The Bigness of God
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Coming into this season when we consider Jesus coming as a baby into this world. We need to stop and consider that this was not the beginning of God’s plan. We need to grow in our understanding and knowledge of God’s immensity - his bigness and allow God’s Holy Spirit to change our view of him.
In CS Lewis book Prince Caspian: Lucy has an experience with the lion Aslan as she again gazed into his large, wise face.
“Welcome, child,” Aslan said.
“Welcome, child,” he said.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered Aslan.
“Not because you are?” replied Lucy
Aslan says, “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
The Word
The Word
Verse 1 In the beginning was the Word
In the beginning God
R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 15.
John is reminding us and making the claim that the Word is God
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
The Word is the expression of God
The Word is the expression of God
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
John is reminding us and making the claim that the Word is God
In the beginning was the Word
The Word is the expression of God
The Word is the expression of God
God’s thoughts, words and actions are perfectly consistent, perfectly united
How does that compare with us??
Bosses words of instruction
God’s ‘Word’ in the Old Testament is his powerful self-expression in creation, revelation and salvation, and the personification of that ‘Word’ makes it suitable for John to apply it as a title to God’s ultimate self-disclosure, the person of his own Son
God is not like that - he takes responsibility and his plans always return to him
The New International Version Chapter 55
10 As the rainn and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,o
so that it yields seedp for the sower and bread for the eater,q
11 so is my wordr that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,s
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purposet for which I sent it.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
He was in the beginning with God.
He is a Real Person
He is a Real Person
v. 2 moves from a concept to the personal ‘This man’, ‘He’
He is not a comic book character but a real person - God didn’t just make him up
1 He was in the beginning , and He was and is with God, and He was and is God.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Through him - this real personal being - all things were made
Through him - this real personal being - all things were made
The Prologue to the Letter
1:1 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life—1:2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us). 1:3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). 1:4 Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Through him all things were made
R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 16.
Preaching the Word: John—That You May Believe Eternally Preexistent
“In the beginning was continuing the Word, and the Word was continuing with God, and the Word was continually God.”
God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light!
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Preaching the Word: John—That You May Believe Eternally in Relationship
“and the Word was with God.” Literally, “the Word was continually toward God.” The Father and the Son were continually face to face.
How do we compare?
...and the Word was with God.
...and the Word was with God.
Going for a job
the Word was continually toward God.
Children
Prime Ministers and governments
...and the Word was God
...and the Word was God
By the Lord’s decree the heavens were made;
by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created.
He piles up the water of the sea;
he puts the oceans in storehouses.
Let the whole earth fear the Lord!
Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came into existence,
he issued the decree, and it stood firm.
Through him all things were made
Through him all things were made
1:1 T be complete.