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God Came In the Flesh
John 1:1-20; Philippians 2-9
Jim Davis
Have you ever talked to someone on the phone you had never met? You set up a face to face meeting, but before you meet the person, you try to imagine what the person looks like. Has a friend ever hooked you into a blind date? You know how blind dates are—you never know what to expect. Maybe you imagine this person is 5’ 2” tall with red hair, blue eyes and freckles. When you initially meet the person it takes you a while to reconcile the person you imagined them to be with the actual person. I had a friend that hooked me into a blind date—you know the result. She is my wife. I am still trying to reconcile who I thought she would be to who she really is—she is far better than anything I could have ever imagined.
Sometimes God does not meet our expectations. The problem is not with God; the problem is that our perception of him is wrong. Phillip came asking Jesus’ “show us the Father.” Jesus said, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father” (John 14:6-14). That was a difficult message for the first century. It is a difficult message for our modern world. Many have no trouble seeing Jesus as a good man, but seeing Jesus, as Immanuel--God with us is not easy.
Jesus gives us the most compelling view of God. This is why the story of Jesus is so intriguing.
The Origin of Christ
It was the life of Jesus that clarified God for us, for Christ was the expressed image of God. John opens his gospel with a very precise view of Jesus.
John 1:1-5
1:1 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. 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.
John 1:10
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
John makes a direct connection between Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1. Genesis 1:1 says, “And God said, Let there be . . .” It wasn’t enough for the Hebrews to simply see the miracles of the Exodus. They needed to see God was behind what was happening. They needed to see God. Moses penned Genesis 1:1 to focus their hearts and minds of God. The psalmist says, “For he spoke, and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:9).
It wasn’t enough for the gospel writers to simply assert the message of Jesus; they wanted their hearers to understand its origin. John in his opening statement places Jesus there in creation with God. The apostle Paul wanted the world to see the image of the invisible God in Jesus.
Colossians 1:15-17
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 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. NIV
Paul wanted them to understand who Jesus was. The important facet of Jesus is that he is God; he was with God in creation and he created all things. The message of Jesus reaches beyond his goodness. His goodness means little until you understand who he was. His origin gives his message its power; it authenticates the living Word.
How many times have we heard political advertisements in the past few months? An advertisement says “Hello, I am John Kerry, and I approve of this message.” “I am George Bush, and I approve of this message.”
When God sent Moses to Egypt, Moses asks, “Who shall I say sent me?” Moses knew it was an important question. His success depended upon it. Jesus came saying, “Before Abraham, I am” (John 8:58). When the gospel of Christ is taught God is saying, “I am God, and I approve of this message.
Hebrews 1:1-4
1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. NIV
God Revealed Himself in Christ
Image is important to the world, so much of what we do is to project a certain image of ourselves.. We dress to project the right image. We look for the right neighborhood to live. We drive a certain type of car. Images we see projected by others may be very deceiving. We only see what they want us to see to impress us.
There is something more dangerous than being deceived by the image others project. It is when we project our image of what we think people ought to be on to them. When we do this we enter into lives judgmentally expecting them to conform to our image of them. Jesus came unto his own people, but they didn’t recognize him as the Messiah. They projected their personal image of what they thought the Messiah should be on to Jesus Christ and missed who he was.
They initially thought John the Baptist fit the image they had of the Messiah. John had a difficult time convincing the world that he was not the Messiah. Listen to John’s testimony concerning Jesus.
John 1:15-20
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." NIV
God Became Flesh and Bones
God didn’t reveal himself by writing his name with the stars. God didn’t reveal himself in a stale grill cheese sandwich. I’m assuming you heard about the 28-year-old grill cheese sandwich that sold on Ebay? It had an image of the Virgin Mary. The owner had seen what looked like the Virgin Mary on his grilled cheese sandwich after a bite had been taken out of it. The owner kept if for 28 years and decided to sell it on Ebay. Someone paid $28,000 dollars for it.
John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Saying that Jesus Christ was equal to God does not diminish God’s glory; it actually enhances God’s glory. His eternal position wasn’t something he selfishly held on to. His eternal position wasn’t something he reluctantly gave up. He didn’t hang on to it for dear life. The Father didn’t have to pry his fingers loose from it. (The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright (c) 1989 by SP Publications, Inc.)
Philippians 2:1-13
2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death-
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. NIV
Imagine a God who says, “I cannot keep my privileges for myself, I must use them for others; and to do this, I will gladly lay them aside and pay whatever price is necessary.”
