Today our study covers John 1:14-18
It is truly a marvelous thought that “.. the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” God (the Son) came to this earth, lived and died according to the plan and design of God to save mankind. His very life shows us how grace and truth find balance and application in life as opposed to a life based on law and works.
The point which John writes to prove is that this is THE ONE mankind has long been waiting for… the Son of God! True there are other things he could have written about… but this subject is the supreme need of man. Jesus is the embodiment of “Reason” and “Creating power”, our salvation… Jesus is truly amazing, and as John records in Revelation 4:12-14 “WORTHY IS THE LAMB”.
Let’s notice some other things…
Jesus is the embodiment of grace and truth. (In other words… He, what He says, and does… His example, His deeds are both grace and truth in action. Jesus didn’t just talk… HE LIVED. Grace (unmerited favor) in action in how he deals with people in their sin, in their hurt and pain. Today we understand the meaning of grace, and yet we seem to come up short in how to apply grace. Our focus on truth is not wrong. We need truth… but our lack in understanding and having the balance of grace has hurt us. Jesus, John says, is “full of grace and truth”.
Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” The way is clear, and there is only one way… it is Jesus.
We have a hard time understanding and putting our arms around GOD… but Jesus is the ‘door’ to the Father, and we can wrap our arms around Jesus, because He was one of us. Finally mankind can find the peace that passes all understanding, the forgiveness of not just a few minor sins, but all sins… all because of this ONE man… Jesus.
Following the idea of “truth”… Jesus was the divine ‘Communicator’ of truth. John 8:31-32, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine, and you shall know the truth, and the truth SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.” Free from what? Free from the power, the principle and the punishment of sin (Romans 8). “…Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice” (John 18:37b). The Spirit of truth also is with us today, (John 14:17)… this is not to say we receive revelations… because we have the Word of God, but this same Spirit is the One Jesus referred to in John 3:3-5 and 7:37-39, as being the One who takes part in our own new birth (more on that when we study John 3 and 7).
Truth can be resented and resisted…(John 8:40; Acts 7:51-55). It can be rejected and disbelieved (John 8:45). Yet it’s power, when seen in the only begotten Son of God… cannot be disputed (Philippians 2:5-11), the Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah 53.
Next: Jesus! The Inexaustible, Revealing, Lamb of God!