What Jesus Did

[The people sent by the Jewish leaders to John the Baptizer said,] "Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?" John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: "I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Clear the way for the Lord's coming!'"

—John 1:22-23 NLT

Key Thought
John let the questioners know that his identity was not the issue; the one about whom he spoke was the important issue. Yes, John's coming was an answer...

 

This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, "Who are you?" He came right out and said, "I am not the Messiah." "Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied. "Are you the Prophet we are expecting?" "No."

—John 1:19-21 NLT

Key Thought
Who are you? What would you do to be viewed as important by others? How much does your acceptance by others matter? I don't know about you, but these are...

 

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One [Jesus], who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

—John 1:18 NLT

Key Thought
God is much too holy to be seen by human eyes. An encounter with the Holy God of Israel was beyond the scope of human capability. Jesus, however, came as God in human flesh, Immanuel, God with us! (Matthew 1:23) So Jesus did much more than tell us about God. He revealed God. Jesus is God revealed. In his touch of the leper...

 

From his [Jesus'] abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

—John 1:16-17 NLT

Key Thought
Rich blessings, grace, mercy, kindness, unfailing love and faithfulness, ... the list could go on and on forever. God's blessings to us in Jesus are beyond our scope of imagining. As wonderful as the work of Moses had been for Israel, as defining as the Torah...

 

John testified about him [Jesus] when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'"

—John 1:15 NLT

Key Thought
John the Baptizer was courageous. John was passionate, but he realized he was just a "pointer" — someone who directed people to someone far greater than himself. Jesus was in existence long before John appeared on the scene. In fact, Jesus existed before...

 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

—John 1:14 NLT

Key Thought
God was not content just to proclaim his message to us — his "Word"! God wasn't satisfied that prophets could reveal his message to us — his "Word"! God wasn't willing that his message, his "Word," be confined to a book. No, God's ultimate message, his "Word," is Jesus. God's message, God's "Word," is Jesus coming in human flesh to live as one of us to...

 

But to all who believed him [Jesus, the Word] 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.

—John 1:12-13 NLT

Key Thought
Not everyone rejected Jesus. In fact, everyone who believed in him and accepted him was given an incredible gift: They were made children of God! This special gift is something that God alone could achieve for us. It is also...

 

He [Jesus, the Word] came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.

—John 1:10-11 NLT

Key Thought
Jesus had made everything in the universe, including the earth and all its peoples. Yet when he came to his very own chosen people, they did not accept him. Think a minute about what that means for us when we feel alone, deserted, misunderstood, forgotten, abused, ... . We HAVE a Savior who knows how...

 

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

—John 1:9 NLT

Key Thought
John wasn't the light. No, the true light was going to come for everyone. John's ministry was primarily in the desert and to Israelites, but his message wasn't to prepare just Israel for the Messiah. No, we all need his message. Unlike John, the Messiah wasn't going to set up his ministry in the desert and have people come to him. The true light was coming into the world...

 

John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

—John 1:8 NLT

Key Thought
John the Baptizer was an incredible man. He was a prophet, inspired by God's Spirit. He spoke with an authority and authenticity long silent among God's people. He courageously declared the truth to everyone no matter that person's rank and no matter his own personal cost. But ... John was only a witness to God's light — Jesus, God's real Word and only Son. And as important as...