JOHN 1:1-14 PRINCETON CHRISTIAN CHURCH 07 JANUARY 23
Last week, we looked at the first five verses of the Gospel of John.
Today, we are going to look a bit deeper into the introduction to that Gospel.
READ: John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 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, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 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.
Each year at this time, we celebrate the beginning of a new year. It is no different this year.
Today is the first Lord’s Day that we can come together to worship and celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ as His Body.
What was the purpose of God coming to earth in the form of a baby who would grow to become our Savior?
The answer to that question really comes to us in verse 3. It says very simply there, “Let there be Light, and there was Light.”
Let’s take a moment to look at and compare John 1:1 with Genesis 1:1. Genesis 1:1 says: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.”
In John 1:1, John writes: “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
This tells me that Beginnings must be important to God. And it is important that we recognize the importance of beginnings.
Then, the Scripture explains further why the light was needed.
Clearly, it was needed because it was dark, and the Light dispelled the darkness. And God said that it was good.
Then, in time, God created all that was to be created – including man and woman.
The light shined for periods of time, but the light shined dimly at times as well.
Jacob wrestled with God, and God changed his name. The light got brighter as He was told that his family would inherit the land He stood on.
Then, God used Joseph to keep the people in Egypt alive – and the light remained.
Moses came and brought the people home and gave them the Law – and the light was brighter.
The Kings and the Judges shined the lights --- most of the time.
The prophets continued to point people to the Light --- sometimes they listened.
Then – there were 400 years of darkness.
This is where the Gospel of John comes into the picture.
This is where the star appeared in the sky. This is when the star moved to the place where the True Light – Jesus - entered the world.
Jesus came into the world to show all of mankind what God is like. He came to show us what the message looks like in flesh and blood.
This, of course, is the accounting of the birth of a baby who became THE LIGHT.
And we know that Jesus has always been.
Jesus never had to be created at any point in history, or even be born for that matter.
God mentioned Jesus way back in Genesis when He said, “Let US make man in OUR image.
In the New Testament, Paul tells us in his letter to the church at Colossae that all things were made through Jesus and for Jesus.
Plainly, Jesus is God – He is neither separate from God nor is He inferior to God. He is God in the flesh, the Son who is Savior and Redeemer of all creation.
In John 14:8-9, Philip, one of the Apostles, said to Jesus, “Show us the Father…”
In His answer to Philip, He taught him: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father. Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?”
The Son of God – the Word – became flesh.
He is the only Son of God.
He is full of the character of God. He is Grace and Truth.
So, why did Jesus come in human form?
First, it was so that we could identify with Him.
He was tempted in every way we are today.
The difference is, of course, that He never gave in to sin as we so often do.
We don’t have any trials or difficulties that He does not understand, so He knows the trials and difficult days we sometimes go through.
Another reason He came in human form is so that we could see what Love looks like.
John 1:14 reminds us that the Glory of God became flesh. READ John 1:14.
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.
The glory of God made what was ordinary into something that was extraordinary.
Water was turned into wine. People were healed of disease and lifelong illnesses. People were raised from death.
The Word became flesh and lived among us. But, also, the Word died among us.
And, even in His death, we see His Glory. That is the Glory of one who lays down His life for His friends – us!
Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection clearly reflect His true Glory – as the Lord of Life.
The Word became flesh and we saw His glory, the glory of the one the Father sent to save the world.
John 3:17 tells us that Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world but to save it.
Each new person who is saved from the kingdom of darkness – that is, Hell, is placed on the road to our Heavenly home.
Multiple times in Scripture, we are reminded that Jesus was God in the flesh.
He invaded our world, We can see a glimpse of His glory in his creation, and we are invited to come closer to God through Him.
Did you ever wonder what it was like for Jesus, the Son of God, to live in the world among ordinary, sometimes very ungodly, people?
Knowing that He has come to earth to show us who God is, but at the same time being fully human, experiencing human life?
Knowing that one day He would be crucified, nailed to a cross, He is in the Carpenter shop hammering nails into a board? Did that reality bother Him? Did He think about that?
Did He have to study the Old Testament Scriptures even though He was the focus of those Scriptures?
I think He did because every Jewish boy had to. You may remember – He was fully human. Can you imagine that all the other boys were jealous of Him because He always knew all the answers?
What was “a nice day” to Him, knowing that every day in His home in Heaven is always more than nice – it is perfect?
He became flesh and blood and lived among us so that we could have a glimpse of God.
John 14:23 Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
As Christians, we can experience the coming of Christ every day because we get to be the dwelling place of God in this world.
It is appropriate that we reflect on Jesus’ words to us in Matthew 5:14-16. READ
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
2000 years ago, a light shined into a darkened world. That light directed those who were seeking a Savior.
Today, we are the stars that shine into a darkened world. As those stars, we are to point each new generation to Jesus – THE light of the world. That means that we evangelize the world we live in.
Paul referred to this truth in Philippians 2:14-16 READ.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
Christians, we are the light of the world today. We are to shine with the love of God in the Good News that Jesus came into the world to save the people from their sins.