John 1:6-18
Notes
Transcript
The gospel according to John 1:6-18.
We are in the middle of John’s dramatic introduction to his account of Jesus life, in the first 5 verses John was addressing the philosophy and theology of the day, to draw attention to who John was writing about, he used the Word, the Logos, he used the light, the word was with God and was God, and the light was the light of men. (John is setting up who Jesus is as we will explore today).
Today we get introduced to another man named John (Called the Baptist in the other gospels). This is not the writer, this John was send by God, to witness about the light, that people might believe after hearing John’s word about the light, - John makes it clear that John the Baptist is not the light but that was a witnessto the light.
What light? We and the reader might say, and John responds: the true light, that gives light to everyone, - we talked about that at the bible study, well nothings is made apart for the word/light so, the light is what makes it possible for all creation to be. That light was entering the world, - incarnation – Christmas.
Was the world ready and celebrating? Mostly not, even when the light, that is a he, was in the world that was made through him, the world did not know him. (The one who created all things was not known by the creatures).
He came to his own, the people of God Jewish people, but they rejected him, they did not receive him. But all that did receive him, that believed in his name – he gave the right to be adopted in to Gods family to be God’s children. (Conditions of being a Child of God, is a privilege from grace, by faith. This is the only way to be a child of God). The amazing part; all that receive and believedcould and can become a child of God. (Are you a child of God?). What does that mean, in verse 13? To be born again of God. God making you new, as we talked about not long ago, a new creation, born of the Spirt, - we will get back to it in chapter 3. John’s introduction is a teaser of what is to come in the coming pages. (Have you been born again by God?)
In 14 John gets back to the Word, and write that the word became flesh, (incarne) and dwelt among us, - and John writes, and we have seen his glory, the glory than sows that the Word: is the only son from the Father, the one full of grace and truth. The word, is now identified at the son of God, that is God, the light the Word, now come in flesh/human form (a God man) to the earth. Full of God’s unmarried favor, grace, not what we deserve, but the opposite, favor instead of punishment. PPT on Grace.
Now He also always spoke the truth, (like God He can’t lie), He is the very truth, the only truth, (The social construct we have/had in the post -postmodern world is a great lie that everyone can have their own truth NOPE, there is only one truth, it does not matter if you believe it or not, the truth is the one that came 14:6).
Then John the writer said what John the Baptist cried to all that would believe, this is the one that is greater that me, because he was before me. (Jesus was eternal but born after John the Baptist).
Now we will have the great reveal: who is this person, the word the light the son of God, the truth and grace, in Verses 16-18. We read. That from the fullness of him, we have all received grace upon grace. Favor form God and more favor from God.
The OT Law was given by Moses, - that Gods people might see their need for God. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (the awaited one the Messiah the everlasting God). The word, the light, the he, the Son of God the truth, the one that came and with his fulness gave grace and grace.
No one ever saw the God the father, Jesus the Christ came to make God visible to explain to make God known for all.
This is who John will write about, Jesus who is the Christ, the one that makes sense of the universe, that was made through him, Jesus came to show who God is, to show grace and to be the truth in human flesh, to live the life we failed to live, to heal, restore, obey, to offer his life to die for others, that would believe in his name, to concur death, and get out of the grave as he said he would, and ascend back to God, saying he would always be with the disciples, - then sending of the Holy Spirt, and our hope is the blessed return of Jesus to make all things new.
Great intro!
If John is right then what is your response to Jesus?
One would be to believe, and become a child of God, - pray and give your life to God, - ask God to let you see the Goodness of God that allows you to repent at come to God. That you might receive grace upon grace.
You are a believer, what makes this passage so great? How does it challenge you; how does it encourage you? Strengthen you in you walk with Jesus.
The application in this series is what do you do with who Jesus is. So, what is your response? I pray not just knowledge, but change in depth of understanding who Jesus is and how that impacts your life in Christ.
