Van-guard (văn’gärd), noun: “The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement.”
the journey forward... exploring the emerging church... navigating spiritual formation... seeking to transform the world... ...through Christ
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Van-guard (văn’gärd), noun: “The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement.” the journey forward... exploring the emerging church... navigating spiritual formation... seeking to transform the world... ...through Christ |
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"The Messenger Who is The Message" John 1:1-18 These messengers are not just the talking heads on the debate shows on Cable TV; they speak from the pulpits of many churches on Sundays. It’s not as if their messages cannot offer some help to a hurting world. Very often, these messengers offer services that are very needed and extremely useful. But their message cannot replace The Message that we find introduced in the first 18 verses of the Gospel of John. As Gary Burge writes, “The prologue to John is not about a message that offers hope, but The Message that is the only hope. It is not about an idea, but a person." The Message, or The “Word” described in John 1:1-18 is Jesus Christ. That is made clear in John 1:14, where we read, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” This “Message,” this “Word,” contains all that we need to know about our condition, about God, and about how God has decided to right our condition. Many are convinced that connecting with God is the key to life. I admire all who are on an honest spiritual journey. They are struggling to decipher how to connect with God. They are honestly trying to find God, trying to figure out who He is, what He’s like, and how He relates with human beings. Making this search more difficult is the fact that there are plenty of competing messengers with ideas about how to do that. The number of messengers can be so loud and cacophonous that it may be hard to hear the person who is The Message. And, on top of all that, some of the other messengers are all trying to convince us that that old “Message,” that old Christianity, is irrelevant and incapable of doing what they can do. But the gospel of John begs to differ. There is no equivocation. No hedging of words. God is known through Jesus. Period. If you want to know God, get to know Jesus. The reason the prologue to John exists is to summarize the message of the entire Gospel of John. It tells us how the eternal Son of God became the historical man of Jesus, in order to present to us the ultimate declaration of who God is. The glory and grace of God is uniquely and perfectly made known in the person of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John is essentially saying, “Do you want to know God? Get to know Jesus Christ!” We need this Word! As a believer in Christ, as one who has placed his faith in Jesus for my salvation, I need this Word proclaimed to me afresh! Our rationalistic approach to life, which has dominated Western culture for hundreds of years, has stripped us of the awe and majesty of experiencing God in an exciting, vibrant way. Faith has become nothing more than fact-telling. Modern Christianity reads like an IRS 1040 form: It’s true, all the data is there, but it doesn’t take your breath away. To reduce The Message who is Jesus to mere facts and propositions is to steal from us the element of mystery, holiness and wonder that is God’s self-disclosure. Alister McGrath warns us, “Principles may enlighten and inform; they do not force us to our knees in reverence and awe, as with Moses at the burning bush, or the disciples in the presence of the risen Christ.” The gospel of John is the story so magnificent that if we come to it with fresh ears and open hearts we will be forced to our knees. We will feel the hair stand up on our necks, and shudder in reverence as we contemplate the Word who is God. The reason this passage is in our Bibles is to tell us that Jesus is the definitive disclosure of God. He is the ultimate revelation of God. God is known through Jesus. Today we begin a journey into the greatest romance story ever told. The story of how much God loves us, proven through the words and actions of His Son, Jesus Christ. 1. Jesus reveals God because Jesus is God (1:1-3) “In the beginning was the Word, and 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.” a. Jesus always has been (1:1) The first words of the gospel of John read, “In the beginning was the Word.” The New Living Translation renders this, “In the beginning the Word already existed.” In other words, there never was a time that the Word (that is Jesus Christ) has not been. He has always been. Genesis starts with the same words, “In the beginning.” Yes, back then, even all the way back to before God started in Genesis, Jesus was there. b. Jesus always has been with God (1:1-2) This amazing thought leads us to wonder, then, what the relationship was between God and the Word. Jesus was either with God at all times, or he was nothing less than God himself as well. The Bible insists that the Word was both. First, it says that the Word was with God. The Greek word is only used when an intimate face-to-face relationship is described. In other words, the Word is a person, with God (and therefore distinguishable from God) and enjoying a personal relationship with God. Well, that must mean that there is God—over there, and Jesus—over here. Two persons, and that Jesus is not God. John clears that up in the next phrase: “and the Word was God.” Therefore, c. Jesus always has been God (1:1) The Greek construction is very specific, in spite of what your favorite Jehovah’s Witness is trying to tell you. Literally, the Greek reads, “God was the Word.” But the article (the word “the”) in front of “Word” shows that the subject of the phrase is “Word.” So, in English we would read it as “The Word was God.” Why is it in reverse order in the Greek? Because that is how the Greek language shows emphasis. It’s saying, in effect, “The Word was God!” By emphasizing the word “God,” there can be no doubt. Jesus always has been God. This first verse preserves Jesus as a separate entity from God the Father, while still insisting that Jesus is God. Therefore, this is one of the clear examples of the Trinity in our Bibles. d. Jesus, as God, created all things (1:3) Further evidence that Jesus is God is that he did the ultimate “God thing”: He is the creator of the universe. