We Get Help and God Gets Glory

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:1-5).

Three days after His baptism Jesus, His mother, and His disciples were invited to a wedding. In his Spirit-inspired record of this event the apostle John remembers that Jesus loved to participate in the important events of the lives of families, friends, and neighbors. He was present at weddings, funerals, and other times of celebration or mourning. The presence of the Word of God at a wedding brought honor to the celebration of marriage. His mother made Jesus aware that, “They have no wine.” Jesus’ reply revealed that He knew the vast difference between the temporal and spiritual work that was ahead of Him.… “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” Indeed, it was not yet time for Him to reveal Himself as the Savior who would offer a cup of wine representing His blood shed for the forgiveness of sin… “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). But it was the perfect time to reveal the truth that God dwells with man and He loves to meet needs like the immediate need for more wine at this wedding feast. Mary’s request reveals the truth that when we lift any need to Christ in prayer, we get help and God gets glory.

What is your first reaction whenever a pressing, unexpected need arises? What is your first impulse when a child is sick or hurt? Do you run to the medicine cabinet or phone the doctor? How do you handle unexpected financial needs? Do you look to the bank or credit card? What does your reaction in moments of crisis say about your belief that Jesus Christ lives in you…? “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). We are sometimes tempted to believe that our temporal, physical needs are unimportant to God. Our adversary Satan would like us to believe that God is too busy with much bigger, more spiritual things to notice or care about our temporal needs. We’ve all experienced moments when, like the Psalmist Asaph, we have felt forgotten by the Lord… “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” (Psalm 77:9). The real problem in moments like these is not that God has forgotten us. The Spirit of Truth reveals that God will never forget us… “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

The problem is that we often forget about the presence of Christ in us. When we place our attention solely on the physical, temporal needs of life, we forget about the promise and potential of Christ living in us. Jesus promised that nothing in this world will ever overcome us because His overcoming power dwells in us… “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). God allows temporal and physical trials and needs to come upon us to compel us to look to Him to meet our needs… “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! (Psalm 40:17). When we lift our needs to Christ in prayer, whether they are great or small, physical, emotional, or spiritual, He promises to hear and answer us and reveal His presence to us as well as to others… “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). When our first response to any need is turning to Christ in faithful prayer, we make His presence known and He gets glory… “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may… fulfill every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

As we grow up into Christ we learn that our needs, whether big or small, are really opportunities to show the world that Christ lives in us because when we pray…

We Get Help and God Gets Glory.

Come and See

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:43-51).

Did you catch it? I just noticed that the Spirit inspired John the Apostle to record these first days of Jesus’ presence in a very chronological order. Each event in the gospel narrative begins with the words, “the next day”. This is the pattern since the day John the Baptist was confronted by the Pharisees and he made his first prophetic declaration that the Christ was already here and would soon be revealed… “Among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:26-27). The next day the Baptist identified Jesus as, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The next day Jesus drew his first three disciples to follow Him with the invitation, “Come and you will see.” (John 1:39). On the next day of today’s text Jesus attracted more disciples. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Philip found Nathanael and invited him to come to Jesus with the same words Jesus had used to attract the first three disciples… “Come and see.” The Spirit of Truth reveals a pattern for soul winning here. Christ followers simply have to share the truth they’ve discovered about Christ then add an invitation to come and see.

Are you becoming a better witness as you grow up into Christ? Genuine Christ followers share a common burden with Christ and with each other to bring others to the Savior. This burden grows stronger as we mature in our walk with Christ and we enjoy the blessings of His indwelling presence in our lives as we journey through this temporal life toward heaven, our land of promise. The burden increases as our understanding of the truth about heaven and hell increases. Our eagerness and effectiveness as soul winners should increase too as we mature in our faith.

The Teacher inspired the apostle John to record that the Baptist, Andrew, and Philip each shared the truth that had been revealed to them about Christ with someone else they loved. They did not have to learn some pattern or method. They did not have to attend an evangelism class. They simply shared what truth the Spirit had revealed to them about Christ. This is what Jesus would later commission all of His followers to do. He called them to be His witnesses… “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). A witness does not have to be a preacher, teacher, professor, or other trained professional. The Greek word translated witnesses here is martys and it means record or testimony. The word was used to identify thousands of believers who testified to their faith in Christ through death during the intense persecution of the church in its earliest days. They were known as martyrs. A witness is one who declares in word, deed, and lifestyle the truth that, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ) (John 1:41). Christ followers who are earnest about bringing the lost to Christ always add an invitation to “Come and see.” This is because the final work of saving the lost is not ours, but it is the work of Christ… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

As we grow up into Christ discovering and applying more of the truth His Spirit reveals of Christ to us through His word we become more empowered by the Spirit of Truth and more effective witnesses. Why not meet with Him today then share truth with someone and invite them to…

Come and See.