(The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright (c) 1989 by SP Publications, Inc.)
The Creator descended into his greatest moment when he came to earth. Imagine God on his knees washing your feet. Imagine a God who came to serve rather than being served. Imagine a God willing to taste the bitterness of the human experience. This message reveals his eternal glory. This is the message that makes him worthy to be praised.
It was Jesus’ disposition that blinded the world to his true identity. Christ took upon himself the human nature—the form of a servant. He identified with us from the moment of his conception to his death on the cross. Jesus was God but he became flesh. This is the important aspect of Jesus being God. His life on earth became the light of men and women.
Jesus had all the glory and praise of heaven. Jesus came in flesh and blood so that people of the first century could reach out and touch him, so they could see God.
Jesus’ greatness came from the disposition with which he occupied his eternal position. John describes his disposition when he says Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, or should we say became one of us.
Jesus Reminds Us of Our Origin
The Jews took issue with Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God. God’s Son came to remind us in whose image we are made. The Jews took issue with his claim to be God’s Son.
John 10:34-37
34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? 35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came-and the Scripture cannot be broken- 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?
NIV
Psalms 82:6-7
6 "I said, 'You are "gods";
you are all sons of the Most High.'
7 But you will die like mere men;
you will fall like every other ruler."
The Jews misconceptions of the Messiah were a direct result of them loosing sight of their own identity. There is much debate about the origin of the species. It is an indication that we have lost sight of our origin. Christ came to remind us of who we are.
It is no accident that Luke’s genealogy portrays Jesus as the son of Adam, who was the Son of God. He traces Jesus’ origin through the human chain that is absolutely linked to God. That makes each of us as much a child of God as Jesus himself. Sadly, we have lost sight of God’s image stamped upon us by God himself.
Jesus came to give us the right to become children of God. We have no rights as sinners. Sin robbed us of the image God stamped on our hearts in creation. Jesus took away our sin to give us a right to be children born of God.
John 1:10-13
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Jesus revealed a servant’s disposition as the only means to greatness in the kingdom of God. Christ never tells us to do things the world considers great to project an image of our creator. Jesus told his disciples to wash one another’s feet. He told them to give a cup of cold water in his name, to visit the sick and to visit those in prison. They were surprised that such menial task qualified them for the greatness.
Moses didn’t want to go to Egypt. He only saw himself as a weak person unable to do what God ask of him. He focused on his weaknesses. He lost sight of his true identity. When Moses looked within himself he didn’t see the man God saw. God spoke to Moses saying "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet” (Exodus 7:1). When Moses went to Egypt to deliver the Hebrews they thought he was God, for at that time God projected his image through Moses.
Looking within at your human weaknesses will never lead you to do great things for God. Looking to God for strength to serve others is your only change to make a great difference. Dorcas was considered great because of her service to others. She carried on her ministry for Christ with the heart of a servant. It was the servant’s heart that drew the respect of others.
Acts 9:36-39
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. NIV
The household of Stephanas deserved recognition because of their service to others.
1 Corinthians 16:15-18
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. NIV
God makes a powerful impact upon the world through those who chose to serve in some of the most menial task. He can make the same impact upon our world today.
Jesus deserves praise for his service to us. Luke speaks of Jesus as one who began to do and teach. Doing was the key to his life. It revealed his Father to a lost world.
Conclusion:
Jesus is the creator.
He became one of us.
He gives us the chance to become one with him.
Galatians 3:26-29
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NIV
Bible Study Questions
How do our expectations tend to affect our perception of our world?
What happens when our expectations are not met?
Why does John open the gospel of John speaking of Jesus’ origin?
Why is it important to understand Jesus is the Creator of all things?
How important is projecting the correct image in our world?
What happens when we seek to create one another in our image of what we think they should be?
How did this type of thinking affect John the Baptist ministry? How did it affect Jesus ministry?
Why did God choose to become one of us?
Read Philippians 2:1-13 and discuss the image Jesus came to project for each of us?
How does God becoming one of us was the defining moment of who he really is?
Why does Jesus tell the Jews they are “gods”? (John 10:34-37; Psalms 82:6-7)
Trace out Luke’s genealogy in Luke 3:23-38. What significance does Jesus being the son of Adam have for us?
Jesus was the author of the gospels, but what does it mean that Jesus is the Author of Life?
What happens when we look to our own weaknesses to measure what we are able to do for God?
Why do servants of Christ have such an impact upon our world?
How do we become one with Christ? (Galatians 3:26-27)