Divine Wisdom Revealed: The Paradox of Christ
Summary
In the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 16, we are reminded of the profound truth that everything we have as Christians is due to the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. This verse speaks of the fullness we have received from Him, grace upon grace. The Incarnation, the coming of the Son of God, is the pivotal event that allows us to partake in this fullness. Jesus accomplished everything necessary for our salvation, and He continues to intercede for us, awaiting the day when He will return to complete His glorious work.
The wisdom and understanding of life are found only in Christ. Without Him, there is no true knowledge of God or ourselves. The world often believes it understands itself, but true self-knowledge comes only through Jesus. He exposes the deceitfulness of the human heart and offers a true understanding of humanity. The world is divided by its perception of Jesus, a division that has existed since His birth. He is a source of division because He challenges the world's wisdom and values.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, highlights how God's wisdom, revealed in Jesus, makes the wisdom of the world look foolish. The world values power, grandeur, and human achievement, but Jesus' birth, life, and death defy these expectations. Born in a humble stable, to a lowly Hebrew maid, Jesus' life was marked by simplicity and humility. His birth was announced to shepherds, not to the wise or powerful, emphasizing that God's wisdom is hidden from the proud and revealed to the humble.
The paradox of Jesus' life—His divinity veiled in humanity, His strength in weakness—demonstrates the foolishness of the world's wisdom. The world cannot comprehend the mystery of God manifest in the flesh. Only through divine revelation can one truly understand and know Jesus. The message of the Incarnation is that God's wisdom and power are revealed in ways that confound human understanding, and it is through grace that we are saved.
Key Takeaways:
1. The fullness of life and grace we receive is entirely due to Jesus Christ's coming into the world. His Incarnation is the foundation of our salvation and ongoing intercession. This truth calls us to live in His power and strength, recognizing that our identity and hope are rooted in Him. [01:34]
2. True wisdom and understanding of life are found only in Christ. The world may claim knowledge, but without Jesus, it lacks true insight into God and humanity. In Him, we find the revelation of God's nature and the truth about ourselves. [03:21]
3. Jesus' life and birth defy worldly expectations of greatness. Born in humility, His life challenges the world's values of power and grandeur. This paradox reveals the foolishness of human wisdom and the true nature of divine wisdom. [17:17]
4. The division Jesus causes is rooted in the world's inability to comprehend His nature. The world is divided into those who believe in Him and those who reject Him. This division highlights the contrast between God's wisdom and the world's understanding. [06:33]
5. The mystery of the Incarnation is that God's wisdom is hidden from the proud and revealed to the humble. Only through divine revelation can one truly know Jesus. This truth emphasizes the grace by which we are saved and the power of God in salvation. [40:06]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to the Text
- [00:28] - The Fullness of Christ
- [01:04] - The Incarnation and Salvation
- [02:21] - Living in His Power
- [03:08] - Wisdom in Christ
- [04:24] - Understanding Ourselves
- [05:59] - The Division Caused by Jesus
- [08:05] - The Foolishness of Worldly Wisdom
- [12:17] - Exposing False Glory
- [17:17] - The Paradox of Jesus' Birth
- [20:43] - The Humility of Christ's Birth
- [28:42] - Revealing True Glory
- [36:22] - The Wisdom of the Hidden Christ
- [40:06] - The Mystery of the Incarnation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 1:16
- 1 Corinthians 1:20-25
- Jeremiah 17:9-10
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Observation Questions:
1. What does John 1:16 mean when it says, "of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace"? How does this relate to the concept of the Incarnation? [00:10]
2. According to the sermon, how does the Apostle Paul describe the wisdom of God in contrast to the wisdom of the world in 1 Corinthians 1:20-25? [08:18]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the paradox of Jesus' life and birth, particularly in terms of worldly expectations of greatness? [17:17]
4. What does Jeremiah 17:9-10 reveal about human self-knowledge, and how does this connect to the sermon’s message about true understanding in Christ? [04:07]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "grace upon grace" in John 1:16 shape our understanding of the continuous nature of God's grace in our lives? [02:21]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' humble birth challenges the world's values of power and grandeur? How does this reflect the wisdom of God? [20:43]
3. How does the division caused by Jesus, as mentioned in the sermon, highlight the contrast between God's wisdom and the world's understanding? [06:33]
4. What does the sermon imply about the necessity of divine revelation to truly know Jesus, and how does this relate to the hidden wisdom mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:20-25? [40:06]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the idea that our identity and hope are rooted in Jesus Christ. How can you live more fully in His power and strength this week? [01:34]
2. The sermon emphasizes that true wisdom is found only in Christ. What steps can you take to seek wisdom from God rather than relying on worldly knowledge? [03:21]
3. Jesus' life defied worldly expectations of greatness. How can you embrace humility in your own life, following His example? [17:17]
4. Consider the division Jesus causes in the world. How can you engage in conversations about faith with those who may have different beliefs, while maintaining respect and love? [06:33]
5. The sermon highlights the mystery of the Incarnation. How can you cultivate a sense of wonder and gratitude for the ways God reveals Himself in your life? [40:06]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the deceitfulness of the human heart. How can you invite God to search your heart and reveal areas that need transformation? [04:07]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel the world's wisdom is at odds with God's wisdom. How can you align your actions and thoughts more closely with God's truth? [09:39]
Devotional
Day 1: The Foundation of Our Salvation
The fullness of life and grace we receive is entirely due to Jesus Christ's coming into the world. His Incarnation is the foundation of our salvation and ongoing intercession. This truth calls us to live in His power and strength, recognizing that our identity and hope are rooted in Him. Jesus' coming into the world was not just a historical event but a transformative moment that continues to impact our lives today. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. He now intercedes for us, ensuring that we have access to the fullness of life and grace. This calls us to live in the power and strength that comes from knowing our identity and hope are firmly rooted in Him. [01:34]
Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV): "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight."
