Who is Jesus- A Look at the Gospel of John (2)

Jesus Christ has made a cameo in hundreds of pop culture places, from The Da Vinci Code to South Park. But, although the character of Jesus has certainly been fictionalized, satirized and mythologized over the centuries, the vast majority of Americans still maintain that he was a historical figure. More than nine out of 10 adults say Jesus Christ was a real person who actually lived (92%). While the percentages dip slightly among younger generations—only 87 percent of Millennials agree Jesus actually lived—Americans are still very likely to believe the man, Jesus Christ, once walked the earth.

Younger Generations Are Increasingly Less Likely to Believe Jesus Was God

The historicity of Jesus may not be in question for most Americans, but people are much less confident in the divinity of Jesus. Most adults—not quite six in 10—believe Jesus was God (56%), while about one-quarter say he was only a religious or spiritual leader like Mohammed or the Buddha (26%). The remaining one in six say they aren’t sure whether Jesus was divine (18%).

Americans Are Divided on Whether Jesus Was Sinless

About half of Americans agree, either strongly or somewhat, that while he lived on earth, Jesus Christ was human and committed sins like other people (52%). Just less than half disagree, either strongly or somewhat, that Jesus committed sins while on earth (46%), and 2 percent aren’t sure.

Most Americans Say They Have Made a Commitment to Jesus Christ

People Are Conflicted between “Jesus” and “Good Deeds” as the Way to Heaven

When it comes to Jesus there is confusion, and a question we all must answer is one that Jesus asks and it is “Who do you say I am?”

The Purpose for the Gospel of John is not a question for speculation:

John 20:31 ESV

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.

John writes so that his readers may believe is Jesus, and by believing may have eternal life.

John uses a courtroom type setting to accomplish this.

John 1:19 ESV

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

John continually uses testimonies of others much like you would see in a courtroom. Making you The judge and Jury

At the End of this testimony each one of us must make a Decision: Is JESUS WHO HE SAYS HE IS?

John 1:1–18 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 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. (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.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Who is Jesus?

Jesus is the Word: Just as our own words reveal our minds and heart, Jesus Christ reveals the mind and heart of God to men: Jesus say in John 14:9 “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.”

Jesus is the Light: God’s first creative act in Gen 1 was creating light, for life comes from light. Jesus is the true light, the original light from which all light has it’s source.-

There is conflict between light (God, Eternal life) and darkness (Satan, eternal death)

John is writing to those who don’t know Jesus, or have heard of Him but don’t truly understand just who this Jesus is. He is writing to a lot of deep thinkers Greco-Roman in Ephesus- Greek Philosophers:

Plato’s cave allegory: What is life?

Are we just chained and seeing reflections of what true life looks like? Are we all ignorant to what this life is?

Heraclitus -“Until we hear a more sure word, we are ships at night in a storm, trusting the best opinions of man”

John writes to answer these question. And it begins with “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God.”

John 1:14 ESV

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.

John is saying you no longer just have to trust the best opinions on men, because that greater Word has come in the flesh and we have seen Him, we have touched Him, and We have walked with Him.

Jesus is the Word made flesh: This words that was in the begin, outside of time, and created everything including time itself.

He had no beginning because He is the beginning of all things: John 1:3 “All things were created through Him”

John 1:1-5 echos the creation story of Gen 1-2“God said let there be” He “breathed the breathe of life into his nostrils”

John God Became a Human Being / 1:1–18 / 2

THE REAL JESUS

Throughout John’s Gospel, Christ is presented in the following ways:

• the one who expresses God (the Word)

• God himself

• the giver of eternal life to those who believe

• the bringer of light into a dark world

• the giver of grace to those who receive him

• the unique Son sharing an intimate relationship with his Father

• the bearer of heavenly truth

• the expression of God’s glory and fullness.

John Goes on to answer Plato’s question of what is life?

John 1:4–5 ESV

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In Christ in life. Anything outside of that is not lesser life, but rather no life at all. It is like Plato said you are just bound seeing reflects of what life truly is.

John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

What an amazing thought that God wants us to Know Him, and He has revealed Himself to us in the life of Christ and He has made a way for us through the death of Christ

Christ came so that we might find true life: not what gets sold to us on TV or what others say we need in order to find happiness.

Christ came so that we might find our purpose which is fellowship with God the author of life- This was the reason God created man and it is the very reason why Christ came.

John 1:6-15 Shows four Testimonies of witness:

John the Baptist- John 1:6,15

John the Apostle (the author of the Gospel)- John 1:14

Those who did receive Him- John 1:12-13

Those who rejected Him- John 1:10-11

John 1:11-13 - The principal matter in our salvation is faith.

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXI Faith and Its Attendant Privileges (No. 1,212)

Faith is described as “receiving” Jesus. It is the empty cup placed under the flowing stream; the penniless hand held out for heavenly alms. It is also described in the text as “believing on his name.” And this reception, this believing, is the main thing in real godliness.

Christ coming was for our benefit- So we could be restored and made right: We now have the right to be called the children of God (Jn 1:12)

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