March 13, 2020
God in the Flesh
John 1:1-18
Kevin Sale
Central Truth
God took on flesh to save us from our mess.
Key Verse | John 1:14
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 1:1-18
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, 1 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, 2 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people and his own people 3 1:11 People is implied in Greek did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son 4 1:14 Or only One, or unique One from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (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.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 5 1:16 Or grace in place of grace 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, 6 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son who is at the Father's side, 7 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father he has made him known.
Footnotes
[1] 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him[2] 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people
[3] 1:11 People is implied in Greek
[4] 1:14 Or only One, or unique One
[5] 1:16 Or grace in place of grace
[6] 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son
[7] 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father
Dive Deeper | John 1:1-18
Before becoming a dad, one thing that I was really scared to do was change a poopy diaper. I thought that would be the worst thing and the biggest sacrifice I would have to make. Boy, was I naive! I had no idea about this thing called a "Nose Frida." If you don't know what that is, it's a device that enables you to suck boogers out of your child's nose. One end goes in your child’s nose, the other end goes in your mouth, and you literally suck out their boogers! There is a filter, so the boogers don't actually get in your mouth, but still—gross! However, because I love them and don't want them to continue to suffer in their mess, I am more than willing to get down on the floor and change their diapers and suck boogers out of their noses. In a similar way, Jesus stepped into our mess because of His great love for us.
In John 1:1-18, John introduces us to "the Word," Jesus, and he takes us back to before time began. He challenges our finite minds to try to fathom an infinite Creator, who Himself was not created, who has always been, and made Himself known to His creation. The eternal God took on flesh, bones, a heartbeat, and entered the timeline to be with us.
He came not only to dwell among us as He lived on the earth, but to make it possible for us to dwell with Him eternally through His life, death, and resurrection. This is amazing! The full purpose and weight of what happened at Jesus' death and resurrection would not be possible without this miraculous conjoining of humanity and divinity. Jesus had to be both fully human and fully God to be able to absorb the punishment that we deserved and pay the price for our sins once and for all. What a good Father, who loves us too much to leave us in our mess. He desires for us to be with Him and live our lives delighting in His sufficient grace!
Discussion Questions
1. What does this passage tell you about Jesus? What does it show about the Father?
2. Why is it important that Jesus had to be both fully human and fully God?
3. John says in John 1:12, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." What does it mean to receive and believe in His name?
4. Have you received Him?