Jesus — God’s Eternal Love Letter

Call to Worship

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Psalm 103:1–5 ESV

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

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How has God been faithful to you in the past? Be really specific in your thinking.

Biblical hope rests on the trustworthiness of God to keep His promises, and since God never changes, remembering the full goodness of God’s demonstrated faithfulness is the fuel for clinging to God’s biblical promises in the Word for today and everyday in future.

This is the hope held out for everyone who believes! With full hearts, now, please stand if you’re able and worship the Lord with your whole heart this morning!

After song before sermon, please get to blank slide immediately after last phrase is sung (recording starts with that slide).

Message

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Introduction: From letters to personal time

When Cherilyn and I dated she lived in Canada and I in New Jersey. So between April and October before she moved to the states we wrote multiple page emails, sent letters and packages and spoke on the phone for hours.

Our phone calls and emails were great, capturing our attention for one another well because we were growing in our care for each other, eventually birthing a deep love for one another that’s lasted 16 years (as we celebrate our anniversary Dec. 31).

Our distance meant that most of our “dates” and letters revolved around core value conversations and desires for our lives.

[ Pivot ]

As much as we loved our phone calls, letters and occasional packages (which cost far too much to send internationally…no matter how much we loved each other) couldn’t compare with spending time in person where we could really get to know one another.

[ Text ]

Open your Bible to John 1, the fourth gospel in your NT. John was the son of Zebedee, he was an apostle (Jn 1:14; 2:11; 19:35), and one of the 12 disciples (Jn 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:20-25) whom Jesus loved.

SCRIPTURE SLIDES

John 1:1-18 (ESV) — p 833 in a Bible near you

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. 7He 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.

PRAY

Heavenly Father, you have given us your Word, your unchanging truth that we might know you, love you, and walk with you in daily relationship. You’ve confirmed your Word in your Son, Jesus, who showed us yourself, perfectly showing us your character because he is you. And after Jesus’ earthly ministry was finished you sent your Spirit so that we might know your Word fully as you’ve revealed it to us in this precious Book, the Bible.

Teach us this morning, we pray. Capture our affections for you by opening our eyes to glorious realities of our Savior. Apply the healing balm of your Word to our hearts through confidence building truths we must believe for faith to thrive, and piercing commands we need to obey to enjoy the benefits and blessings of living as your children who’ve received grace upon grace and therefore have renewed desires to live for your glory.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

John’s Prologue

This section of the Gospel of John we’ll look at this morning is John’s prologue, or preface. Now most of us, if we’re honest, don’t read prologues in books. We want to get right to the meat of the book. But often there are valuable hidden gems in a book’s prologue. That is certainly true here.

Before we dive in, however, it’s always important to know the purpose of a book. Whenever I read a book I always look for the purpose statement which tells you the author’s purpose and goals. I highlight this because I can sometimes get lost in the details.

And while the prologue of John’s gospel lay the theological foundation for his account, he states his purpose much later in his gospel, so it bears drawing our attention to it now.

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John 20:30–31 (ESV)

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Two related goals:

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That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and

by believing you may have life in his name.

And we’ll see these goals beautifully fleshed out (pun intended) in our passage this morning.

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1. Jesus is God’s Eternal Word... (1-5)

In the beginning

The opening phrase of John 1 bears a striking resemblance to the opening phrase of Genesis (“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” — Ge 1:1).

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John uses the phrase, ὁ λόγος, which means the Word just as we see it written in our Bibles. In most if not all of our Bibles we see the “W” in “Word” capitalized because John is using it to refer to the person of Jesus. (That’s an editor’s help for us, because in Greek it wouldn’t have had capitalization help (actually everything was capital letters).

ὁ λόγος is singular. Not “a” word, but “the” singular "Word”.

And then notice John adds a pronoun — a masculine singular pronoun, “He” (οὗτος).

2 He (οὗτος) was in the beginning with God.

As the second person of the Trinity, Jesus is the pre-existent Word...

Leon Morris says, this shows that “...the Word is not an impersonal idea or philosophy, but a Person.” (The Gospel According to John [Eerdmans, 1971], p. 76).

Jesus is the pre-existent second person of the Trinity.

This further affirms what we saw last week that only a pre-existent God can send forth a God-man. Remember Isa. 9:6 uses the word, “given” (“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”) Jesus already existed and was given to (and for) us.

So as the pre-existent (eternal) son of God...

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

…through whom and for whom everything was created...

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1 Corinthians 8:6 ESV

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Colossians 1:16 ESV

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.

Hebrews 1:2 ESV

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.

Jesus Christ, the Word, the Son of God was not idly sitting by as God the Father created. Jesus was active as God’s creative person. (Remember the Trinity is doctrine that God is three distinct persons on one unified and complete God.)

