LEARNING FROM JOHN ABOUT JESUS
John was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. He spent about three and one-half years with the Lord. What was his view of Jesus? Did he perceive of Jesus as a mere man or did he see him as God among us? John pictured Jesus in eternity past by saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) John gave us many important lessons about Jesus concerning living life on earth and determining our eternal destiny after we die. He revealed to us that Jesus is the Messiah that was prophesized of in the Old Testament of the Bible. He showed us that the purpose of Jesus Christ coming to earth and the reason He was sent to earth by God had everything to do with our salvation. By focusing on Jesus, John helps us learn the truth about eternity and the truth about making eternal choices. He pictured Jesus’ earthly life by saying, “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.” (John 1:14) Observe what we can learn about Jesus from John.
Learn from John that Jesus is “the only begotten of the Father.” He is "The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) The Bible accurately teaches that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. (Acts 8:37) At His baptism God acknowledged Him as His Son. (Matthew 3:17) Peter was correct when he confessed, "We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." (John 6:69) Let us be convinced from scripture that Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. He came to earth to make our salvation possible. "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38) Jesus is the only person born of a woman, whose human nature never came by the ordinary way of generation. He was conceived in the womb of the virgin, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Learn from John that Jesus is full of grace. He is "The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) Grace explains God's actions toward us. God's plan for our salvation was accomplished by His grace. Jesus is the very source of God's grace and truth. "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17) God's grace is available to all for salvation. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12) On the cross the one that knew no sin died for sinners. There is no greater demonstration of grace than that. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Without the Bible we would not know the wonderful story of salvation, which is the story of God's grace.
Learn from John that Jesus is full of truth. He is "The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) Religious truth came by Jesus Christ; therefore everything that we do religiously must be authorized by the Lord. John wrote, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) The Bible is the standard of faith for the Christian. Our access to God is available through obedient faith. (Ephesians 3:12) Because God Himself is entirely faithful, He honors those who love Him enough to trust His word completely. "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." (Deuteronomy 7:9) Everything done in Christian service must be authorized by the unalterable truth of God.
Will you be baptized into Christ to put on Christ so that your sins can be forgiven by His blood? "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27) Believers contact Christ's saving blood by being baptized into His death. John said, "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12) We join with Paul in saying, "To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21) Are you a faithful member of the church of Christ?
By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street,
Greenville, Alabama 36037