The Word of Life made manifest

Introduction

In today’s world you do not hear the word manifest used very often. And, whenever I have heard the word manifest, it is usually used in a distorted view. One example that comes to mind is prosperity preachers. I have heard it said that if a seed (always financial) is sown, then God will manifest great blessings and wealth and happiness in your life. Manifest is used in these circles as a means of blessing that has not been activated.

There is another way that manifest is used today and it is not anything new to us. This way of manifesting is finding power from within to cause your own reality. Here is a quote from the online paper the Guardian showing how manifesting is used today, “The concept, roughly, is this: manifesting takes the idea of a positive mental attitude and runs with it. So, while negative thoughts create “limiting beliefs”, and in turn prevent positive things from happening, positive thoughts – when focused on specific goals and outcomes – can make those things happen. “You are co-creating with the universe.”

Both of these views are, undoubtedly, worldly in scope. However, I want us to look at the greatest manifestation to ever take place. It is a manifestation that far supersedes either of the two mentioned above. And unlike the two views of manifestation above being relatively newer phenomena, this manifestation is still all powerful almost 2000 years later. Please turn with me in your bibles to 1 John 1. While you are turning there, I wanted to note that I was asked in one of the search meetings about what book I would preach from and I said 1 John. It is a wonderful book that gives us rich theology and deep application. With this said, lets read the first 4 verses, which I believe are the most important verses in the entire letter as it sets the premise for the rest of the letter. Read the verses. Now, I want us to see three things regarding this manifestation this morning. First, I want us to see the Physical Manifestation of Christ (vv. 1, 2), The Divinity of Christ’s Manifestation (v.3), and the Joy in Christ’s Manifestation (v.4).

1. The Physical Manifestation of Christ (vv. 1, 2)

Look with me at verse 1. Notice how John starts off. He starts at the beginning. Where did all things begin? We have our answer, with Christ. He is from the very beginning. We had that read for us in the Scripture reading as well. This was an important aspect of Christ for John as he tells of the beginning of all things and Who was present not once, but twice. And he does so using very similar, if not in some places the same words.

After He sets things straight in the beginning, he dives into the physical nature of Christ. Notice, how he begins with hearing Him. Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but have you ever had someone ask you if you had heard of a certain person? What is a typical response to that question? It is either yes, I have heard of that person and I know him, or I have heard of that person but I don’t know who he is. Do you think John had that in mind here? Think about it, he just got done explaining the beginning of life itself and John hadn’t lived 100 years! But he was certain about Christ’s origin. To the skeptic, it would not be enough to just tell them that Christ was from the beginning. I am sure you can remember a conversation that you have had and you are explaining truths of Christ and it is not going anywhere. The person you are speaking to will not believe just because you said it. Let’s look at another compelling account, turn to 2 Peter 1 and we will read verses 16-18. Read the verses. If we were to tell this account to someone today, would they believe it to be true? As compelling as this account is, many will not have an open ear to these truths of who Christ is. They are blinded by their sin. Another thing that I want to mention is that we have looked at 2 accounts that both reverberate the same thing. Isn’t that something? Not one, but two men are retelling of events where they saw and heard the Christ who was promised of old. For those who need more evidence, the Bible gives all the evidence they need.

For some people, it is not good enough to hear about someone or something, there is a need to see it. John takes care of that here as well. As clear as he could John says that he saw Christ with his very own eyes. Much more than a photograph or a drawing, John had the privilege of seeing the incarnate Christ, Christ on earth.

But if this isn’t enough, John says that they physically touched him. Look again in verse 1, he says that he touched Christ with his hands. Remember, when Jesus rose from the grave and He came to see the disciples and Thomas wasn’t there and He was inviting the disciples to believe and to see His physical hands and feet. What happened when Thomas came later and the disciples told him that they had seen the Lord? He said, “I will not believe.” What was Jesus’ response when He saw Thomas? “Bring your finger here, and see My hands; and bring your hand here and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27). By no means, am I calling Thomas a heretic or an atheist skeptic. I am saying that he had a moment where he would not believe and unless he felt the wound marks he would not believe.

Again, there are many today who could have seen, heard, and felt the manifestation of Christ and would not believe, for they are blinded by their sin. Clearly, we see that we have plenty of evidence to show that Christ physically manifested into a human being fulfilling the prophecies said of His human existence. Listen to Isaiah 7:14, 15 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey in order that He will know to refuse evil and choose good.”

At the end of this verse Christ is said to be the Word of Life. Similar to John 1, John is telling us that Christ is the One who gives life and IS LIFE. Just as there is no beginning without Christ, the same is true of life. There is NO LIFE outside of Christ. Life is in Him and in Him alone. Christ is the very testament of eternal life.

As I stated earlier, the evidence is plentiful of our Lord and the work He Has done. May it be said of us that we don’t stop at the physical evidence, but that we long and thirst for the maturity of the Word, Who gives life to dead creatures!

