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A Bigger Jesus! John 1:1-9
In C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia… The child Lucy meets the lion Aslan (who is the Christ symbol in the Chronicles of Narnia) for the second time. As she gazed into his large, wise face… The Lion said, “Welcome Child.” “Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.” “That is because you are older, little one,” answered he. “Not because you are?” “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” Each of the Gospels presents Christ with a different emphasis… Matthew Emphasizes his kingship, Mark his servant hood, Luke his manhood… The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus’ Godhood. JESUS IS GOD!!! Now there’s a concept that twists the brain a bit! It’s a concept that most people have a hard time with. o Many people like the idea that Jesus was a great teacher… It’s easy to ignore a teacher… If you want to ignore God, to ignore Jesus, you can pretend that he is small. A mere man... a good teacher! o The Gospel of John doesn’t let us do that! In fact this book gives us an ongoing source for expanding our concept of the greatness of Jesus. Today I want us to discover and grow in our understanding of a Bigger Jesus; The Jesus that can transform and enlarge your life... Who can make your relationships with Him and with everyone in your life eternally significant! READ THE PASSAGE! JOHN 1:1-9 Jesus is God! JESUS IS AN AWESOME GOD! 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. o Jesus is God! Verse 1 The overall sense of this passage really leaves no question as to the nature of Jesus. He preexisted all things! The book of John was originally written in Greek… and in the Greek verb system the word that is translated as was, is in the Greek Imperfect tense (now I am beginning to sound like a teacher at school). This means that this first verse could be translated as “In the beginning was continuing the Word, and the Word was continuing with God, and the Word was continually God.” The prologue of the Gospel of John leaves no doubt concerning the deity of Jesus Christ. o Jesus is a God of new beginnings. Verse 2 Look at this world! Every day is a new beginning! Jesus… He was with God in the Beginning… and He desires to be with you in a beginning… the beginning of a new or deeper relationship with God. There is time for a new beginning with Jesus! o Jesus is always in control! Verse 3 There isn’t a question of whether or not Jesus is just a god. If people tell you that Jesus is just a little “g” god, point them to this verse… o Col. 1:16-18a For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church o The Book of Revelation! It’s a book about the victorious Christ… He is in control… and all things will be brought to a perfect end! Jesus is Life & Light 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. o Our need for life! So many of us take life for granted… that is until we are confronted with the face of death. Each moment we are on the doorstep of eternity… sometimes we can see it coming… cancer… or disease… Sometimes it takes us by surprise. But those who face death all have one thing in common… a desire for life. But this desire is not limited to those facing death… all of us desire a full life… o John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. o The world has its idea of a full life… God’s idea of abundant life speaks of abundance in the sense of eternity… of true and lasting abundance! In Him is Life! True life is found in no other place! o Life’s need for Light! Our need for true relationship!
We put a lot of things between ourselves and God… o It’s easy to think of the bad things that damage our relationship with God… the darkness that we draw up around ourselves… o But sometimes we decorate the things that separate us from God… they can look really good… Our priorities make Jobs, careers, cars, houses, and things more important than people… than God. Those things eventually lead to death… we aren’t made to live in the darkness… we are made to walk in the light… Read 1st John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. People are Important! We are Witnesses! 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. God values Human Beings… not only does He come to save us… but He allows us to take part in the process… We become part of the solution. Do you remember when you were a child… or maybe even now, when something goes wrong and an “expert” appears on the scene… often they jump in and solve the problem, making you feel like an idiot (and sometimes we are). But that devalues you, God values you! You are designed to be a part of the solution! o Verse 6 is such a simple verse… “there came a man who was sent from God: his name was John.” The John that is mentioned here is not the John who wrote this Gospel… it’s John the Baptist… He came before Jesus… to prepare the way… o God wants us to do that! He wants to use us! Isn’t that amazing. He makes us an important part of His plan… We are valuable. Conclusion- Our Hope--- JESUS 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
Jesus has come. The true light… the one that gives us light… has COME!!!
The Apostle John allows us to see the true vision of the big Jesus! We are confronted with Jesus! And the logical response to this good news is to make a decision about it… This was John's purpose for writing This Gospel… this Good news. John 20:30, 31: "Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in his name."
That is the great gift of the coming of Christ. Will you open yourself up to a bigger and bigger Jesus?
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