John 1:6-8

John 1:6-8
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.


What does it mean to be sent from God?

Remember the most important one He sent:

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10

“For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” John 3:34

“Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’” John 6:29

“4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

He doesn’t send us to be inactive, he sends for a purpose

61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3

John 1:2-3

"He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him,
and without him was not any thing made that was made." -John 1:2-3

Who? Jesus
What? Made all things
When? In the beginning

Spiritual Principles:

• Jesus was there in the beginning.
• All things were made through him. (That means things that have been invented since the original creation are also made through him)

Application:

• I need to respect and obey Jesus' guidance in everything because w/o him nothing would exist. I should also respect everything because it is part of God's creation. I should allow His hand to guide everything I do, from creating a website to cleaning my house!
  

John 1:1

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God." -John 1:1

Who are the major participants?

• "the Word" = Jesus
  --was with God/is God: reflects the Trinity as Jesus was both one with God but also had a separate identity from God.
• God
  --Genesis 1:1a says "In the beginning, God..."

What are they doing/saying?

• Existing: "from the beginning" (there is no end date!)
• Communing: "the Word was with God"
• Being identified: "the Word was God"

Where are they going?

• The only place to go from the beginning is forward.

What is happening/When is this occurring?

• In the beginning:
  --(v. 2-3) Jesus (the Word) was there.
  --All things were made through him.
  --(Genesis 1:1) God (the Word is God) created the heavens and the earth.
  --(more on this subject tomorrow)

Spiritual Principles:

• The Word (Jesus) has always been with God and a part of God.
• Jesus has a major investment in the creation! He wasn't just there when it was created (as though that wasn't enough)--through him it was created!
• We were made in the image of God (aka Jesus)
• SO: When Jesus came to earth, he was walking on paths He had walked in the beginning. The rock he knealt at in the Garden of Gethsemane, he had formed.
• When he looked at all the women & men around him--did he think back to Adam & Eve? Did he see himself (his image) in each person he touched, healed, taught--in those that crucified him? How did he feel at seeing how each person dealt with their image in Christ?

Application Questions:

• Do I care about the earth, all living things, all people--as Christ did? I was made in the image of the creator of all things: shouldn't I care?
• Do I appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made? He wasn't a stranger to this earth, he had seen it grow as time had progressed from the beginning of creation. He had an investment in each of us and he made a sacrifice to see that investment fulfill its purpose.