Abide in Christ

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter) (John 1:35-42).

The next day John repeated his revelation about Jesus… “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The word of the Baptist led two of his disciples to “the Word” (John 1:14). The messenger made no effort to hold onto the affection or attention of his disciples. John was fully satisfied to direct others to the Messiah” (which means Christ). As Andrew and the other unidentified disciple of John approached Jesus He asked them a penetrating question… “What are you seeking?” Their answer reveals important truth about the kind of heart that Jesus seeks and responds to. The disciples answered Jesus with a question of their own… “Where are you staying?” With this question these first disciples showed that they did not come to Christ with minds full of questions, but they came with hearts longing for relationship. They wanted to be where Jesus was. They wanted to be close to Him. They wanted to follow Him. They did not want to know about Christ, they wanted to know Christ.  Jesus immediately recognized and responded to their hearts by inviting them to come along with Him… “Come and you will see.” They eagerly followed Christ and even more… “They stayed with him that day”. The Greek word translated stayed here is menō and it means abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, and remain. His encounter with these first disciples revealed that Jesus eagerly seeks and responds to those who desire to abide in Christ.

How would you answer the question? As you withdraw from the world and enter into your sacred meeting place with Jesus today, might He ask you…? “What are you seeking?” Do you have a prepared list of personal and ministry needs you’d like Him work on for you? Do you have a list of questions you desperately need answers to today? Pastor, teacher, do you come seeking the next sermon outline or lesson plan? Jesus is certainly willing and able to answer every question and meet every need you carry in your heart. He’s even able to give us answers and respond to needs we are not even consciously aware of… “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). But that is not the reason the Word came into this world… “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 to dwell (Greek: skēnoō, to tent, encamp, reside) with us. Jesus did not come only to answer questions and solve problems. He came to live with us, to endure with us, to overcome with us, to accompany us through this temporal world as He prepares us for life with Him in the coming eternal world… “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Above everything else, Jesus wants us to fellowship with Him, to walk closely with Him. He calls us to abide in Him… “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4). The Teacher inspired John to repeat this truth in a letter to the churches… “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” (1 John 2:28). As we abide in Christ whether it’s a good day or a bad day, He accompanies us and brings glory to God as He prepares us to abide with Him forever in heaven… “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God’” (Revelation 21:3).

As we grow up into Christ like the first disciples, our top priority should always be to…

Abide in Christ.

Lamb and Son of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34).

The Holy Spirit had already prompted John to declare that the Word of God… “Came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11). But the Baptist did not relent in using imagery that should have captured the attention of his Jewish audience. John used divinely inspired words to introduce Christ… Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. John identified Jesus Christ as the object of sacrifices that dated all the way back to Abraham, who trusted in God’s timely provision of a sacrificial lamb… “Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son’” (Genesis 22:8). The Spirit used the declaration of John to clearly identify Jesus as the Messiah He described so intimately through the prophecy of Isaiah… “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:6-7). After acknowledging that this was no invention of his own mind, but that God Himself had given him this revelation, the Spirit prompted John to add a further title to Jesus. The Spirit moved John to identify Jesus as both Lamb of God and Son of God. Here the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, reveals the spiritual truth that it was no ordinary lamb that was to be offered for our sin. The Savior who would atone for sin and baptize Christ followers with the Spirit of God had to be both Lamb and Son of God.

There is certain truth that sets Christianity apart from other religions. All religions offer solutions to the problems of sin and death. Mankind wrestles with these two great problems in every part of the world and in every culture because the world God has created declares the truth that mankind sins and suffers death as a consequence of sin… “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20). Because men suppress God’s revealed truth instead of submitting to it, they invent all sorts of man-made, religious solutions to the problems of sin and death. And a close examination of every religion except Christianity reveals some sort of human effort at its core to deal with sin and achieve eternal life.

