December 22, 2024

The Word Became Flesh – John 1:14

Ice Breaker

1. Read John 1:14-18. (cf. Matt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:26-38; 2:1-21)
2. Sing together: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Charlse Wesley, 1739. If you need help, consider using google.

Loving God Unreservedly

3. What is the relationship between the Word and God? (1:1–2)
4. Whose glory did the Word reveal? (1:14)

Loving People Sacrificially

5. According to verse 11, Jesus came “to his own, and his own people” (the Jews) “did not receive him.” From what you know from the rest of Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament, what are other instances where God’s people rejected God?
6. What do verses 9–13 teach about how to become a child of God? Where do you see God’s grace in these verses?
7. The purpose for John’s preaching is expressed in John 1:7, “that all through him might believe.” How would you define what it really means “to believe”?

Making Disciples Purposefully

8. In thinking about what it means to receive Christ and to believe in Him, what is involved in not believing or receiving Him?
9. In consideration of the phrase in John 1:9, “which gives light to every man coming into the world,” do you think this means that everyone is enlightened by the Logos or Word? Give a reason for your answer from verses in the prologue. (Jn. 1:1-18) How would you explain this to an unbeliever in your explanation of the gospel?

Dig Deeper (optional/personal study)

10. Research: This is the incarnation: the Word, who was in the beginning; the life and light from eternity; this Word “became flesh.”
    1. The Word did not cease to be what it was before; but it became what it was not before—flesh. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh …” (1 Tim. 3:16).
    2. God is not an abstract and distant divinity as the Deist or free thinkers believe. Use a Bible dictionary to define a deist.
    3. The fact that Christ dwelt among us reminds us of the tabernacle in the wilderness, making visible the glorious presence of God (Ex. 40:34–38).
    4. The “I am” used by Christ, were taken from the OT title for the one true God and probably signifying God’s personal name, Yahweh revealed God to his people (Jn. 1:4–5, 14, 18). The divine Logos or Word (1:1–18) was an example of perfect humanity; he “became flesh” (v. 14) to enlighten people (vv. 5, 9) and generate in them “eternal life” (Jn. 3:14–18; 1 Jn. 1:1–3; 4:9).