2026-4-26 Who is Jesus Anyway

Apr 26, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When the Word Became Flesh

John’s pen cuts through eternity: “In the beginning, the Word already existed.” Before time, before creation, Jesus was with God—and was God. The uncaused cause stepped into skin, pitching His tent among us. Light invaded darkness, life pulsed through dead veins. John writes so doubters become believers, spectators become children. [42:38]

This changes everything. The God who spoke galaxies into being now speaks through human cries. He didn’t send a philosophy or a rulebook—He came Himself. When storms flood your life, this truth anchors: the Word who calmed chaos still holds your breath.

You face floods—literal or emotional. Jesus steps into your rising waters, not as a distant deity but as flesh-and-blood rescue. Where have you boxed God into “abstract ideas” instead of embracing Him as the living Word?

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”
(John 1:1-4, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to rewrite your storms with His presence, not just His principles.
Challenge: Write one “I am” statement from John’s Gospel on a sticky note. Place it where you’ll see it hourly.

Day 2: Bread, Light, and Unlocked Gates

Jesus didn’t whisper metaphors. He declared, “I AM”—claiming God’s sacred name. Bread for starved souls. Light for blinded hearts. The Gate swinging open to rebels. The Shepherd tracking down strays. Each statement rips through religion’s veil, revealing God’s face. [40:48]

These aren’t spiritual slogans. They’re lifelines. When your child dies, your faith frays, or culture drowns truth, Jesus says, “I AM what you need.” He doesn’t just give bread—He is bread. Not just guidance—He is light. Not a path—He is the Way.

You’re holding broken pieces. Which “I AM” meets your deepest lack? If Jesus truly is the Resurrection, why fear death’s shadow?

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
(John 14:6, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for being the exact “I AM” you need most today.
Challenge: Tell one person which “I AM” statement anchors you. Use their name in your explanation.

Day 3: Written So You’d Believe

John closes his Gospel with surgical purpose: “These are written that you may believe.” Every healed blind man, every storm-stilled moment, every tear at Lazarus’ tomb—curated for your doubt. He knows faith falters when graves stay shut. [37:36]

God authors stories to fuel faith, not fairy tales. John selected signs to sustain believers through Roman persecutions, family betrayals, and Emmett-sized griefs. Your crisis isn’t excluded—it’s why he wrote.

What trial makes you question Jesus’ identity? How would clinging to John’s purpose change your next 24 hours?

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
(John 20:31, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one doubt to Jesus, then pray John 20:31 over it aloud.
Challenge: Read John 20:31 three times today—morning, noon, and night.

Day 4: Sparrows in the Snowstorm

The farmer watched sparrows freeze, terrified of his rescue. So God became a sparrow. Jesus entered our blizzard, flapping helpless wings, chirping our language. The stable door stood open, but we hid. So He walked into our storm. [52:58]

Incarnation isn’t poetry—it’s proximity. Jesus didn’t shout instructions from heaven’s barn. He waded into our snowdrifts, frostbitten and shivering. When you scream “Why?” into the void, He doesn’t quote theology. He shows scars.

Who in your life feels trapped in a blizzard? How can you be Jesus’ hands—not just His hashtags?

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”
(John 1:10-11, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to make you a warm barn for someone’s blizzard today.
Challenge: Buy groceries for a struggling neighbor. Hand-deliver them with no sermon.

Day 5: Reborn from the Unseen

John redefines family: “Born not of natural descent, nor of human decision—but born of God.” Your spiritual DNA outlasts cemeteries. When the doctor pronounces “dead,” heaven whispers “alive.” Emmett’s heartbeat didn’t stop—it synced with eternity. [54:05]

Rebirth isn’t metaphor. It’s a legal adoption signed in blood. You don’t earn it, debate it, or outgrow it. You receive it. Skeptics become sons. Orphans become heirs.

Have you settled for a human-centered life when God offers a blood-bought rebirth?

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
(John 1:12-13, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for rewriting your lineage. If you’ve never received Him, say John 1:12 aloud now.
Challenge: Write “Born of God” on your mirror. Each morning, declare it while brushing your teeth.

