Three Big Statements Series

THREE BIG STATEMENTS

John 1:15-18

#John 1

INTRODUCTION… BIG STATEMENTS IN OUR WORLD (p)

Sometimes people make bold statements or bold predictions that end up making them famous for various reasons and sometimes that fame is well deserved and sometimes it is unfair. Big statements are big news and have large repercussions.

#1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur%27s_escape_from_the_Philippines

On 11 March 1942, during World War II, General Douglas MacArthur and all US forces left the Philippine island of Corregidor which were surrounded by the Japanese. They traveled in PT boats through stormy seas patrolled by Japanese warships. After arriving in Australia, he made his famous speech in which he declared, "I came through and I shall return". He did return in March of 1945. What a bold statement from a charismatic leader!

#2 https://www.wired.co.uk/article/manhattan-project-robert-oppenheimer

As wartime head of the Los Alamos Laboratory, the birthplace of the Manhattan Project, Robert Oppenheimer is rightly seen as the “father” of the atomic bomb. “We knew the world would not be the same,” he recalled. “A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent.” Oppenheimer, watching the fireball of the Trinity nuclear test on July 16, 1945 said: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” That is a bold statement from someone who saw the results of his work and the world has experienced the death and destruction of atomic weapons and nuclear fallout.

#3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Pop_(album)

It was Elizabeth Taylor standing next to Eddie Murphy at the Soul Train Awards in 1989 when she declared Michael Jackson "the true king of pop, rock and soul." Michael Jackson became known as the "King of Pop", a nickname that Jackson's publicists embraced and is what he is known as to this day. That is a big statement considering all of the entertainers out there!

#4 https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/internet-of-lies/

It was in an interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer in 1999 when Al Gore said, “During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.” This led to whole hosts of people saying Al Gore said he invented the internet. Al Gore said he never stated he invented the internet, but that is what we all heard and it became a joke. I will let you decide what his bold statement meant because it is a big statement!

In our passage today, we have some big statements being made. Unlike statements by politicians or entertainers, these are big statements by true prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ. We can trust in these big statements and what they mean to us and for us. In verse 15, we have a big statement. In verses 16-17, we have a big statement. And in verse 18, we have a big statement. Three big statements.

READ John 1:15-18

John testifies concerning Him. He cries out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

BIG STATEMENT ONE: “JESUS IS THE ULTIMATE” (verse 15)

Big Statement One: Jesus is the Ultimate.

John the Baptist is the herald and witness of Jesus Christ. He paved the way first before Jesus arrived on the scene and is the link between the Old Testament and the New Testament. John the Baptist is this Elijah-looking Old Testament bold cowboy prophet who carried the authority of God’s prophecies in his finger and pointed that finger right at Jesus.

John came first, but Jesus was greater. The Angel Gabriel brought a message about John’s birth to John’s parents before the same angel’s message was given to Mary about Jesus. John was about six months older than Jesus and so was born first. John’s ministry in the desert preaching, teaching, and baptizing happened first and then Jesus came on the scene. John had followers before Jesus. John came first, and yet John the Baptist makes it very clear that Jesus took precedence over him. Jesus came after John, but existed before him because Jesus is God. Jesus ‘surpassed’ him meaning he is first. Jesus was ‘before’ John because He was more important. Jesus is simply greater. Jesus is the ultimate.

Now, when I make the big statement echoing what John the Baptist says that ‘Jesus is the ultimate’… what do I mean? Jesus is the ultimate… what? I would say that Jesus is the ultimate… everything!

Matthew 7:29 and John 21:25 and other passages tell us that Jesus was the ultimate teacher.

Matthew 9:36-37 and other passages show us Jesus is the ultimate expression of compassion.