The Word Was Made Flesh
Pr Edi Giudetti
24-12-2017
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
A year ago at this time I preached a series of four messages on Christ, titled;
- The Coming of Christ Foretold;
- The Works of Christ Foreknown
- The Ministry of Christ Foreshadowed
- The Life of Christ Foreseen (on Christmas Day)
Today my desire is to speak to you of the miracle, the impossible to comprehend miracle, that the WORD was Made Flesh, that God became a man, and why.
To tell that the creator of the universe, which is by itself far greater of larger than anything we can begin to comprehend, lowered himself to be made in the likeness of men… (he) made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant. (Phil 2:7)
That he did so is a matter of history, but why he did so is the question of the ages that not all people are willing to accept.
To those who have believed the testimony given regarding him in the Bible, he is known to us as The Word of Life (1 Jn 1:1)
INTRODUCTION
THE WORD IS GOD
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The gospel of John stands out so dramatically from the former three Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke. These three are known to us as the “Synoptic Gospels” and they are so because they give similar accounts of the good news of Christ, they each have a distinctive emphasis, and we will speak to this in coming studies, but they are similar enough for us to conclude that they are almost synonymous.
John’s Gospel account is very distinct however, it stands apart so clearly that the other three cannot come near its majesty, its language its poetry and prose. And it does so for a specific reason, a reason that God had already pre-determined would set it apart from the other three accounts.
The first five verses of John not only set the scene, but gives us the panoramic view of Jesus in one look. And in these first few verses we have the most important view of Christ as God.
Before we link The Word spoken of in the first verse to the very person of Jesus Christ, let’s look at what we can confirm regarding the nature of The Word.
The first point and answered for us in the first verse, that THE WORD IS GOD.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
We can spend some time trying to understand why the word Word is used, but for now we can see that it is objectively linked to being God in this verse.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Not only does it make that claim, but it also gives to us the characteristics that can only be found in God.
The first is that the word PRECEDES history;
1 In the beginning was the Word
A reference that we can’t help being reminded of much earlier in our Bible, the first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the Bible;
“In the beginning God…” In the beginning of what?
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
God was there before anything made, was made. In fact, there was nothing made before this time, not even time existed before the beginning began, because the beginning REFERS TO ALL THAT BEGAN….and nothing began before the beginning.
NB: There are no accounts of God ever beginning, because there was no beginning before God began it. God precedes the beginning of time, God never began to exist.
Neither did the Word.
… the Word was with God and the Word was God, 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Now look at verse three;
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
How well this links in with the creation account in Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Which speaks clearly of God being the creator of all that is.
No other reference is given here that God had any help creating the heaven and the Earth, but John 1:3 says that 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The pronoun “Him” that we have at the start of verse three, refers not to God but to the Word.
The word Word is a masculine noun in the Greek, and fits perfectly with the flow of the passage as the subject the pronoun “him” refers to.
‘The Word’ is the subject of the entire paragraph.
So here we have an individual, a person, separate and distinct from God yet ascribed to having the characteristics of God and claimed to be the sole person charged to have created all things God was originally accredited with in Genesis 1:1.
2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Lets draw the Biblical links.
Remember, the Bible is a journey of discovery. All the question of life we desire to have a knowledge of we can gain from scripture.
Turn to Ephesians 3:9
I recall many years ago I sought to find an answer to a question that the Bible teaches. I wrote the question in a sticky note and placed it face forward from the back of the Bible expecting not only that scripture will answer the question for me, but that I would have that question visible before me as I read. The answer to my question at the time was happily found in Genesis and not Revelation….nevertheless I was prepared to read the entire Bible with that question in mind.
The Bible is a wonderful journey of discovery, it truly is an adventure to those who seek to know the truth of all things.
So what is the identity from the Bible of The Word that was God and in the beginning with God and that All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Lets start at Ephesians 3:9
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
turn to Colosians 1:13
verse 13-14 set the context;
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
There not only do we have the declaration of who created, but the purpose for which all was created, it was for him:
That includes you and I, we were not created for ourselves, we were created FOR HIM. It stands to reason then that we cannot find purpose living for ourselves, but purpose can only be found living for him.
