John 1:19-28 Who are You?

02.11.08 John 1:19-28 (NASB)

Audio Sermon File: John 1:19-28

Going Deeper: Study Guide

Who are You?
Today we are going to look at the question posed to John the Baptist - ‘Who are you?’ - and in light of his response, we are going to examine ourselves - as to ‘Who are we?’ By doing so - hopefully - we all will be able to do a reality check as to ‘Who we are’ in light of Jesus Christ.
We can answer the question posed to John the Baptist , which was ‘Who are you?’ by examining the two areas of his investigation by the Jews. These two areas are 1. CRITICAL QUESTIONS and 2. CRUCIAL ANSWERS.

John 1:19-28 reads:
19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he ^said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said." 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26 John answered them saying, "I baptize in water, [but] among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 "[It is] He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

We find the:

1. Critical Questions in vv.19-22

Last time and over the past weeks we were studying the incarnation, presented in verses 14-18. That Jesus Christ is God with us, veiled in human flesh. The Apostle now substantiates the reality of the incarnation, by calling up witnesses. The first witness is John the Baptist, found beginning in verse 19 of chapter 1. Once again we meet up with this familiar figure - John the Baptist. We had already met him in the prologue in verses 6-8, and verse 15. And these 2 brief introductions to the Baptist set up a framework which had clearly portrayed the Baptist as only a witness to Jesus Christ and that the Baptist is not the Messiah to come.

All four Gospels include John the Baptist in their record, which tells us that he is an important figure in relation to the Messiah, and His message. The Baptist points people to the coming Christ who is able to transform people’s lives from darkness into light and true life. His ministry began in the Jordan Valley when he was about 29 or 30 years old. His bold message was simple - that the people that came to him were in need of spiritual repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. The Baptist’s proclamation was a "Call to repentance," preparing and point people to Jesus Christ. John The Baptist confronted people with the message that they, and likewise us today - that we need to take a stand - to make a decision - acceptance or rejection - a response to faith or a response to continued faithlessness in Christ.

By examining John the Baptist’s response to the question ‘Who are you?’, and by examining his attitude and character - we can look at our own life and see if we can follow the Baptist’s example of what a godly servant should be.

Starting in verse 19, the Apostle John simply drops us off - right into the midst of the Baptist’s ministry. The Apostle skips over the details of the Lord’s birth, and the details the Baptist’s birth, and even the details about Jesus’ baptism by John. And he launches the reader in to the heart of the Baptist’s ministry. The Baptist’s ministry drew a lot of attention and was attracting large crowds. Because of this, the local authorities decided to send a team to investigate him. This investigative unit was sent by the - Jews that came from Jerusalem (v.19). The word - Jews - used here and in the Gospels almost always, draw the attention of the reader to the fact that these are opponents. On a collective scale, the - Jews - were opponents to Jesus, and subsequently to the Christian community.

The team of investigators were comprised of priests and Levites. The priests that were present, represented the theological authority. And the Levites were the ones that concerned themselves with the practical functions of the temple. These were the representatives of the religious establishment. John’s ministry didn’t seem to fit into any of the normal patterns of religious organization and practice. Because John had a successful ministry, this aroused the priests and Levites interest and suspicions. So they sought to find out why. The CRITICAL QUESTION they sought an answer to was - Who are You?

The Jewish investigators advance 5 questions in a trial like manner. And as a result John acts like a defendant in the courtroom - after all he was, as we examined earlier in our sermon series "The Witness To The Light." The heart of their 5 questions focused on - Who are You? - they desired to get something out of John. They sought an answer to whether John the Baptist was any one of the end-times figures that the Jews awaited.

CRITCAL QUESTION #1
The priests and Levites ….ask him, "Who are you? (v.19).
They directly and bluntly ask this question of John the Baptist - because they ultimately want to know if he was the coming Christ. Out rightly, John denies this - and answers ‘I am not the Christ’ (v.20). And this was the answer that John gave faithfully as other people had also asked him this question (Lk.3:15-17). The title ‘Christ’ is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word ‘Messiah’ - which means ‘Anointed One.’ This title pointed to the prophesied deliverer, that the Jews had awaited. They mistakenly expected this coming ‘Christ,’ to bring about political reform, renewal, and freedom to Israel - who were dominated under Roman rule. John denies that he is the Christ.

CRITCAL QUESTION #2
They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" (v.21)
In the OT record from Malachi 4:5, it states:
5 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to [their] children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
This is the very last prophecy, and the very last verses of the OT, which began a period of silence of over 400 years. During this period there was no prophecy or revelation from God. The silence ends with the coming of John the Baptist and his ministry. The Jews believed, based on Malachi, that Elijah would come before the Messiah’s appearing. Since John denied that he was the Christ, the Jews questioned him as to whether he was the one who would precede the Messiah. John denies that he is Elijah.

CRITICAL QUESTION #3
"Are you the Prophet?" they ask him (v.21).
The Jews further pursue John, and try to link him with "the Prophet." The reference to "The Prophet" probably comes from Deut. 18:15, which states:
"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brother. You
must listen to him." This unnamed prophet was someone like Moses who would function as God’s voice. The Jews believed this Prophet would be the Christ. John denies that he is the Prophet.

All the answers the investigative team asked, came back with NO’s. John said - I am not the Christ; are you Elijah - "I am not;" are you the Prophet - "NO."
Short and blunt were John’s replies - NO - NO - NO. John makes it clear through his answers that he is subordinate to the One that he pointed people to.

CRITCAL QUESTION # 4
And in exasperation - Then they said to him, "Who are you…’ (v.22).
They continued and added - "so that we may give an answer to those who sent us?

CRITICAL QUESTION # 5
What do you say about yourself?"
These people were sent by men to seek and destroy the threat to the religion of their day, and in contrast John was the sent one from God (v.6) - in order to start the ground war against religion - in favour of true life where the Messiah would bring the repentant into a right relationship with God. The Jews were making themselves to be religious bigshots, but John the Baptist made himself to be very little. And this is where we turn the focus upon ourselves.

How often do we find ourselves in a position where we could gain some credit for something we are not. In the work place do we ever take undo credit for the work of others on the project team? Or think about situations where you find yourself in, where you can easily take advantage of someone that you represent. How do you respond in those circumstances. In those times can we be reminded by the truthfulness of John the Baptist? He never claimed anything for himself that was not to found to be true of himself. He never sought glory for himself which was not due to him.

The great evangelist and preacher D.L.Moody recounted this of a friend of his - he said that his friend could tell when a Christian was growing. This is how he could tell that a Christian was growing - In proportion to his growth in grace, a growing Christian, would elevate his Master, talk less of what he himself was doing, and become smaller and smaller in his own estimation, until, like the morning star, he faded away before the rising sun.

John the Baptist was a humble man. He never placed himself above the Lord. Even though he had a big part to play in presenting and pointing people to Jesus Christ - the Baptist never sought to take advantage of that relationship and connection. Are you quick to boost your own image by stating that you know someone famous or someone who is popular? Or saying ‘I know so and so’ who knows ______ - you fill in the blank. I know that I do that sometimes…and that stems from pride - not humility. This is when we need to ask ourselves - ‘Who are You?’
Let us be what we are - and find our being in Christ and not in man. We as believers, seem to get an ego boost from the people we know, and not from the One we know. This is what hinders many of us from pointing people to Christ. We tend to want to associate with people more than with Jesus Christ. Since He is not a popular figure in our world, we do not want to become unpopular amongst our close circle of people.

John’s replies are short and to the point. He never tries to squeeze in some credit for himself, but he focuses on the Lord and His Word. John focuses himself on God’s glory and not on his own.

The Jews now asked specifically for a self identification from John. This leads us to the 2nd area of the investigation:

2. Crucial Answers (vv.23-28)

John the Baptist, through God’s Word, links himself as the forerunner to the Messiah, in verse 23. John quotes and applies Isaiah 40:3 to himself. "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord.'"

John was sent from God to prepare the way for the Messiah. In John’s humility he never referred to being the person that was the key to the coming Messiah - but he refers to himself as ‘the voice.’ In doing so John places the exclusive emphasis and attention on Christ. John was the one to ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ (v.23). This imagery comes from the days where there were no paved roads. What they had were just tracks that ran across the land and fields. If the path was to be traveled by a king, then the road was to be built or smoothed out for the royalty. The traveled route had to be smooth, so the ride would be comfortable. The route had to be cleared of any debris, and hindrances which would cause unnecessary delay. In some cases the monarchs would have their heralds go before them to make causeways, straighten crooked roads and valleys, and level hills. So it is with John the Baptist - as one commentator states:
"John the Baptist called himself the ‘roadbuilder’ for one greater than he who would follow him with a fuller revelation" (Tenney).

In Vancouver the largest highway is the #1 - Trans Canada. It really is not that large of a highway. Before I was married…when I visited Carmen here in Vancouver I would say that the highways here are really just ‘wide and fast streets.’ By comparison the Trans Canada highway within Toronto, known as the 401, has one of the highest daily rates of vehicle traffic. At the junctions of highways 400 and 401, there are roughly 400,000 vehicles that use that interchange each day. That’s not all - just west of Toronto the 401 is known as North America’s widest highway. There are 18 through lanes - nine in each East/ West direction. Can you imagine that….18 lanes.

