Who is Jesus?

Read the first eighteen verse of the gospel of John. Do you at all get the idea that John believed Jesus was nothing more than a good man, a wise teacher, a moral example for all mankind? Do you see Jesus as being but one of many equals in a pantheon of saviors? Do you sense that following Jesus is a good idea; but you’re free to find God any way that you will?

John 1:1-18

• Danny Glover’s son in the Lethal Weapon movie helped to popularize use of “word” as a greeting among friends. Plato used it to describe divine wisdom and logic. John uses the morpheme to glorify Jesus as the Son of God (v. 1, 14).
• Not only was this Son of God, the Word, with God even in the beginning (remember Genesis 1:1), this Son of God WAS God (v. 1-2).
• This divine Word as the creator of all that was created (v. 3). Therefore one can conclude that He was not created.
• As Creator He is the source of both life and light in men (v. 4-9).
• No, not everyone acknowledges Christ as the divine Son of God. Their failure to comprehend or submit to truth does not, however, negate the truth (v. 10-11).
• Some did receive Jesus the Messiah in faith. These are the children of God (v. 12).
• Remember that they are God’s children not because of anything they or their parents have done, but because of what God has done (v. 13).
• The divine and eternal Word became flesh (v. 14). Incarnation. God in flesh.
• John the Baptist never claimed to be the Messiah. Instead he pointed men to Christ (v. 15).
• Moses will be remembered for the 10 commandments; Jesus Christ brought grace and truth into the world (v. 16-17).
• Jesus Christ, the Word, the only begotten Son of God, has revealed God to man (v. 18).

[print_link]

Prologue To Luke’s Gospel

Luke 1:1-4

• Even in Luke’s day, many had tried to record the life of Christ (v. 1). Does this say anything about men’s desire to spread the news? Even without the internet or satellite TV the message of Christ spread around the world.
• Luke’s writing is based on eye-witness accounts (v. 2). Lots of hearsay and imagination have crept into church teachings; but the gospel of Luke was a record of first-hand observation of the holy miracle-worker.
• And Luke’s knowledge of the facts and understanding of the significance of the life of Christ were complete (v. 3). Does this speak to the question of inspiration or canonicity?
• So he writes to his friend offering evidence of the truth of what his friend, Theophilis, had already heard (v. 4). What Theophilis had learned was true; but now he will see how true it was.

[print_link]

Get ready. The King is coming.

Malachi 3

• The concept of and “advance team” is nothing new. God announced that he would send someone to prepare for the coming of the Messiah (v. 1).
• The arrival of the Messiah would be both earth-shattering and life-changing (v. 2-6).
• But before the Christ arrives, the people need to consider how they have offended God by stealing from Him (v. 8-12) and complaining about God’s rules (v. 13-15).
• God will judge the wicked and save His people; mark it down (v. 16-18).

Malachi 4

• The wicked will be judged (v. 1).
• The righteous will be triumphant (v. 2-3).
• In words fitting the final verses of the Old Testament, God tells us that (one like) Elijah will appear before the Messiah arrives, so keep the law until then (v. 4-6).

[print_link]

We weary God when we extol the wicked

Malachi 2

• A priest, in many eyes, is a person who can talk with God and get you out of trouble. As such, we expect our priests to be of impeccable character approaching sainthood. This clearly was not the condition of the priests in Malachi’s day. Instead of turning many away from iniquity, they themselves departed out of the way, caused many to stumble at God’s law and corrupted God’s covenant (v. 1-9).
• Just in case you think that marriage, albeit crucial to the furtherance of the species, is not so important in the overall plan of God, be sure to see what He has to say about marrying unbelievers and divorcing your first wife (v. 10-17).

[print_link]