The Incarnation: Jesus as God, Savior, and Light
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truths found in John chapter 1, focusing on the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. This Advent season, as we celebrate the coming of Christ, we are reminded of the incredible mystery and majesty of God becoming man. The Gospel of John opens with the declaration that Jesus is the Word, who was with God and was God from the beginning. This foundational truth affirms the divinity of Christ, countering any notion that Jesus became God through His earthly life. Instead, He has always been God, eternally existent with the Father.
The passage also highlights Jesus as the only begotten Son, emphasizing His unique nature as both fully divine and fully human. The term "begotten" signifies the Word becoming flesh, dwelling among us, and revealing the glory of God. This incarnation was necessary for our salvation, as only through His humanity could Jesus die for our sins, offering us grace and truth.
Furthermore, we discussed the significance of Jesus' name, which means "Jehovah saves." This name encapsulates His mission to save His people from their sins, establishing Him as the sole source of salvation. Jesus is not merely a great moral teacher; He is the Messiah, the Christ, the long-awaited King who brings an eternal kingdom encompassing all nations.
We also reflected on Jesus as the Creator of all things, affirming His role in the divine Trinity. Through Him, all things were made, and He holds the universe together by His power. This truth reassures us that if He can sustain the cosmos, He can certainly hold our lives together.
Finally, Jesus is the light of the world, shining in the darkness and offering life to all who believe. His light dispels the darkness of sin and death, inviting us into a personal relationship with God. This relationship is not about religion but about being known and loved by the Creator.
Key Takeaways:
1. Jesus is God: From the beginning, Jesus was with God and was God, affirming His eternal divinity. This truth is crucial as it distinguishes Christianity from other beliefs that suggest Jesus became God. His divine nature assures us of His authority and power to save. [44:05]
2. The Incarnation: Jesus, the only begotten Son, became flesh to dwell among us, revealing God's glory. This act of becoming human was essential for our salvation, as it allowed Him to die for our sins and offer us grace and truth. [51:24]
3. Salvation in Jesus' Name: The name Jesus means "Jehovah saves," highlighting His mission to save humanity from sin. This name is significant because it underscores that salvation is found in no other name but Jesus Christ. [58:59]
4. Creator and Sustainer: Jesus, as the Word, is the Creator of all things, holding the universe together by His power. This truth reassures us that He is capable of sustaining our lives and bringing order to our chaos. [01:05:25]
5. Light of the World: Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, offering life and hope to all who believe. His light dispels the darkness of sin, inviting us into a transformative relationship with God. [01:14:19]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[44:05] - Jesus is God
[45:17] - The Word Became Flesh
[46:56] - Jesus' Eternal Divinity
[48:51] - C.S. Lewis on Jesus' Divinity
[49:51] - The Meaning of Begotten
[51:24] - Jesus' Humanity and Divinity
[52:51] - Jesus in the Old Testament
[54:49] - Jesus' Obedience and Sacrifice
[56:59] - Salvation in Jesus' Name
[58:59] - Jesus the Messiah
[01:00:32] - Jesus as Creator
[01:02:40] - The Trinity in Creation
[01:04:08] - Jesus Holds All Things Together
[01:05:25] - Jesus' Power in Our Lives
[01:10:42] - Jesus, the Light of the World
[01:14:19] - Light Shining in Darkness
[01:16:14] - Jesus' Call to Salvation
[01:17:11] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 1:1-14
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Observation Questions:
1. What does John 1:1-3 reveal about the nature and role of Jesus in creation? How does this passage affirm His divinity? [44:05]
2. In John 1:14, what is the significance of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us? How does this relate to the concept of Jesus being the "only begotten Son"? [45:17]
3. How does the sermon describe the meaning of Jesus' name and its significance in the context of salvation? [58:59]
4. According to the sermon, how is Jesus portrayed as the light of the world, and what impact does this have on those who believe in Him? [01:14:19]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the eternal existence of Jesus with God challenge or support your understanding of His divinity and role in the Trinity? [46:56]
2. What does the incarnation of Jesus teach us about God's plan for salvation and His willingness to enter into human history? [51:24]
3. In what ways does the name "Jesus" encapsulate His mission and purpose on earth, according to the sermon? [58:59]
4. How does understanding Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer of all things influence our trust in His ability to manage the complexities of our lives? [01:05:25]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the truth that Jesus is God from the beginning. How does this understanding affect your daily life and faith journey? [44:05]
2. The incarnation of Jesus is central to our salvation. How can you live out the reality of Jesus dwelling among us in your interactions with others this week? [51:24]
3. Jesus' name means "Jehovah saves." How can you actively share the message of salvation with someone in your life who may not know Jesus? [58:59]
4. Considering Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer, what areas of your life do you need to surrender to His control and trust in His sustaining power? [01:05:25]
5. Jesus is the light of the world. Identify a specific area of darkness in your life or community where you can bring the light of Christ. What steps will you take to shine His light there? [01:14:19]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper personal relationship with Jesus, moving beyond religious practices to truly knowing and being known by Him? [01:08:49]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about Jesus holding the universe together. How can this truth bring peace to a current chaotic situation in your life? [01:06:43]
Devotional
Day 1: The Eternal Divinity of Jesus
The Gospel of John begins with a profound declaration: Jesus is the Word, who was with God and was God from the very beginning. This foundational truth affirms the eternal divinity of Christ, countering any notion that Jesus became God through His earthly life. Instead, He has always been God, eternally existent with the Father. This understanding is crucial as it distinguishes Christianity from other beliefs that suggest Jesus became divine over time. His divine nature assures us of His authority and power to save, providing a firm foundation for our faith. [44:05]
"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 was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3, ESV)
Reflection: How does acknowledging Jesus' eternal divinity change the way you approach Him in prayer and worship today?
