Most people, if asked, have an image of Jesus ingrained in their mind, especially around Christmas. Many stories are told and songs are sung of a child wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. Although this image communicates truth, it is only truth in part emphasizing Jesus' humanity, which could unintentionally deemphasizing deity.
I have recently noticed some confusion with the kids of Fellowship Fort Smith, during our Sunday morning study of the life of Christ, about who Jesus is and how he relates to God the Father. For example, after a lesson discussing Jesus' life on earth and how He was subservient to the Father when fulfilling His will, some students informed me that they thought of Jesus as being less than equal to the Father. Although evangelicals believe this conclusion to be false, this answer is an indication that the kids are wrestling with the difficult balance of Jesus' deity and humanity.
Yesterday we discussed John 1 because the beginning of the chapter gives a clear teaching of both Jesus’ distinctiveness from and likeness to the Father. Below is the outline I used, which can be found in chapter 5 of J.I. Packer’s classic book entitled, “Knowing God.”
Jesus is eternal (v. 1)
In the beginning was the Word
I have recently noticed some confusion with the kids of Fellowship Fort Smith, during our Sunday morning study of the life of Christ, about who Jesus is and how he relates to God the Father. For example, after a lesson discussing Jesus' life on earth and how He was subservient to the Father when fulfilling His will, some students informed me that they thought of Jesus as being less than equal to the Father. Although evangelicals believe this conclusion to be false, this answer is an indication that the kids are wrestling with the difficult balance of Jesus' deity and humanity.
Yesterday we discussed John 1 because the beginning of the chapter gives a clear teaching of both Jesus’ distinctiveness from and likeness to the Father. Below is the outline I used, which can be found in chapter 5 of J.I. Packer’s classic book entitled, “Knowing God.”
Jesus is eternal (v. 1)
In the beginning was the Word
- Jesus, like the Father (Genesis 1:1), had no beginning. He has always existed and will continue to exist forever.
- A side note I shared with them was that the Holy Spirit (The Third Person of the Godhead) also had no beginning and will continue to exist forever (Genesis 1:2b).
Jesus is distinct from God the Father (v. 1)
And the Word was with God
- Here there is a distinction made between the Father and the Son.
- Jesus is not the Father, but with the Father. The Father is not the Son and neither are the Holy Spirit and vice versa.
- Because this is true one can safely assume that God exists in three persons.
Jesus is God (v. 1)
And the Word was God
- Jesus and the Father are one.
- Although the Bible is clear that God exists in three persons, it also emphasizes God’s oneness (1 Timothy 2:5).
- One must then conclude that God is one in essence and three in person.
Jesus is the Creator (v.3)
Through him all things were made
- Like the Father and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1), Jesus is involved in the creation process.
- Scripture teaches, “For by (Jesus) all things were created” (Colossians 1:16a).
In Jesus is Life (v. 4)
In him was life
- Packer affirms, “There is no physical life in the realm of created things except in and through (Jesus)…Life is given and maintained by the Word” (56).
- In other words, “If Jesus did no exist, neither would we.” He gives life and maintains it. This means that he has given us life and is actively involved in keeping us alive.
Jesus became a man (v. 14)
The Word became flesh
- The baby in the manger = the second person of the Godhead made man.
- According to Packer, “The Word had become flesh: a real human baby. He had not ceased to be God: he was no less God then than before; but he had begun to be man. He was not now God minus some elements of his deity, but God plus all that he had made his own by taking manhood to himself (57).
Let us remember this Christmas season that the baby in the manger was God made man. According to Packer, “The Christmas message rests on the staggering fact that the child in the manger was—God” (57).