…bringing life and light out of darkness.

4 In him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men.

Life and light continue to draw on the OT creation theme and pattern John began in vv 1-2

Life

Life is woven into every facet of creation. From plants that grow and renew or are healed when injured. This is life woven into every fabric of creation.

John 5:26 ESV

26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

Light

When speaking to the scribes and Pharisees who brought the woman caught in adultery out to stone her, Jesus tells them “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — Jn 8:12

As he healed the man born blind from birth and people wondered whose fault it was (in other words, “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jn. 9:2), Jesus responded that it was not a result of any particular sin, but

“that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me (the Father) while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Jn 5:3-5

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

[Slowly] Darkness will never overcome light where Jesus is believed and loved, which results in following. Friends, we often jump ahead to the following. Don’t misunderstand, we are to follow fervently,

but the moment we get our following ahead of (if you will) our believing and loving, our following or obedience becomes stripped of its worship and becomes dry, legalistic behaviorism.

And dry, joyless, legalistic behaviorism is always seeking acceptance or approval as its reward rather than

believing and following from a point of faith that genuinely finds joy through relationship and fellowship with Christ Jesus as the starting, middle and end point in all things.

What if you were to adjust your patterns so that you only did what flowed from joy-filled belief that ongoing fellowship with Jesus is truly joyful? In other words:

You are! You are free to follow whatever, or whomever captures your heart’s desires. And if you evaluate your patterns you’ll see that you do.

Transition: Enter John the Baptist who has come to

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2. Jesus is God's Brightest Light (6-13)

John the Baptist came to bear witness to the life and light of Jesus, but the Jewish people of his day didn’t understand or believe. Some did, but very few.

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

It’s a perplexing thing to bear witness about God’s brightest light, isn’t it? If you’re in a dark place, why would you even point out that you have a light because it is self evident.

We all know the feeling of being awakened by someone walking in your room and turning on the light? We writhe from it. We quickly twist and turn, and cover our eyes to avoid the awakening effect of the light.

Oh, friends, this is spiritually as true today as ever before. People will behaviorally twist and turn and cover their face so they don’t have to see the truth of God in Christ, God’s brightest light.

But there is a promise for those who won’t cover their face and close their eyes. To those who will see, the Life and Light of men will be their saving joy!

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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.

God gave everyone who genuinely believes this testimony the right (ἐξουσίαν), or power, to become children of God. To become adopted.

A privilege no longer reserved for the Jewish people but for everyone who believes.

Rights are given…bestowed upon someone. No one has “the right” to fellowship with or access to God because we walk in darkness until God’s Brightest Light — Jesus — shines in our hearts, revealing the darkness of sin that is rampant in every one of us, and bringing light and life to every part of who we are.

Are you a child of God? Why would you try to cover up or avoid God’s Brightest Light which brings healing to God’s children, beyond salvation alone to every spiritual disease rooted in sin.

Why go through life alone when God’s prescription for healing is other children God, however imperfect they may be, working together to bring encouragement, and joy in hope?

Why hide in shame, despair, or fear when God’s prescription is to shine a bright light on it all and in so doing find healing through God’s Word?

Why cling to the resources, finances or materials, of life when God says that our true treasure is found is giving it up for the Brightest Light and Greatest Treasure?

Why believe the lesser wisdom in the world or in your own mind (which is no wisdom at all) when God holds the storehouse of all wisdom in this wonderful Book of Life?

Transition: The point is not that these are simply truths to cognitively believe? The point is that...

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3. Jesus is God's full grace & truth made known as a Person (14-17)

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.

Jesus’ incarnation is more seen more clearly than what went before (prophets, etc.). This is why John said in v 15 “...“This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)”

The author of Hebrews affirms this,

Hebrews 1:1–2 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 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.

In a very real sense, Jesus has always been in the world, because He is God. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is God, but now He’s made visible, or manifest to us, in the flesh.

No more foreshadows of God’s real provision for life and light.

No more sacrifices which are only a shadow of the real substance.

Jesus, the substance of all of God’s grace is here!

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.

God has made Him known. But do you know him?

Do you love him? Or are you hiding your eyes trying to block out the Brightest Light of God?

If today you’re starting to see, don’t cover your eyes.

If today you realize that you believe, genuinely, but for some reason you’ve been starting to turn your head away from the light because it’s revealing something painful, something ugly, something dirty, something empty in your life, look to the light of Christ. Come to the living Word in the Person of Jesus, now revealed fully and completely with all wisdom in the Bible.

This is why Jesus gave us this reminder of real flesh and blood in communion.

So that in eating and drinking we remember that the personal God came to take the wrath of God for our sin. Why? Because He loves you.

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Conclusion

Communion Transition and Prayer