Blog - Jesus
There are no words to completely describe the infinite, ongoing perfection of Jesus. He is infinitely more than we could ever expect. He is from everlasting to everlasting.
The apostle John gives us a glimpse of Jesus in the first chapter of his gospel. His writing is different from the other (synoptic) gospels – his is a more intimate picture of the beauty and power of the Lord.
John 1 AMPC
1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
2 He was present originally with God.
3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.
4 In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.
5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust it, and rely upon it] through him.
8 He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light.
9 There it was—the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person.
10 He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him [did not know Him].
11 He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own—His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.
12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—
13 Who owe their birth neither to [c]bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]
14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
First, it is a complete revelation that Jesus Himself is the Word of God. He is the Living Scripture. When we say we need the Lord, we are also saying we need the Word. Conversely, if we say we don’t need the Word, we don’t realize we’re saying we don’t need Jesus.
Second, He lowered himself for a period of time to be with us, to live among us in a human body, to show us the Father’s nature, and to display His glory. His glory shone as a perfect Light, in perfection and with perfect character and fruit.
Third, He accomplished and displayed the perfect balance of grace and truth. Not 50% grace and 50% truth, but 100% grace and 100% truth. He shows us how to speak the truth in love. He also shows us how to be and to do the best for each person – how to lovingly correct, how to help us grow, and how to cheer us on toward Christ-likeness.
Q: How can I better display grace and truth working together?
Q: What would that look like in my life?
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending your beautiful Son Jesus to redeem us back to you, filled with glory, grace, and truth. Teach me by your Spirit to think like You, to speak like You, and to act like You. We cannot do these things ourselves. We need You. We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The apostle John gives us a glimpse of Jesus in the first chapter of his gospel. His writing is different from the other (synoptic) gospels – his is a more intimate picture of the beauty and power of the Lord.
John 1 AMPC
1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
2 He was present originally with God.
3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.
4 In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.
5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust it, and rely upon it] through him.
8 He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light.
9 There it was—the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person.
10 He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him [did not know Him].
11 He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own—His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.
12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—
13 Who owe their birth neither to [c]bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]
14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
First, it is a complete revelation that Jesus Himself is the Word of God. He is the Living Scripture. When we say we need the Lord, we are also saying we need the Word. Conversely, if we say we don’t need the Word, we don’t realize we’re saying we don’t need Jesus.
Second, He lowered himself for a period of time to be with us, to live among us in a human body, to show us the Father’s nature, and to display His glory. His glory shone as a perfect Light, in perfection and with perfect character and fruit.
Third, He accomplished and displayed the perfect balance of grace and truth. Not 50% grace and 50% truth, but 100% grace and 100% truth. He shows us how to speak the truth in love. He also shows us how to be and to do the best for each person – how to lovingly correct, how to help us grow, and how to cheer us on toward Christ-likeness.
Q: How can I better display grace and truth working together?
Q: What would that look like in my life?
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending your beautiful Son Jesus to redeem us back to you, filled with glory, grace, and truth. Teach me by your Spirit to think like You, to speak like You, and to act like You. We cannot do these things ourselves. We need You. We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.