Day 2: The Mystery of the Incarnation
The incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, is a profound mystery that reveals the glory of God. Jesus, the only begotten Son, became flesh to dwell among us, fully divine and fully human. This act was essential for our salvation, as it allowed Him to die for our sins and offer us grace and truth. The term "begotten" signifies the unique nature of Jesus, emphasizing His role in revealing God's glory to humanity. Through His humanity, Jesus connects with our struggles and offers a path to redemption. [51:24]
"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 1:14, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the mystery of the incarnation in your daily life, allowing it to deepen your understanding of God's love for you?
Day 3: Salvation in the Name of Jesus
The name Jesus means "Jehovah saves," highlighting His mission to save humanity from sin. This name is significant because it underscores that salvation is found in no other name but Jesus Christ. He is not merely a great moral teacher; He is the Messiah, the Christ, the long-awaited King who brings an eternal kingdom encompassing all nations. This truth invites us to trust in Jesus as the sole source of salvation, offering hope and redemption to all who believe. [58:59]
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, ESV)
Reflection: Consider someone in your life who needs to hear about the salvation found in Jesus. How can you share this message with them in a loving and authentic way?
Day 4: Jesus, the Creator and Sustainer
Jesus, as the Word, is the Creator of all things, holding the universe together by His power. This truth reassures us that if He can sustain the cosmos, He can certainly hold our lives together. His role in the divine Trinity affirms His authority and power over all creation, providing us with confidence in His ability to bring order to our chaos. As we reflect on Jesus as Creator, we are reminded of His intimate involvement in our lives and His desire to sustain us through every circumstance. [01:05:25]
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: What area of your life feels chaotic or out of control? How can you invite Jesus to bring His sustaining power into that area today?
Day 5: Jesus, the Light of the World
Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, offering life and hope to all who believe. His light dispels the darkness of sin and death, inviting us into a personal relationship with God. This relationship is not about religion but about being known and loved by the Creator. As the light of the world, Jesus illuminates our path, guiding us toward truth and life. Embracing His light transforms our lives, enabling us to reflect His love and grace to those around us. [01:14:19]
"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him." (John 1:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you allow the light of Jesus to shine through you today, bringing hope and encouragement to someone in need?
Quotes
"The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about him and cried out saying, this was he of whom I said, he who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for he existed before me. For all his fullness we have received, and grace upon grace." [00:45:17] (26 seconds)
"This first verse, in the beginning was the word, describing Jesus as the word, in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God. The word was in the beginning. And the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God, so from the beginning, Jesus was God." [00:46:56] (22 seconds)
"And this is what it means. Right here, this is the meaning of begotten. John 1.14, the word became flesh. That's what begotten means. The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory. Glory is the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. He became human." [00:51:24] (21 seconds)
"Jesus Christ is God, the son made flesh, fully divine and fully human, in integral unity of his purpose. Jesus Christ is God, the son made flesh, fully divine and fully human, without confusion or separation of his natures. I didn't write that. I found that somewhere. And that's important." [00:58:59] (16 seconds)
"All things came into being through him, and apart from him, nothing came into being that has come into being. So everything that is created, everything that exists in this created universe was created by Jesus because he's the word. When we think of God, we often think of him as a creator, and Jesus is the origin." [01:00:32] (27 seconds)
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. You know what's interesting about the universe and how it's made and the molecular structure of the universe? I'm no physicist by any means, but I do understand this. They don't understand what's holding it together. They've tried to surmise that there's some kind of black matter, some kind of negative force that's counteracting the positive force." [01:04:08] (30 seconds)
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