John 1:24-34 - Who is Jesus?

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:24-34

Those who asked John the Baptist who he was were sent by the Pharisees, religious leaders of the day. Since John was neither Messiah nor the prophet like Moses nor Elijah and so had no official title, they asked him why he was baptizing. John stated he did not profess to speak with ultimate authority. He was preaching repentance (Luke 3:3) and was calling for baptism as a confession of repentance in expectation of the greater person who was yet to appear. This One coming after John was so important he was not even worthy to undo the strap of His sandal.

When John saw Jesus the next day, he told his followers Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. Lamb of God was a reference to the Jewish requirements for forgiveness of sin. Only the blood of the spotless Lamb of God could take away sin completely and permanently (Hebrews 9:14, 9:22, 10:4). John knew the destiny of Jesus right from the beginning. John then said even though Jesus was younger, Jesus had a higher rank because He existed before John. This verse not only emphasizes Jesus’ eternal nature as God, it denies that humans existed in any form prior to their conception in the womb.

John came to Israel baptizing so he might recognize Jesus and be able to show Israel their Savior. He knew Him now because when he baptized Him, the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove. God the Father had told John the One on whom the Holy Spirit came in the form of a dove and stayed with would be the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He had seen this happen and he now testified Jesus was the Son of God.

 *How do you know Jesus is God?

John 1:15-23 - Who Was John the Baptist?

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.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

John 1:15-23

The scene in John 1 shifts as we focus on the ministry of John the Baptist. John begins by telling the people that Jesus, who was born after John, had a far higher rank than John because He existed before John. This seeming contradiction is resolved when we realize Jesus existed even before the beginning (John 1:2). Because of the fullness of His grace, grace upon grace comes to Christians like waves continuing to come to the seashore. The greatness of the Old Testament was the giving of the Law by Moses. The glory of the Church is the revelation of God’s grace and truth by Jesus Christ. No one has seen God’s essence or true being at any time. His true being is revealed by Jesus Christ.

The ministry of John was so significant the authorities in Jerusalem decided to investigate him. John the apostle records what John says when the Jews asked him, “Who are you?” There were three people the Jews were expecting to come: Christ, a prophet like Moses, and Elijah. They were relying on Amos 3:7 where God promises to give His prophets and thus His people advance notice of His plans. John the Baptist had an Elijah-like ministry. He appeared on the scene suddenly and even dressed like Elijah. He wanted to turn people back to God as Elijah did in his day.

John told them he was not the Christ. In Daniel 9:25-26 God had given a specific prophecy of WHEN the Messiah would come. The timing for John’s ministry was the right time, so they could not understand why he refused to say he was the Messiah. John, however, remained true to his part in this great event – he was not Messiah, but he pointed them to the true Messiah – Jesus.

*Go deeper: Read the following verses and focus on the prophecies John fulfilled (from these scriptures) or what people thought he was fulfilling:

Deuteronomy 18:15-18  

Isaiah 40:3  

 Malachi 4:5-6  

John 1:1-14 - The Word

 

Lesson 1: John 1:1-14 - The Word

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.
7 He 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.

The entire book of John will show us the truth of who Jesus really is. John 1:1 is perhaps both the greatest declaration and the greatest mystery in the Bible. From these first words in verse 1 we learn Jesus the man was at the same time God. A comparison with verse 14 tells us how this union of God and man came to be. It is a vital part of our salvation to accept the truth of Jesus being God, since only the blood of God could pay the price to redeem us from our sin.

As Creator-God, He is Life itself. He breathed the breath of life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). He is also our Light. This is the Light which shows us both our sin and our way (Psalm 119:105). But mankind is in darkness and cannot understand the Light God sent to us. So God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus. His task was to be a witness to the Light so that all might believe in Him. He was to show others the Light but he himself was not the Light. Even though Jesus, the Creator and true Light, was in the world, the world did not recognize Him.

