Barrett points out that "both creation and revelation are in mind in the Johannine Prologue, ..."
It is interesting how John broadens the scope of our understanding of Jesus. He speaks of the beginning: In the beginning was the word. We see Jesus as the beginning and then with Johns writing in Revelation. Jesus is the one in the end who is at the forefront.
The other gospels point to the lineages of Jesus which take us back to the beginning of human history, but John takes us to the eternal existence of Jesus. He was with God in the beginning, He is at the end.
The Gospel According to St John, C.K. Barrett p.127
Showing posts with label overview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label overview. Show all posts
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Unveiled
The Idea
The book of Revelation begins with these words: the revelation of Jesus Christ. John puts his purpose for this book of the Bible right up front. It is about Jesus being revealed. Revelation in essence is unveiling something. it would be like an artist having a showing. In that showing a masterpiece would be covered by a large cloth. After a brief introduction of the work, the large cloth would be taken off and the new creation would be unveiled for all to see.
Two Sides
As I pondered on this word unveiled I recognized that there are two sides of an unveiling. On the one side the art has already been done. The beauty is already there. On the other side is the one that has not seen nor created this beauty, yet will get to experience it with the unveiling. Isn’t this our lives as Christians. God is consistently unveiling Himself through Jesus. And it seems to me there is so much revelation, that God has to give it to us in morsels for us to grasp.
The Process
I am reminded of the gospel of John. Throughout we see that there is a testimony or witness of Christ (an unveiling), then an opportunity to put faith in Him and then the result of faith would be life ().
1. Unveiling (Testimony) – continued works of art, continued unveiling of the splendor of the Lord.
2. Faith – believing in Gods ways above our own
3. Life - the God kind of Life: zoe
Hebrews reminds us that we walk by faith, and then that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Why? The word of God is continually unveiling His character to us thus giving us opportunity to put faith in Him with the result being His life manifested in us.
A consistent walk of unveiling
This is what Paul was speaking of in Galatians 1:1 Paul an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the father who raised Him from the dead),. . . then later in 10-12 where Paul says that he received the gospel through revelation in Jesus Christ. Paul’s gospel was not taught to him by men nor did he get it from men but it came through revelation (unveiling). And again in 15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, . . . The again in 2:2 And I went up by revelation . . . Chapter 3 is challenging us to not approach God by works but through faith and that walking in the Spirit comes by the action of faith.
Again in our lives is faith generated more from what we read or hear from somebody else or our own dynamic walk with the Lord where we come to faith by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Our own revelation brings strong faith.
In 2 Peter
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, . . . Isn’t the process of a testimony which gives opportunity for faith which produces His life-flow in us and through us the very process of growing in the knowledge of God.
The book of Revelation begins with these words: the revelation of Jesus Christ. John puts his purpose for this book of the Bible right up front. It is about Jesus being revealed. Revelation in essence is unveiling something. it would be like an artist having a showing. In that showing a masterpiece would be covered by a large cloth. After a brief introduction of the work, the large cloth would be taken off and the new creation would be unveiled for all to see.
Two Sides
As I pondered on this word unveiled I recognized that there are two sides of an unveiling. On the one side the art has already been done. The beauty is already there. On the other side is the one that has not seen nor created this beauty, yet will get to experience it with the unveiling. Isn’t this our lives as Christians. God is consistently unveiling Himself through Jesus. And it seems to me there is so much revelation, that God has to give it to us in morsels for us to grasp.
The Process
I am reminded of the gospel of John. Throughout we see that there is a testimony or witness of Christ (an unveiling), then an opportunity to put faith in Him and then the result of faith would be life ().
1. Unveiling (Testimony) – continued works of art, continued unveiling of the splendor of the Lord.
2. Faith – believing in Gods ways above our own
3. Life - the God kind of Life: zoe
Hebrews reminds us that we walk by faith, and then that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Why? The word of God is continually unveiling His character to us thus giving us opportunity to put faith in Him with the result being His life manifested in us.
A consistent walk of unveiling
This is what Paul was speaking of in Galatians 1:1 Paul an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the father who raised Him from the dead),. . . then later in 10-12 where Paul says that he received the gospel through revelation in Jesus Christ. Paul’s gospel was not taught to him by men nor did he get it from men but it came through revelation (unveiling). And again in 15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, . . . The again in 2:2 And I went up by revelation . . . Chapter 3 is challenging us to not approach God by works but through faith and that walking in the Spirit comes by the action of faith.
Again in our lives is faith generated more from what we read or hear from somebody else or our own dynamic walk with the Lord where we come to faith by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Our own revelation brings strong faith.
In 2 Peter
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, . . . Isn’t the process of a testimony which gives opportunity for faith which produces His life-flow in us and through us the very process of growing in the knowledge of God.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Seven I AM's
John is filled with a witness or testimony of who he is that calls for belief or faith which results in life if faith is put in him. The seven I AM's are Jesus own testimony of His deity. Jesus said:
I AM the bread of life (6:35)
I AM the light of the world (8:12)
Before Abraham was, I AM (8:58)
I AM the good Shepherd (10:11)
I AM the resurrection, and the life (11:25)
I AM the way, the turth, and the life (14:6)
I AM the true vine (15:1)
I AM the bread of life (6:35)
I AM the light of the world (8:12)
Before Abraham was, I AM (8:58)
I AM the good Shepherd (10:11)
I AM the resurrection, and the life (11:25)
I AM the way, the turth, and the life (14:6)
I AM the true vine (15:1)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
A Gospel for All
Leon Morris begins his commentary with the comparison of John's gospel to a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant can swim. It is both simple and profound. It is for the veriest beginner in the faith and for the mature Christian.
The Gospel According to John, Leon Morris p. 3
The Gospel According to John, Leon Morris p. 3
Sunday, March 2, 2008
21:30,31
John 21:30,31 Now there are many other signs, not written in this book, which Jesus did in the presence of his disciples; but these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you may have life in his name.
We see John's purpose in these verses. That we may believe that Jesus is the Christ and that believing we may have life in his name. Through out John we see witnesses and testimonies to who Jesus Christ is. We have the seven signs, the seven I Am's, Jesus testifying of himself, disciples and others testifying that He is son of God. All these things are written that we would believe in Jesus.
There is another component of this. When we believe we have life in his name. So there is a witness so that we would believe and life would be imparted to us.
We see John's purpose in these verses. That we may believe that Jesus is the Christ and that believing we may have life in his name. Through out John we see witnesses and testimonies to who Jesus Christ is. We have the seven signs, the seven I Am's, Jesus testifying of himself, disciples and others testifying that He is son of God. All these things are written that we would believe in Jesus.
There is another component of this. When we believe we have life in his name. So there is a witness so that we would believe and life would be imparted to us.
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