A) Jesus the Living Word: The first witness of John the Apostle, 1:1-5
Christ is eternal.Note three profound statements made about Christ, the Word.Christ was preexistent. This means He was there before creation.He always existed." In the beginning" does not mean from the beginning.Jesus Christ was already there.He did not become;He was not created;He never had a beginning.He "was in the beginning with God".The testimony of John was that Jesus Christ was the word, the one who always existed. He is the Son of the living God.Christ was coexistent.He was and is face-to -face with God forever.Jesus Christ (the Word) was both with God and acting with God. He was "with God" : by God's side, acting, living,and moving in the closest of relationships.John did not say that "the Word"was the God. He says "the Word" was God. John was saying that "the Word," Jesus Christ.Is the very nature and character of God the Father; Christ is the creator.Christ was the one who created all things- one by one.Among the God head, He was the active Agent,the person who made all things.Creation was his function and work.(see col.1:16)Christ is life Christ is the source of light. "The Life [Christ] was the light of men" From the very beginning man was to know that life,to know God personally and intimately.Christ is the answer to darkness.Christ life did shine in the darkness. Since man had brought darkness into the world(by sin)the life of Christ was the light of man,the beam that showed man the way ,truth, and the life.He show man the way God intended for him to live. He showed man the truth of life, that is the truth about God and man and the truth about the world of man. Christ showed man the life, that is how to save his life and avoid the things that can cause him to stumble and lose his life.
Jesus the Light of the World :The special witness of John the Baptist (John 1:6-8)The man ,however,was "sent from God",and he was sent on a very special mission.We to who have been called of God out of the darkness into his marvelous light,are also sent on a special mission.We too are to bear witness to the light.We were saved to go tell others about the saving power of Jesus Christ.A man with a mission,he came to bear witness of the Light.He was sent with a very specific message,and that message was to proclaim the Light,Christ Himself.The servant of God is not left to come up with his/her own message.He does not depend on his own reasoning,thoughts or ideals. His message is Christ the light of the world. God's only message to a dying world.The servant of God has one primary purpose: to lead men to believe in Christ Jesus,the Light of the world.His purpose is to lead men to believe in Christ Jesus.Everything else is method not purpose.Men have too often confused purpose with method,and the result has been that millions haven't been reached,thousands are being decieved by confusing methods of religion with the purpose of God:which is the salvation of man through the belief in his Son.
Jesus the light of men: The second witness of John the Apostle (1:9-13)
Jesus the light of men: The second witness of John the Apostle (1:9-13)
Jesus Christ,Light; Mission: Christ was the true light."other men may claim to be lights, claiming they can lead men to the truth.Some may claim they can reveal God and his truths to men. They may claim to be able to show the nature,meaning,and destinity of other things.To guide men out of darkness of sin,shame, doubt,despair,to be able to eliminate the darkness entirely.Christ was tragically rejected by the world.Christ was in the world,he had made the world, and He loved and cared deeply for the world;therefore, He was actively working to help the world and its people from the very beginning.Christ gave the light of order,and purpose,he gave the light of living to a dark world yet the world would not receive the light.Christ was wonderfully received by some persons.Not everyone rejected Christ,most did,but few received Him.How men receive Christ,"they believe on His name".The result of receiving Christ, A person is given the power to become a son of God.When a person receives Christ as Lord,Christ gives that person the power to become something he is not,A child of God.This is a result of a new birth,not of flesh and blood or the will of man,but a spiritual birth that can only come from God.
Jesus the word made flesh:The third Witness of John the Apostle, 1:14-18
Jesus Christ,Incarnation: Christ became flesh.The incarnation did take place.The Son of God was actually made flesh.He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt about John's meaning here.The word flesh(sarx) is the same word that Paul used to describe man' nature with all of it's weakness and tendency to sin.Jesus His living word, our revelation as to th ewill and purpose of God.Even though he was wrapped in the flesh of man ,he was still God's word,and he died in the flesh that we might be able to live in the spirit.
Jesus Christ,Incarnation: Christ became flesh.The incarnation did take place.The Son of God was actually made flesh.He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt about John's meaning here.The word flesh(sarx) is the same word that Paul used to describe man' nature with all of it's weakness and tendency to sin.Jesus His living word, our revelation as to th ewill and purpose of God.Even though he was wrapped in the flesh of man ,he was still God's word,and he died in the flesh that we might be able to live in the spirit.
Jesus the Messiah,the Lord:The Witness of John the Baptist,1:19-28
The witness of John the Baptist is a dynamic example for every servant of God.John was questioned by the religionist who were very suspicious of him.These were fact finders sent from Jersalem.Too often we are suspicious of and question those who seem different from us.Many times those who are serious about there walk with the Lord, are often challenged by those who have there own agenda's.You will find the closer one gets to the Lord,the more opposition he is met with by others who claim the same faith.The messenger was a man who knew who he was. Others questioned who he was ,but not John.He knew God had sent him into the world with a specific ministry.He was from God, and commissioned by God, therefore,He knew exactly who he was and what he was doing.
