John 1:6-18

OK, a few things before I dive into my thoughts on this week’s scripture passage. I don’t think I mentioned this last week but, I do not journal. This whole entire E-Bible Study thing is a huge stretch for me. I don’t feel “adequate” to “lead” a study, let alone journal my thoughts…because as I said, I do not journal. Never have. I never was a “Dear diary,” kind of girl…so be encouraged as you discover along with me. I do not claim to know any more than anyone else, in fact more than likely I may learn more from you! So please, if you are in this study, become a follower of this blog and make comments on YOUR thoughts and discoveries.  I could use your insight too! And since I have no claim to being a great journalist, just feel free to share without hesitation of knowing “just how to say it.”

Now, on to the study… let’s review last week’s passage:

John 1:6-18

 ⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

 ⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹²But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

 ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'"¹⁶And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

There is a light that shines through His witnesses, but make no mistake they/we are not the source of that light. We are witnesses to the light. Jesus is the light and because He lives inside us, in our heart, He shines through us. His light is evidence of our salvation and walk with Him.

Just as you or I tell others about Jesus – and people may come to know Christ through our witness – even so we in and of ourselves are not the light. There is no good thing inside of us (Romans 7:18), but when we accept Jesus into our heart, this is when His light can enter and shine through us. This is why He calls us “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13).

^“The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” Everyone. There is no excuse! Everyone can find the light if they but seek. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

^“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” Jesus came to seek and save us! But, ultimately we must seek Him and accept Him. Just think, even those who walked beside Him, ate with Him, heard Him (note I did not say listened to Him), witnessed Him in action, many still did not receive Him. How sad! But if we just believe in His name we are given the right to become His children. His child. Wow, that is something so precious, so pure, and so full of unconditional love. 

Yet, another scripture comes to mind. In Matthew 7:13 Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Is this why even His own did not receive Him? Be alert and be on guard, and remain in a personal relationship with Him, so that you are not easily distracted. 

Using the roads analogy, let’s say you’re driving along on the narrow road, everything is fine and blissful but suddenly something catches your eye and you become distracted by the flow of traffic across the way on the broad freeway. As you gaze your head moves slowly in the direction of the object of interest, and as you do you begin to impulsively turn the steering wheel in the direction of the freeway…and before you even know it, you are cut-off and thrown into the shoulder. You stop. You try to shake it off. And now you have a final decision to make; to get back on the narrow road and keep your eyes looking straight ahead, or get off track and go enter the freeway and ultimately indulge in that point of interest. Ah, but remember, “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” This is quite the incentive plan to get back on the narrow road!

Jesus is the light. “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” We see God manifested in Christ. God revealed. Emmanuel, God with us.

The Light is with us.

And the Light is in us.

Shine, Jesus shine!

John 1:1-5

So, here it is! My first E-Bible Study post. To get started I thought I should start with the book most often suggested and read first as a basis for faith; the book of John. 

John 1:1-5
 ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Here's how I read it....

"In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God and Jesus and the Father are one. Jesus was there in the beginning with God. All things were made through Jesus and without him was not any thing made that was made. In Jesus was life, and He shines as a light through men. Jesus overtakes evil and evil shall not overcome him."

Now...how in the world did I come to the realization that "the Word" is Jesus? I cheated... skip down to verse 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."  THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US! Yes, this is Jesus! The "one and only Son, who came from the Father."

So then I thought, how can I possibly think of Jesus as existing in Old Testament days when the Jesus I relate to is of flesh and bones? That's when my A-HA moment hits....

The Word... every time God (or the Father) speaks in the Old Testament, that is Jesus. And when you compare the Word as it is spoken during the OT days with the very character of Jesus in the flesh, THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME! The very character of Jesus is the very spoken word of the OT days.

The Word is Jesus. 
Every time God speaks, it is Jesus. 
And every time we read the Bible, we are taking in Jesus.

The absolute importance of forgiveness..

I am overwhelmed by what I learned tonight through studying God's Word and through Him speaking to me. I am so excited to share with you a freedom I have found. And perhaps you already know this but when, if ever, have we studied the Word that God does not speak to us in a new way?

What I learned is this -- how deep forgiveness runs in our spiritual lives. I know and believe in the forgiveness of sins and that God sent his son, Jesus to live and walk among us and dwell with us and to ultimately give his life as a ransom for our sins. He came for forgiveness. It's the root of our salvation, that and His grace and mercy.

But, how often did I ever think about the absolute importance of my role in this whole forgiveness concept? I forgive, sure, but have I always forgiven from my heart, my whole heart? Up until tonight, I will admit my answer sometimes was no. I forgave but tonight I know there was still some memory of the pain caused. And especially, the deeper the wound the more likely my whole heart was not involved in the act of forgiveness. What's more, the emphasis of the absolute importance of our forgiveness to others is found all over the Bible. Here's what I camped on tonight alone:

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15

"In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Matthew 18:34-35

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37

"If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." Luke 17:4

"If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 20:23

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13

Whoa. So tonight I asked God, "so what you're saying is, if I don't forgive, you won't forgive me???" And I have all the 'buts' in the world.. but this, but that, but you said... And He said, "Yes. But I said...forgive others and I will forgive you. Not once, not twice, but over and over again I have told you." Whoa is right!!! How else am I to be healed? I can't, or couldn't until I fully understood this! Man, isn't God soooooo GOOD!!!!!

Then what really got me was this, and it's been there all along! Even the Lord's prayer teaches us this "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us" Luke 11:4, and even more powerful, in what was the most cruel and undeserving act of mankind, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross, in his agonizing pain Jesus declares "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34. WOW. If ever Jesus gave us an example of what we are to do, forgiveness must be a huge part of our salvation.

I truly believe that God revealed to me tonight what a spiritually fine line we walk when we do not forgive. And I for one, want to forgive. With my whole heart. And oh what a freedom of healing He is already pouring into me!

With all my love and forgiveness,

Carol