The Incarnation According To John

Today we look at how Jesus' closest earthly friend introduces Him. An introduction is important, because in many ways it gives the audience or person an idea of who the person is before they begin to speak. Sometimes an introduction falls flat as the speaker does not measure up to the hype. Other times, the introduction is forgotten quickly because the speaker surpasses any introduction that could be given. It is one thing to introduce a speaker of words... it is another thing to introduce a Savior who is the Word.

The coming of God to earth as a man is called the Incarnation: the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form;  the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ. Here's is John the disciple's introduction of Jesus... and His incarnation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.
Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men.
That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man named John who was sent from God.
He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.
The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him.
He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
The Word became flesh and took up residence among us.
We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
(John testified concerning Him and exclaimed, “This was the One of whom I said, ‘The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’”)
Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father’s side — He has revealed Him. 
(John 1:1-18)

This introduction tells us that Jesus... is God, has always existed, is the Creator of the world, is the source of life and light that cannot be extinguished, is the path of belief leading to eternal life, gives light to everyone, was rejected by many... even His own people, gives family rights to those who believe, became human, gives grace, reveals truth, and shows us the Father.

Ladies and gentlemen... I give you... Jesus Christ.



[Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.]
 
Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry.

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