Promises

What does a broken promise feel like?

We live in a world that promises us everything, and yet we get let down all the time

The nation of Israel was promised a ruler too

Isaiah 42:1–4 ESV

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

This is just one instance of something that they were promised, but little did they know what was coming

John 1:1–3 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John uses the word Logos here to talk about Jesus

Jews would have understood it to mean the “Word of God” is the personification of God’s revelation.

Greeks would have understood it as a material thing in which God is communicating to us.

John 7:16 ESV

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

John 7:28 ESV

So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.

Both point to the fact that He is from God, but He is also God as is pointed out in John.

So here we see that the promise is being fulfilled right? That God promised someone to come, and He came, so what’s the big deal?

Jesus came to bring life

John 1:4–5 ESV

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus is the life that we have been searching for.

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is the life that we need.

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Not just any life, but an abundant life

In greek it means more than anyone could expect or anticipate

What is abundant life?

Eternal life

John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

It is not prosperity here on earth, but an eternal life with him

Hopeful life

“For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection.” -Billy Graham

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peaceful Life

John 14:27 ESV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Peace that when everything around us crumbling down, He is still with us and providing for us.

John 1:9–11 ESV

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

The promise that a messiah was coming was made true, and not only that, but He brought with Him life, salvation, hope, peace, and yet people (the nation of Israel) rejected Him. But He still loved them and still came for them and for us.

John 1:12–14 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 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.

And I love how this section of scripture ends. That we can receive the same salvation this talked about here.