Turn to Hebrews 1:1
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
1 Cor 8:6 says
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
We see then that there are certain and sure links between The Word and the Lord Jesus Christ.
John makes clear to us that THE WORD IS GOD, but what else does he say about it?
THE WORD IS LIFE
4 In him (the word) was life; and the life was the light of men.
Still speaking about the Word in the context, verse 4 makes the claim that the word is in fact life itself.
The impression we have is that without the Word there would be no life especially of that life is the light of men.
If the Word is life, do we have anything in the Bible that links life to another person that we might use the scripture alone to discover WHO the Word is?
Let’s continue the adventure.
Turn to
1 John 5:12 tells us
Our passage tells us that the Word was life; and the life was the light of men. We are searching for the identity of The Word
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
John 10:10 says
Jesus speaking;
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
In John 11:25 Jesus speaking again, to Martha concerning Lazarus;
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
Thomas questioning the way to follow Christ, and Jesus responds simply saying that most famous of sentences in John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Romans 6:23 says For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Showing to us the very source of eternal life, the only life that abides, the only life that is true life.
Without this life Jesus made clear the person is dead and not alive.
You recall when asked by a disciple to give him leave to bury his father, how did the Lord respond?
Matt 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
“Follow me and you have life”, ‘apart from me there is no life’.
Paul confirms this again in Colossians 3:4
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
We were dead in trespass and sin, but Christ quickened us to life, true and real life. Eternal life.
Turn to 1 John 1:1-2
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
When we look for life OUTSIDE of the source of Life, we look in vain.
When we look for purpose outside the one who created us for his purpose, we look in vain.
Gold Fever
Is a genuine affliction that was understood during the gold rush years when men, convinced they had found the vain of Gold would beging to dig and the more they dug, even without any sign of Gold, they more they were convinced they were getting closer to the source of it.
They would see signs or patterns that they thought confirmed they were digging in the right spot, but those patterns were just a part of their imagination.
So many people are looking to the world for life, looking to riches for life, looking to popularity for life, looking to external beauty for life, looking to friends for life, looking to carreer for life, looking to children for life, looking to music for life, parties for life, drugs for life, adventure and travel for life……They have Gold Fever.
Life is found only through the source of Life, Jesus Christ.
THE WORD IS LIGHT
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Incredible to think that The Word is light, and not only so but it is also that light that lights every man that comes into the world.
What is this light?
We have a man named John who was sent from God for one specific purpose and that was to bear witness of that Light which our text says is “the true Light”.
Turn to John 12:46
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Consider also how John links that light with God
Turn to 1 John 1:5
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all
What is light?
Light is that property that illuminates, it enables things that were in darkness to be seen with clarity.
is one thing that is done in the dark and we know that Jesus own coming had the effect of revealing evil in man.
But this is not all that light illumines.
Light provides clarity, it makes what was once obscure clear.
- Darkness is completely dispelled by Light,
- Darkness cannot dwell with light,
- If there is light there simply cannot be darkness.
- Darkness is nothing but an absence of light. Darkness can only be measured in reference to light. (Think of light globes 4watt, 6 watt, 20 watt etc. The smaller the number the less light is given)
When the blind man said to the rulers of the miracle of Jesus, he simply said “Whereas I was blind, now I see”. He was taken from darkness and given the eyes to see and perceive light.
So many today walk in darkness, they cannot see and when they lose that sight they fear.
All of us fear when our paths are obscured by darkness. When we cannot see THE WAY we are going, when there is no light to lighten our own paths, WE SOON FEAR EVEN MOVING!
But this is not life lived in that Light.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
This is the darkness the world lives in, they cannot comprehend light when darkness is all they have ever seen.
This darkness verse five speaks of is one that has consciousness, this darkness is cognisant, it has knowledge, it is aware but it cannot comprehend light and the only reason for this is that there is no light in it.
Turn to John 3:19
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
How is it my dear friends and brethren, we know and understand that the world that has not received the light, dwells in darkness, but why is it that many who have received the Light of God stumble so often as if they too have no light?
