Daily Bread John 1
Daily Bread John 1
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Observation:
As we begin the fourth gospel of John, we see that right away it is not like the other three. Instead of focusing on Jesus’ human birth, the writer focuses on Jesus divinity. He tells us that Jesus was with God in the beginning and all things were created through Him.
Then as the 14th verse tells us, the Word (logos) “became flesh and dwelt among us”. “Logos” the Greek word for “Word” means the rationality of God, or the mind of God. When Word became flesh and became the person Jesus Christ, he incarnated everything that God is.
Twice in this passage we get an idea of what this revelation, or Word of God, would be all about. In verses 14 and 17, it says that Jesus was full of “grace and truth”. The Law contained the truth. The Law didn’t lie and if one abided by the Law they would be blessed. The problem is that with the entrance of sin into human beings, we can’t abide by the Law. That is where Grace comes in. Grace is undeserved favor. Though we didn’t deserved God’s favor, Jesus shows us God’s mercy as he offers sinners he meets Grace.
Application:
Most people only experience God as Law. They even experience Jesus as Law. Meaning they think if they don’t get things right, that God will be against them. Sometimes in the church we stress the Law too, focusing on the things someone has to do to be right with, or follow God.
As we watch Jesus in the gospel of John, we will see many encounters with people who are not in need of the Law, but of Grace. The Law is helpful in that it gives us guidelines on how to live our lives, but it cannot change a human heart. Only the Grace of God in Christ Jesus can transform a heart that is bent, not on keeping the Law, but pleasing itself.
The Truth tells us what we are, but Grace shows us what we can become. The Truth will never lie, Grace will never stop loving. Jesus was full of both of them. This gives us an idea of what God is really like.
Prayer: God thank you for showing us what you are like through the Word made flesh, Your Son, Jesus. We need your Truth to show us where we fall short. We need your Grace to show your love in spite of our failings. May your Grace transform our hearts so that we will look more and more like Your Son. In His name we pray, Amen.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Observation:
As we begin the fourth gospel of John, we see that right away it is not like the other three. Instead of focusing on Jesus’ human birth, the writer focuses on Jesus divinity. He tells us that Jesus was with God in the beginning and all things were created through Him.
Then as the 14th verse tells us, the Word (logos) “became flesh and dwelt among us”. “Logos” the Greek word for “Word” means the rationality of God, or the mind of God. When Word became flesh and became the person Jesus Christ, he incarnated everything that God is.
Twice in this passage we get an idea of what this revelation, or Word of God, would be all about. In verses 14 and 17, it says that Jesus was full of “grace and truth”. The Law contained the truth. The Law didn’t lie and if one abided by the Law they would be blessed. The problem is that with the entrance of sin into human beings, we can’t abide by the Law. That is where Grace comes in. Grace is undeserved favor. Though we didn’t deserved God’s favor, Jesus shows us God’s mercy as he offers sinners he meets Grace.
Application:
Most people only experience God as Law. They even experience Jesus as Law. Meaning they think if they don’t get things right, that God will be against them. Sometimes in the church we stress the Law too, focusing on the things someone has to do to be right with, or follow God.
As we watch Jesus in the gospel of John, we will see many encounters with people who are not in need of the Law, but of Grace. The Law is helpful in that it gives us guidelines on how to live our lives, but it cannot change a human heart. Only the Grace of God in Christ Jesus can transform a heart that is bent, not on keeping the Law, but pleasing itself.
The Truth tells us what we are, but Grace shows us what we can become. The Truth will never lie, Grace will never stop loving. Jesus was full of both of them. This gives us an idea of what God is really like.
Prayer: God thank you for showing us what you are like through the Word made flesh, Your Son, Jesus. We need your Truth to show us where we fall short. We need your Grace to show your love in spite of our failings. May your Grace transform our hearts so that we will look more and more like Your Son. In His name we pray, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment