This Week’s Passage and Memory Verse (in red): 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
Today I am going to pose a bunch of questions based on verse 14 only. No answers. No thoughts. Just questions. Why? Because it would seem that I am preaching this Sunday at Ridgecrest and this will be my text. Think of these questions as the trailer before the full version is released. Hopefully they will get you thinking ahead of time and anticipating the preached word. The title of my message on Sunday is “The Greatest Mission’s Text in Scripture”. Here are the questions:
Why does John refer to Jesus as “the Word”?
Why was it necessary for the Word to “become flesh”?
What is the Old Testament allusion that is inferred in this verse?
What does “we have seen his glory” refer to?
Why did John add the phrase “the glory of the one and only”?
What is meant by ‘one and only”, i.e. “only begotten”?
What are the implications of the phrase “full of grace and truth”?
Why is the doctrine of the incarnation vital to the Christian faith?
Who was Athanasius?
What does this passage have to do with missions?
Perhaps these are some of the same questions that came to your mind as you pondered this week (maybe not the next to last one). What an incredible verse (and passage)! I’ll post answers to all these after I preach on Sunday. Hope you can be there.
I’m just sayin’!
Next Week’s Passage: 1 Peter 5:6-11
Next Week’s Memory Verse: 1 Peter 5:7
Sorry-I just got around to reading this. I’m running behind this week! I’m glad you are preaching on this one on Sunday. This one was more abstract to me. i love the “he took on flesh” part and I have no clue what you are talking about Athanasisus???? I don’t even know who that is?
Still much enjoying the pondering!