31 December
I Reading: 1Jn 2:18-21: You have been anointed by the Holy One and
have all received the knowledge.
Gospel: John 1:1-18: The Word was made flesh.
A. Jesus the Living Word: The
First Witness of John the Baptist (Jn 1:1-5)
This
passage is the one of the summit of Scripture. Jesus Christ, the Son of God
is...
·
The
Word of God
·
The
Creator of life
·
The
Very Being and Essence of Life
These
three thoughts we need to understand their meaning. If Jesus Christ is the Word
of God, then people must hear and understand that Word or else be lost forever
in ignorance of God Himself.
1. Christ is Eternal (v.1-2)
a.
Pre-existence
b.
Co-existence
c.
Self-existence
2. Christ is the Creator (v.3)
a.
Positive
statement
b.
Absolute
statement
3. Christ is life (v.4-5)
a.
The
source of life
b.
The
answer to darkness
i.
Shines
in darkness
ii.
Conquers
darkness
B. Jesus the Light of the
World: The Special Witness of John the Baptist (Jn 1:6-8)
John’s role sole purpose on earth was
to witness and bear testimony to the Light of the world. It is a dynamic
example for every believer. The purpose of the believer is to bear the same
witness as John: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.
1. A man sent from God (v.6)
2. A man with a mission (v.7)
a.
To
bear witness
b.
That
men might believe
3. A man who was great, but was not the
Light (v.7).
C. Jesus the Light of Men: The
Second Witness of John the Apostle (Jn 1:9-13)
The world is in desperate straits. It
is full of darkness-the darkness of sin and despair, of sickness and death, of
corruption and hell. The darkness looms over the whole world. This is the
problem dealt with in the present passage. There is hope in Jesus Christ, for
Christ is the True Light, and light dispels darkness.
1. Christ was the Light (v.9)
a.
The
True Light
b.
His
mission: to give light to the people
2. Christ was tragically rejected by the
world (v. 10-11)
a.
He
was in the world, but he was rejected
b.
He
came to his own people, but they rejected him
3. Christ was wonderfully received by
some (v. 12-13)
a.
How:
by believing
b.
Result:
became sons of God
c.
The
source of becoming a child of God: a new birth
i.
Was
not of man
ii.
Was
of God
D. Jesus the Word Made Flesh:
The Third Witness of John the Apostles (Jn 1: 14-18)
“The Word became flesh”-God’s Son,
the Lord Jesus Christ, was made flesh and blood; He became a man. No greater
message could ever be proclaimed to man.
1. Jesus Christ, Incarnation: Christ
became flesh (v. 14):
The
incarnation did take place. He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. The
word “flesh” (sarx) is the same word that Paul used to describe man’s nature
with all its weakness and tendency to sin (1Cor 3:1-4; 15:42-44; Rom 5: 12-21;
8:1f; 2Pet 1:4 etc). This is a staggering thought. Jesus Christ is God-fully
God, yet Jesus Christ is a man-fully man (cf 1Jn 4:2-3). Jesus Christ (the
Word) became flesh to correct and to counteract the corruption of flesh (2Pet
1:4; 1Pet 1:18-19, 23-25; Jn 3:16). He became flesh in order to become “a life
giving spirit”, the Saviour who could quicken and make alive all those who
would trust Him (1Cor 15:45; 1Pet 3:18; Rom 8: 11 Eph 2: 4-5).
2. Proof 1: the first proof of the
incarnation is that Jesus Christ dwelt visibly among us (v.14)
a.
His
glory (shekinah) which means that which dwells or dwelling- bright clouds-OT.
Ex 40:34-38) was seen
b.
Full
of grace and truth
3. Proof 2: the second proof of the
incarnation is John the Baptist bore witness of the superiority of Christ
(v.15)
4. Proof 3: the third proof of the
incarnation is the fullness and grace of Christ which was given to us. Men have
received the fullness and grace of Christ
a.
Not
by law
b.
By
Jesus Christ
5. Proof 4: the fourth proof of the
incarnation of Christ- God’s Son alone has seen God (v. 18)
Thought: The
message is Christ, the Light of the World.
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