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” This is the consistent testimony of the Bible: Colossians 1:16-17 reads, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” The first chapter of Hebrews echoes what we read here in John: “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:2-3). Jesus created the stars and the planets, the trees and the birds, the butterflies and the flowers. He created the microbiology that makes us tick as human beings. Jesus is the designer of our whole being—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. As the creator, he also, according to Colossians, “holds everything together.” We can trust such a God with everything. Because he is the creator, he knows just what his creation, his people, need. It was said that Charles Steinmetz, the mechanical genius and friend of Henry Ford, that he could build a motor in his mind, and if it broke down he could fix it in his mind. So when he designed it and actually built it, it ran with precision. One day the assembly line in the Ford plant broke down. None of Ford’s engineers could fix it, so they called in Steinmetz. It took him only a few minutes of tinkering before he threw the switch and it started again. A few days later, Ford received a bill from Steinmetz for $10,000. Ford wrote back, “Charlie, don’t you think your bill is a little high for just al little tinkering?” Steinmetz sent back a revised bill: “Tinkering--$10. Knowing where to tinker--$9,990.” Only Jesus, because he created us, knows what needs fixed in our lives, and how to do it. This is the exact opposite message of the many gurus in the marketplace today, who want to convince you that if you follow them or their way of life, or if you seek to better yourself through your own effort, you will find the solutions to the ailments of life. Christ knows which screw to turn, which belt to loosen. He is our Creator. Are you resting in Him? Are you listening to Him? Are you connected with Him? Have you entrusted your life to Him? 2. Jesus reveals God because Jesus is the Light (1:4-5, 9-13) a. The Light reveals and gives life (1:4-5a, 9) ‘In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (vv. 4-5) "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." (v.9) Lately, after I put Trey down to sleep, after I tell him the story of Major Scott, the Jet Pilot (a story I made up a month ago, and now have to tell every single night), we sing “Jesus loves Trey, This I Know,” and we pray for everyone from Joel and Kaira to Papa Jack to Tom our neighbor, after all that… I kiss him goodnight, turn off his light, and close his door, leaving a crack open. Then, if it’s dark, I hear, in this little sweet voice, “Leave the bathroom light on!” Trey likes that light—just enough to penetrate into the darkness of his room, just enough to relieve his fear of the darkness. Verses 4 and 5 tell us that Jesus is the spiritual, life-giving light that shines in the spiritually dark world. Verse 9 tells us that all humanity benefits from the light: “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” Where light goes, darkness is dispersed, revealing the true nature of life. Jesus is not just one source of light among the many dim bulbs offered today. He is the true light. Over and over again in the gospel of John, Jesus is called the “true this” and the “true that:” the true light, the true bread from heaven, the true vine, etc. Other persons or institutions may claim to have insight into God, or spiritual nourishment, or the source of life, but John sets out to present the true light, bread, vine, etc. They all may have some truth in what they offer, but Jesus is the true, or genuine and ultimate self-disclosure of God. a. The Light can be resisted (1:5b, 10-13) “…but the darkness has not understood it.” (v. 5) “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. Yet to all who received 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." (vv. 10-13) Another reading of verse 5 is “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” In other words, the light met with tremendous resistance. Verses 10-11 tell us how absurd the world reacted to the light: “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.” There is the story of the Arab who one night lit a candle in his tent, then reached over and got a fig. He opened it, saw that it had worms inside and pitched it aside. He opened a second, saw it had worms and pitched it aside. He did the same with a third fig. At that point he blew out the candle, reached for a fourth fig and ate it. Living in the dark is deadly, yet it has been the case for over twenty centuries that people would rather try to blow out the light and live life doing want they want to do rather than allowing the light to shine in their lives. Some would rather “find their own light,” only to find a very dim 1 watt bulb when the true light has been offered and remains as an offer. This is not only the heart attitude of every non-believer, but also of many believers as well. We like just enough light (just little night-lights) so that we won’t stub our toes as we walk down the darkened halls of our lives. But we try to keep the light from shining too brightly in those very