with God”, signifies that He had a conscience, personal existence distinct from God the Father
Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
One God, manifested in distinct personalities
It is a mystery of God - We’ll just have to go to Heaven and find out what it’s all about when we are face-to-face.
Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …”
God is not being schizophrentic, He is the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit – It is a mystery
We are also triune beings, in is His image - We are a spirit, we possess a soul and are housed in an earthly body.
I Jn 1:2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
Eternal life (Jesus) was “with the Father”
He is a distinct personality
Matt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
I Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
(IV) "The Word was God"
Speaking of His divinity – He is God
Not 2nd in command but God himself
John 14:10-11
10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
Just as God identified Himself to Moses
John 10:30 "I and My Father are one."
Conclusion:
John begins his gospel letter with the boldest, most comprehensive description of who Jesus is
This is a “no bones about it” declaration
Each of these statements, are building a revelation of who Jesus is
He is eternally existent, He is the Word, He is a distinct personality and He is God
Obviously the Holy Spirit knew that believers needed to begin understanding the magnitude of Jesus
The Hymn – How Great Thou Art (The writer had this revelation)
To live a life of holiness, reverence, obedience we need a revelation of the awesome glory of our Savior
He is a great and mighty Lord – He is Jesus