John was the one to - Make straight the way of the Lord (v.23). John was a ‘roadbuilder’ - making a straight way for Jesus Christ to be made known. Here lies a challenge for our own lives - are we reluctantly building a pathway for Christ….. or are we building a superhighway for Christ, in making Him known in the lives of others ?

Later on in the Isaiah 40 reference, in verse 5, it states - ‘And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’ The ‘glory’ spoken of came in the person of Jesus Christ - as the Apostle John reflects back to what he just stated in 1:14 of our Gospel - "We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Despite the response the interrogators received, we find from their further questioning that they were not ready for spiritual construction in their lives. The investigative team sent out to question John the Baptist were from the Pharisees (v.24). The Pharisees were representative of the religious leadership of the nation of Israel. As such they were keenly interested in any new religious movements or teachers forming in their land. The Romans were in control politically over the nation. Because of this these Jews in high places would be sensitive to any threats to the religious scene which could lead to trouble with the Romans. In the end it would be the - Pharisees - that in part would play a sinister role in the culmination of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Now the investigative team once again question the Baptist - Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? Now they were seeking an answer to what John the Baptist was actively doing. It is now revealed that John was performing water baptisms - and up to this point in the Gospel there had been no mention of it. It is evident from this question that the Jews did not take the Baptist’s reply seriously, that he indeed was the ‘the voice’ sent from God, preparing the way. The Jews are now probing into his authority to baptize.
John’s baptism was a call for people to repent. He called people to have a change in their personal being. A change that was in preparation of meeting Jesus Christ. The symbolism of John’s Baptism likely had it’s roots in OT purification rituals (Lev.15:13). Jews accepting John’s baptism were taking a bold step of faith. These Jews were admitting that they had been living like the Gentiles - pagans devoid of any spiritual life. So these Jews who came to John for baptism, were by their very actions - publicly declaring their need to become the true people of God - genuinely, inwardly. This was an amazing admission, because there existed a strong hatred toward the Gentiles by the Jewish people - Gentiles were unclean - they were blasphemers - God haters.

John’s baptism prepared people for the arrival of the Messiah as a call to repentance.
And these baptisms pointed people to someone who was to be revealed, since it was someone that they ‘do not know’ (v.26), but John did know. The knowing, and not knowing theme, regarding the Messiah comes up again, and through out the Gospel and we re-visit it again and again. Because Jesus Christ came into the world - but as we backtrack to verse 10 - ‘the world did not recognize Him’ and in verse 11 - people ‘did not receive Him.’ This was the tragedy we see in the investigative team, that John was absolutely correct in saying that they ‘do not know’ Christ. And we should also note that upon John’s reply, the team questions him no longer. John pointed them also to the Messiah but they, inquired no more.

The One that John the Baptist did know was Jesus Christ, and because of this his perspective was really different from those who - do not know. John did not seek to ask questions in return, and try to get the upper hand upon the interrogation. Instead John, simply submitted himself to the will of God and proclaimed the coming Messiah. John humbled himself as a unworthy slave. This is John’s response - [It is] He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. John was a model of humility because he felt that he was not even above the status of a slave. Slaves in these times were called upon to do the most menial of tasks. Slaves were called to the task of removing their master’s shoes and to wash his feet. This was the lowest job anyone could have. The Baptist considered himself not even worthy of being a slave to Christ and to perform this task. He could not even count Himself worthy in any manner of untying Jesus’ ‘shoe laces.’ He knew that he was not above the status of a slave as he bowed to the incarnate God. John demonstrated humility.

How humble are we? The following are some statements which make us reflect upon our own level of humility:

When the Other Fellow Acts … Have you noticed:
WHEN the other fellow acts that way, he is ugly; when you do, it’s nerves.
WHEN others are set in their ways, they’re obstinate; when you are, it is firmness.
WHEN your neighbor doesn’t like your friend, he’s prejudiced; when you don’t like his, you are a good judge of human nature.
WHEN he tries to treat someone especially well, he is pretentious, when you try it you are being thoughtful.
WHEN he takes time to do things well, he’s a slowpoke or lazy; when you do, you are deliberate and careful.
WHEN he spends a lot, he is a squanderer; when you do so, you’re generous.
WHEN someone picks out the flaws in things, he’s cranky and critical; when you do, you are creative.
WHEN he is mild-mannered you call him weak; when you are, it is graciousness.
WHEN someone dresses especially well, that person is extravagant; when you do, it is tastefulness.
WHEN he says what he thinks, he’s spiteful; when you do, you are being frank.
WHEN he takes great risks in business, he’s foolish; when you do, you are a wise investor.

In our passage today, John, truly was a humble man. In the rabbinic tradition, a teacher-student relationship was not a paid relationship. So the teacher could ask the student to serve the teacher in any way that he desired - just like a slave - with one exception. The exception was that the teacher could not ask the student to touch his feet in any way. This illustrates the lowliness of this task. This would include taking off his shoes, washing his feet, and anything like that for these tasks were reserved for slaves. And John the Baptist, in his true humility, recognized the significance of Jesus Christ - as he says - [It is] He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie (v.27).

In light of this statement - our minds may be drawn to remembrance of Jesus’ example. Jesus on the night that he was betrayed, just hours being crucified for our sins, did this….
John 13:1-5 - It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus, the Messiah, God with us in human flesh - in a tangible demonstration of humility and love, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples including the one that would betray Him.
In a moving statement of true humility, John the Baptist, places himself below the place of a servant, and therefore again defines his position. He was only the forerunner, the ‘roadbuilder’ pointing all to Jesus Christ, and not to himself.

As we close this section of Scripture, the Apostle John, gives the geographic location of these events (v.28). The Apostle gives us the historical location of today’s text. All the CRITICAL QUESTIONS and CRUCIAL ANSWERS - as John was asked ‘WHO ARE YOU?’ took place - in Bethany. This location is not to be confused with the town of Bethany that was frequented by Jesus - the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha - and located near Jerusalem - which is on the west side of the Jordan river. But instead the Apostle gives us a clue that this area where John the Baptist was performing his baptisms was - beyond the Jordan.’ Indicating that the town of Bethany he writes about is on the east side of the Jordan river.

Israel’s geography is like this: the entire west side of Israel is bound by the Mediterranean Sea. Because of this geographic perspectives would almost always be from a west - looking toward the - east - perspective. In addition Jerusalem was the central focus of Israel, because the temple was located there. So when the text states that ‘John was Baptizing,’ on the other side of the Jordan, it is understood to mean on the east side of the river. In the course of history, this area known as - Bethany - where John was baptizing, has been lost.

John the Baptist was under interrogation by the Jews from Jerusalem. Their purpose was to investigate the Baptist. They needed to report back to the religious authorities, with the answer to this question - ‘WHO ARE YOU?’ And in reply John the Baptist - plainly, truthfully - states that he is not, who they think he might have been. The bottom line was that, he was not the Messiah. John the Baptist was only the one whom God called to point others to the Messiah, and to call them to prepare for the Savior.

From John we find a humble servant of the Lord. And we can learn from him - as we may ask ourselves - ‘Who are we?’ - in light of the One we as believers - are to point others to? ….
‘WHO ARE YOU?’ in light of Jesus Christ?

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The Venom Of Spiritual Hypocrisy
By Noah Ressler

John had already called them a "brood of vipers" in Mt. 3:7-10. He has aroused suspicion among the Sanhedrin because of his boldness and presumptuous statements that would call their spirituality into question. You have to understand that religious people have presuppositions upon which they base their religious standing and it is always a system of self righteousness based upon human effort and standards. Additionally, John has trampled upon their reasoning that because they were children of Abraham, they were okay with God. He tells them "from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham" (Mt. 3:9). But note the strong language John the Baptist uses to their face to describe them. "You brood of vipers…" John was aware of the Pharisee’s and Saducee’s insincerity and lack of repentance. They intended to carry their hypocrisy even to the extent of submitting to John’s baptism, out of whatever corrupt motives they may have had. Brood may also be translated "offspring" signifying descendents or children. Jesus Himself used the same epithet (brood of vipers) to describe Pharisees on several occasions (Mt. 12:34; 23:33).

Vipers were small but very poisonous desert snakes, which would have been quite familiar to John the Baptist. They were even more dangerous by the fact that they looked like a dead branch when still and were often picked up unintentionally. This is what happened to Paul while shipwrecked on the isle of Malta. He picked up what he thought was a stick and the natives reaction was one of alarm knowing how deadly the viper was, though Paul miraculously suffered no harm (Acts 28:3-5). Calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers pointed up the danger of their religious hypocrisy – as well as the fact that their wicked work had been passed on to them by the original serpent (Gen. 3:1-13) through their spiritual forefathers, of who they were the brood, or offspring. Like the desert viper, they often appeared harmless, but their brand of godliness (cf. II Tim. 3:5) was venomous and deadly. In His series of woes against the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said, "You shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in" (Mt. 23:13). They were responsible for keeping countless Jews out of the kingdom, and therefore from salvation and eternal life.

