JOHN 1:14b | BEHOLD THE GLORY
Notes
Transcript
JOHN 1:14b | BEHOLD THE GLORY
JOHN 1:14b | BEHOLD THE GLORY
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever been uncomfortable?
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever been uncomfortable?
Hopefully not this morning!
There are some places where I just naturally feel uncomfortable.
Airplanes
The back seat of a car
A few years back I knew that I was going to be going hunting with Rick Price.
I had bought a tent for us to use and the tent had entrances on both sides.
When I told Tressa this she questioned why I needed to have a tent with openings in two locations.
I let her know that I wasn’t interested in having to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and having to crawl over the top of Rick to get to the exit.
That would have been uncomfortable!
EXPLANATION: Last week we began our dive into v.14 of John 1.
EXPLANATION: Last week we began our dive into v.14 of John 1.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
We saw as John was completely captivated by that reality that Jesus Christ was made flesh and dwelt among him.
Jesus understood what he was going through.
And Jesus understands what you are going through.
And that reality should bring great comfort!
But as John is dictating to the writer here in v.14, it’s almost like he finishes the verse and then pauses because he realizes there’s something he missed that he wanted to say.
John and told them, “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”
And as he was about to continue on, he stopped… “Hold on just a second”
“Before you write that last part, I want to clarify something.”
Yes the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us… and it was stunning.
But I want you to know something else… “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.”
John says, “we got a glimpse of the glory of Who Christ really is!”
Over in Matthew 17:1-3, we are giving a front row seat to this experience.
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Jesus had brought his 3 closes disciples on top of a mountain and the Bible says He gave them a glimpse of His glory.
Peter, James, and… John
John is reflecting back on the events of that day in this brief almost side note in his Gospel.
As Jesus pulls back the veil on His deity just a bit, there standing with Him are Moses and Elijah.
Can you imagine what this must have been like for the disciples?
They must have been awe struck!
ILLUSTRATION: My “Bobby Knight” experience.
ILLUSTRATION: My “Bobby Knight” experience.
EXPLANATION: There Peter, James, and John are just peeking out from around a rock.
EXPLANATION: There Peter, James, and John are just peeking out from around a rock.
And, we will never understand why… not until we get to heaven… but ol’ Peter decides he needs to get involved.
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Now I don’t know I don’t know if Matthew just missed something… maybe he thought this would be a fun way to portray Peter…
But Peter answers… but no one asked a question.
And I think maybe he just started talking and didn’t know where to go and his tongue just kept going.
“And we should stay here and build tabernacles for you, and Moses, and for Elijah” and he would have kept going.
If not for God Himself stepping in, Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
And at that moment, the true glory of just Who it was on that mountain shined through… this was Jesus Christ… God in flesh!
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
You see, when they came face to face with Who Jesus is, and they got that final glimpse of His glory… they became uncomfortable.
It was on the edge of the sea of Gennesaret when Jesus was trying to teach the people.
The crowd had grown so much that there wasn’t room for Christ to stand.
His feet were being covered by the waves when he looked over and saw two ships on the lake, and a couple fisherman knelt down beside them rinsing out their nets.
Jesus walks over to one of those ships and he speaks to the owner, a man named Peter, and He asks him to push the ship off the shore just a little bit so he has room to teach.
Peter does is and Jesus continues to teach the people.
When He wraps up his teaching, Jesus makes an interesting command to Peter, Luke 5:4
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Now Peter had been listening to the teachings of Jesus, and at the very least he was impressed by what he heard because in v. 5 he calls Jesus “Master”
This was a position of authority and power… one to be revered and respected.
Peter says, Luke 5:5
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
There was enough trust in that moment to take one of those freshly cleaned nets, and stick it back into the water.
And we all remember what happened next Luke 5:6
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
When that net his the water, the fish began jumping into the net.
Can you imagine Peter telling this story years later?
There’s a reason we don’t have Peter telling the story about catching the fish… If he said it, no one would have believed his fish story.
In that moment, Peter is holding onto the net and between the two boats they’re trying to pull in all of the fish, when Peter looks over and he sees Jesus.
And I kind of think maybe Jesus’ eyes caught Peter’s, in that moment, Peter realized this wasn’t just some man.
Not some great teacher…
Peter makes his way to Jesus, and Luke 5:8, look at what he says:
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
When Peter got a glimpse of just who Jesus was… of his glory… he became uncomfortable… because in the presence of the Lord he was a sinner.
John was there on that hillside.
Staring into the eyes of the One Who was giving His life for him.