Sermon Summary

Church life and suffering meet practical faith as the gospel of John becomes the catalyst for living an everyday life surrendered to God. Romans 12:1-2 invites ordinary routines—sleeping, eating, working—to become offerings, calling for an inner transformation that resists cultural conformity and matures character. Scripture functions as a living voice: every time the Bible opens, a specific word from God intends to provoke wonder, response, and practical change. Identity emerges from divine intention; every person exists uniquely on purpose, and discovering that purpose clarifies who God intends one to be and what God intends one to do.

The Gospel of John receives focused attention as the book that most fully reveals who Jesus claimed to be and why the world should continue to believe. John writes with clear intent: selected signs and words aim to produce ongoing belief that Jesus is the Messiah and to grant life by the power of his name. The prologue declares the Word as eternal, the uncaused cause, through whom all things were created, and the startling truth that the Word became flesh and lived among humans. The historical gap of four hundred silent years intensifies the need for this visible revelation, explaining why God linked divinity to humanity.

Seven foundational “I am” statements structure Jesus’ self-revelation—bread of life, light of the world, door, good shepherd, resurrection and life, way-truth-life, and true vine—each offering a distinct dimension of salvation, sustenance, guidance, protection, victory over death, exclusive access to the Father, and abiding spiritual union. Rejection and acceptance form a hinge: the world may not recognize its Creator, but those who receive and believe obtain the right to become children of God, reborn by divine origin rather than human will.

A parable-like account about birds and a farmer illuminates why God became human: to enter human experience, speak a comprehensible language, and invite trust. Testimony from deep personal grief underscores that, even amid unbearable loss, life proceeds by the power of Jesus’ name—offering hope that belief not only explains truth but sustains life. An explicit invitation concludes with an appeal to accept Jesus and enter God’s family, with prayer support offered for those seeking next steps.

Key Takeaways

1. Offer ordinary life to God Personal routines become spiritual offerings when intentionally placed before God. This reorientation turns everyday choices into means of transformation, forcing alignment of desires, work, and rest with divine purposes. Over time, small acts of surrender reshape identity and practical priorities, producing maturity that resists cultural drift. [30:36]
2. Scripture speaks to each person Opening the Bible invites a personal address from God that requires pondering and concrete response. The Scriptures aim not merely at information but at formation, calling for questions like What will I do now? and How will I live differently? Active note-taking and reflection convert hearing into obedience and growth. [31:57]
3. Jesus is the uncaused cause The Word precedes creation and functions as the ultimate source of all being, grounding truth in an eternal person. This ontological claim secures meaning, purpose, and moral order beyond cultural opinion and temporal silence. Knowing the Creator as present in history changes how suffering, origin, and destiny are understood. [44:24]
4. Belief grants adoption and life Receiving and accepting Jesus confers the right to become God’s child and initiates a birth from God, not human effort. This new status transforms belonging, hope, and destiny, anchoring identity in divine family rather than circumstance. In trials, that adoption offers sustaining power and the promise of resurrection life. [49:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:07] - Flooding and local context
[30:00] - Introduction and background
[30:36] - Romans 12 applied to life
[31:57] - Scripture as God’s voice
[32:45] - Created uniquely on purpose
[34:43] - Introducing the Gospel of John
[37:36] - Why John wrote his Gospel
[38:35] - Personal testimony of grief
[40:23] - The seven I am statements
[42:38] - John 1:1 prologue explained
[45:38] - The Word became flesh
[48:42] - Rejection, belief, and adoption
[52:06] - Farmer and birds illustration
[54:25] - Invitation and prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 1:1-14 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [...] 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 20:31 (NIV)
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Observation Questions

According to John 1:1-3, what three truths are revealed about the Word (Jesus)?
What specific purpose does John 20:31 give for the writing of the Gospel of John?
How does John 1:14 connect the eternal Word (described in verses 1-5) to human experience?

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that the Word “became flesh” (John 1:14) instead of remaining distant or invisible? How does this relate to the story about the farmer and the birds? [53:24]
John 20:31 emphasizes belief leading to “life in his name.” What might “life” mean here—eternal life, purpose, hope, or something else? How do these ideas connect to the sermon’s emphasis on everyday surrender?
In John 1:10-12, the world “did not recognize him,” but those who believed became “children of God.” Why might people reject or struggle to recognize Jesus’ identity even today?