In Matthew 23:33 Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees "serpents" as well as a "brood of vipers," suggesting even more directly that their spiritual father was Satan – as He specifically charges in John 8:44 (cf. Rev. 12:9; 20:2). These religious hypocrites were Satan’s children doing Satan’s deceitful work.
A brush fire or a farmer’s burning the stalks in his field after harvest would cause vipers and other creatures to flee before the flames in order to escape. It was a common sight in many of the Mediterranean and Arab regions, and one that John the Baptist doubtlessly had seen many times. The implication is that the Pharisees and Sadducees were expecting John’s baptism to be a kind of fire insurance, giving protection from the flames of the wrath to come. True repentance and conversion do protect from God’s wrath and judgment, but superficial and insincere professions or acts of faith tend only to harden a person against genuine belief, giving a false sense of security. John would not be party to such hypocrisy and sham. It was the deceitfulness of their true master, Satan, and not genuine fear of God’s judgment that led them out to hear John and to seek his baptism as a pretentious formality.

So the setting for John 1:19 is not an innocent query of John by the priests and Levites. The stir among the Pharisees and Sadducees must have been something behind closed doors. John’s stinging rebukes startled them as no one had ever stood against them before. They were most likely searching the Scriptures to see who it was that John could be. But they had not the spiritual perception to understand that John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ heralding His coming. He was a voice in the wilderness calling all to repent so that the way for Christ would be prepared.

The clear and passionate prophet John the Baptist had, not of his own doing but of consequence of his calling and ministry, attracted the attention of the religious hierarchy of his day. His messages had aroused their suspicion of him because he so boldly rebuked them. He was baptizing Jews and that was unheard of for a Jew – a pagan converting to Judaism, yes! But, a Jew? Organized religion wields power and a threat to it must be met with.

Closer to our own day we have all heard of Martin Luther as he opposed the organized religion of his day – Roman Catholicism and the ensuing battles that took place to try and silence him. The more they tried, the more his writings and messages spread. Under persecution he committed himself to God who was able to deliver him, and He did. Like John the Baptist, Martin Luther did not compromise the Word of God.

In our cultural climate today, it is almost as if it is a popular thing to be untraditional and come up with something new, but the age old message of sin, repentance, and calling out for mercy from God is considered offensive to our generation by the so called preachers in many churches. We must get back to the old landmarks of "prepare the way of the Lord!"

John was a man with a message from God. He humbly completed his calling and purpose for which he was created. He magnified Christ. Additionally, he did not compromise the unpopular message of sin and repentance before the religious crowd. In order to prepare the way for the Lord in a person’s heart, we must preach the Gospel message of sin, judgment, repentance, and faith in the finished work of Christ.

Where are you at in life? Have you ever repented of your sins? Do you see your sin as horrible and despicable? You are being called right this very minute to repent and turn to Christ. Prepare your heart (mind) to receive Christ by repenting of your sin. Do so now as you know not when you will face God as a repentant believer in Christ or a rebellious rejecter of God’s goodness to you and end up cast in the Lake of Fire forever.

O Christian, turn your eyes upon Jesus, look fully in the face of His Word. Turn from the sin that so easily besets you and makes your way miserable and unprofitable. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin (Heb. 12:2-4).

(For a full explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - click here - http://www.doihaveeternallife.blogspot.com/)
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John 1:15-18 Unveiling The God That Has Come To Live Among Us - Part 2

26.10.08 John 1:15-18 (NASB)

Audio Sermon File: John 1:15-18

Going Deeper: Study Guide

Unveiling The God That Has Come To Live Among Us - Part 2

Last week as we began our study on verse 14, we unfolded the amazing realities of the incarnation. That the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (v.14). God entered into this world in the person of Jesus Christ, specifically at one historic point in time and space by way of the incarnation. God has done this in a way that had never been done before and never has been done since. The incarnation reveals that God is present in our world and is working here.

The incarnation was foretold to Isaiah by God, and Isaiah recorded this prophecy approximately 700 years before it came to pass. The fulfillment is found in the New Testament in detail, in Matthew and Luke. What took place was that a virgin, named Mary, gave birth to a child which had been conceived not of human means, but was of the Holy Spirit. In other words, found in this child is no ordinary human being, but this child named Jesus, was God Himself with us here on earth. He was to be known as Immanuel which means - God with us !

The incarnation is critically important to us. The incarnation is God’s fulfillment of His plan of salvation to bring us back into a right relationship with God permanently. In so doing we may be freed from the guilt and shame caused by our sins; and the weight and penalty due to our sins may be permanently removed, through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The main focus of last weeks sermon was the fact that Jesus Christ is 100% man. But we also kept things in balance by briefly recalling that Jesus Christ is also 100% God. To help us understand this concept better, theologians have termed this reality as the Hypostatic Union. Paul Enns gives us this definition - "the second person, the pre-incarnate Christ came and took to Himself a human nature and remains forever undiminished Deity and true humanity united in one person forever"

Let’s expand upon this definition - in other words through the incarnation, Jesus came to earth as a Person and not only or merely as a nature. The Word of God in His pre-incarnate state took on an additional nature, which was a human nature. The Word did not come and dwell in a particular human body like some kind of spirit possession. The Word came as a Person with the resulting union of the two natures, which is Deity and humanity - the God-Man, 100% God and 100% Man.

The two natures of Christ are never considered as a dual personality. "The two natures are inseparably united without mixture or loss of separate identity" (Enns). Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man forever, with 2 distinct natures. These 2 distinct natures are in one Person.

Sometimes we would evidence Jesus' human nature (He became tired, wept, got hungry, etc). And sometimes Jesus' Deity (He knew the hearts of men, forgave sin, healed). Whatever the realm, it was considered and attributed to His one Person, despite that He is 2 natures, God-Man. Jesus Christ is never considered a dual personality, but He is a single Person.

Let us summarize the facts of the Hypostatic Union:
1. There are 2 distinct natures in Jesus Christ - humanity and Deity
2. Even though there are 2 natures in Jesus Christ, He remains as one Person
3. In Christ the 2 natures are never mixed or intermingled

This is the awesome wonder of the incarnation, 2 distinct natures -100% man and 100% God; all in one Person - inseparably united, and not mixed or intermingled in any way. This is why Jesus Christ is the perfect Man without sin, and therefore the only perfect sacrifice in place of the penalty we deserve for our sin.

This is the incarnation, and as in the last part of verse 14 of John chapter 1, the Apostle describes this reality as - full of grace and truth.

The Hypostatic Union describes the realities of the incarnation, which is the fullest manifestation of God’s grace and God’s truth. The incarnation shows fully the extent of God’s compassion, favour, love, faithfulness, and goodwill upon the pinnacle of His creation. In no other way will this event be duplicated in human history, that the truth and reality of God, has been perfectly displayed in Jesus Christ.

As we complete the prologue of this gospel we will find that the Apostle John further unveils the reality of the incarnation by giving us - 1. The Witnesses of the Incarnation (v.15-16)and 2. The Purpose of the Incarnation (v.17-18)

1. The Witnesses of the Incarnation

v.15 - John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' "

The Apostle John after he makes a brief introduction to the incarnation of the Word, Jesus Christ - makes a brief comment referring back to "The Witness to the Light" - John the Baptist. The Apostle even directly quotes John the Baptist’s words. The author of the Gospel does this in order to re-establish the relationship between the Word and the Baptist.

We must keep in mind that in terms of elapsed time, John the Baptist gave his witness concerning Jesus Christ more than 50 years prior, since the Gospel was written between AD 80-90. John the Baptist had been beheaded a long time ago. But the Apostle John is saying of John the Baptist, that he testified to Jesus Christ, and his witness is still valid and continuing into the future. John the Baptist cried out and his words even are true and effective today, even though he spoke them nearly 2000 years ago.

What was the point of John the Baptist? His point was that he was now able to make a positive identification of the Messiah, Jesus Christ the Son of God. Before this He only pointed to the coming Light in a general way. But now the Baptist could specifically point directly at the Son of God and say - This was He. John the Baptist knew who the incarnate Son of God was because God identifies His Son as we find later in verse 33-34: "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, `He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."

Now that John the Baptist could positively identify the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, John expresses his humble position in relationship to the incarnate Word.

In the Ancient Near East, those who were born first enjoyed the respect, superiority, and privileges of their seniority. John the Baptist was born six months (Lk. 1:26, 36) before Jesus, so according to the customs, he would
be viewed as commanding more respect than Jesus Christ. But John the Baptist states the opposite and affirms the priority of the incarnate Word. John the Baptist humbly declares without any question that the Word, Jesus Christ, though coming after John - is higher rank (ie: pre-eminent) and existed before the Baptist (ie: the Word was eternally pre-existent).

By declaring that the Word became flesh in v.14, and then quoting John the Baptist’s own testimony, the Apostle John sets up the framework for the clear connection that he is about to make for his readers. The connection is that the incarnate Word is none other than Jesus Christ.

As in the start of the prologue of the Gospel, in verse 1, the Apostle declares "In the beginning was the Word…" - now according to the unfolding of God’s plan of salvation, the Apostle declares that the Word has become incarnate among men.

By way of application we see implicit in verse 15, that John the Baptist is a very humble servant of the Lord. He had the privileges that his society bestowed because of his seniority, but he willingly refused to let them get in the way of serving God. We find that time and time again - God desires to find humble servants that will not put themselves above Christ. God honours those who remain humble before Him. As for the proud, they only bring glory to themselves, and the humble always bring glory to God.

