The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 1:1-4,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."
John begins his gospel by presenting the Word, Jesus Christ, as a member of the triune God, "the Word was God." We read that the Son of God became flesh in 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." Verse 14. Jesus Christ was God incarnate, God in a human body. He was fully human and fully God.
The writer of Hebrews talks about this, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he [Jesus Christ] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:14-15. He goes on to say in verses 17-18 of that chapter, "For this reason he [Jesus Christ, the "pioneer" of our salvation] had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
God, in Jesus Christ, became a man -- this is an amazing thing! As a man he became the "merciful and faithful high priest in service to God." As such, he made atonement for the sins of all mankind by offering himself on that cross, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. We can have all our sins forgiven!
The fact that God took on a human body, he is also able to help us in our sinful weaknesses, "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:18. In Hebrews 4:15 we read, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."
Because the Son of God came and lived among mankind, demonstrating who he was and his love for us, we can take confidence in what the writer Hebrews went on to say, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."
John begins his gospel by presenting the Word, Jesus Christ, as a member of the triune God, "the Word was God." We read that the Son of God became flesh in 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." Verse 14. Jesus Christ was God incarnate, God in a human body. He was fully human and fully God.
The writer of Hebrews talks about this, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he [Jesus Christ] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:14-15. He goes on to say in verses 17-18 of that chapter, "For this reason he [Jesus Christ, the "pioneer" of our salvation] had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
God, in Jesus Christ, became a man -- this is an amazing thing! As a man he became the "merciful and faithful high priest in service to God." As such, he made atonement for the sins of all mankind by offering himself on that cross, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. We can have all our sins forgiven!
The fact that God took on a human body, he is also able to help us in our sinful weaknesses, "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:18. In Hebrews 4:15 we read, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."
Because the Son of God came and lived among mankind, demonstrating who he was and his love for us, we can take confidence in what the writer Hebrews went on to say, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
I cannot think of a more exciting thing to celebrate! No wonder this is called the "Good News"! All he asks of us is to embrace him in faith!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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