As Creator, all people were His, yet they refused to receive Him. They loved the darkness instead (John 3:19). But those who received Him were given the power and authority to become God’s children. These children are born from above by God the Father. God the Word lowered Himself to become a man. A babe in a poor family. Incredible, unbelievable, impossible yet gloriously true. We saw His glory.

The most amazing gift in the Bible is the grace of God made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ the God-man. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Without the grace of God, we are completely helpless in our sin. Someone defined grace as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Christ paid the way for us to become the children of God. Praise His name!

*Who do you say Jesus is?

Christmas Devotion Day 25 - He is Coming Again!

  

Jesus said: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6

Today, around the world, Christians celebrate Jesus’ first coming to earth as a time of hope and joy and peace. Our world today does not contain much hope, joy or peace. Hope is gone, joy is fleeting, and peace cannot be sustained. 

But Christmas did not end in a manger, it did not end on the cross, and it did not end at the door of the empty tomb. Christmas will be completed the day Jesus returns to this earth to fulfill all the rest of the prophecies of the Bible. 

God’s plan was never to just send the Messiah (Savior) as a baby. His plan was not even to just have the Savior die and rise again. His plan included all those things – but the final victory is to provide a complete eternal life for each one who responds to God’s love-gift, believing and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

The day is coming when the just and righteous judgment of all sin will be completed, and then all effects and consequences of all believers’ sin will be finally and forever buried in the “blood of the Lamb of God.”

Jesus said He came to display Truth to us (John 18:37). He tells us that Truth sets us free (John 8:31-38). He says Truth purifies us (1 Peter 1:22). He gives us Truth as part of our armor against evil (Ephesians 6:14). He says Truth should be the way we live our lives here on this earth (2 Corinthians 4:2).

Prayer: 

Dearest Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to this earth to save us from our sins, to show us God and to reconcile us to the Father. May we anticipate Your return with hope and joy! You are our blessed Lord, Redeemer and Friend. We love you with all of our hearts. Come Lord Jesus! In Your name we pray, Amen.  

Christmas Devotion Day 24 - Grace and Truth

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

– John 1:14

The Creator of the universe entered history as a man. God’s Word had created all that exists – God spoke, and everything came into being (Genesis 1) – and now that Word took on human flesh. He did not come as a full-grown man to command everyone to obey Him or to destroy all those who would not. He came as a little baby, helpless and weak, as every other human baby has been.

And He came to us! We tried countless times to make it to God but we never would be able to. Instead, He left everything to search us out...to come to mere human beings to show us, firsthand, His love.

Jesus left Heaven, where He had been an intimate part of God for all eternity. Think of your own words – you defend them, you treasure them when you write them down, they are important to you because they express to others who you are. In the same way, God’s Word was a treasured part of Himself – but He sent His Word to express and explain to people of earth who He is and how much He loves and cares for us. 

Our words can never become alive, but God’s Word is living and active and powerful (Hebrews 4:12) and His name is Jesus. He chose to be limited to time and space for a while, just as we are limited. And being limited to time and space meant He would also be able to die. From the moment He was born, the shadow of the cross would be part of His earthly life.

He is full of grace and truth. What an incredible and desirable balance in a leader and one that seems impossible to obtain. People tend to fall hard on the side of truth, often seeming judgmental and uncaring or they fall hard on the side of grace, often seeming not to stand for anything and falling for everything. 

Not so with Jesus. He always modeled what was right and true. He never condoned sin and would point it out each time, encouraging the sinner to "go and sin no more." Yet, He did it with such love and mercy that sinners wanted to be around Him. They felt loved and accepted in His presence. 

This same Jesus is alive in Heaven today and His Spirit dwells in all those who believe in Him. He has set a model for us to follow as His Church strives to be both grace and truth to a hurting world. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, how can we ever thank you for coming to earth and showing us God. You are Lord, Savior, Friend, Brother and King! We love you! In Your name we pray, Amen. 

Christmas Devotion Day 23 - Savior

 

Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.
-- Matthew 1:20-21

They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.

