THE WORD MADE FLESH:(JOHN 1:1-14)

When there are so many religions why Jesus? When I say Christianity has been in existence for 2009 years not many dispute that fact, even the modern calendar agrees with that claim, but how about if I say, the existence of Christ goes back to the beginning of creation itself many argue about it and some for example the Jehovah’s witnesses (JW) vehemently deny that fact. Where did JW and others go wrong when it comes to seeing Jesus as the incarnation of God and in the end God himself? Not only today, even during Jesus’ time some people did not believe that he was God. Jesus warned in the end times “Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”(Matt 24:11)

In the first century a group of people called the Gnostics denied the pre-existence of Jesus and where by denied his deity. In order to confront such heretics John wrote the Gospel and three other letters. It doesn’t take a BIG lie to dissuade people from the truth, but it is often a slight twist of the truth which can mislead millions of people. Some of us may have had JW knocking at our door, looking very friendly and gentle trying to convince us that Jesus Christ is not God.

How do we as Bible believing Christians fortify ourselves against those who try to mislead us? Peter would say, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;” 2 Pet 1: So it is important that we not only believe but know what we believe and why and how to defend what we believe. Unlike the other gospel writers John recorded many miraculous signs in his Gospel to show his readers that Jesus was fully human and fully God and he has always existed. He wanted his readers to know that eternal word of God was made flesh and lived among us.

Background Information: The Gospel of John dates back to the end of first century around 85 A.D. It was largely agreed that the author was the apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved who was also may be the first cousin of Jesus. John wrote this Gospel so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

I. PRE-EXISTENCE OF JESUS:

If Jesus Christ is God, then He must be eternal since God has neither beginning nor ending. There was never a time when Jesus did not exist in all the fullness of who He is. (Psalm 90:2) "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Was Christ involved in creating the world or was he a created being himself? That is where the Jehovah’s witnesses differ from the rest us.

JW believe that Jesus Christ was a perfect man, and that He is a person distinct from God the Father. However, they also teach that before His earthly life, Jesus was a spirit creature, Michael the archangel, who was created by God and became the Messiah at His baptism. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus is a mighty one, although not almighty as Jehovah God is. This is where the twist comes in. In all the major translations, John 1:1 was translated as "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the Word was God," This is shockingly mistranslated, according to their Bible, The New World Translation, “Originally the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god,” See how a slight deviation has deceived many people.

In contrast to this false doctrine, the Bible presents Jesus as the uncreated Creator: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). In the beginning He was not created or made. In the beginning He already was (John 1:1-2). The Apostle Paul declares that "He is before all things" (Col. 1:17).
In fact the first three verses of Genesis explain the perfect harmony between the persons in the trinity (Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) Gen 1:1-3, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said “Let there be light”? (The word Logos). John brought this fact that Jesus was with God at the time of creation. “In the beginning there was word and the word was with God and the word was God (John 1:1-3).

Else where in the Bible the Pre-existence of Christ is mentioned:
A. Illustrated by the Creation:
All things have been created by Jesus (Heb 1:2-3, Col 1:16-17)

B. Foretold by the prophets:
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Isaiah 9:6-7, Zech 2:10-11)

C. Affirmed by Jesus Himself:
“I tell you the truth Jesus answered, “Before Abraham was born I am.” (John 8:58)
John 17:4-5 “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

D. Proclaimed by the Apostles:
By John in his gospel, and also his epistle - Jn 1:1-4;
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
By Paul in his epistles
a. Christ was the spiritual rock from which the Israelites drank in the wilderness1Co 10:4
b. “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” Phil 2:6

In his own words Jesus said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Rev 1:8 this scripture makes it very clear that there was never a time where Jesus did not exist and there will never be a time where he won’t exist. He was God; he is and will continue to be God.
When we have so many religions why Jesus? Because he is the ONLY one in the end we all will have to face. JW and others who deny him will be surprised when they have to give an account of their denial of his pre-existence and His deity.