Reflection: How can you live today in the power and strength that comes from knowing your identity and hope are rooted in Jesus?
Day 2: True Wisdom in Christ
True wisdom and understanding of life are found only in Christ. The world may claim knowledge, but without Jesus, it lacks true insight into God and humanity. In Him, we find the revelation of God's nature and the truth about ourselves. The world often believes it understands itself, but true self-knowledge comes only through Jesus. He exposes the deceitfulness of the human heart and offers a true understanding of humanity. This wisdom is not just intellectual but transformative, leading us to live lives that reflect God's nature and truth. [03:21]
Colossians 2:2-3 (ESV): "That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Reflection: In what ways can you seek Christ's wisdom today to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and God?
Day 3: The Paradox of Jesus' Birth
Jesus' life and birth defy worldly expectations of greatness. Born in humility, His life challenges the world's values of power and grandeur. This paradox reveals the foolishness of human wisdom and the true nature of divine wisdom. Jesus' birth in a humble stable, announced to shepherds rather than the powerful, emphasizes that God's wisdom is hidden from the proud and revealed to the humble. His life, marked by simplicity and humility, defies the world's expectations and challenges us to reevaluate our values and priorities. [17:17]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: How can you embrace humility in your life today, following the example of Jesus' birth and life?
Day 4: The Division Caused by Jesus
The division Jesus causes is rooted in the world's inability to comprehend His nature. The world is divided into those who believe in Him and those who reject Him. This division highlights the contrast between God's wisdom and the world's understanding. Jesus challenges the world's wisdom and values, exposing the limitations of human understanding. This division is not just a matter of belief but a reflection of the deeper spiritual realities that separate those who accept God's wisdom from those who rely on their own. [06:33]
John 7:43-44 (ESV): "So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him."
Reflection: How can you stand firm in your faith today, even when faced with division or misunderstanding from the world?
Day 5: The Mystery of the Incarnation
The mystery of the Incarnation is that God's wisdom is hidden from the proud and revealed to the humble. Only through divine revelation can one truly know Jesus. This truth emphasizes the grace by which we are saved and the power of God in salvation. The Incarnation, God manifest in the flesh, is a profound mystery that confounds human understanding. It is only through grace and divine revelation that we can truly know and understand Jesus. This calls us to humility, recognizing that our knowledge and salvation are gifts from God. [40:06]
Matthew 11:25-26 (ESV): "At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate humility today to be open to the divine revelation of Jesus in your life?
Quotes
In the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 16, we are reminded of the profound truth that everything we have as Christians is due to the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. This verse speaks of the fullness we have received from Him, grace upon grace. The Incarnation, the coming of the Son of God, is the pivotal event that allows us to partake in this fullness. [00:00:10]
The wisdom and understanding of life are found only in Christ. Without Him, there is no true knowledge of God or ourselves. The world often believes it understands itself, but true self-knowledge comes only through Jesus. He exposes the deceitfulness of the human heart and offers a true understanding of humanity. [00:03:08]
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, highlights how God's wisdom, revealed in Jesus, makes the wisdom of the world look foolish. The world values power, grandeur, and human achievement, but Jesus' birth, life, and death defy these expectations. Born in a humble stable, to a lowly Hebrew maid, Jesus' life was marked by simplicity and humility. [00:17:17]
The paradox of Jesus' life—His divinity veiled in humanity, His strength in weakness—demonstrates the foolishness of the world's wisdom. The world cannot comprehend the mystery of God manifest in the flesh. Only through divine revelation can one truly understand and know Jesus. [00:40:06]
The fullness of life and grace we receive is entirely due to Jesus Christ's coming into the world. His Incarnation is the foundation of our salvation and ongoing intercession. This truth calls us to live in His power and strength, recognizing that our identity and hope are rooted in Him. [00:01:04]
True wisdom and understanding of life are found only in Christ. The world may claim knowledge, but without Jesus, it lacks true insight into God and humanity. In Him, we find the revelation of God's nature and the truth about ourselves. [00:03:21]
Jesus' life and birth defy worldly expectations of greatness. Born in humility, His life challenges the world's values of power and grandeur. This paradox reveals the foolishness of human wisdom and the true nature of divine wisdom. [00:17:17]
The division Jesus causes is rooted in the world's inability to comprehend His nature. The world is divided into those who believe in Him and those who reject Him. This division highlights the contrast between God's wisdom and the world's understanding. [00:06:33]
The mystery of the Incarnation is that God's wisdom is hidden from the proud and revealed to the humble. Only through divine revelation can one truly know Jesus. This truth emphasizes the grace by which we are saved and the power of God in salvation. [00:40:06]
The world is divided by its perception of Jesus, a division that has existed since His birth. He is a source of division because He challenges the world's wisdom and values. [00:06:33]
The wisdom of God is a hidden wisdom, and it is the things of Christ, the glory of God, the wisdom of God, that are hidden. If you come with your human categories, you'll never see it. It's hid as it were in a parel, and you've got to see through. [00:34:22]
The message of the Incarnation is that God's wisdom and power are revealed in ways that confound human understanding, and it is through grace that we are saved. [00:40:06]
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