Fully God, Fully Man
Jesus was fully God, fully man as He laid down His life for all mankind. Only God could pay for our sin, so He came in the form of man to sacrifice on our behalf.
We are starting a new book today—the Gospel of John. Written by the disciple John whom Jesus loved, it is different than the other synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, which have a similar focus and view.
The Gospel of John does not mention the parables or any stories about Jesus’ birth or his baptism. John only recorded 7 miracles, which he called ‘signs’. But John recorded many long speeches that Jesus made.
Blue Letter Bible Commentary
- In Matthew, Jesus is the Son of David (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1). Written to a Jewish audience. He is the King of the Jews. The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes the teachings of Jesus. Jesus fulfills the words of the Law and the Prophets.
- And in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is the Son of Man (Zechariah 3:8; Mark 8:36). Jesus is the suffering servant, yet shows Jesus’ authority. The whole book is a declaration of Jesus’ work. Probably a source for Matthew and Luke.
- In Luke, He is the Son of Adam (Zechariah 6:12; Luke 3:38). Jesus is the Savior of all. Luke was a physician who also wrote the book of Acts. Written by a non-Jewish person for non-Jewish
- And in John, Jesus is the Son of God (Isaiah 4:2; 7:14; John 3:16). Focus is on the deity of Jesus. Jesus is God. John was written after the synoptic Gospels.
Scripture of the Day: John 1:10-14
Putting the Scripture of the day into a bit more context, and reading from the NET Bible translation today:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
Fully God, Fully Man—But Not Known by Those He Made
10 He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children 13 —children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.
14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 15 John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” 16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.”
Fully God, Fully Man—More Than A Prophet
The Word is Jesus. Jesus was fully God. He was not just a prophet or a good person. Jesus was God in the flesh. Only God could die for the people He made.
In John 1-2 we see the Trinity in the first few verses. We meet John the Baptist and see the disciples being chosen by Jesus. We see Jesus turning the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. We see the cleansing of the Temple.
Everyone is Not a Child of God
John is telling us how we become children of God—by believing in Jesus. Everyone is not a child of God. We must be born again in order to be a child of God and that happens when we believe in Jesus and we repent for our sins and ask Jesus to save us.
Easy English Bible Translation Commentary
“John wants to tell us more than the story of Jesus’ life; he tries to explain the meaning behind the things that Jesus said and did. He tells us who Jesus Christ is rather than what he does. John wrote about the great mystery – that Jesus is God as well as a man.”
Jesus is THE Son of God
The Gospel of John reveals the promised seed that God’s people longed for—the salvation of God! False religions try to make Jesus “a” son of God, not “the” Son of God. This is very important. Because only God could pay for our sins.
This is why we need to understand Who Jesus is. He is fully God and fully man.
Jesus knew those He was saving were blind and could not be trusted. Yet He still chose to come and save them.
John 2:24-25
“Jesus, however, would not entrust himself to them, since he knew them all 25 and because he did not need anyone to testify about man; for he himself knew what was in man.”
Application
- Jesus is fully God. God died for you, friends.
- What are you going to do about that fact?
- We are blessed to know this truth today and to live in grace.
- May we not abuse this grace and we who have become children of God, may we act like it.
- God did not come to save us for us to live like we aren’t saved.
Everyone is not a child of God. We become a child of God when we choose to believe in Jesus. Knowing who Jesus is matters. He was more than a prophet or a good person. Jesus was fully God and fully man. Only God could lay down His life for man. God did not come to save us for us to live like we aren’t saved. May we not abuse this precious grace we have been given so others, too, may become children of God.
7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Day #195:John 1-2
Scripture of the Day: John 1:10-14
Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/John.1
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