II. REJECTION A PAINFUL REALITY:
Jesus existed with God in the form of Logos during the creation and appeared figuratively several times in the OT as the angel of the LORD, son of man, (Daniel 7:12) the spiritual rock and so on. Two thousand years ago it was the most glories moment in the History of the world where this eternal word of God who was with God and who was God appeared in human form and made his dwelling among us. Jesus came to his own people (Jewish) with a hope that they would receive him, on the contrary they rejected him and did not see him as their messiah (Savior).

The creator of the world was rejected by his own creation? How was that possible? He is the giver of life and wants to give life to all men, then why would any one in their right mind want to reject such an offer? When they have an opportunity to walk in the light why would people choose to walk in darkness?

When you take your car with a hope of passing the inspection how would you feel when a sticker comes out with “R” rejected? When you are applying for a Job which you so badly needed, how do you feel when your application is rejected?

Campbell Morgan was one of 150 young men who sought entrance to the Wesleyan ministry in 1888. He passed the doctrinal examinations, but then faced the trial sermon in an auditorium where three ministers and 75 others who came to listen. When Morgan stepped into the pulpit, the vast room and the searching, critical eyes caught him up short. Two weeks later Morgan's name appeared among the l05 REJECTED for the ministry that year. Disappointed Morgan wired to his father one word “'Rejected,' and sat down to write in his diary: 'Very dark everything seems. Still, He knows best.' Quickly came the reply: 'Rejected on earth. Accepted in heaven. Dad.'" In later years, Morgan said: "God said to me, in the weeks of loneliness and darkness that followed, 'I want you to cease making plans for yourself, and let Me plan your life.'" Rejection is rarely permanent; as Morgan went on to prove. Even in this life, circumstances change, and ultimately, there is no rejection of those accepted by Christ.

Whether we like it or not rejection is indeed painful. No one particularly enjoys it. How ever we need to learn how to handle it wisely if it is un-dealt it could potentially lead to committing suicide. Sylvester Stallone said, “I take rejection as some one blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat.” You may be going through rejection right now, don’t let that beat you down you got to get up and keep going; this is not the time to retreat. Jesus understands your pain of rejection because he knows what it is like to be rejected.


The Prophet Isaiah paints the picture of a rejected and dejected Jesus, Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” John points out, He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive Him.”(John 1:11)

III. THE WORD MADE FLESH:
God loves all people, infact the whole world because of his great love He sent his only Son Jesus into the world. John explains, “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.”(John 1:14)

In the OT God would often reveal himself either in the form of a cloud, fire, or a thundering voice? There was no physical manifestation of God. When Moses wanted to see the glory of God, mercifully God did not show his face to him. Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." And the LORD said, "But," he said, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." (Exodus 33:18-23). Moses was to be satisfied only looking at the back of God. When Jesus came into the world what was invisible became visible. He revealed who God was through his very presence on the earth. John writes, “Jesus made his dwelling among us.” Literally, "pitched his tent/tabernacle." The tabernacle or tent of meeting that was the place of God's presence among his people (Exodus 25:8-9). The incarnate Word; Jesus is the new mode of God's presence among his people.

John 1:14.Jesus was full of Grace and Truth: these words represent two of the Characteristics of God. The very purpose why Jesus came into this world was to seek and save that which was lost. You and I were lost, living in sin but that did not hinder Jesus from reaching out to us. No matter who you are, and what you have done Jesus loves you. He is inviting you to join God’s family. Jesus never rejects any one, he accepts all people. To every one who believes in him and receives him as his savior he gives the right to become a child of God.

Can you imagine what a perspective that is; we actually become God’s Children? And God will be our father? Jesus is standing at the door of your heart. If you hear his voice all you need to do is to open your heart and invite Jesus into your heart. You will have eternal life. He will give you Joy and peace which you can find no where else. When your journey on the earth is over he will take you to dwell in the presence of God forever and ever.

Jesus the true light has come into the world but people chose darkness instead of light, chose death instead of Life. What will you choose?