The Identity Of Christ
John Chapter 1: Read aloud, to yourself. I am over 45 (he-he) years old, and I read aloud to myself. It may sound silly to you, but it is good for comprehension and it’s always good to hear The Word~even if it’s your own voice. It can take on new meaning, when you read it (The Word), with passion. Chapter 1 is a testimony to the divine identity of Christ.
John 1:1-14
1. He is The Word, which has been from the beginning, which was with God and was God. “The ‘Greek word for beginning is Arche, and its meaning here is this: Christ is called the beginning because He is the efficient cause of the creation; the head because He is before all things and all things were created by Him and for Him”
2. He is everything, which was made through Him, for without Him there would be nothing.
3. He is life and that life is the light of men. His light shines in the darkness. “The ‘Greek word for life is Zoe, and its meaning here is this: It refers to the principle of life in the spirit and the soul (not physical). It expresses all the highest and the best which Christ is.”
4. He is the one who has given us the right to become children of God, if we receive Him and believe in His name. The King James uses the word ‘power’ for the word ‘right’. “The ‘Greek word for power is Exousia and its meaning here is: permission, authority or liberty~the right to do anything.”
Okay, something has just caught my attention. The words ‘receive and ‘believe. We’re looking for something beautiful to happen (a theme or very important point) as we study. So, every-time something catches my attention you will see this little picture. To receive means to come into possession of, act as a receptical, permit to enter, accept as authoritative, true or accurate~ to believe!
5. He is The Word become flesh, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth~abundant, complete and perfect grace and truth.
John 1:15-34
I love how ‘John the ‘Baptist can rip off those answers to the priests and Levites. He states (a confirmation) that “from the fullness (complete~abundant) of His grace we have all received one blessing after another” When questioned by the priests and Levites John the ‘B’ does not hesitate in saying~”I am not the Christ…I am not ‘Elijah….I am the ‘voice crying out to make the way straight for The Lord’……See Jesus coming? He is the Lamb of God (the perfect sacrifice) who takes away the sins of the world……I baptize with water, but The Lord will baptize with the Holy Ghost!….you silly gooses (sorry, I added that)“. John was a man who knew what to say~basic and to the point!
6. He is The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:43-51
Enter “The Teacher”
John the ‘B’ must have been an excellent witness for Jesus. Andrew and another disciple of Johns, began to follow Jesus immediately after they heard John say, “behold the Lamb of God“. Then Andrew went and found his brother Simon Peter and said “I have found the Messiah, the Christ”. You need to come with me, now”. And Jesus took one look at Simon and said, “you will be called Cephas (Peter~A Stone)”.
“Follow Me“, is all Jesus had to say to Philip. Then Philip found Nathanael and said, “we have found him, the one the prophets wrote about, from Nazareth“. Well, smarty pants Nathanael said, ”can anything good come out of Nazareth“? Philip said, “just come and see“. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming He said to him, “here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false“. Nathanael said, “how do you know me“? Jesus said, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you“. Nathanael said, “Rabbi (master~teacher), you are the Son of God, the king of Israel“.
7. He is The Son of God and King of Israel!
Jesus said, “you believed me because I said I saw you under the fig tree. I will tell you this, and it’s the truth. You haven’t seen anything yet. You will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Scripture to ponder: John 1:51
Thought to ponder: Receive and Believe and Follow~~~~~~
I am reading the book of John from the NIV (Women of Faith Study Bible). I am using my ‘Hebrew~Greek (Zodhiates) study Bible for word studies.
This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 7:31 pm and is filed under Bible Studies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
