Today we start a new series called Discovering the Real Jesus, looking at the gospel of John. Jesus Christ is like no one else who ever lived. He is the central personality of history dividing it into the time before Christ and after Christ. Today of course plenty of people know about Jesus, but do we really know who Jesus is? Do we have good reason to believe in Him? And not least does our belief actually change our lives for good? Does it make us more alive and confident of eternal life?
John wanted everyone to know that Jesus was unlike anyone else (John 1:14 and 18). John stated very clearly his reason for writing this gospel in John 20:31, and the full meaning from the Greek means ‘these are written that you may go on believing that Jesus was the Son of God and by going on believing you will go on having eternal life.’ God wants to change your life both now and forever and this book of John can open up that possibility to each one of us.
John was part of the inner circle of disciples, along with his brother James and Peter. John was the closest and last surviving disciple of Jesus. John was with Jesus all through His earthly ministry and was there at the cross when Jesus asked him to look after His mother Mary. John knew from firsthand experience that Jesus was far more than a good man or a miracle worker but that he was, and is, actually the Son of God. At one time he didn’t know that. But then everything he witnessed showed him that Jesus really was who he claimed he was. And so, he became not only a believer but went on to be part of the world changing, history making group of 12 disciples. In his introduction, John 1:1-18 lays a strong foundation about the uniqueness of Jesus. So who was Jesus?
1. Jesus is God of both eternity and time (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16; Matthew 1:21)
2. Jesus is God who is both fully divine and fully human (John 1:14; Hebrews 4:15-16)
3. Jesus is God who is full of both grace and truth (John 1:14-18)
4. Jesus is God who offers life and light to all who receive Him (John 1:4-13)
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You may know about Jesus but do you really know Him? Put simply Jesus existed long before He appeared on earth (John 1:1-3). He was right there at the beginning of time and before time. He is the God who created everything. It is through Jesus that the whole universe came into being (Colossians 1:16). Jesus was the name given when He came to earth (Matthew 1:21). So what was He called before then? John calls Him the Logos or the Word as it is translated in most Bible versions. John was trying to communicate to both Jews and non-Jews. For Jews they would remember the words of God in creation and how the prophets declared the Word of the Lord. For Greek readers, the Word was associated with the search for the meaning of life. So John was saying I am going to tell you about what you have always been searching for. Jesus was with God at the beginning and was and is God. And then in a moment of time, the eternal timeless God stepped into time and as John 1:14 says He 'made his dwelling among us'.
Do you have confidence that Jesus will help you in every battle you face in life? Jesus is both the God of glory, the One and only son who came from the Father and also the One who lived as a human being (John 1:14). He was both physical and spiritual, earthly and heavenly, fully human and fully divine. John’s gospel portrays Jesus as more human than the other gospels for example recording in the shortest verse in the Bible that Jesus wept. He tells of Him being hungry and thirsty and tired and feeling His constant need to pray. But he also emphasises the divinity of Jesus that Jesus claimed for Himself in the 7 ‘I am’s’ and in the seven miracles he mentions that are signs of His divinity. There are very real consequences for us to understand that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. For because of this we can be forgiven as He alone is the bridge between sinful people and a holy God. Because of this we don’t have to think of God as far off but as one who comes near us to help us in every battle we face in life. He is able to empathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15-16). Also this discovery that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine will help us to live balanced, well-adjusted lives as Christians. We won’t become so super spiritual and heavenly minded that we don’t care about the state of the world we live in and the very many needs of real people. Neither will we get so caught up in practical, good-works Christianity at the expense of our spiritual development. Nor will we divide our lives into the secular and sacred of church and everyday life. The real Jesus will help us live real lives in the real world with God and for God.
Do you daily live in the grace of God? Do you need a fresh revelation of God's grace for you? Jesus was the perfect combination of grace and truth (John 1:14-18). He came to uphold the laws and commandments of God, but He also showed mercy to all who broke those commandments. What drew people to Jesus? His knowledge, wisdom, teaching, and miracles? Of course, all of these did. But something else and very different stood out about Jesus: His grace and compassion for people. He befriended despised tax collectors and sinners. He offered forgiveness not condemnation to the woman caught in the act of adultery. And because of His great mercy He gave His life to rescue undeserving sinners. To show Jesus to our world we too must be very clear in our commitment to the teachings and standards of the Scriptures and the realities that all have sinned and face the judgement of God. But we must equally be loud and clear in communication the message of Salvation and reject harsh, self-righteous religion that is full of accusation and damnation.
Do you enjoy life and live in the light and life of Jesus every day? Jesus is the true light who overcomes all darkness and evil (John 1:4-13). When His light shines on us and in us, we really begin to experience and enjoy life. But we must choose to receive this light and not live lives of moral and spiritual darkness. Today if you will receive Jesus, you too can experience His light and life.