We are not as others who walk in darkness, not when the very Light of God is dwelling within us!
No we don’t walk in darkness as in a trance with our eyes opened, we walk in the light.
- The only way for us to possibly walk in the dark is when we consciously and knowingly CLOSE OUR EYES!
We turn our eyes from the WORD in the hope of finding something in the WORLD that will show us our path in life. What foolishness is this?
How can the source of darkness bring US light when it is WE who are charged to BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD?
Turn forward again to John 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Brethren Jesus is The Light of the World for which John came to bear witness.
There was a time when the only light that shined was given to the nation of Israel, but when the fullness of time was come, God sent his Son, the same one who lights every many that comes into the world, to be the Light of the world.
We who follow him, have the light of life, WE SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS.
Don’t look to the world for direction, the world is lost in such a dark way that it simply cannot even discern its right hand from its left.
Jesus said I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
When we look for light in darkness, we look in vain
When we look for life OUTSIDE of the source of Life, we look in vain.
When we look for purpose outside the one who created us for his purpose, we look in vain.
THE WORD IS CHRIST
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In verse one. So we see plainly that scripture tells us that The Word and God are one and the same.
But now in verse 14 of the same passage the Bible says;
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
GOD DWELT AMONG US?
Turn back with me to Isaiah 7:14,
This is a famous passage that speaks of the time much of the world is celebrating this time of year.
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
And shall call his name Immanuel.
Here God speaks through Isiah to the whole house of David presenting to them a great sign, that a virgin will conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.
God never gives names without meaning or purpose and the names he gives always fulfil his message to his people.
Turn forward to Matthew 1:20-23
In verse 20 Gabriel the angel is comforting Joseph who has just discovered his wife to be with Child but not by him and thought of what to do.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
Turn back with me one last time to Isaiah again.
This time, turn to chapter nine
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
And the government shall be upon his shoulder:
And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,
Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,
To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice
From henceforth even for ever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Seven hundred years earlier Isaiah wrote that
A child will be born, a son given.
And he gives names regarding what he shall be called, among them are “Wonderful”, “Counseller”, “The mighty God”, “The everlasting father”.
Think of that just for a moment, this same Child that is to be born will be called The mighty God, The everlasting father?
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
We come in these days to celebrate an event that was spoken of long before it happened. And after it did happen it left such a mark upon the world that the world simply can never rid itself of it no matter how hard when tries to hide in the dark.
If you are born again, you are the hereditary beneficiary of that event. Your life bears witness to that light that has enlightened your eyes and life.
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
Don’t live as if it never happened.
The world is in such great need of hope today. So many are the perplexing problems that come at a time when the world has turned back to the darkness from which it was delivered.
Even those who today live in that darkness and have not seen the light of Christ are beginning to see how great that darkness is becoming.
Do we stay silent at such a time as this?
Should we not be telling them about God?
Should we not be telling them about the Light of God?
Should we not be speaking clearly about the life that can only be found in God?
Or do we also turn to the darkness for light?
The Word Became flesh for one purpose only, he came to die so man might live.
Jesus did not come to make bad men good, he came to give dead men life!
When we as Christians lose sight of this we loose sight of all.
People often speak of the feeling they get around Christmas time.
A feeling of hope and anticipation and joy is what they look forward to. Some have lost that feeling.
To some, that feeling of hope has turned to despair. The devil will continue to work to quench the light of the world in the world. Don’t help him, resist the devil.
Grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord, DECIDE TO BE SOLD OUT COMPLETELY TO CHRIST, no matter what it takes.
THE WORLD DESPERATELY NEEDS THE LIGHT THAT ONLY YOU CAN GIVE.
You are here today for such a time as this. God could have had you born in any other time of history, but he chose the perfect time for the right person to live, grow and prosper to bring the greatest light of hope to a world in darkness.
Each of you are THAT PERSON.
Your life is to be lived by faith now, no longer by sight.
The light of Christ is the only light you need to live by and THE VISION that sees what that light lights up, is FAITH.
EYES OF FAITH
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