In verse 16 to the end of the Gospel’s prologue at verse 18, the Apostle John expands on what he began in verse 14. Once again John includes himself among all the believers that have personally experienced the living Christ - in this statement by using "we." What has John the Apostle been witness to along with others of his time? He has been eyewitness to the incarnate Word’s "fulness." The word "fulness" in verse 16 is never used in the entire Gospel except here. It expresses that John has received from the incarnate Word, the full experience, of the reality of Deity, which is part of the Person of Jesus Christ. John has experienced the reality of Jesus Christ’s Deity and Humanity through the incarnation - God veiled in human flesh, was present before John.

This living encounter with the Living God, has been described as "grace upon grace." This emphasizes that those who have beheld His glory (v.14), have received the very characteristics that we as believers today have come to experience about God - that is God’s gracious mercy and loving-kindness. In Jesus Christ, what Jeremiah expressed in Lamentations 3 is fully and personally known. Lamentations 3:21-26 states: "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. [They] are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him." The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. [It is] good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord."

God’s grace for us today, as believers in Jesus Christ, is seen in increasing measure as we mature in life and Christ. Even though we have not yet physically seen Jesus Christ personally, we have received from Him blessing after blessing. The greatest grace we have experienced is the salvation that Christ has brought into our lives. This gift included the forgiveness of our sins and the grace of imparted eternal life with God… a hope that never fades but will be realized. Grace upon grace - what an awesome reality that God’s storehouse of grace is never exhausted, and each day brings an abundance of new divine graces. Let us always be fully aware of God’s graces in our lives and thank Him for each and every one.

2. The Purpose of the Incarnation

In contrast to the grace found in the incarnate Word, it is now contrasted to the Law. The Law of Moses was given to the people of Israel, to show the people that God was a Holy God and that He demands that His people be holy too. Yet through the keeping of the Law, no one could keep up with all the laws, they could not measure to the righteous standards that God had called for. So in the grace of God, the Law served as a tutor. It taught man the fact that he cannot keep the Law on his own, due to his sinfulness. In fact as a person compared his life to the standard of the Law, it showed him how much more of a sinner he really even knew he was. So through the provision of the Law, man saw his need of a Saviour from the demands of, and the penalty of not being able to keep the Law, and that Saviour is the incarnate Word Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1-11 affirms these truths:
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God [did:] sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and [as an offering] for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so]; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you."

As one author writes - 'Yes, the Law was given through Moses, and was in no way imperfect or evil, but in God’s sovereign plans; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.'

The Apostle once again uses the term "grace and truth," here in verse 17. The first time these 2 words were used was back in verse 14, in reference to the incarnate Word. The incarnation, is the fullest manifestation of God’s grace and God’s truth. The incarnation shows fully the extent of God’s compassion, mercy, favour, steadfast love, faithfulness, reliability, integrity, and goodwill upon the pinnacle of His creation. In no other way in the past or in the future has the truth and reality of God, been perfectly displayed except in the incarnate Word.

Up to this point in the prologue, we have been equating the Word, with Jesus Christ, though the individual verses that we have studied did not say this. But now, in verse 17, we do have the positive identification of the incarnate Word. It is the first time in the Gospel that the author, the Apostle John, specifically identifies who the incarnate Word is.

The Apostle John makes the positive link with the 2 words "grace and truth," first found in verse 14 in reference to the incarnate Word. Please look down at verse 14…and we may ask this question in verse 14 - "Who is the One that is full of grace and truth?" The answer would be "the Word [that] became flesh and dwelt among us."

Now if we look down at verse 17 - we may ask this question - "In whom was grace and truth revealed?" And the answer is - in Jesus Christ. Therefore "The Word [that] became flesh and dwelt among us," is none other than Jesus Christ.

The designation Jesus Christ is composed of a human name, plus a title. The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. The meaning of the name is "salvation of YHWH." The title of "Christ," is also the Greek version for the Hebrew word "Messiah," which means "anointed one." It was in the Ancient near East that kings and priests underwent the act of anointing, to establish the fact that there was a spiritual dimension to the office. The anointed one was to be God’s representative to carry out God’s plans. So it was a fitting double title - for in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation from our sins that God prescribes; and Jesus Christ has been the long awaited anointed one, who will perfectly fulfill the role of God’s representative and perfect ruler.

The Apostle only used this double title twice in his Gospel, and it is fitting to use it here, at the climax of the prologue. By so doing the Apostle rightly elevates his beloved Lord and Saviour - Jesus Christ - God’s promised One, to His rightful place.

So for us to understand this reality we are confronted with these soul searching questions: Who is Jesus Christ to you? and How will you respond to Him today?

In light of the prophecy of the incarnation in the OT, Isaiah rightly responds to the coming incarnate Christ and ascribes to Him glory and honour, in chapter 9 of Isaiah: "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of [His] government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."

The Apostle closes off the prologue in verse 18 the same way that he began it , with the focus upon God together with the Word. Yet, John reveals the whole purpose of the incarnation. The purpose of the incarnation is that those who once were in darkness can now have life and light through the knowledge of the truth of the Word [that] became flesh and dwelt among us (v14) - Jesus Christ.

Since God is Spirit- no one has seen God at any time. Even Moses who was known to speak with God "face to face," and saw "the form of the Lord," yet this was not, in any way, all the fullness of God. God did reveal Himself in glorious ways, but it was still not a complete and full revelation. It is clear that in the OT, that God cannot be seen and if God’s fullness would be seen by man, who being a sinner, he would be immediately consumed by death. As Moses asked to see God’s glory this was God’s reply in Exodus 33:20 - "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" Yet, now it is through the incarnation of the Word of God that God is fully revealed.

Not only is God fully revealed, but He is also now able to be known personally, through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is "the only begotten God" meaning that He is solely the "one-of-a-kind God." There are no others besides Him before of after or to come. The Word incarnate is without equal and this statement affirms the Deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the God-Man - 100% God and 100% Man in One Person.

The level of closeness between God the Father and God the Son is expressed by the description that Jesus Christ dwells "in the bosom of the Father," in verse 18. This phrase conveys a mutual level of intimacy, love, and knowledge. It is this aspect of relationship which enables Jesus Christ to know about the deep things of God. Likewise through Jesus Christ, we are able to know Jesus Christ personally in a life changing relationship, and as a result we are then also able to know God personally. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh and as such, Jesus Christ being very God "has explained Him" - i.e. - explained God. From the word "explained" in the last part of verse 18, we get the word "exegesis." Exegesis is to "draw out, explain, make known, or reveal something."

So we could say that "Jesus Christ is the exegesis of God" (DA Carson) - meaning that in Jesus Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension we are able to know God because Jesus Christ has told us - related the truth of God - explained what the Father is like - made known to us that which was hidden in God - and revealed the fullness of God to man through the pages of Scripture. One writer expresses it like this: "As Jesus gives life and is life, raises the dead and is the resurrection, gives bread and is bread, speaks truth and is the truth, so as He speaks the word He is the Word" (CH Dodd).

As the prologue now comes to an end we find that the whole purpose and emphasis is placed upon revealing the Word as the absolute and conclusive disclosure of God Himself. Jesus Christ the Word incarnate came to seek out sinners, so that we could be delivered from our sinful spiritual bankruptcy, and then to be able to know the fullness of the grace and truth of God.

The overarching theme of John is pervasive in the prologue - "these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (20:31).

Jesus Christ is worthy to praised. Jesus Christ is Immanuel - God with Us.

I leave you with these truths from the letter to the Philippians, chapter 2:5-11:

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(For a full explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - click here - http://www.doihaveeternallife.blogspot.com/)
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John 1:14 Unveiling The God That Has Come To Live Among Us

19.10.08 John 1:14 (NASB)

Audio Sermon File: John 1:14

Going Deeper: Study Guide

Unveiling The God That Has Come To Live Among Us

John 1:14 tells us - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In this verse is serious - non-negotiable doctrine about Jesus Christ - as it lays down the foundation that we as Christians stand upon. (As a note - usually when I speak about theology, it is based upon, one of my favourite theological reference books, by Paul Enns. He is able to reduce the most difficult Biblical doctrines into concise articles).

Today we are going to look at a difficult to understand subject - the incarnation. The word incarnate as defined by Webster’s quick reference dictionary is this - "in human form." This is what the incarnation is about, God coming down to earth in human form - "God With Us." To understand the fullness of the incarnation is impossible for our limited minds to grasp - but God does give us enough information in the Bible to grasp the vital reality of it. Paul Enns gives us this definition of the word incarnation - "in flesh," the incarnation defines the act wherein the eternal God the Son, took to Himself an additional nature, ie - humanity, through the virgin birth. By that act Christ did not cease to be God, but remains forever fully God and fully man - two natures in one Person (Enns, 637).

Any true Christian realizes that God entered into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, specifically at one historic point in time and space by way of the incarnation. God has done this in a way that had never been done before and never has been done since. The incarnation reveals that God is present in our world and is working here.

In order for us to understand the incarnation - we need to backtrack a little and go back to in the Gospel of John to 1:1, in order to get the total impact of the incarnation. John 1:1 states that - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This is a concise way that John uses to proclaim that the Word, existed before the beginning of creation. So, our attention is confronted with the fact that the Word was already present in the beginning. John strongly brings to bear that the Word was pre-existent before anything that was created. John intentionally uses a Greek verb - translated in the English Bible with - "was," which expresses the eternal pre-existence of the Word.