dark rooms that we like to duck into now and then. Not there. Not too much light please. Then we wonder why we don’t have a more vibrant and real relationship with God than we do. What dark room have you been ducking into lately? What will it take to leave that door open, to throw open the shades and let the light shine? b. The Light can be received (1:12-13) “Yet to all who received 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.” The good news is that this light is always there, ready to be received. To receive Jesus is to yield your allegiance to him, to trust him completely, to acknowledge with both your head and your heart his claims to be God, to accept him with gratitude and worship as the Lord of your life. And when we receive the light, we are given an incredible privilege: we become the children of God! “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). What an incredible truth! John must have thought this was the most incredible act of love on God’s part, for he would also write in his first epistle, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). We will revisit this theme in John chapter 3. He is speaking of the new birth. There is something mysterious and wonderful that happens in a person’s life when they receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. That person is re-created, re-born, re-made, re-deemed. This is conversion. This is radical change. The old has gone, the new has come. This is more than knowing the right things, understanding this stuff they talk about in church. This is conversion. And life is never the same again. If you have not yet experienced this, it may be time. It may be time to receive Jesus. I will give you a chance to do so at the end of our service tonight. Until then, pray for the courage to do so. Because once you are born again, there is no turning back. 3. Jesus reveals God because Jesus is the incarnation of God (1:14, 16-18) a. The incarnation made God one of us in history (1:14) "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." If you are looking for a reason to worship God today, here it is: The Word became flesh, God became man. If we are to know God, neither rationalism nor irrational mystical will do it. Rationalism reduces God to a mere object to study. God is more than that. Irrational mysticism asks us to abandon all controls. God does not ask for that. If you want to know God, it is through the person of Jesus Christ. He donned our humanity, without our sin. God chose to make himself known, finally and ultimately, in a real, historical man. The history of God living with us, breathing our air and suffering our situations is recorded in the pages of Scripture. But there’s more. At the library, I saw a magazine called “Current History,” and thought, now there’s an oxymoron! Is it current, or is it history? But that is exactly what we are called into: Current History! Jesus is not just some historical figure found in some old, dusty Bible. He is currently alive and active in the lives of his followers! He not only sits in Heaven as our greatest advocate and Lord, He indwells us through His Holy Spirit. He leads us; He changes lives; He performs miracles; He empowers us to make a difference in the world! Not only was Jesus the incarnation of God in the world, but we are the incarnation of Jesus in the world! Never forget that! That is why Vanguard Church exists: To incarnate Jesus in the world. b. The incarnation gives us a greater grace (1:16-17) “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” And as we do so, we do it with a greater grace than any Old Testament superstar ever had! You think Moses and Joshua and David and Elijah had it made? Verses 16 and 17 tell us that we’ve got it better! “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” The literal translation of the end of verse 16 is "we have all received grace instead of grace.” In other words, God gave graciously to the Old Testament nation of Israel (and through them, to the world) through Moses and the Law. But the fulfillment of grace and truth is ultimately through Jesus. He is the culmination of all the grace of God. Therefore, as we seek to live as the embodiment of Christ in the world, we have the ultimate grace within us: Jesus Himself, who writes his law on our hearts through the indwelling Holy Spirit. What we try to accomplish as a church and as individual Christians is to explain, not only in words, but in deeds, who God really is. That leads us to verse 18: c. The incarnation is God’s explanation (exegesis) of Himself (1:18) “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” John declares that the incarnate God has made God known. The Greek word is exegesato, from which we derive the word exegesis. Exegesis is the fancy word for what Seminary trained me to do as I study the text of Scripture in its original languages. My job is to explain (or exegete) the meaning of these words of Scripture in their grammatical constructions and context. That is what Jesus is. He is the exegesis, the explanation of who God is. What he is doing as He comes into the constructions of our lives, to give meaning to the context in which we live. Jesus is all the explanation we need to understand God. The love and grace we see in Christ explains the love and grace of God. Each week, as we continue to study the Gospel of John, we will find that our concept of Christ will get bigger and bigger—something like Lucy’s experience with the lion Aslan (who represented Christ in C. S. Lewis’ classic Chronicles of Narnia) as she looked at his large, wise face: “Welcome, child,” he said. “Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.” “That is because you are older, little one,” answered he. “Not because you are?” “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
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