Christianity is founded on the teaching and revelation of God’s Holy Spirit. The teacher plainly teaches that sin requires the shedding of blood as atonement… “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11). The blood must come from a perfect lamb… “Your lamb shall be without blemish” (Exodus 12:5). But the Spirit also teaches that only God Himself could be the savior that would permanently atone for all sin for all sinners… “For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:3). Again the Spirit teaches that the promised Savior would be God Himself… “But I am the LORD your God… you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior” (Hosea 13:4). As the Son of God, Jesus was begotten of God and therefore was and is of the same substance as God… “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Therefore, Jesus Christ, the Word become flesh, satisfied all the requirements to atone for sin and to be the promised Savior.

As we grow up into Christ our appreciation for Him grows as we better understand that He is both…

Lamb and Son of God.

May God's Glory be Seen in 2014

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory (John 1:14).

The Spirit inspired Moses to record that when God took up residence in the wilderness tabernacle He filled the tent with His glory… “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34-35). The Spirit inspired John to record the miracles of Jesus and to show that whenever Jesus acted or spoke to meet the needs of people He revealed the glory of God and it led to belief… “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11). Jesus passed His glory on to His followers… “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” (John 17:22). He gave Christ followers His glory so they would share it with the world and come to know the love of God... "So that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me" (John 17:23). Jesus exhorted His followers to share God’s glory by continuing His works and serving others… “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

So, why not consider a great personal theme for 2014? In everything you plan and pursue, may the Glory of God be seen in and through you..."Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). "May God's Glory be Seen in 2014"... A great personal theme for the New Year.

Men Still Seek Him

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing (John 1:19-28).

The Holy Spirit inspired John the Apostle to present John the Baptist as both prophet and witness. The same Spirit compelled many of the priests and Levites from Jerusalem who served in the Temple to come out into the wilderness to find out more about the man and his message. They knew John well as he was one of them. He and his father Zechariah were priests like them. But something had transformed John’s life and led him from the comfort of Jerusalem into the desert where he proclaimed a message of baptismal repentance. These seekers wanted to know more of the message and truth that John proclaimed and illustrated in such a straightforward and challenging way. Another group of inquisitors also came to John with questions. They were sent from the Pharisees and their questions were more accusatory. They wanted to know by what authority John was preaching and baptizing. The hearts of these two very different groups of people would be revealed in their responses to John’s message, and to the revelation of the One he would introduce to the world very shortly. John’s faithful service as the Lord’s messenger reminds Christ followers of our call to imitate him as His witnesses and of the truth that for many right or wrong reasons, men still seek Him.

Can you recall what you were thinking when you first began to seek the Lord? What was in your heart that compelled you to ask questions and to really listen as someone shared the gospel with you? Were you genuinely interested in the truth? Had something happened in your life that drove you to find out if Jesus Christ really was all that His followers claimed He was...? “For to us a child is born… and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Or were you as skeptical as the Pharisees? Was your heart filled with the kind of hurt and confusion that drives many to seek comfort in attacking those who’ve found peace and hope in an effort to make them feel something of your personal pain… “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). The Jesus taught that no matter what your reasons or motivations, God was at work drawing you to Himself through His Son… “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). How was your searching heart met by those God led you to?

What do you remember of the people you sought out or were attracted to in your quest for the truth? Were they familiar family members, neighbors, or friends? Were they pastors, teachers, or other servants of the church? What was it about their life that drew you to them? What made you expect to find answers from them? The Spirit inspired Peter to exhort Christ followers to always live a life that provokes seekers to ask why we are different and to be prepared to answer their questions with gospel truth… “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Does God lead seekers to you today? Are you prepared to share with them the gospel reasons for the hope you enjoy in Christ?

As we grow up into Christ we become more like John the Baptist, better witnesses of the gospel to those God brings our way as in every generation and for many reasons…

Men Still Seek Him.

Glory, Grace, and Truth

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 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.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known (John 1:14-18).