If John meant to express that the Word was made or created by God then he would have used another verb, which would be translated - "was made / came into being" - as found in verse 3. Therefore John brings our thoughts back to a point prior to the beginning when finite time began. The Word predates time and creation. Literally translated the opening phrase - "In the beginning was the Word," could be translated - "When the beginning began, the Word was already there." To tie verse 14 back with verse 1, so that we keep all this in context, we find that the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And this is very fascinating, one of those realities which is very hard to grasp to the very depths of the event. And that is that we find that the Word was God (v.1) - And the Word became flesh. Therefore the logical connection - and to put this another way is that God became flesh in that He took on humanity. And so it is revealed in this doctrinal statement of verse 14 - that Jesus Christ was God and human.

Now in verse 14 of this Gospel, there is a change in the focus of the relationship of the Word. In the opening verses of this book, it was the relationship between God and the Word, but now it is the relationship between the Word and Man. And to make it really tangible - a relationship between Jesus Christ and you. There is a change in state - "the Word became flesh." What this means is that the eternally pre-existent Word, who is God, as one commentator writes - now "express[es] Himself in a human personality that was visible, audible, and tangible. He partook of flesh and blood with its limitations of space and time, and with its physical handicaps of fatigue, hunger, and susceptibility to suffering, so that He belongs to humanity as well as to God" (Tenney, 70). God reveals Himself in this mind blowing way - and He makes Himself known to mankind by appearing in the likeness of men - a real historical person - Jesus Christ.

Today we will see that Jesus Christ was fully human by examining seven aspects of His humanity. We had previously in an earlier sermon established Jesus Christ’s Deity - that He is also fully God. So to complement this - we will briefly examine seven aspects that demonstrate that Jesus Christ is also fully human (alongside His Deity): 1. His birth through a woman; 2. His human nature; 3. Jesus Christ’s human body; 4. Jesus Christ’s human physical and spiritual development; 5. His immaterial make-up (spirit); 6. His human characteristics; and 7. Jesus Christ’s human names and titles.

The incarnation is critically important to all of us - because it touches upon the human condition - as it relates to the forgiveness of our sins. The incarnation is God’s fulfillment of His plan of salvation to bring us back into a right relationship with God permanently. In so doing we may be freed from the guilt and shame caused by our sins; and the weight and penalty due to our sins may be permanently removed, if we believe in the name of Jesus Christ. (I spoke last week about what it means to believe in Jesus Christ’s name). The first aspect that demonstrates Jesus as being fully human is:

1. The incarnation took place through a woman - the virgin birth.

The virgin birth is important because it guaranteed the sinlessness of the Word, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Isaiah 7:14 of the Old Testament foretells of this actual event which states - Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. And now in the New Testament in Matthew 1:22-23 it affirms and records what took place in fulfillment of this, in Jesus Christ - Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us."

You may have wondered if there was any possibility that Joseph fathered the child in Mary? Perhaps there was some confusion? The answer to these questions is found in the historic testimony of Scripture. Both the Isaiah and Matthew passages clearly indicate that this was no ordinary birth because it was through a "virgin." This fact alone is miraculous, because never in human history has this ever taken place or will ever take place again. Matthew 1:18 emphasizes this reality - "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit." The emphasis is that their had been no intimate physical relationship between Joseph and Mary. Mary’s pregnancy took place "before they came together" - that is Mary was already pregnant, yet a virgin. This child that she was carrying was clearly due to the Holy Spirit, as revealed by an angel of the Lord, found in verse 20.

In addition, look down at Matthew 1:25 - "[Joseph]…kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." Here it states once again without doubt, that Mary remained a virgin until a point after the birth of Jesus Christ. At no time prior to her betrothal to Joseph, and up to the point of Jesus’ birth, did Mary have any physical relationships with any man. As a side note, after Jesus was born, Joseph consummated his marriage with Mary and as a result Jesus had half brothers and sisters as noted in Matthew 13:55-56.

It is an essential Biblical fact and teaching that Jesus was born through a virgin birth, which resulted in His sinlessness. If Joseph had a physical part in fathering Jesus, then Jesus would have possessed the sin nature; just as if any husband and wife beget children, these children have the sin nature. But within Mary, Jesus was conceived of by the Holy Spirit, whom guarantees the sinlessness of Christ. The conception was fully of the Holy Spirit of God and not of man, though the mode of the incarnation is through human birth. Jesus was born through the normal human birth process demonstrating His humanity.

2. The incarnation brings about the reality that Jesus Christ possesses a human nature.

In order to be the representative sin-bearer of a fallen human race, Jesus Christ had to be a man. If Jesus was not fully human, a real man of flesh and blood, then His death on the cross was just an illusion. Jesus Christ had to be a real man to die a physical death in place of human beings. Scripture is clear on the issue that Jesus Christ was indeed fully human, with one exception, that He did not possess man’s fallen nature of sin. The Apostle John affirms these truths in his letter of 1 John.

The Apostle John states that Jesus was fully human in 1 John 4:2 - "By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." John states that Jesus is the Word [that] became flesh. Jesus was truly and fully human. In 1 John 3:5, the Apostle affirms that Jesus, though fully human, was without sin like we are - "And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin."

3. Jesus possesses a human body.

Jesus’ body was composed of the same cellular makeup as ours - that is Jesus’ body was flesh and blood. The word "flesh" in John 1:14, is a reference to human life, a physical being. The word "flesh" graphically portrays in a manner which emphasizes the humanness of Jesus Christ. It also emphasizes that in no way was the Word, anything less than fully human, like you and me. John uses "flesh" to make his most important point that the Creator of all, the Son of God, descended from His heavenly glory, down to such a low and humiliating state, all for our benefit.
As John Calvin states, "How great is the distance between the spiritual glory of the Word of God and the stinking filth of our flesh! Yet the Son of God stooped so low that He took on Himself that flesh which is subject to so many miseries."

Jesus, the Word became flesh - He possesses a human body. God did not come down to earth and then pick a person and dwell in Him, but the mystery of the incarnation is that God became Man - "Immanuel - God with us." The Word of God, Jesus Christ expresses Himself in a way that the people of His time, could see Him, hear Him, and touch Him. Jesus the One who made all things - emptied Himself and came veiled in human flesh and blood, and therefore subjected Himself to the limitations of time and space, emotion, suffering, and everything that we face as humans. Jesus was fully human as He was recognized as a Jew (Jn. 4:9); he had brothers and sisters (as mentioned earlier); He suffered physical pain when he was whipped by the Roman soldiers (Jn. 19:1); He felt the full force of the effects of the crucifixion (Jn. 19:18); he had a job as a carpenter (Mk.6:3); He got thirsty (Jn. 19:28), he got hungry (Lk.4:2); he grieved (Mt. 26:38); he wept, and I could continue with more examples. The point is that Jesus possesses a human body.

4. Jesus grew up as any person would developmentally.

In Luke 2:52 it states, "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." In this verse it tells us that Jesus developed in these four areas - 1. Mental - he gained wisdom in the knowledge of different things; 2. Physical - Jesus’ physical appearance and stature changed with His age; 3. Spiritual - He found favour with God and grew in a spiritual awareness; and 4. Social - His social relationships grew resulting in His favour with men. In all four of these areas - mental, physical, spiritual, and social - Jesus developed like any person could.

Jesus as He developed inevitably faced temptations to sin, yet He was not affected by sin, and so in each area He was perfect. Hebrews 4:15 brings this fact to light - "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as [we are, yet] without sin." Jesus grew up and developed just like any of us would, yet without sin.

5. Jesus has a spirit like any of us.

Jesus as fully man, had a body and spirit as evidenced by the following events recorded in Scripture. When Jesus heard from Mary that His friend Lazarus died, Jesus’ spirit became exceedingly emotional. John 11:33 records - "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her, [also] weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled."
The Apostle John once again accurately records the effects upon Jesus’ soul, as Jesus contemplated taking upon Himself the full wrath of God for the sins of the world. John 12:27 records Jesus’ own words - "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." In these two verses John used the strongest term to express the intense emotion that Jesus felt in His human spirit. Jesus’ immaterial makeup was like any person, possessing soul and spirit.

6. Jesus Christ possessed all the characteristics of a human.

It is characteristic for us to get to a point where we would say - "I’m starving." Likewise Jesus felt hunger - Matt. 21:18 - "Now in the morning, when He returned to the city, He became hungry." Jesus also had to quench His thirst as His throat became parched from the heat after a journey - "Give Me a drink" (Jn. 4:7). Jesus faced the same emotions that we face, as he wept when His friend Lazarus died (Jn. 11:34-35). Jesus demonstrated His compassion upon the people that did not have any genuine and qualified leaders - Matt. 9:36 reads - "And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd."

Jesus truly felt grief and as a result wept over the Holy city of Jerusalem, as He prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem under enemy hands in AD 70 (Lk. 19:41). Jesus became justifiably angered - "And after looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart" this took place as Jesus healed the man with a withered hand (Mk 3:5). After walking a great distance Jesus got tired and stopped to rest at Jacob’s well (Jn. 4:6). Jesus Christ needed to sleep like we all do - "And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him (Mk. 4:38).

Just as it is appointed for all men to live and die among other people, Jesus "dwelt among us" also, if you look back down at John 1:14. The literal meaning of "dwelt" is "to pitch tent" or "tabernacled." It gives the reader the same sense, as God’s presence which "dwelt" in the tabernacle of the OT. What was displayed of God’s presence in the OT was known as the "Shekinah." The "Shekinah" was the Jewish word that referred to God’s presence, God’s glory being veiled in a pillar of cloud or fire. What the Apostle John is stating, when he says that the Word "dwelt among us," is that the invisible Almighty God, has brought Himself down to earth and participated fully, in the daily lives of those of Jesus’ time - as a result of the incarnation. In other words we could say that Jesus came to earth and "pitched His tent here and lived with His creation, man."

