We Beheld His Glory!
John 1:14-18
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
- Jesus Glory is God’s Glory
- God’s glory is heavy
Glory in Hebrew comes from a word that literally means weight and has the connotation of a lot of it!
As it pertains to God, the “weight” that He brings to bear in any situation refers to His divine attributes and perfections. God’s glory is His unique nature and ability. God is the anchor of all truth and life. God is both Judge and Savior, wrathful and loving. God is the one who illumines people and causes them to grow dark.
When the Apostle John says, “We beheld His glory.” He means that Jesus showed them the true weighty nature of God. Ultimate reality.
We live in such relativistic times. Truth is seen as dependent upon circumstances, and sometimes it is. But, ultimately, if there is any reliable truth, it rests upon God. Everything else is dependent upon the perceptions of fallible people. And the wisest people recognize that they are much more ignorant than they are wise. Socrates said he was the most ignorant man in Athens. That kind of idea. Where can we find surety? We have choices in life to make. We are in great need of finding the right path that leads to life. “We beheld His glory!” Jesus showed us the weight of God!
This phrase is interesting in the light of the inability of the Apostles to understand much of what Jesus did, but His promise of the Holy Spirit worked for them.
- Jesus is full of Grace
We see that Jesus is full of grace. Grace is God doing something for you that you did not deserve. With reference to salvation, God’s grace is expressed in not counting your sins against you and in counting Christ’s righteousness as yours!
How do you see Jesus as full of grace in your life?
Psalms 103: 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
- The availability of grace is glorious
Honestly, this is my favorite part of the Christmas story, and one of my favorite emphases of Jesus’ ministry in general. The incredible significance of every human person established in them by the love of God demonstrated in the Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Magi,
Mary,
Elizabeth,
Shepherds,
Fishermen,
Matthew, Zacchaeus,
On and on and on. Jesus made Himself available to all people. His saving grace for you is the very reason for Christmas! What would keep you from following Jesus? It’s not worth it.
The number one argument against you following Jesus is your lack of value. Satan accuses you to you! Well, the rebuttal is the glory of God found in Jesus. He is full of grace. Full of grace.
- Jesus is full of truth
The truth about you. Good news and bad news.
The truth about God. Good news and bad news.
The truth about what to do about you and God. Good news.
Jesus and judgement. The waters of the flood are deep. Old Testament judgement stories about the sun standing still, about hailstones the size of cars falling on people. The cross is brutal. Why? To provide something. What if folks do not take advantage of the provision?
- Beholding the Glory of Jesus
- The Apostles lives are changed
Because the Apostles follow Jesus, they become like Jesus. Their lives reflect the glory of Jesus, the glory of God!
II Peter 1: 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[b] 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Jesus said that they would do greater works than He did. We often think of greater miracles, and I don’t know about that. They certainly do not do the greater work of dying for sins and Resurrecting for life. Their greater work is in making Jesus greater.
They adopt His ministry. “Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
What are your good works? They are being a good husband or wife. They are being a good parent, a good child, a good student, a good worker. They are being a good friend, a good citizen.
- History has become His story
Jesus Christ stands uniquely in history. The calendar speaks to His centrality. BC and AD. Lol, folks today have changed that to BCE and CE. Before Common Era, and Common Era.
Unusual claims:
I am the way to God. I am the truth about God. I am the life of God. I am the Messiah. I am the Son of Man from the prophet Daniel. I am the light of the world. I am the bread of life. I am the Resurrection and the life. Before Abraham was I am. I and the Father are One. If you have seen me you have seen the Father. You have heard that it was said, “But I say…”
Ceasar claimed to be Godman. I mean, Jesus is just coopting that. Well, explain the impact of Jesus vs. the impact of Caesar.
Unusual impact: Read from McDowell
Strength through love: Napoleon p.127 bottom
Unusual endurance: p.132 quote
The Incomparable Christ: p.135
- Jesus’ first words
There is often much made about the last words of Jesus on the cross. They are important and very meaningful to folks. The same should be said about Jesus’ first words as recorded, at least in the Gospel of John.
What do you want? John 1:38 The first two Apostles to follow Jesus leave John the Baptist to check Him out. This is an extremely relevant question. What do you want from Jesus? If you don’t want what He wants for you then there will be no value in the pursuit of Him. The Jews wanted Jesus to defeat the Romans and be a conquering King.
Come and see: John 1:38-39 Those same two pre-Apostles ask Jesus where He is staying. They want to check Him out. Jesus makes Himself available!
You are Simon, you will be called Peter: John1: 41-42 Andrew, one of the previous two pre-Apostles has gone and found His brother, Peter and brought him to Jesus. Here in these words we see that Jesus changes our identity. The importance of this idea is like the “what do you want” statement and it is completely personal.
Follow me: John 1:43 Jesus finds Phillip and invites him to follow Him. Similar to the come and see. And so we have the main issue with Jesus Christ. We are invited to come and follow Him so that we might have life. But we find that we MUST FOLLOW HIM in order to have life. He will direct our life pathway.
And so, this Christmas season I bring to you the gospel of Jesus Christ from the Apostle John who said that Jesus Christ, the One that he followed was in fact God. And He brought the information from God that we needed in order that we might live best in God’s world. We need to walk in Jesus’ teachings (light), submitting to Him. And we would find Jesus full of grace and truth too! Does this describe you today? It can. Read the gospel of John and you can come and see. Rely on Jesus’ teaching and you will follow Him and He will be your light and life, full of grace and truth.
John 7: 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
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