John 1 is full to the brim with basic training information. John tells us in the first verses of his Gospel account that John the Baptist came as a witness to bear witness about the light. The true light was going to be revealed to the people. He was in the world already - born just 6 months after John the Baptist - and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.
This affirmation by the disciple John is by one who knew, adored and was dearly loved by Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus the Messiah). It is stated simply and clearly. There is no mistaking the meaning.
John goes on to say that Jesus came to His own people (the Jews) and His own people did not receive Him - - and then comes the best Good News: But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God! The Word became flesh and dwelled among us; i.e., God became a man. God made Himself known to man by taking on the form of man. It is the most foundational truth of Christianity. It is the Truth that John reiterates in his book...a story worth repeating as we will see.
The Holy Spirit told John that there would be One who came to be baptized who was the Son of God - and He was the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. There are major religions who say that is blasphemy. They turn everything topsy-turvy, calling black white and white black. They say Jesus was a good man and a prophet - but fail to give Him the honor He Himself claimed, and not just He, but his forerunner John the Baptist. In John 1:34 John the Baptist declares, "I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." [And for the record, He cannot be a 'good' man and a liar. He claimed to be God, and because He was who He claimed to be, He could not and did not lie.]
What was severed with Adam was a right relationship with God. God came to earth in the form of man to restore that relationship. God made it abundantly clear in establishing the sacrificial system for forgiveness in the Old Testament that sin demands a blood sacrifice. Jesus came to be the sacrifice that sin demanded. God sent His one and only Son to be the Lamb of God. Fully God. Fully human. God Incarnate. God-in-the-flesh. God the creator who would die for the created because of His great love.
I also bear witness.... I know because of what He has done in my life and so conspicuously in the lives of so many others.
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The offer is there. All we have to do is reach out and accept it. To all who receive Him, who believe in His Name, He gives the right to become children of God!
Lord, thank You. I am humbled again by the realization that You would come to save us!
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