Resuming Our Course

Let’s take a brief moment to settle back into where we are going, as we approach the end of this most heart-stirring, mind-convicting and spirit-encouraging time.  

Keep in mind that John is not speaking about himself, but of Jesus, the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world. John 1: 9b. Ever conscious must we be of this our central text. He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. John 1: 11.

Holding the analogy of the sandwich, the first healthy slice of bread that is found at the top of our text is this. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. John 1: 10. Does this not trouble you? Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus is the Saviour of the World. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the One and Only Mediator between God and people. But sadly and most gravely so, God kept His side of the bargain and came into the world, in human flesh and form, but the world did not know Him. He, through whom the world was made, was not known by the world.

No one who is of the world, regardless of who he or she is, can know and love Jesus. Jesus Himself makes this fact abundantly clear, as He prays to His Father in heaven for His disciples. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. John 17: 14. Isn’t Jesus saying, among other things, that the world has hated His disciples? The world hates them because it does not know them, just as the world does not know their Master, who is Jesus. The world did not know Jesus and the world still does not know Jesus. Think deeply about that.  

The Bread Slice that is at the top therefore, clearly states that Jesus was in the world, the very world that was made through Him, and the world just did not know Him.

Continuing the analogy of the sandwich, this is the second healthy slice of bread, which is found below our text.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1: 12 – 13. Isn’t this most revealing, yet perhaps a bit disturbing and unnerving to some? Having seen that the world did not know Jesus, God Incarnate, who was in the world, we are given however, this good and saving Word. There is no limit to the number of persons, who will be given the right to become children of God, as long as they receive Jesus.  In other words, just as with the Church, all of us, you, me and all sinners, who hear the Living Word, believe and receive Jesus, will also know new birth. As many people who have surrendered their lives in a covenant relationship with God, are born again, of the Spirit. 

To be born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, is exactly what Jesus had to teach Nicodemus. Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. John 3: 5 – 7. Who was Nicodemus? He was a distinguished Pharisee of God’s law, according to works. He was a devout, law-abiding citizen of God’s Kingdom, or so he thought. As a Pharisee, he was indeed a scholar in the Scriptures, devout in knowing and keeping the laws, which gave him and other learned men like himself a false sense of self-righteousness. Here was a teacher, astute and wise in the art of law and learning, but he was totally ignorant to the One, True way to the Kingdom of heaven.

Any religious person and devoutly religious at that, who depends on the keeping of the law to get her or him entrance into the Kingdom of God, is no different from people of the world who do not know Jesus. Look at it! See the obvious living truth! People of law do not know Jesus as the Way to the Father since they depend on their works of law. The people of the world do not know Jesus as the Way to the Father either, because of stubborn unbelief. Whatever the reason, neither accepts Jesus as the Way and so live totally deceived lives.

Now that we have examined the top and bottom Scripture passages, the two slices of bread, if you will, we shall conclude this week with the middle or meat, which is our central text.