September 24, 2023
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14 (NRSV)
This week was my first official class in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and my friend Wilma and I are studying the gospel of John with the BSF international group this year. We are looking forward to getting to know and share with all of the ladies across the globe. One thing about studying the Word of God, every time you read it, God, has something to say specifically to each of us. It is so refreshing and edifying to hear biblically and personally from each one of the ladies with what God has revealed to them or the lessons learned from the Word of God. Our study this week was from John, chapter 1 verses 1- 18. We are delighted have Tracie Rutledge as our group leader who has been a leader with BSF for some time!
One of the things about the gospel of John is that the writer distinguishes his writings from the Synoptic writers and is reflected in its simplicity and yet it profound message. The writer wants us not only to know of Jesus, but to know HIM and make HIM known to the World as the Word made flesh and lived among us! Two of my favorite Scriptures in the gospel of John are John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” Also, John 8:31-32 “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NRSV)
The Word (Logos) became flesh. I am still trying to wrap this statement around my mind! Christ, the eternal Logos, who is God, came to earth as man. Yet in doing so, He did not merely “appear” like a man; He became one! The apostle Paul said it like this in Philippians 2:5-11. “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (NRSV) In other words, humanity, was added to Christ’s deity, and yet Christ, in becoming “flesh,” did not change who He was! He took Himself and came to earth! Yes again, simple, yet profound! And the Word was God: “Everything that can be said about God the Father can be said about God the Son. In Jesus dwells all the wisdom, glory, power, love, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth of the Father. In Him, God the Father is known.” The Father and the Son (the Son is known here as the Word) are equally God, yet distinct in their Person. The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Father. Yet they are equally God, with God the Holy Spirit making one God in three Persons.
HEART CHALLENGE: Who Is Jesus To You!
JESUS Is The Son Of God? God became Flesh and Lived Among Us!
What Jesus taught and what He did is inseparably tied to who He is. The Word of God presents Jesus as fully human and fully God. Although Jesus took upon himself full humanity and lived as a man, He never ceased to be the eternal God who has always existed, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and the Source of eternal life. This is the truth about Jesus, and the foundation of all truth. If this basic truth is questioned, you will not have enough faith to trust your eternal destiny in Him. That is why the Apostle John wrote this Gospel, so as to build faith and confidence in Jesus Christ so that we may believe that He truly was and is the Son of God. He says in John 20:30-31, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name.” (NRSV) In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God. So, the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. John 1:1, 14.
JESUS Is The Light of The World.
Jesus Christ is the Creator of life, and His life brings light to mankind. In His light, we see ourselves as we really are (as sinners in need of a Savior). When we follow Jesus, the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our life.
AN REVEALED 
HEART: JESUS Is Both Human And Divine!
By becoming human, Christ became:
- The Perfect Teacher. In Jesus’ life we see how God thinks and, therefore, how we should think. Philippians 2:5-11: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NRSV) - The Perfect Example. He became as a model of what we are to become, He shows us how to live and gives us the power to live that way. 1 Peter 2:21. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.” (NRSV)
- The Perfect Sacrifice. Jesus came as a sacrifice for all sins, and His death satisfied God’s requirements for the removal of sin. Colossians 1:15-23. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him God was pleased to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before Him, provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.” (NRSV)
FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your Life You sacrificed for us. Thank You Father for becoming flesh and dwelling among us and becoming the Light of Christ to the world so we will never need to stumble in darkness, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!