John 1:6-14
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through Him all might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the Light.
9 The true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.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 did receive 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.
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.
John 1:6-14 JESUS: FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH
Springford Baptist Church: March 6, 2022.
As we move steadily over these next weeks towards Good Friday and Easter Sunday, this is an opportunity for KNOWING GOD as God reveals Himself through His Son Jesus. We will explore more closely, KNOWING GOD BY KNOWING JESUS. We can hold on to our faith in God with confidence in these turbulent times because as John 1:14 declares, “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.
During this time of war and conflict in The Ukraine, we so need to be able to depend on our God as the Source of all that is true. We also desperately need His grace. Jesus presents a clear picture of God Who is full of grace and truth.
Typically, these days, I get up each morning and I scan the news to read what is happening in answer to our prayers for peace in the Ukraine. If the reporting of the news that we read or watch is not accurate, then we cannot depend on it. We require accurate information to know what is really happening. At the time of World War 2, news reporting from Europe was much more sporadic, now news coverage is constantly available. When we have accurate and reliable reporting of news, that then directs our prayers and the conclusions we make about how things are in the world.
Knowing that Jesus Himself is full of grace and truth and that Jesus reveals to us the possibility of knowing God His Father as a God of glory, full of grace and truth, we can be reassured.
What does Jesus offer to us at this time of great distress and at any time in our lives? He offers us grace and truth because He is full of grace and truth.
It will be our faith in God and our dependence on Him that will carry us through this chaotic time.
This reassurance, that comes because of our faith in God through His Son Jesus, is not for us alone.
We read here in reference to John the Baptist who came to prepare the way for our Lord,” 7” He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through Him all might believe.8 He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light.”
Our current world situation could set the stage for many to turn to Jesus the Light and for them to believe. I am wondering how you and I are being witnesses for Jesus the Light these days? People around us need to know the truth of who Jesus is, they need to know that Jesus, sent from God is full of grace and truth.
Have you noticed how often in a variety of contexts, people struggle to get accurate information. People trying to make insurance claims deal with this frustration. Just this week I was having a conversation with a woman from the Ukraine who is trying to bring her sister and 8 year old niece here to safety. It has been extremely challenging for her to get accurate information about how this can happen.
We never want to pass along information that is not reliable. We don’t want to tell people that something really good is accessible only to find out that we were mistaken.
Hear this! We can know with certainty that when we testify to Jesus as The Light who has come into our world so that all who believe in Him can become children of God, we are telling the truth! (John 1:12)
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 did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
It is puzzling isn’t it, that Jesus came into our world sent from God and shining as a bright and penetrating Light, but many did not recognize him. People then had the chance to know God through His Son Jesus but many did not recognize Him when He was living right here among them. Many people now continue to resist believing the truth of Who is Jesus. Yet, the good news then and now is that for all who do believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they are given the right to become His children.
John, who writes this Gospel of John, gives personal testimony about Jesus and Who is Jesus. John longs for people to know the truth and so he writes these words,
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.
Have you seen the truth of Who Jesus is? Do you continue to see the truth of Who Jesus is revealed? This confirms our faith in Him! This confirms the faith of our childhood or whenever we chose to commit our lives to Jesus. The truth of Who Jesus is remains as true now as when we first believed. Many times over, we have had occasion to experience the certainty of this truth of our faith!
It is a wonderful mercy from God that Jesus reveals the glory of God and allows us to know that God is full of both grace and truth. If we had the truth of Who God is without the assurance of His grace, where would any one of us be?
When Jesus as the True Light reveals our sin, He also reveals His grace to cover our sin. This is what we recall each time we come to Communion. We recognize and remember that Jesus came to demonstrate the grace of God for all the world to see.
In the fullness of the grace of God, Jesus came to give Himself for us so that believing in Him and trusting Him could permit us to receive His grace and be forgiven and cleansed from all our sins.
We so need our God who is full of grace and truth! Today we again look to Jesus and see in Him the fullness of God’s grace and truth.
We thank God that He chose to reveal Himself to our world through Jesus. We thank God that Jesus came to shine the light of His grace and truth in this world of darkness. We thank God that when the darkness and despair of this world confounds us, that Jesus the true Light is not extinguished.
We can continue to know more of God and Who God is as we look to the illuminating Light of Jesus Christ God’s Son, full of grace and truth!