By Becky Bramlett Austin
The book of John is my favorite gospel because it provides such amazing information about Jesus and the wonderful privileges given to us because of Him. John grasped an understanding of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He grasped an understanding that Jesus was no ordinary human. In fact, Jesus transcended time. So when you read Genesis 1 where it says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth", we often forget that Jesus was present and participated too. And in Genesis, 26 where it says "let us make man in our image, after our likeness" that Jesus was included in that creative miracle too.
As John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (V1-3).
John also grasped that Jesus coming to this world brought us hope that had not ever been there before. He would be the light in a dark world.
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (V4-5). No matter how much sin, and evil, and destructive forces are at work around us, God's goodness and truth triumph.
Although Jesus brought light and hope, John realized that unfortunately many would reject this opportunity and desire to remain in their darkness. The ultimate rejection would be that the Jews, his chosen people, would not recognize that He was the promised Messiah. “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” (V9-11).
Fortunately, for you and I, the rest of the world would be given opportunity to embrace this light and be given this hope. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (V12-13)
John points out to us the importance of Jesus dwelling among us. Jesus shows us who God is. By studying the life of Jesus, we see the character, nature, and love of God. Jesus came to teach us about God and to provide a way to reconcile us to God. In place of the Law that condemned us, he brought us abundant grace to redeem us.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known." (V14, 16-17)
"And the Word became flesh"....God tells us of His love and His character through His written Word, but in the person of Jesus....He shows us.
So, when you look at Jesus, who do you see? Do you see as John the Baptist, who claimed to serve as a witness that Jesus was the son of God. He grasped that Jesus came with a purpose of saving us from our sins. “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (V29)
Has He taken away your sin? Has he revealed the heart of a loving, caring, compassionate Father to you? Has He bathed you in the light of His radiant glory and pierced through the darkness of your soul? Have you embraced the Son of God, this Jesus, who came to show you just how much your creator loves you and wants to have relationship with you?