Look with me at verse 2. In this verse we are told that Jesus Christ physically manifested. He is a real being, not some myth or only spirit being. It is restated here that John and others (most likely the disciples) saw and beheld Jesus Christ. This leads us to our next point.

2. The Divinity of Christ’s Manifestation (v. 2, 3)

Next, let’s see the Divinity of Christ’s manifestation. It is not enough to only speak on the physical attributes of Christ in the flesh. As Christians we believe in, what is called, the Hypostatic Union; which is the belief that Christ is 100% God and 100% man, both qualities found in one person. There is no separation or division of divinity and humanity in Christ.

Look once more in verse 2. Christ is spoken of as eternal life. What does this mean? It means that eternal life rests in Christ. Do you think our God is powerful? If you are struggling with that today, may this lift you up. The God that we serve holds in His hands life and He is eternal life! Are you aware of any human being that is in his very being eternal life? Of course not! You see where I am going with this? With all of the skepticism and unbelief out there that Christ is not God, but a nice human being, who was a good and moral teacher, as Christians we must be ready to tell others about the divinity of Christ! He is truly God in the flesh! It is comforting for us to have this reality, that the God we serve is the eternal life that we look forward to!

How do we know this? Verse 2 tells us that the eternal life (Christ) was with the Father and was manifested to us. Listen to the first 5 verses of John 17. Note the saturation of divinity as Jesus prays to the Father. “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having finished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” It is clear after reading this passage in the Gospel of John why John firmly believed that Jesus was with the Father. Yet, there is another passage I want us to spend a brief moment in. Turn to John 5. We will start in verse 18 and read to verse 24. Read the verses. Do you see the similarities here? Over and over again, Christ is telling about His equality with the Father. Again, we see reference to eternal life. All of these things come together both in John 5 and our passage in 1 John 1 which you may turn back to.

Brothers, we have the evidence right before us of Christ’s divinity. We have been changed by Christ’s divinity. Christ has the power to save us and all mankind and He only has that power because He is truly God. He is the God in whom we serve this morning.

3. The Joy in Christ’s manifestation (vv. 3, 4)

As we have looked at the physical and divine natures of Christ this morning, I want us to see the culmination of these things in the text and that is joy. Look at verse 4. John says that these things are written “so that our joy may be made complete.” What is John referring to with the word ‘joy’? I think that has 2 meaning that are closely aligned. First, we are joyful that Christ has descended from heaven and that He is God. Every statement that was said of Him and that He said of Himself are true. We are exceedingly joyful because of these truths. Secondly, I believe that John is speaking of having joy in our salvation and the salvation of others. [Hence verse 3, which we will get to in a moment.] If we were to look at John’s second and third letters in unison with this text, we would see a parallel. John loved the people of God and was very glad regarding their salvation.

This joy has been spoken of throughout the first 4 verses of 1 John. Look at verse 3. John speaks of the fellowship that we have with one another and the fellowship that we have with the Father and the Son. If there was ever a reason to be joyful, this is it! We have this joy because of the manifestation of God in the flesh. The bond that brings us together each Lord’s Day morning is that we are redeemed by the blood of the manifested Christ! The reason that we are able to work through difficulties in the church and come out united is because of Christ.

This goes far beyond the fellowship that we have with one another. What is of greater emphasis is the fellowship that we have with God. This is promised to every believer. We delight in God; we are cheerful and find our happiness in God. We look forward to worshipping God and being in His presence forever. A new heaven and earth, a new creation land, where there will be no sin. This is the fellowship that we have with God and with His Son who along with the Holy Spirit helps us to persevere on earth until that great day when we are in heaven, where our fellowship with God will be seen in all its glory.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I want to us to consider 3 areas of application.

1. Without Christ being manifest, there is no hope for mankind. Think about this for a moment, without Christ being manifested, so that, ultimately, He could die and atone for our sins, there is NO HOPE for you or for me! No heaven, no glory with the Father and the Son. What would the purpose of our lives be? What would be our reason for living? Praise God that He has sent His Son! We have a reason to live and hope to look forward to!

2. Christ’s manifestation and His subsequent life that He lived gives us a model for godly and righteous living. Because Christ manifested, He lived life here on earth, and He did so perfectly. He abstained from sin, not only because He is God and He could do it, but He shows us the power of the Holy Spirit within us that helps us to overcome sin in the flesh. Therefore, may it be said of us that we are actively crucifying the flesh and killing sin.

3. We have something of utmost importance to talk about! We possess the greatest news on the planet, for every generation! Christ has come to earth, fully God and fully man to save sinners from the wrath of God. Just like we saw the Apostle John proclaim Christ, so must we! May God empower us to be bold to share our faith in Christ, until He comes again!

Prayer for the food and Benediction

Revelation 21:3, 5