-- John 4:42

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

to the glory of God the Father. -- Philippians 2:9-11

Just as Yahweh is God's personal name revealed in the Old Testament, Jesus is the personal name of the One we call Redeemer, Lord, and Christ. His name is intimately linked to the God of the Hebrew Scriptures because it means "Yahweh is salvation." Indeed, Jesus is Yahweh come to earth. He is God bending toward us, God becoming one of us, God reaching out in mercy, God humbling Himself, God nailed to a cross, God rising up from the grave to show us the way home. 

There's power in the name of Jesus, but it's not some kind of magical chant. Saying His name is not like rubbing a lamp to conjure a genie. No, the power of the name of Jesus is released when people earnestly cry out to Him and when they live in obedience to Him. 

There are many stories that reflect this truth. One was told by a woman at Ann Spangler's church. While walking to her car in a deserted garage one night, a thug accosted her, knife in hand. Though she was terrified, this woman managed to command the man who wanted to hurt her: "Get away from me in the name of Jesus!" To her astonishment, though they were alone in the garage, the man backed up as though someone had just threatened him with a knife. Then he turned and fled. 

Then there's the story of E.P. Scott, a missionary to India. One day Scott decided to visit a mountain tribe who had never heard of Jesus. But as he approached the mountain, a band of angry tribesman surrounded him with spears pointing straight at his chest. On impulse, the missionary took out the violin he was carrying, closed his eyes, and began playing and singing a hymn in their native language. When Scott finally found the courage to open his eyes, he was amazed to see that his attackers had dropped their spears and that several of them had tears in their eyes. Scott spent the rest of his life preaching and serving the people of that tribe, many of whom became believers. What was the hymn he sang? "All Praise the Power of Jesus Name!"

Discuss: What comes to mind when you hear the name Jesus? 

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, thank you for being my Savior.  Thank you for all the sacrifices that you made in Your earthly life.  Thank you especially for Your sacrifice on the cross that I might find salvation and spend eternity in Heaven with You. In Your precious and beautiful name I pray,  Amen.

Christmas Devotion Day 22 - Glory and Peace

 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.” – Luke 2:14

As I read these words, words that angels from Heaven spoke to human beings on earth, I am struck with this thought...Who am I? Who am I to attempt to explain what angels meant? Who am I to add my own commentary to the words of God? I am a mere human being, sinful by nature, equipped with an average mind, trying to comprehend the things of God. So it is with much prayer and humility that I try.

Glory to God in the highest...amazing, stupendous wonder...thankful, honor-filled praise...from the lips of angels who had seen God and knew Him in a way no one on earth ever had. And their words of praise were not just for the shepherds, not just for this earth but to the highest heaven, throughout the universe which He made. All creation, everywhere, was to hear of this glory that was given to God, the Creator.

And on earth, peace, good will to men...peace. It's what the world longs for. It's what each of us, each day, look to find at home, at our jobs, in our thoughts, our heart. Peace with our family members, peace with our friends, peace with our colleagues and ultimately, peace within ourselves.

But that total peace could not be found. It had been destroyed with the fatal choice Adam and Eve made in the Garden. To desire to know evil, to want to be gods unto themselves, to break the intimate relationship they had with their Creator. And ever since then, every person born was born into a broken relationship with the Lord. There was no ultimate peace in their hearts because there was no ultimate peace with the One who made them.

God made each of us to be in a loving, peaceful relationship with Him. But that had been destroyed. Only God Himself could restore that relationship, bring reconciliation, bring ultimate peace. And this is what Jesus did. By His birth, life, death and resurrection He brought peace to each of us if we will accept it.

This is what the angels spoke of...peace on earth, peace in each heart that put Jesus on the throne. And this peace was God's "good will" for each man. It is God's will, His desire, that we live at peace with Him. Just as each of us want peace with those we love, God wants peace with each of us because He loves us.

The words of the angels sum up Jesus' mission on earth...to bring glory to God and peace to us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of all our love, all our worship, all our thanks and all our praise. You brought glory to God and peace to us. Thank you! We love you! In Your name we pray, Amen.