Summary: John pointed out that Jesus is true God as well as true man. His diety as well as his manhood were required for him to assure our salvation.
The Gospel of John was the last of the four Gospels written around 85 A.D. by the Apostle called “the disciple Jesus loved.” Where the first three Gospels have many of the same stories, language and events described, the Gospel of John is different. Where the Synoptic Gospels often pointed out the stories of the Son of Man, John paints a picture of the Son of God.
It wasn’t just the events around His life or the activities that He was involved with. It wasn’t just the people He cured, the dead He resurrected or the miracles He performed. It’s more that what He did, but also who He is. Tonight I want to look at who Jesus really is and what that means to us.
Jesus, Eternal Being
John starts his book with the simple words “In the beginning.” This is the same language that’s used in the beginning of the Bible at Genesis 1:1 to talk about everything before creation even happened. Before the world, before the universe, before mankind was created, Jesus was there. Before history, before even time, He was there. Jesus was able to observe all the activities on earth before He chose to bear our burdens. He watched as Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were marshaled out of the Garden of Eden. He watched as Cain disagreed with Abel’s sacrifice and committed the first murder. He watched as evil continued to flourish on the earth and the great flood started things anew for eight people and an arc full of animals. He watched the conquest of the Promised Land and the lives of the judges and kings. Jesus knew what sinners were capable of and how they treated each other.
He came into this world fully aware of what was going to happen to Him, fully aware of the brutality this world would inflict on Him and fully aware of the suffering He would endure on our behalf.
Jesus, The ëüãïò (logos)
In the beginning, Jesus was there. The eternal nature by itself shows the deity of Jesus, but John had a lot more to say.
In the first verse, John uses the word ëüãïò (logos) , which we see translated in the English version as “word.” Ëüãïò (logos) was an interesting word choice because it had meaning both to the Romans as well as the Jews. To the Romans, this word meant more than the written word. It meant the unspoken word, rational thought, reason. When they used logos to describe the world, it meant the principle behind the world that makes it function. The Jews used it in a more straight forward manner as a description of God. In this way, John used a word that was familiar both to the Romans as well as the Jews. Each had a slightly different view of what that word meant, and both were correct.
John continued with his description. The Word was more than an eternal creature. He was more than a rational being behind the scenes. Through Him all things were made. Jesus was more than a logical creature watching creation go on around Him. He was part of the process separating the light from the darkness, and the land from the sea. Jesus, maker of all things, creator.
This news wasn’t restricted to John’s Gospel only. When God decided to make man, we find in Genesis 1:26 (NIV) God said, “Let us make man in our image.” We see the use of a plural word to show God’s motives. We see more than one described in this simple word. Repeatedly throughout scripture we find a reference to only one God, yet we find indications that there is more than one as well. Jesus was part of creation mentioned in both the Old and the New Testaments. He was God along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, the Light Shining in the Darkness
His role didn’t end at creation. With His appearance on earth, he was able to shine light in the darkness, show us the path to salvation, reveal our sin and lead us toward the heavenly light. He was the only one who could show us how to assure our salvation. But, not because of any actions we can take on our own account. But, only because of the Gracious love of a father who truly cares for His children. Only by Grace and through faith can we share in the hope of salvation and eternal life.
Jesus, True Man
He accomplished these things by not only remaining true God, but becoming true man as well. He wore the flesh and blood of a human so that He could walk through our world, experience the temptations we experience, feel the pain of man’s existence. He was born, learned how to walk, how to talk. He likely had many of the same cuts and scrapes that our children get when they learn how to hop, skip and jump. He made a mess when He learned how to eat and He likely smelled bad from time to time as He became potty trained. As He grew, He learned the carpentry trade and may have smacked his thumb from time to time. He experienced pain, He bled, He laughed and cried, He died.