John 1:14-18 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, *[and lived] but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known. NIV
The apostle John told us in the previous verses that Jesus came to save us. Now He says one of the most profound things in all of Scripture, truly the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Word became flesh..." The Word. What was the Word? Well, how did God create? God spoke and it was. God spoke and there were planets, stars, earth, the moon, day and night, man, beast, oceans and land, and everything that is. God spoke everything into existence. His Word became flesh. He is the Word because He is the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. Without God, nothing exists that is. God Spoke and down came Gabriel to visit the lovely young virgin Mary to give her the news. "Wake up Mary, God is blessing you with His Son, His One and Only by the way, and you will conceive this child by the power of the Holy Spirit."
If I were that thirteen year old virgin girl, I'd have been thinking surely I was dreaming. But there it was, next thing she knew she missed her monthly flow, then missed it again, and then she had to tell her parents. "Uh Mother, I need to talk to you..." Then the expected, "Oh Mary, just wait until your father gets home!"
Did they send her away in shame? Of course not. God had it all worked out. He even had Gabriel visit Joseph, the man she was engaged to, to tell him God was in control and Joseph should go ahead and marry the girl and raise the child with her. The angel even told him what to name this child.
God's Word became Jesus. Jesus is the Word. And Jesus was here from the beginning, with God. Jesus is God.
And lastly, I want to say, Jesus is inextricably linked to Scripture. That means inseparable. In the whole, Jesus lives in the entirety of the Holy Scriptures. You can trust in every Word of the Bible to steer Your life. With Jesus at the helm, your ship will never veer off course.
Let's get back to that issue of the Godhead. Many people are confused by the trinity. How can God be three persons in one? It may seem confusing but it really isn't a hard question to answer. I was born of my mother's womb and I am her daughter. I bore three sons and I am their mother. I'm married to Steve and I am his wife. But I'm not three different people. I am three distinct persons with different functions, but all are one person. In the same way, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are three distinct persons with differing roles. While our Creator achieved His roles quite differently and my analogy is oversimplified, it does make sense. After all, He is God. He can do anything.
Let's clarify further. God the Father determines the course of everything and provides for all our needs. My mother determined what was best for me and provided for all my needs. Jesus the Savior sacrificed everything for our sakes - took our sin upon himself so we could be saved. Anne the mother sacrificed much for the sake of my children to nurture and protect them. I would in fact give my life for them faced with that choice. God the Holy Spirit guides us, gives us discernment, "taps" us when we're moving in the wrong direction. Anne the wife defers to Steve in all decisions but through the wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit will turn his head as necessary and guide my children accordingly.
As Jesus walked among the people some two thousand years ago, he performed miracles. Not magic but true miracles. People saw and believed. Those who believed realized the power of God. Jesus taught as much as He could to His disciples before He gave up His life, so they could pass on the good news of salvation. God is merciful. He spoke, became flesh, walked among us, and died, so that we could live. Because He is merciful and He knows we can never live up to the law.
We can daily, even minute by minute confess if need be and He is always faithful and just to forgive us. But that doesn't let us off the hook. We must always be guarded, keep our eyes on the goal which is to strive for perfection, and do our best. And if you grieve over your sins, it is because you are a true believer. Just know that Jesus understands, forgives you and loves you enough to wait with you while you overcome whatever it is you struggle with.
Let's give Him praise and thanksgiving as He taught us in Scripture:
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations,his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; 13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. Psalm 96
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Heavenly Father, my the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16
In Your holy and precious name, we give thanks, amen.
Remembering you with His love and grace,
Mama anne
*[Bracketed comments mine.] You may remember Old Testament accounts of any who attempted to look upon God when He was carried with the Israelites in the Ark of the Covenant were visited with immediate death; 1 Sam 6:19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. NIV
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, *[and lived] but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known. NIV
The apostle John told us in the previous verses that Jesus came to save us. Now He says one of the most profound things in all of Scripture, truly the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Word became flesh..." The Word. What was the Word? Well, how did God create? God spoke and it was. God spoke and there were planets, stars, earth, the moon, day and night, man, beast, oceans and land, and everything that is. God spoke everything into existence. His Word became flesh. He is the Word because He is the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. Without God, nothing exists that is. God Spoke and down came Gabriel to visit the lovely young virgin Mary to give her the news. "Wake up Mary, God is blessing you with His Son, His One and Only by the way, and you will conceive this child by the power of the Holy Spirit."
If I were that thirteen year old virgin girl, I'd have been thinking surely I was dreaming. But there it was, next thing she knew she missed her monthly flow, then missed it again, and then she had to tell her parents. "Uh Mother, I need to talk to you..." Then the expected, "Oh Mary, just wait until your father gets home!"
Did they send her away in shame? Of course not. God had it all worked out. He even had Gabriel visit Joseph, the man she was engaged to, to tell him God was in control and Joseph should go ahead and marry the girl and raise the child with her. The angel even told him what to name this child.
God's Word became Jesus. Jesus is the Word. And Jesus was here from the beginning, with God. Jesus is God.
And lastly, I want to say, Jesus is inextricably linked to Scripture. That means inseparable. In the whole, Jesus lives in the entirety of the Holy Scriptures. You can trust in every Word of the Bible to steer Your life. With Jesus at the helm, your ship will never veer off course.
Let's get back to that issue of the Godhead. Many people are confused by the trinity. How can God be three persons in one? It may seem confusing but it really isn't a hard question to answer. I was born of my mother's womb and I am her daughter. I bore three sons and I am their mother. I'm married to Steve and I am his wife. But I'm not three different people. I am three distinct persons with different functions, but all are one person. In the same way, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are three distinct persons with differing roles. While our Creator achieved His roles quite differently and my analogy is oversimplified, it does make sense. After all, He is God. He can do anything.
Let's clarify further. God the Father determines the course of everything and provides for all our needs. My mother determined what was best for me and provided for all my needs. Jesus the Savior sacrificed everything for our sakes - took our sin upon himself so we could be saved. Anne the mother sacrificed much for the sake of my children to nurture and protect them. I would in fact give my life for them faced with that choice. God the Holy Spirit guides us, gives us discernment, "taps" us when we're moving in the wrong direction. Anne the wife defers to Steve in all decisions but through the wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit will turn his head as necessary and guide my children accordingly.
As Jesus walked among the people some two thousand years ago, he performed miracles. Not magic but true miracles. People saw and believed. Those who believed realized the power of God. Jesus taught as much as He could to His disciples before He gave up His life, so they could pass on the good news of salvation. God is merciful. He spoke, became flesh, walked among us, and died, so that we could live. Because He is merciful and He knows we can never live up to the law.
We can daily, even minute by minute confess if need be and He is always faithful and just to forgive us. But that doesn't let us off the hook. We must always be guarded, keep our eyes on the goal which is to strive for perfection, and do our best. And if you grieve over your sins, it is because you are a true believer. Just know that Jesus understands, forgives you and loves you enough to wait with you while you overcome whatever it is you struggle with.
Let's give Him praise and thanksgiving as He taught us in Scripture:
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations,his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; 13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. Psalm 96
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Heavenly Father, my the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16
In Your holy and precious name, we give thanks, amen.
Remembering you with His love and grace,
Mama anne
*[Bracketed comments mine.] You may remember Old Testament accounts of any who attempted to look upon God when He was carried with the Israelites in the Ark of the Covenant were visited with immediate death; 1 Sam 6:19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. NIV
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