December 3 - Session Ten
While we are not able to meet this week, we can still consider the truths of the Bible together.
John 1:14-18 (The Message)
The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
John pointed him out and called, "This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, always had the first word."
We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, this endless knowing and understanding--all this came through Jesus, the Messiah. No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day.
For reflection/discussion:
1. What do you feel when you read that Jesus "moved into the neighborhood"?
2. How does John compare Jesus with Moses?
3. What is the significance of Jesus becoming flesh?
4. What is your favourite part of your Christmas celebrations?
To Go:
Take some time to look at the following verses in light of Jesus revealing God to us.
John 14:1-14
Isaiah 9:1-7
Isaiah 40
2 Timothy 1:8-12
Be blessed, and may you experience the joys of a Christmas centred on Jesus!
David
posted by David at 8:21 p.m.
2 Comments:
1. What do you feel when you read that Jesus "moved into the neighbourhood"?
-I wonder if he rented a U-Haul, or if he had a friend with a truck. What kind of packer was he, did he have to buy boxes, or did he go from store to store looking for boxes? Did they order pizza for lunch?
2. How does John compare Jesus with Moses?
-he compares them by saying that “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. Law can be declared by anyone with a mouth. Law can be debated. Grace and Truth on the other hand can only come through what is true and full of grace.
3. What is the significance of Jesus becoming flesh?
-he became what we are also. It was no longer an all powerful god in the heavens telling us the way to live, but a body made of flesh, going through the same things others were going through, being tempted by the flesh.. But ultimately living his truths. Proving his truths. And proving the lack of grace and truths in our own flesh absent of God. Only through Jesus (because he became flesh) could we (as the flesh) come to understand Gods truths. Because of our flesh we would never truly know Gods truth, but because of the bible we can at least witness it through Jesus in the flesh, and the more we observe and understand our limit’s (limited by the flesh) the more we will observe and understand the awesome power of God.
11:22 p.m.
Hey anonymous (and I think I know who you are!),
Interesting responses! As for #1, I think Jesus was right in there with the ordinary person, people like you and me. That's why the common people liked him so much - he was very "down to earth."
So, in #2, it came through Jesus, since He is truth and grace. As Marshall McLuhan said, the medium is the message. Jesus is the medium and He is the message!
In #3, wow! Only in and through Jesus can we truly understand and know who God is.
Thanks for your comments! Keep them coming!
Blessings,
David
7:13 p.m.
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