December 15, 2019 | Dr. Jamie Dew
Passage: John 1:1-18
In the Incarnation, Christ models humility and selflessness.
Explanation: Notice how John introduces Christ and what he says about him (vs. 1-5). This is the divine son who has come down to us. The exalted one has taken a lowly form by taking on flesh.
- vs. 1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
- Mark 10:35-45. “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Philippians 2:5. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
In the Incarnation, Christ brings redemption and hope to the world.
Explanation: Notice what John says about Jesus bringing life (vs. 4), light, (vs. 9), sonship (vs. 12), and grace & truth (vs. 14-17). It is in Him and through Him that we have these blessings.
- vs. 4 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
- vs. 12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
- vs. 14-17 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Moral and Evangelical Implications: His light is a light that brings life and salvation. As His light was sent forth by the Father, His light must also be sent forth by the church and His people. In short, we go because He has come.
Biblical Examples:
- Matthew 28:18-20. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Acts 1:8. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In the Incarnation, Christ makes it possible to know the Father.
Explanation: Notice what John has to say about the way Jesus reveals the Father to us (vs. 18). Unless God chooses to reveal Himself to us, we would be forever blind, never knowing anything about God, for as John says, “No one has seen God at any time.” This revelation is given most fully in the incarnation of Christ as Christ declared Him to us.
- vs. 18, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
Moral and Evangelical Implications: We resist the constant urge to create God in our own image, as we would have Him to be. The one that wants to know God must look to Christ to see what is actually true about God. We carefully observe what He does, and what He says. Once observed, we strive to follow.
Biblical Examples:
- John 14:8-9. “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’.”
- Hebrews 1:1. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Discussion Questions:
- How well do we imitate Christ’s humility and selflessness? Do we place others last in service to them, or place ourselves first in domination? Does our life look like Christ’s life?
- Are we active in sharing Christ’s love and hope with those who need it most? Where do we do this well? Where do we fail?
- Do we think of Christ as the revelation of God? How does this change the way we read the Gospels?
Series Information