Application Questions

Romans 12:1-2 challenges us to offer our “everyday life” to God. What ordinary routine (e.g., work, meals, chores) could you intentionally surrender this week as an act of worship? How might this reshape your perspective? [30:36]
The sermon described Scripture as a “living voice” that demands a response. When you open the Bible, what practical step could you take to move from hearing to obeying (e.g., journaling, sharing with a friend, changing a habit)? [31:57]
Jesus’ “I am” statements (like “bread of life” or “good shepherd”) address specific human needs. Which of these statements feels most relevant to your current struggles or season? How could you lean into that truth today?
The farmer in the story became a bird to save the flock. How does Jesus’ willingness to enter human suffering (John 1:14) encourage you to trust Him in your own pain or grief? [41:51]
John 1:12 says belief grants adoption into God’s family. If you’ve accepted this, how does your identity as a “child of God” change how you face failure, fear, or rejection? If not, what hesitations hold you back? [54:25]

Sermon Clips

32s

#GodSpeaksDaily

“One thing I always like to remind myself, and I'll say it out loud often, is every time we open the bible, God opens his mouth. And every time God opens his mouth, he has something specific to say to each one of us. And every time he has something specifically to say to each one of us, we ought to be wandering and pondering. There ought to be some healthy tension in there that goes, jeez, what am I to do with this? Now what? Now how should I respond and make it practical in my everyday and ordinary life.”

40s

#BelieveForLife

“John tells us that he wrote these words that John wrote these words so that we may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and that by believing, we would have life by the power of his name. And the word and is key because if if or when the worst thing that you can imagine ever happens to you, The book of John was written so that we could continue to believe in Jesus, the son of God, and that you would have life by the power of his name. This will really, really matter.”

57s

#TruthOverPerception

“Let's say that a dad had been taken away from his family when his only child was two years old, and then came back when the child was a grown woman at age 52. And between age two and 52, nothing. No news about dad, no rumors about dad, zero instructions from her father, zero interactions from dad. He simply vanished for fifty years. Then at age 52, he shows up. Can you blame the woman for having a little bit of a hard time not only not recognizing her father, but actually believing that it was really him? She hadn't even seen him before. Even though it was a 100% true. And here's the key point of studying God. There are things that are absolutely true. Absolute truths.”

22s

#JesusOnlyWay

“In the book of John, we know why it was written, to give us overwhelming evidence that Jesus is the only savior and the only way. It's also there to give us overwhelming confidence when all heck is breaking loose in our life, that we can continue to live by the power of his name.”

37s

#TruthMatters

“Even though this 52 year old lady might not have believed that this guy was her father, even if her opinion said, in in her opinion, he wasn't. Was he still? Was he still her father anyway? I mean, what does her opinion matter as far as what the truth is? Nothing. But what does her opinion matter as far as her benefiting from the truth? Everything. It matters to everything.”

24s

#SeeYouAgain

“I can't tell you how reassuring it is, even in the agony of tears and anger with God, how reassuring it is to know that we will see Emmett. That's what we hang on to. That's what you can hang on to. That's what your family can hang on to if you're a follower of Jesus.”

49s

#CreatedOnPurpose

“I believe just so you know, I believe that God created everyone who has ever lived in the past, is alive today, and anyone that will be born in the future. I also believe that God created everyone intentionally, on purpose, in a unique, one of a kind way. And if that's true, as I believe it to be true, a good question to ask is, why? Why did God create me? You, your parents, your children, your neighbors, your siblings, everyone, to be unique and one of a kind. I believe that part of the answer has to do with what God wants to accomplish in us and through us.”

33s

#WhoIsJesus

“In the world surrounding Jerusalem, when Jesus began his ministry at age 30, I'll bet that was the number one question that was going on in the minds of the Jewish people that day. Who is this guy? Who is he? The book of John discloses more character traits than any other book of of Jesus, than any other book in the New Testament. And Jesus discloses more of what he says about himself than any other book in the Bible. John was one of the very closest disciples of Jesus.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Cheboygan Covenant Church This sermon · AI assistant

What is the purpose of the Gospel of John?

Why did God become a human among people?

How does belief give right to become children of God?

2026-4-26 Who is Jesus Anyway

Devotional

Day 1: When the Word Became Flesh

Day 2: Bread, Light, and Unlocked Gates

Day 3: Written So You’d Believe

Day 4: Sparrows in the Snowstorm

Day 5: Reborn from the Unseen

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

2026-4-26 Who is Jesus Anyway

Share