Messy Love
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Merry Christmas!
Christ in Christmas
may choose to not recognize Him but cant take him out… Christ mas… because of Christ
Big Idea of the Text: Christmas isn’t an abstract holiday or idea; Jesus came to earth as a real human to reconcile us to God.
Application Point: Christ’s willingness to show a “messy love” by being born into humanity should empower us to share his messy love with the people around us.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 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. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Jn 1.14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
Messy Love
Five Truths
Five Truths
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The Word is God
Before He Became Flesh, John Called Him “The Word”
God in communication = God expressing Himself
Gen 1.1 “1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Col 1.19 “19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,”
John 14:10 “10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.”
The Gospel according to John A. The Word and God (1:1–2)
It is fundamental to John that the Word is not to be included among created things. “In the beginning” (with all the fullness of meaning that these words can hold) the Word “was.” “He is seen as greater than all things, greater than time, changeless as eternity” (Guthrie).
The Gospel according to John A. The Word and God (1:1–2)
The high point is reached in the third affirmation: “the Word was God.” Nothing higher could be said: all that may be said about God may fitly be said about the Word.
Yet separate from God
All That Is Not God, Was Created through the Word
He is the creator, all things made through him, He is not created
apart from him/the word existence is impossible
Heb 1.2 “2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
Col 1.16 “16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
Matt 4.4 “4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ””
Jhn 8.58 “58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””
14 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.
The Word-Made-Flesh Existed as God and with God before He Was Born as a Man on Earth
Phil 2.7 “7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Ps 8.4 “4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Word-Made-Flesh Has Life in Himself, and That Life Becomes the Light of Men
He is Life and Light = the living power to see and the all satisfying spender to be seen
The Gospel according to John B. The Word and Creation (1:3–5)
This Gospel constantly associates life with the Word. He came that people might have life and have it more abundantly (10:10). He died so that people might have everlasting life (3:16). He gave his flesh for the life of the world (6:51). Only those who eat his flesh and drink his blood have life (6:53–54), and similarly only those who come to him have life (5:40). When he gives life people perish no more (10:28).
The Gospel according to John B. The Word and Creation (1:3–5)
Twice he said that he is “the life” (11:25; 14:6)
The Gospel according to John B. The Word and Creation (1:3–5)
The first recorded words of God are “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3), and in this chapter the Word is the source of light. All the light we have, whether we walk in it or turn our backs on it, we owe to the Word.
Jhn 8.12 “12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
Jhn 12.46 “46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
Jn 14.6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Name of the Word-Made-Flesh on Earth Is Jesus Christ
He is Jesus Christ after he is made flesh: Savior and God-anointed King of all.
Lk 1.31 “31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”
Matt 1.21 “21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””
Act 4.12 “12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””
The Word is God.
Creation took place through The Word.
The Word took on flesh and dwelt among men.
The Word is life and light to all mankind.
The Word is Jesus the Christ!
Born to die / crucified / take sin, wrath / righteous for unrighteous… Messy Love
One Message
One Message
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The man John
Bearing witness about Jesus
So you might Believe
Messy Love
Two Responses
Two Responses
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Christ in Christmas
Christ in you?
Christ’s willingness to show a “messy love” by being born into humanity should empower us to share His messy love with the people around us.
Group Questions
Group Questions
Was there anything that stood out to you from this weeks message? What was it and why?
How would you summarize the “big idea” of this beautiful passage of John?
Why do you think John identifies Jesus as “the Word”? What does this title tell us?
How does the description of Jesus as “the Word” relate to John’s gospel as a whole?
What is the purpose of the incarnation of Christ?
In John 1.5 we are told “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (look up this verse in other translations also) How do you interpret this? What do you think John means?
What would the world look like if Jesus had not brought the light of the gospel?
Are there moments in your life when you feel overwhelmed by anxiety, fear, or isolation? How does the picture of Jesus as a light shining in the darkness speak to you in those circumstances?
vWhy was it necessary for John to bear witness to the light?
How are you bearing witness to the light of Jesus?
What are good things about Christmas that can sometimes be distractions from the real point of Christmas? Which do you personally struggle with the most? How might you shift your focus this year?
Have you ever experienced “messy love” in your life/family? What did / does that look like and how can you seek to be like Christ in those moments?