How could this be happening… Jesus Christ had shown over and over again that He had all power, and yet here He was allowing Himself to be crucified on a cross.
Tears undoubtedly streamed down John’s face as he stood there watching Jesus suffer knowing there was nothing he could do.
If he tried to help Him, there would be a fourth cross planted next to Jesus.
And then he looked over to see Mary, Jesus’s mother, standing before her son.
Broken and sobbing at His suffering.
When Jesus’s eyes caught John’s and he cried out for John to take care of his mother Mary and so John wrapped his arm around her and began to lead her away.
We don’t know if he was in earshot or not, when Jesus finally cried out, “if is finished”… but you can mark down one thing… on that day, seeing Jesus on that cross… it undoubtedly was uncomfortable.
But it was on that cross that the glory of Christ was on full display.
The God man was hanging there paying for the sins of all the world!
What love He showed.
And in the darkest moment of history, Jesus became sin for us who knew no sin, 2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Paul would say it this way in 1 Corinthians 1:18 as he thought about the cross
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
It was this moment on that hillside, that John would visit over and over again in his Gospel as he would write about “Christ’s hour” repeatedly throughout his gospel.
Because when John thought about that day at Calvary, when the glory of Jesus was on display as He defeated death and hell, it made John uncomfortable… because Jesus gave everything for him.
APPLICATION: Friend, have you lost sight of the glory of God?
APPLICATION: Friend, have you lost sight of the glory of God?
Decades had passed since these moments John would think back to, but he could never get past the glory of God!
And friend, I wonder if things have gotten a little stale for you?
Does the story of Christ on the cross still hit you the way it once did?
Do the miracles that Christ performed still leave you in awe?
Is there a hunger and a craving to know Jesus in a greater way after all He’s done for you?
Does the thought of your sin still leave you in disgust, or has your pallet changed to where you can tolerate it now?
Has the Christian life become nothing more than repetition?
Do you find yourself in a rut this morning?
Have you lost sight of the glory of God?
ILLUSTRATION: I enjoy summer as friends and family come out to visit.
ILLUSTRATION: I enjoy summer as friends and family come out to visit.
It’s always fun to step away from the normal everyday things and play tourist for just a few days.
But every time someone comes out to visit, especially from out of state, there is always a common phrase that is said.
“Wow, it’s just so beautiful out here!”
“Look at the mountains… at the sky…” and then they’ll say something like this “these views must never get old.”
But you know the truth as well as I do… most days I walk out of my house and I don’t even notice the mountains.
Rarely do I look up and the sky and think, “Wow… look how big it is.”
You see, I’ve been surrounded by it so much for so long… that I’ve lost sight of the beauty… of the glory that surround me.
APPLICATION: Friend, could it be that you’ve been so surrounded by the glory of God in your life, that you’ve just gotten used to it.
APPLICATION: Friend, could it be that you’ve been so surrounded by the glory of God in your life, that you’ve just gotten used to it.
It’s like John, you could almost just skip over it.
Can I encourage you this morning, behold the glory of God in your life… and stand in awe!
Let it make you uncomfortable so you can truly be right with God!
Have you become numb to the sacrifice that Christ made for you on the cross, and now you can excuse the sin in your life?
ILLUSTRATION: Isaiah got a clear view of God in Isaiah 6
ILLUSTRATION: Isaiah got a clear view of God in Isaiah 6
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
And when Isaiah got a clear view of God and the glory of God, Isaiah cried out in v.5, Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
Because when Isaiah God a clear view of God, then he got a clear view of himself, and that made him uncomfortable… and that was a good thing
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
APPLICATION: Friend, when you get a clear view of Christ and His glory, you’ll get a clear view of yourself… and that will make you uncomfortable…
APPLICATION: Friend, when you get a clear view of Christ and His glory, you’ll get a clear view of yourself… and that will make you uncomfortable…
And that’s a good thing… because finally you will be able to get yourself fully right before God.
One of my verses in the Bible is Joel 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn unto the Lord your God: For he is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness, And repenteth him of the evil.
The people had gotten so good at their outward religious appearance, but their heart was far from Him.
And God tells them, I’m not interested in the outward show… I want your heat!
Christian, let’s get a clear view of God this morning, behold His glory!
And then let’s get uncomfortable, and rend out heart before Him.
And let’s walk out of this building today truly right with God!
Maybe one day you’ll look back and you’ll be able to say like John… “I remember the day when we beheld His glory!”
Friend make that day today!
BEHOLD THE GLORY OF GOD!
