Vision: “To Courageously love and empower people to become like Jesus.”
Q. So, what is Jesus like?
Text: John 1:1-18 (NLT)
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Let’s start with the last verse ~ No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us…
What we find in Jesus is what God is really like…
Example One: Blood Sacrifices
(Genesis 22)
“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.” (Psalm 51:17)
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)
Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Matthew 9:13)
Hebrews 10:4, 11
In the Gospels, Jesus told people that their sins were freely forgiven them (without a blood sacrifice)
The arc of Scripture:
Child sacrifice Animal Sacrifice Jesus’ Sacrifice
Example Two: The Warrior God
Exodus 15:3, “The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.”
(a man of war)
Is God a man of war? NO
Does God want blood sacrifices? NO
The arc of Scripture = God is taking people on a journey. He finds common ground with them and then gently nudges them into a better revelation or picture of what He is really like…
The best way for people to know what you’re really like is for them to get to know you personally. And it’s the same with God…
In John 1:1-18, Jesus is called the Word (expression) of God.
John 1:14, So, the Word became human (was made flesh) and made his home among us.
“Most Jews so heavily emphasised that a human being could not become a god that they never considered that God might become a human being.” (Bible Background Commentary, P.250)
Jesus is God “con carne” (Latin incarnare “to make flesh”)
John 1:10, [The Word] came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him
Because he was different to how they’d always thought of him
Q. How had they always thought about him?
A. To ancient people, God was a warrior who demanded blood sacrifices. And so, the people expected a warrior Messiah who would defeat the powers of Rome. They expected someone riding horses and chariots. Instead, the Messiah came as a servant riding on a young donkey…
Q. So, what is this God really like?
A. We can know this by looking at Jesus
John 1:18, [Jesus] has revealed God to us.
We look at Jesus to find out what God is really like…
John 1:14, He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
John 1:17, For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
Unfailing love = (lit. covenant love, a legal agreement) kindness, gives of himself towards others, always leaning toward them to bless them.
Faithfulness = (lit. covenant faithfulness) to constantly express truth in life (apply to Jesus)
Vision: “To Courageously love and empower people to become like Jesus.”
Q. What does it mean to be “like Jesus?”
A. Kindness. Leaning towards others to look for ways to bless them (I won’t exclude them). I will constantly look for ways to live God’s truth.
And we do this by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within.
In the person of Jesus God’s whole heart is fleshed out for the world to see. Jesus was in the closest relationship with the Father, and he calls you into such a relationship with God too. How can I have that?
John 1:12-13, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”
Discussion Questions
Discuss: “What is Jesus like?
From your answers to Q. 1, what are the implications for the way we live if we are to be “like Jesus?”
The Hebrew Scriptures record what people thought God was like and also how God met people where they were at. This is called the “arc of Scripture.” Does this help you better understand why God in the Old Testament sometimes appears to be drastically different to Jesus? Discuss how this helps (consider blood sacrifices and the “warrior God.”)
Discuss this statement: “God finds common ground with us and then gently nudges us into a better revelation or picture of what he is really like.” How have you found this to be true in your own life? Share examples with your connect group.
What does it mean to be “like Jesus?” One word ~ “Kindness.” That is, leaning towards others to look for ways to bless them (and not exclude them). What can this look like in every sphere of your life? How should a church reflect this truth?
In light of Jesus being, “grace and truth” (John 1:14, 18), discuss this statement, “Grace without truth is sloppy. Truth without grace is harsh.” Consider this in light of the times you may have spoken a tough truth to someone as an act of kindness.
We live in kindness toward others by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within ~ not merely by human effort. Share how this truth is ultimately liberating!
John 1:16 states, “From [Jesus’] abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” Share with your group some examples of where you’ve experienced this to be true.