Knowing Jesus Better series, John 1:1-14
There is a game called “How well do you know the birthday boy/girl” that is usually played during birthday parties. And the game requires asking at least 10 questions and whoever gets the highest score wins a prize. This Christmas season, let me ask you, and just be honest, “How well do you know Jesus?” On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the “I know Him well” and 1 as “I knew nothing about Him”, while 5, “I knew something about Him”. Which of the number is for you? The prize may be Jesus Himself. Having Him and His truth in your life can be the greatest prize you can have.
People around the globe will celebrate Christmas without really knowing what, why and who they’re actually celebrating. Thus today, it is good to explore the gospel of John to get to know the Word better. In this section, John introduces Jesus to us in 4 images.
1. Jesus as the eternal living Word.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning… 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-2, 14.
Undeniably, John refers to Jesus as the eternal Word. v.14
Jesus existed even before the creation of the world – “was the Word.” v.1a; He is a timeless Being.
The eternal living Word is Jesus’ pre-existent form. v.1b.
Jesus is the eternal living God. v.1c
Jesus is co-equal with God the Father. v.2; see John 10:30.
John the disciple was a first-hand witness together with other disciples. V.14b.
Jesus as the Word, came to say, what God has to say to His people.
He came to witness for the truth – He is the truth. See. Jn 14:6
His word is powerful and creative. See Gen. 1-2.
2. Jesus as the shining light.
“4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4-5
“Jesus speaks from God and for God and as God.” Apart from Jesus, we live in darkness.” John Piper
Darkness also symbolizes the world that Satan has dominated.
Jesus’ truth shines light to our soul and gives life to our spirit.
Our character changes when His light shines brightly in our lives.
3. Jesus as the seeker of the lost.
“10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” John 1:10-11.
Jesus came to save His own people.
But they rejected Him and His claim to be Yahweh.
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” John 8:58-59.
People were lost in their religious pride and man-made rules.
4. Jesus as the spiritual family builder.
“12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13
Jesus has been continuously building the family of God by giving every believer the right to be part of it.
God’s spiritual family never stops growing as Jesus continues to enter people’s heart to shine His light.
A passage to think about for self-examination:
“10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.” 1 John 3:10.