7. People are given names and titles, and likewise Jesus had human names and titles.

His most common everyday name was Jesus, which also had a meaning - "Yahweh saves" (Matt. 1:21). Jesus was given the title "son of David," which signified that He came from the same family lineage as the great King David (Matt. 1:1). Jesus was also referred to as Rabbi in Jn. 1:38 - "And they said to Him, " Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying."
The Apostle Paul refers to Jesus as the "Man" whom God will use to judge the world in righteousness. There are many names which Jesus had which are like our own.

Jesus Christ is fully human as evidenced by His birth through a woman, His human nature, human body, human physical and spiritual development, His immaterial make-up (spirit), human characteristics, and human names and titles. Yes, Jesus Christ is fully - 100% Man, but He is also fully 100% God.

As we continue in verse 14 - we find that those in Jesus’ time, like the Apostle John and the other disciples, who were there - "saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father." The incarnation served to reveal God in a far greater way than had been possible before in all of human history. The word "saw" speaks of the eyewitnesses to Jesus Christ, being able to observe Him. There was now available for the first time, an tremendous level of physical interaction between God and man. Man, and in particular the Apostle John and the disciples were able to probe God in the person of Jesus Christ. They were able to personally interact with the Word - Jesus Christ, and question and observe Him. They certainly had an immense privilege, one which we will have to wait until we are in heaven.

In the Word - Jesus Christ - is revealed the full and glorious presence of God - veiled in human flesh. Indeed God’s glory and presence are incarnate - "in flesh" - Immanuel -"God with us." Everything that Jesus did from birth to life to death on a cross revealed the glory of our One true God. The word "glory," comes from the Greek word Doxa, and we get our English word Doxology, that stems from it. Doxology is defined as an expression of praise to God. Jesus Christ, God incarnate was granted glory by His Father as His "only begotten" which is better translated as - "One and only," "one of a kind," "the only beloved Son" - speaking of Jesus Christ’s prominence or pre-eminence.

This is the incarnation, and as in the last part of verse 14 of John chapter 1, the Apostle describes this reality as: "full of grace and truth." The Apostle perhaps had in mind Moses’ request of God in Exodus. There, Moses asks God to display His glory, and as result God responds with these words - "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion." This verse describes the realities of the incarnation, which is the fullest manifestation of God’s grace and God’s truth. Grace is an act that is given freely and undeserved; there is no expectation of getting something back for the motive is pure based in generosity and love.

The two words grace and truth - are attributes which are Biblically connected with Christ’s salvation offered. For our salvation comes through receiving and believing the truth of the gospel - and the result is Christ’s saving grace imparted to us. The incarnation shows fully the extent of God’s compassion, favour, love, faithfulness, grace, and goodwill upon the pinnacle of His creation. In no other way - in the past or in the future - has the truth and reality of God, been perfectly displayed, except in Jesus Christ.

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Historical Notes

Over the years in the church there have been many heresies concerning the nature of - Immanuel God with us. Here is a brief history of some of the heresies in the early church concerning what some people believed about Christ’s nature:

In the fourth century A.D. Arius, a prominent church leader in Alexandria, began to promote the view that Jesus - was not eternal - and that Jesus was subordinate to God the Father and therefore He must be regarded as outside to the divine essence and therefore only a creature. Arius held that Christ was not true God. Arianism could be classified as the forerunner of modern Unitarianism - which believes in the oneness of God but deny the Trinity. They also therefore deny the Deity of Jesus Christ. Another group which continues Arius’ teaching are the Jehovah Witnesses.

In the fourth century, Apollinaris, bishop of Laodicea in Syria, wrote against Arianism and other heresies. Zealously wishing to maintain the true error of denying Christ’s full humanity, he declared that Christ had a human body but did not possess a human spirit. Appolinaris believed that Christ’s deity simply occupied a vacant body - which was a glorified and spiritualized form of humanity. Therefore the complete, true, and proper humanity of Jesus was therefore denied.
In the fifth century, Nestorius, patriarch of Constan-tinople, taught that Christ was both God and man, but that the Godhead was one Person, the manhood another. Therefore - instead of a union of two natures with distinction in one person, Nestorians taught that there were two persons. The Assyrian Church of the East and The Nestorian Church are the modern day outworking of Nestorius’ error.

In this same era lived Eutyches, a monk of Constan-tinople, who was a zealous foe of Nestorius: yet he proposed another strange theory concerning the nature of our Lord. Eutyches went so far as to affirm that after the union - or mixing - of the two natures, the human and the divine, Christ had only one nature, that of the incarnate Word, and therefore His human body was essentially different from other human bodies. Today those who hold this heresy are primarily found in the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Thomas G. Lawrence states - The early church met these heretics with four adverbs which briefly and conveniently defined the two natures in Christ’s One Person. They said that when "the Word was made flesh" the divine and the human natures were united:
"truly" to oppose the Arians; "perfectly," to oppose the Apollinarians; "undividedly," to oppose the Nestorians; and "unmixedly," to oppose the Eutychians.

The Word came as a Person - Immanuel God with us - with the resulting union of the two natures, which is Deity and humanity - the God-Man - 100% God and 100% Man.

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The prophecy surrounding Jesus’ coming.

This subject is very interesting. The coming of the incarnation is spoken about, prophetically, in the Old Testament in Isaiah 7:14. It states in Isaiah 7:14 - "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." This prophecy looked far into the future past Isaiah’s day, when God would bring to completion His plan of salvation for all generations. The time frame between this prophecy and its actual fulfillment would be approximately 700 years.

We specifically find 2 references to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in the New Testament. The first reference to Isaiah’s prophecy is in the Gospel according to Matthew and the second reference is in the Gospel according to Luke. The passage in Matthew states: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." 22 Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us." 24 And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took [her] as his wife, 25 and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus (Matt. 1:18-25).

The following facts that are presented, can be cross referenced and substantiated in the Gospel according to Luke, but just to simplify things, we will only work from the Matthew text. In this passage from Matthew we see that, what God had told to Isaiah to record, had now come to pass. Which is that a virgin, named Mary, gave birth to a child which had been conceived not of human means, but was of the Holy Spirit. Further in this passage Matthew reveals and defines to us his readers, that this child who was referred to as, Immanuel - means "God with us." In other words, found in this child is no ordinary human being, but this child named Jesus, was God Himself with us here on earth. What an awesome truth - God with us ! This is the starting foundation of our salvation from our sins through Jesus Christ coming to earth so that God is with us.

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True Hope Realized
By Noah Ressler

Have you ever hoped for something that you know is going to come to pass, but is not here yet? I think all of us, at one time or another, have held out hope. Little children dream and hold on to hope as a source of joy and happiness – perhaps grandma and grandpa are coming to visit, or their birthday is coming up and they hold out hope for some surprise mom and dad may have in store for them. Young single people hold on to hope that they may marry the man or woman of their dreams – held in some form of suspense as they seek out or wait for that right one to come along. Hope deferred or put off for a time makes the heart sick, but when it comes, it is a tree of life (Prov. 13:12).

A nation of people held onto hope, a confidence of knowing, that a Redeemer was coming. Nationally, their Hope was to deliver them from their bondage under the Romans and establish His kingdom at the temple in Jerusalem. We know that Israel was holding out hope for their Redeemer because the Gospel narratives reveal this hope. In John 1:21-25 the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John the Baptist if he was the Prophet or the Christ (Messiah). At the feeding of the 5,000 the people responded with, "… This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world" (Jn. 6:14). Their hope was based on Messiah’s coming as human and sometimes as Divine. He was to become the woman’s "seed" (Gen. 3:15); a "prophet" like unto Moses (see Deut. 18:18); a lineal descendent of David (2 Sam. 7:12); Yahweh’s "Servant" (Isa. 42:1); a "Man of Sorrows" (Isa. 53:3).

Yet, on the other hand, He was to be "the Branch of the Lord, beautiful and glorious" (Isa. 4:2); He was "the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, Eternal Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). As YHWH, He was to come suddenly to His temple (Mal. 3:1). The One who was to be born in Bethlehem and be Ruler in Israel, was the One "whose goings forth had been from the days of eternity" (Mic. 5:2). How were these two sets of prophecies to be harmonized? John 1:14 is the answer. The One born at Bethlehem was the Divine and eternal Word. The Incarnation does not mean that God dwelt in a man, but that God became Man. He became what He was not previously, though He never ceased to be all that He was before. The truly spiritual Israel were looking for this redemption. National Israel were looking for relief from the Romans, not concerned about their spiritual condition as much as they were for their independence again, for they had their spiritual leaders (they thought) who were hypocrites and leading the people astray.

Oh what great grace God has had upon us. Though the promises were originally made to Israel, they rejected Him – He came unto His own and His own received Him not (Jn. 1:10). So then God, in His grace turned to all who would believe in Him. He became Man so that He could rightfully represent us by His work on the cross before the Father. He dwelt among the people at that time to verify His credentials that He is in fact God in the flesh, the promised One of old. At the cross and His resurrection He demonstrated that He is in fact full to the full of grace and that He is true to His Word. Do you believe that? Have you ever confessed Christ as Lord and Savior of your life. Are you willing at this time to turn away from your sin (repent) and turn to Christ. He will save you now if you respond to His loving command.