Jesus the Lamb of God,the Son of God:The Third Witness of John the Baptist,1:29-34
John's witness about Jesus Christ is one of the greatest witnesses ever given by man.John was unmistakable in his proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18-19).Jesus Christ,Lamb of God:Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God.The Lamb is a picture of Christ our passover who was sacrificed for us."For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us"1cor.5:7
Jesus the Lamb of God,the Son of God:The Third Witness of John the Baptist,1:29-34
John's witness about Jesus Christ is one of the greatest witnesses ever given by man.John was unmistakable in his proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18-19).Jesus Christ,Lamb of God:Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God.The Lamb is a picture of Christ our passover who was sacrificed for us."For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us"1cor.5:7
Jesus the Messiah, the Christ:The Witness Of Andrew, 1:35-42The experience of Andrew,his experience was simple,somewhat like that of many of us who come to the knowledge of Christ.Andrew stood where preaching was John had been holding his campaign around the Jordan.Andrew,who had an ache for the word of God,had become interested in what was happening, had attended the meetings,and became a follower of this preacher of righteousness.The point to see is that Andrew hungered for righteousness;therefore, he availed himself of the opportunity to hear preaching.He "stood" right in the midst of preaching.He was there to hear the Messiah proclaimed. Andrew "heard him (the preacher) speak, and faith comes by hearing.
Jesus the One Prophesied:The Witness of Philip, 1:43-45
Jesus Himself went forth and sought Philip,Philip was not seeking Jesus.The initiative came from Jesus entirely.Jesus made a move to find and save Philip and to enlist Philip in His mission.Every person must heed the seeking of Christ when they feel Him seeking them.The person must respond immediately, for God spirit does not always strive with man.We must respond when we feel the pull of the Lord on our hearts other wise the feeling leaves.Every believer should be willing to go any distance to reach people,no matter how far or how deeply depraved the person may be.To many whom Jesus died for are considered "untouchable": the alcoholic, drug addict, immoral,poor, prisoner, lowly and diseased.
Jesus the Son of God, The King of Israel: The Witness of Nathanael, 1:46-49Nathanael's confrontaion with Jesus was dramatic.Nathanael was a man of prejudice and strong feelings,yet he knew despair and hopeless;therefore,he was difficult to lead to Christ.However, despite all, his freind Phillip persisted and refused to give up in witnessing to him.As a result, Nathanael was won to Christ.No matter what the sin is, we must still go and invite men to "come and see" Jesus. Because phillip went to his dear friend,Nathanael did come to Jesus,despite his despair and prejudice.
Think what Nathanael would have missed if he would had let his prejudices keep him from Jesus, or allowed his wallowing in despair keep him from coming to Jesus.The way to lead a man to Christ is not by argument,but by confronting him with Christ.
Jesus Himself went forth and sought Philip,Philip was not seeking Jesus.The initiative came from Jesus entirely.Jesus made a move to find and save Philip and to enlist Philip in His mission.Every person must heed the seeking of Christ when they feel Him seeking them.The person must respond immediately, for God spirit does not always strive with man.We must respond when we feel the pull of the Lord on our hearts other wise the feeling leaves.Every believer should be willing to go any distance to reach people,no matter how far or how deeply depraved the person may be.To many whom Jesus died for are considered "untouchable": the alcoholic, drug addict, immoral,poor, prisoner, lowly and diseased.
Jesus the Son of God, The King of Israel: The Witness of Nathanael, 1:46-49Nathanael's confrontaion with Jesus was dramatic.Nathanael was a man of prejudice and strong feelings,yet he knew despair and hopeless;therefore,he was difficult to lead to Christ.However, despite all, his freind Phillip persisted and refused to give up in witnessing to him.As a result, Nathanael was won to Christ.No matter what the sin is, we must still go and invite men to "come and see" Jesus. Because phillip went to his dear friend,Nathanael did come to Jesus,despite his despair and prejudice.
Think what Nathanael would have missed if he would had let his prejudices keep him from Jesus, or allowed his wallowing in despair keep him from coming to Jesus.The way to lead a man to Christ is not by argument,but by confronting him with Christ.
Jesus the Son Of Man,God's Mediator:The Witness of Jesus Himself; John 1:50-51
Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man.This is seen in the picture Jesus painted by the words," ye shall see Heaven open,and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Man can approach God and enter heaven through Christ (Jn14:6). the gulf of loneliness and the alienation which man knows have been bridged.Man has access to God only through Jesus and man can have constant communication with God.Jesus is the Son of Man.this does not mean that Jesus was born of a man.It means that He is more than what an ordinary man is, more than a son of some man.Jesus is what every man ought to be,the Son of man Himslf. Jesus Christ is the Ideal Man: the perfect man,the pattern ,the embodiment of everything a man ought to be.Jesus is the perfect picture of a man.everything God wants a man to be is seen perfectly in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Ideal Servant of man.The term Ideal servant stresses Jesus' symphathy for the poor, the broken-hearted,the captives, the blind,the brusied,the outcasts and the bereaved.Jesus is the model, the pattern of concern and caring.He served other people like every man should serve other people.
Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man.This is seen in the picture Jesus painted by the words," ye shall see Heaven open,and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Man can approach God and enter heaven through Christ (Jn14:6). the gulf of loneliness and the alienation which man knows have been bridged.Man has access to God only through Jesus and man can have constant communication with God.Jesus is the Son of Man.this does not mean that Jesus was born of a man.It means that He is more than what an ordinary man is, more than a son of some man.Jesus is what every man ought to be,the Son of man Himslf. Jesus Christ is the Ideal Man: the perfect man,the pattern ,the embodiment of everything a man ought to be.Jesus is the perfect picture of a man.everything God wants a man to be is seen perfectly in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Ideal Servant of man.The term Ideal servant stresses Jesus' symphathy for the poor, the broken-hearted,the captives, the blind,the brusied,the outcasts and the bereaved.Jesus is the model, the pattern of concern and caring.He served other people like every man should serve other people.
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