DEITY? INCARNATION? WHO IS THIS JESUS?

October 20, 2016

DEITY? INCARNATION? WHO IS THIS JESUS?

John 1:1–18

Susan Rose

Central Truth

Jesus is the eternal Word who became flesh. He is inviting you to come and see and then respond.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,^{1

1:4
Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him} and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,^{2

1:11
Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people} and his own people^{3

1:11
People is implied in Greek} did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son^{4

1:14
Or only One, or unique One} from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.^{5

1:16
Or grace in place of grace} 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,^{6

1:18
Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son} who is at the Father's side,^{7

1:18
Greek in the bosom of the Father} he has made him known.

Footnotes

[1] 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him
[2] 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people
[3] 1:11 People is implied in Greek
[4] 1:14 Or only One, or unique One
[5] 1:16 Or grace in place of grace
[6] 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son
[7] 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father

Do you need a visual? I do! During my family's three years in Tokyo, we experienced sumo wrestling up close (yikes!), cherry blossoms falling around us like a heavy snow, and the everyday experience of using a train system stuffed with more humans than I ever thought possible! Yet, the visual that changed me more than those sights was the hundreds of women who traveled more than two hours by bike, then bus, then train, and then foot to come and see more of Jesus by studying the Gospel of John.

Like you and me, they wanted to know: Who is Jesus?

John’s introduction invites us to think through the most perplexing mysteries about Jesus. Jesus is God (verse 1), yet He came to earth and lived as a man so we could see grace and truth (verse 14). That is, Jesus took on flesh while He remains fully God—the incarnation of Christ.

Are you, like me, trying to let those words sink in and make sense? These verses give us a powerful picture of Jesus:

Jesus is the Eternal Word (verse 1).
Jesus exists with God and is fully God (verse 1).
Jesus is the Creator of all things (verse 3).
In Jesus is life (verse 4).
Jesus is the true light (verses 4-5, 9).
Jesus became fully man while remaining fully God (verse 14).
Jesus is full of grace and truth (verses 14, 16-17).
Jesus makes God known to us (verse 18).

Let's linger over these truths and consider how we should respond today. I personally responded to the offer to come and see Jesus as a young girl (John 1:12). I am thankful my parents consistently put me in situations where I was asked to consider Jesus and given the opportunity to respond. Now I have choices to make each day of how I spend time, serve, work, or parent so that I may be part of someone’s "come and see and respond" moment.

Are you understanding how these profound truths are even possible and whether they are worth your time? This witness says yes! Jesus reveals powerful, relevant truth (verse 18). Prayerfully and humbly ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding (John 16:13).

1. What words do you use to describe Jesus and what you believe about Him? How does your description compare to the truth of the passage?

2. Take some time to consider your personal response to John’s witness about Jesus. Do you accept or reject that He is the eternal Word and fully God who took on flesh? If you reject these biblical truths, explain why. If you accept them, who needs you to be a witness today like John is in the Gospel of John?

3. Like John, your life bears witness to what you really believe. Do your daily conversations lead others to come and see you or to come and see Jesus?

4. What in your life is crowding out time for God’s Word or dulling your desire to study and understand His Word? What small changes in your schedule or daily habits could have a significant impact as you look at truth through studying the Gospel of John?