Believer, what great grace we have been given, to perceive that Jesus is the Christ, He is our Lord and Savior, for we have been turned from our life of sin unto a life of grace and truth, through Jesus Christ. Thank God for His unspeakable gift.

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(For a full explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - click here - http://www.doihaveeternallife.blogspot.com/)
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John 1:9-13 Unveiling Spiritual Tragedy and Transformation

12.11.08 John 1:9-13 (NASB)

Audio Sermon File: John-1:9-13

Going Deeper: Study Guide

Unveiling Spiritual Tragedy and Transformation

Here are just some of the greatest tragedies of recent years that will mark our generation for years to come:

The Columbia - February 1st, 2003 - seven crew members of the space shuttle were instantaneously killed as their space shuttle disintegrated during re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere. The Indonesian Tsunami - boxing day 2004 - leaving 130,406 dead - 36,836 missing - and displaced 504,518. Overall Damage from the tsunami is estimated at $5 billion.
Hurricane Katrina of 2005 was the United States most costly at 81.2 billion - and as well as one of its five deadliest in their history. It caused major damage along the Gulf coast. New Orleans was hit the hardest with every levee breached causing flooding to 80% of the city - and leaving at least 1,836 people dead. The effects of the devastation still are present today. Moving into 2008 is the Myanmar cyclone in May with a 12 foot high tidal wave wiping out entire villages - killing about 146,000 people, and thousands still missing. It is feared that the total fallout in human terms will be close to 1 million lives affected as foreign aid efforts was hampered by the military government. The sum of the damage is pegged at $10 million. Falling on the heals of this disaster was the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in central China also in May. The toll exceeded 69,000 deaths - and 86 billion in damage, being the 3rd costliest disaster in human history. It left 4.8 million people homeless - some estimating that figure to be up to 11 million. Then in July - this time in southern China was the mass flooding killing over 60 people and destroying 5.4 million acres of crops. Finally - the news of the past few months and weeks - as it relates to the sub-prime mortgage problems which have led to a worldwide financial credit crisis - this could be the economic tragedy of our generation.

Today in our passage from the Gospel of John - we are also going to look at TRAGEDY. This TRAGEDY is in the realm of the spiritual - which is of a magnitude greater than any of the physical tragedies I have just listed. It might be fitting that we are into this section of the gospel of John as we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend. Because for us the Christian - it is a time where we especially fix our thoughts upon the things that God has done in our lives - as we examine the issue of TRANSFORMATION which we give thanks to Christ for. A spiritual TRANSFORMATION which frees us from the ultimate TRAGEDY.

Upon Christ’s entry into our world, man can find himself in 1 of only 2 categories:
TRAGEDY or TRANSFORMATION. We who find ourselves confronted by Jesus Christ the Light - can only be marked by TRAGEDY or TRANSORMATION. TRAGEDY brings about conscious eternal spiritual death, and TRANSFORMATION brings about the blessings of spiritual eternal life. So today as we unfold this passage we will ask these 2 questions:

1. Is my life marked out by spiritual TRAGEDY?
2. Is my life a witness to the TRANSFORMATION work of Christ in me?

John 1:9-13 states - There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Let us look at our first applicational question - and point one:

1. Is my life marked out by spiritual TRAGEDY?

(beginning at verse "9 and ending at verse 11"- or perhaps we could say verses 9-1-1 or "9/11")

The TRAGEDY that we witness is the outright rejection of Jesus Christ by those He created. In verse 9 we are given the concept of ‘truth’ which is another one of the central themes of this Gospel.

The word - ‘true’ in v.9 - indicates that Jesus Christ is steadfast, faithful, and dependable. Jesus Christ is the true Light and the Apostle John makes clear that this is the ‘real thing’ not some false Christ. In the previous verses (vv.6-8) as we examined the last time - John the Baptist - was only a witness to the true light.

It was Jesus Christ the light - who entered into the fabric of life in a way which had never been seen by the world. He enters our world into human time and space - God in the veil of human flesh - and speaking to us revealing the reality of God to all people. And becuase of this, people owe their existence to Him, but because of sin - people intentionally refuse to know Jesus Christ.

This truth is seen in Paul’s letter to the Romans 1:28-32:
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; [they are] gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Our world as a system - has no desire to comprehend the manifested Word and has no place for Him. You don’t have to look to hard to find evidence of people openly rejecting God and Jesus Christ. People openly are defying God ordained authority - like their parents, police, teachers, government. Unbelievers are essentially self-centered as a result of sin - and they will do anything to climb the ladder of self success - as opposed to doing things to please God.
This kind of depravity is the basis of rejecting Christ and casting hatred towards Him. Those around Christ when He was on earth, had a superficial comprehension of Him.
This world we live in belongs to God, and it is His world, created by Him through the agency of Jesus Christ as we recently examined in verses 3-5. Yet our world has pushed out the reality that it is controlled by Christ. Christ’s role in creation is rejected by secular theories - that we came into being through evolution. Jesus is rejected by commercial marketing that Christmas and Easter is replaced with happy holidays - and Thanksgiving is about turkey and not God’s provision. Jesus is rejected by making the Lord’s Day (Sunday) into a day for one’s own enjoyment and self focus. The spirit of this age has replaced the reality of a living Saviour who will judge sin - in favour of embracing a secular Jesus who loves and receives everyone into heaven. And Jesus is rejected by this world so that be reduced to a good man and one of many viable religious leaders - and that God is only an option. God is even being slowly depreciated within mainline evangelical churches.

Despite this world’s rejection of God, we are still the object of God’s love - as we are told in Jn 3:16-21:
16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

The world did not know Jesus Christ, not in the sense of having an intellectual knowledge, but the Apostle John speaks about having a depth of personal knowledge of Jesus Christ - saving knowledge.

If we look to verse 10 of John chapter 1 - you will find the word - know. This word is a reference to a certain type of knowledge. In the Greek there are 2 words which can be translated into the English as ‘know.’ The first word for ‘know’ can be defined as a knowledge of someone, which is basically superficial. Well Tuesday is election day right? How many of you know who Stephen Harper is? All of you could say you know him. But none of you know him though personal experience.

Now there is also another Greek word translated as ‘know,’ which can be defined as a experiential knowledge. A knowledge that goes beyond the surface and into a personal relationship. This type of knowledge is like the way you would know your brother or sister, or you would know your husband or wife. You know that your wife likes chocolate. You know your husband hates clothes shopping. You know what make him/her tick because there is a personal relationship. So what is the importance of realizing the difference of these two Greek words?
The message for us today is - in which way do you know Jesus Christ? Is it by name only and on a superficial level? Or is it on a deeper level - on a level where there is a vital and active relationship between Jesus Christ and yourself - a personal relationship. Does your relationship with Christ end after you leave this building? Or maybe it has not even begun. Or does your relationship with Christ extend into the week? And you find yourself meditating upon His awesome glory, His Word, talking with Him, praising Him, worshipping Him, conforming your life according to His image. The point that the Apostle John is making can be summed up in this familiar saying - "it is not what you know - but it is who you know."

These are the kinds of spiritual challenges that the Gospel of John deliver to us today. It certainly would be a tragedy - not to know Jesus Christ in a personal relationship as your Lord and Saviour! It takes more than knowing the facts about Jesus. Mere facts, intellectual knowledge alone, will not save you… James 2:19 states: You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Demons, ie - fallen angels, have a very good understanding of who God is….since they used to be in close fellowship with God. But even with this knowledge of who God is, they do not have a saving personal relationship with God. Despite their knowledge of God, these mere facts will not save the demons from eternal condemnation.

Jesus Christ made the world and it belongs to Him, it is His own property that Jesus Christ comes to visit; He inherently owns everything and has authority over it all - including each one of us - whether we believe in Him or not. When Jesus Christ came to His own creation (in the context of the people of Israel). But in verse 11 - the apostle John reveals to us that - His own did not receive His - they did not accept and embrace Him - as one might expect them to do
Jesus Christ was Israel’s Messiah and they knew about Him through OT Scripture, but when He came to them He was rejected, because they had no desire to know Him as Lord and Savior. They rebelled against the Creator’s authority over their lives - even though they were made by Him.

John is picturing the sad reality that when Jesus Christ (The eternal Word, God the Son) came to earth - coming in the likeness of men, the people that He created rejected Him. What a grim picture of this reality, Jesus Christ came to save those who were lost - Jesus Christ didn’t come to judge, but to offer eternal life - but He was rejected. John realizes that the world that he lived in was not a nice place, and John doesn’t present Jesus Christ’s entry into this world to make it nicer. John’s realization is still relevant today…for we live in a world that continues to reject the truth, and replace it with relative truths - lies - that vary from man to man.

Where do you stand today in relation to the true Light? Is my life marked out by spiritual TRAGEDY?

Despite this grim picture of TRAGEDY, it is through the coming light - Jesus Christ - that we might consider our second applicational question:

2. Is my life a witness to the TRANSFORMATION work of Christ in me?

John 1:12-13 states - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

So it is in these verses that we find TRANSFORMATION…the TRANSFORMATION upon the sinners soul as it is changed by the Light. The infallible proofs of who Jesus Christ is, that were all laid out from verse 1, now come to a focal point in verse 12. This verse is the defining statement for those who are confronted with the eyewitness truths of John’s Gospel. These verses partner with the overall theme and purpose of the Gospel in 20:31 - but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

And as a result - people today - and perhaps some of us here today - need to seriously ask - "Have I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour?" "Do I have a personal, vital, and active relationship with God through Jesus Christ?"