The Holy Spirit reveals much truth here as He declares that in Jesus Christ the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. With those words the Teacher inspired John to reveal the divinity of Christ. He was God coming to the world He created. He was coming to dwell among us. The Greek word translated dwelt here is skēnoō and it means to encamp, occupy, reside, tabernacle, or tent. God had tabernacled with the Israelites, His Old Testament children of promise as they journeyed through inhospitable lands among hostile people on their way to Canaan, their land of promise… “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8). (You can read about the wilderness tabernacle and Israel’s journey to the land of promise in The Schoolmaster’s Study Series Book II, Exodus: Journey from Captivity to Glory). Now God was coming to tabernacle with the Israelites again, but they did not receive Him… “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11). But the Lord promises to tabernacle with those who did receive Him (See yesterday's chapter, For Those Who Get It). He promises to accompany Christ followers, His New Testament children of promise as we journey through this temporal world toward Heaven, our land of promise… “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise” (Galatians 4:28). The Teacher goes even deeper here and reveals three great reasons why the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Spirit teaches that Christ came into our world to reveal in and through Christ followers God’s glory, grace, and truth.

The Spirit inspired Moses to record that when God took up residence in the wilderness tabernacle He filled the tent with His glory… “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34-35). The Spirit inspired John to record the miracles of Jesus and to show that whenever Jesus acted or spoke to meet the needs of people He revealed the glory of God and it led to belief… “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11). Jesus passed His glory on to His followers… “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” (John 17:22). Jesus exhorted His followers to share God’s glory by continuing His works and serving others… “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

The Spirit also teaches that Jesus Christ was full of God’s grace and that Christ followers receive grace from Him. The Greek word translated grace is charis and it means benefit, favor, or gift. Again the Spirit teaches that Jesus was not only full of grace but that He passed His grace on to His followers… “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace”. The Spirit inspired Luke to record how God’s grace is released in miracles and signs when Christ followers preach the gospel and serve others… “So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (Acts 14:3).

Finally, the Spirit teaches that Jesus was full of God’s truth and that Christ followers receive truth from Him. Because He was God, Jesus identified Himself as truth personified… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7). Christ followers are following and leading others to His truth whenever we continue His work by serving others… “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

As we grow up into Christ and He tabernacles within us, whenever we serve others in our words and deeds we share His soul-saving gospel and we show the world God’s…

Glory, Grace, and Truth.

For Those Who Get It

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God  (John 1:10-13).

Have you ever created something that you intended to be an expression of your heart or mind for others to enjoy? Perhaps it was a painting or sculpture. Maybe it was a short story or poem. You poured yourself into it and for you the meaning was very obvious. In every brush stroke or carefully chosen word you were clearly communicating something you intended as a blessing or an inspiration for your audience. Then you presented it with love and waited for their reaction. Instead of affirmation or appreciation you got blank stares or maybe even rejection. How did you feel? Heartbroken? Disappointed? Personally rejected? Perhaps you stepped forward and tried to explain the message and meaning of your creation. You persisted until at least one among your audience showed that they grasped your message and you rejoiced with them in the blessing. It was like this when The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Throughout His time here on the earth, like an artist who entered into His painting and walked and talked with the people He painted and so carefully placed on the canvas, Jesus Christ persisted in proclaiming His message in word and deed. He embraced those who received Him as His very own children. He showed that when it comes to responding to His gospel, there is a tremendous blessing for those who get it.

The Word entered into the world created by the Word. The Spirit echoes this truth through the pen of the apostle Paul… “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15-16). The Word entered into the world held together by the Word… “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). The Father came to His children. The Spirit inspired Moses to identify the Israelites as God’s covenant children… “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you” (Genesis 17:7). They were God’s children of promise. God promised them a home of their own… “And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:8). And God promised them a messiah that would be a blessing to the whole world… “I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 26:4). The Teacher leads truth seekers to the true identity of the offspring of Abraham that would be a blessing to the whole world through the pen of the apostle Paul… “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). The Holy Spirit clearly testifies that Jesus Christ is the promised offspring of blessing because He is the one who… “In the beginning was the Word, and… was with God, and… was God” (John 1:1). Jesus Christ, the long awaited offspring of blessing came to the children of promise… “And his own people did not receive him”. But He persisted in sharing the gospel message… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And He embraced as children of God all who got it and received Him in faith… “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). When we share His message with the lost today and they get it and respond in faith, they are also born again as children of God… “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:26).

As we grow up into Christ we become more confident and effective at sharing His gospel and helping others become children of God, the great and eternal blessing…

For Those Who Get It.

The True Light

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

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:6-9).

Today, we see that the Teacher inspired the apostle John to record that the incarnation of The Word was announced by a humble yet confident man named John and that the incarnation of the Son of God was like a great light coming into our dark world. The Spirit reveals the truth here that only the light of God can dispel the darkness that encompasses our world because of sin and God still calls humble and confident believers to impact the world for Christ by sharing the true light.

God chose to announce the coming of His Son through a man. The birth of the infant Christ was predicted by a prophet… “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The birth of the child Christ was announced by angels… “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). But the arrival of the man Christ was announced confidently by a humble man, John the Baptist. He was a prophet in the spirit of Elijah in that he promised the coming of Christ… “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:26-27). He was a prophet in that he revealed Christ to the world… “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29). Above all else, John was a very humble man as he served as the Lord’s messenger… “I have been sent before him… this joy of mine is now complete… He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:28-30).

The Spirit inspired the apostle John to describe Christ as true light. Jesus echoed this truth… “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46). The apostle writes of Jesus as the light of God shining in the world seventeen times in his gospel. The Teacher inspired John to teach that the true light is more powerful than the darkness of the world… “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Unregenerate people love the darkness more than the light because the light reveals their sin… “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:20). But genuine truth seekers are attracted to the true light… “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (John 3:21). Those seekers who come to Christ by faith receive His light… “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46). The life transforming power of this true light confirms the divinity of Christ… “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me” (John 12:44-45).

Christ taught His followers that while He was here, He was a light for the whole world… “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). He encouraged His followers to follow His example and become light to the world like He was through faith in Him… “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:36). He challenged His followers to share His light with the world after He returned to the Father… “You are the light of the world…  let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Sharing the light of Christ with the world brings glory to God and requires the same humility and confidence that John the Baptist demonstrated as a messenger of Christ.

As we grow up into Christ walking in the true light we become more like Him and we become more humble and confident, like the man sent from God whose name was John. As we are transformed by His light we become more effective at helping others come to know Christ by sharing…

The True Light.

The Divinity of Christ

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 were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:1-5).

The Holy Spirit has inspired the gospel writers to each reveal a different picture of Jesus Christ. Matthew presents Christ as the King-Savior, including the kingdom and the lineage of King David of Israel in his account. Mark presents Christ as the Servant-Savior, omitting the record of His genealogy because the history of a servant or slave is not worth mentioning. Luke presents Christ as the Human-Savior and traces His genealogy all the way to the first man Adam. Truth seekers have seen Christ illustrated as a lion in Matthew, a calf in Mark, and a man in Luke. There are many similarities in these three synoptic Gospels as they each reveal Christ in His humanity. But John's presentation of Christ is quite different from these. Some have seen Christ pictured as a soaring eagle in John’s gospel as he presents Christ as the God-Savior. He does not include any record of Christ’s supernatural birth and growth but through John’s gospel, the Spirit of Truth pulls back the natural curtain and invites truth seekers to discover some indispensable spiritual truth about the Savior. Using vivid language like The Word and focusing on the miracles of the Savior, the Teacher moved John to introduce and impress truth seekers with the divinity of Christ.

The Greek Word that the Spirit of Truth inspired the apostle John to use to introduce truth seekers to Jesus Christ is logos and it means reason, expression, communication, utterance. We know that a word can exist in our minds even before it is spoken. But The Word of which John speaks is not like our human words. In a sense, it is incomprehensible because it is speaking of that which was before any form, shape or conception of any mind beyond the mind of God. Yet, just as our words declare what is on our minds, so also The Word declares to us the mind of God… “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works” (John 14:10); the truth of God… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7); the grace of God… “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16); the glory of God… “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). Truly, the Holy Spirit gave John eyes to see and a pen to record for us much wonderful truth about the divinity of Jesus Christ. The same Spirit inspired the author of the letter to the Hebrews to echo this truth… “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).

We often forget the power that words have, let alone the power that The Word has. The eternal, divine Word of the Father is powerfully creative… “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). The unchanging, holy Word of God promises life to those who will listen in faith… “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). This is why this Word should be set apart from all human words that are so lightly spoken and quickly forgotten. The Spirit moved Peter to declare the truth about The Word… “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).

As we grow up into Christ and get to know Him better, we are blessed to discover and experience the truth, grace, glory, power, and life of God up close and personal because of…

The Divinity of Christ.