Verse 12 tells us that some did receive Him, and those who did - it effected in their lives belief. We who have received Jesus Christ are given the blessings and privileges that are part of being a member of the family of God offered by Jesus Christ. The Apostle John equates the two terms "received" and "believe" in verse 12. We might ask what does it mean to receive Jesus? Receiving Jesus Christ means that when He offers to you eternal life - you welcome Him and accept His loving command to repent of sin in your life and to be reconciled to God. It is to place your complete faith in Jesus Christ alone, to give your full allegiance to Him, and to acknowledge all His claims: He claims to be God in human flesh; He claims to come and take away our sins through the sacrifice of His sinless life upon a cross; He claims that you must trust in the historic reality of His life, death, and resurrection on the third day from the grave, etc.

John Piper writes this about receiving Jesus Christ:
If he comes to you as Savior, you welcome his salvation. If he comes to you as Leader, you welcome his leadership. If he comes to you as Provider, you welcome his provision. If he comes to you as Counsellor, you welcome his counsel. If he comes to you as Protector you welcome his protection. If he comes to you as Authority, you welcome his authority. If he comes to you as King, you welcome his rule.

Receiving Jesus Christ is to abandon sin and to submit and be obedient to His righteous ways. It calls for repentance as we examined last time. The picture of repentance in the Bible, is more than just an intellectual change. It encompasses more, and includes a change in a person’s thought and will. The emphasis of Biblical repentance is the person’s decision for the whole of himself to be changed.

Believing on Jesus’ name is the key element in receiving the revelation of the Word of God - who is Jesus Christ - that has come into the world. The resulting effect is that you instantaneously enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, who grants you the right to enter into the family of God as one of its members - and as an heir of all that He possesses as children of God. Believing in Jesus Christ’s name is more than just a ‘name’ which a person is given. So what does it mean to believe in the name of Jesus Christ? Believing in the name of Jesus Christ encompasses believing in the very character and person that the name is associated with. When I mention the name Hitler what comes to mind? When I say Wayne Gretzky what comes to mind? What comes to mind should be the character and deeds of that person.

Looking down at verse 12 - only Jesus Christ has the ‘right’ - having delegated authority / power to grant to the believing person the position of being a child of God through His gift of grace and faith. All of us have been given gifts - whether for a birthday, anniversary, or Christmas. When we are given a gift and we receive it, our action represents our confidence in the trustworthiness and reality of that gift (tangible or intangible) - that it becomes part of our possessions.

The result of receiving God’s gift of forgiveness for sins, through Jesus Christ, is that we become His spiritual child. Without Jesus Christ we are not His spiritual children and in fact a person in this category is a child of God’s wrath (Eph 2:3). Therefore as we are received by Christ, a change in nature takes place in our spiritual state. If we do not believe in Christ then we are under God’s judgement, but if we do believe in Christ then we - become children of God (v.12).
Today many preachers say all you need to do to become a Christian is to believe in the name of Jesus but what does this mean? It is not what you know and what you believe, but it is whom you know and in whom you believe in. There is no easy formula for believing - true spiritual change must be demonstrated in one’s life; no spiritual change = no eternal life.

In verse 13 - John continues and speaks about those who receive Christ - who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. The new relationship, between God and man which the child of God enjoys is made actual, not simply by a physical relationship, and certainly not via sheer human decision. But it is through a divine imparting of eternal life by Christ. This a new birth - spiritual rebirth, not physical / biological birth. Human birth is dependent upon the desire and will of a man and a woman. It is the uniting of the husband and wife, in bringing forth a child who is of a blood relationship. Spiritual birth is not by this means, but is wholly an act of God who grants a person saving faith in His Son the Word, Jesus Christ
Many people today would think they are saved because they may have parents that are Christians - or maybe they think that ritualistically attending church will save them - and on this basis they feel that they have an inside track to God - as if this would give us some brownie points with God. But this is far from the truth, because these things do not constitute a saving relationship that can be established simply through a blood connection. It also is not brought about by our own efforts. Saving faith through Christ, does result when we cease to trust and rely upon our own merits and achievements and come to trust solely upon Christ and His merit alone - as we come to him in repentance (the confession of - and the complete turning away from our love of sin).

Saving faith must be established by a right and holy relationship with Christ - it is a reconciliation which only Christ can grant to the sinner. Faith in Christ’s name brings hope of life, which only God can accomplish in a person’s life, therefore salvation cannot be achieved through human relationship, personal achievement, or by human will power.

A life marked out by TRANSFORMATION will evidence itself by having an intimate experiential knowledge of the work and person of Jesus Christ, through the Word of God. Since the Bible is God’s source and power unto salvation for the sinner. The relationship is based upon objective truth - therefore you can have a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world - Jesus declared this is John 8:12 - Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." The light has come and it touches all people including those hostile to God, as He demonstrates His love. The illumination that the true Light provides is this: the dispelling of the darkness of sin and unbelief. But - not every man desires to be enlightened by the light - because of his love of sin. There is only one hope - that our darkened and sin stained world has - and that is God through Christ. I know that we all would agree and are painfully aware, that the world that we live in is not perfect - there is no hope that we can save the world ….but ….we can have hope that our souls may be saved in Christ.

As we close off , I would like to read an illustration titled - One Cottage Burned (W. W. Weeks):
Years ago a fishing fleet went out from a small harbor on the east coast of Newfoundland. In the afternoon there came up a great storm. When night settled down not a single vessel of all the fleet had found its way into port. All night long - wives, mothers, children, and sweethearts paced up and down the beach, clasping their hands together and calling on God to save their loved ones. To add to the horror of the situation, one of the cottages caught fire. Since the fishermen who were also the towns firemen were all at sea, it was impossible to save the home.
When the morning broke, to the joy of all, the entire fleet found safe harbor in the bay. But there was one face which was a picture of despair— it was on the wife of the man whose home had been destroyed. Meeting her husband as he landed, she cried, "Oh, husband, we are ruined! Our home and all it contained was destroyed by fire!" But the man exclaimed, "Thank God for the fire! It was the light of our burning cottage that guided the whole fleet into port!"

True TRADGEDY is marked by a sole focus on the burned out house - a focus on ourselves and the world around us that we love so much. BUT true TRANSFORMATION is marked out by the saving results of focusing upon the eternally burning Light - Jesus Christ.

Is your life a witness to the TRANSFORMING work of Jesus Christ - which results in thanksgiving? OR is it marked out by thanklessness - an eternal spiritual TRAGEDY?

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Further Food For Thought

Perhaps today you have realized for the first time that you are responsible before God for the light you do possess. You must admit that it is true – this world and all that is therein did not just happen. And furthermore, your conscience bears witness to right and wrong according to the Law of God. The fool has said, "There is no God" (Ps. 14:1)! The Hebrew word fool is - nabal - meaning one who lacks character – it is moral and not intellectual foolishness. But, surely you are not willing to pin your whole future on rejection of the truth are you? There are consequences that are tragic – eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire forever and ever. Jesus Christ made the world; He made you – do not reject Him. He would have you to turn from your sin and confess Christ as Lord of your life. Do it now. To wait is a gamble that you might lose, because you do not know what tomorrow, or even the rest of this day holds.

Oh, believer, you know these things are true. But to address you – is there something in your life you hold to that you use to justify yourself or some sin that easily hinders your walk for the Lord. Now, turn from it. Trust the Holy Spirit to empower you to depart and not look at and harbor the unclean thing again. He can and He will if you will let Him. Be sure that we are accountable to a holy God. He is merciful and full of blessing. But He cannot deny Himself. He must deal with that that opposes His holy nature. Let us all with one voice lift up praise to God who dwells on high, let us glorify Him in word and deed.

By Noah Ressler

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A true saving relationship with Christ may be somewhat described with 3 words - HEAD, HEART, and FEET:

A vital relationship with Christ requires intellectual understanding of the person of Christ and our sinfulness, which causes spiritual change lead by the Holy Spirit. This is ‘HEAD’ knowledge that we acknowledge our complete sinfulness before a Holy God. We utterly realize that we need Christ alone to save us from our own depravity. We know that we will be judged according to our sins, if we choose to reject Jesus Christ.

A true saving relationship with Christ will also involve the ‘HEART’ - which signifies the personal, emotional aspects of a relationship with Christ. This will lead to a genuine humility before a Holy God. There is a broken-heartedness which manifests itself in confession and repentance from one’s sin. There is present, through the work of the Holy Spirit, a true love for God and a devotion to His glory.

And a saving relationship with Christ also incorporates the ‘FEET’ - as true believers we will walk in the paths of Christ’s righteousness and away from sin. We walk in obedience to the full counsel of His Word - the Bible. This is characterized by devotion to God’s ways. There exists continual prayer, and selfless love. We increasingly grow apart from the desire for the things that this world offers. Continued personal spiritual growth is observed. And there is a commitment to Christ through obedient living and the desire to bring and proclaim the Good News of Christ to others.

(For a full explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - click here - http://www.doihaveeternallife.blogspot.com/)
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