Who is this man ?

 The Word
       As the Word, He is the final and full revelation and communication of the Father. Moses mediated God's communication by "thus says the Lord".  Jesus is God's communication in the flesh. Something like Alpha and Omega of the alphabet. In Him dwells all the fullness of wisdom and knowledge.

The Son
      The Old Testament mentions 'sons of God'. The New Testament speaks much about 'sons of God'. This gospel of John along with the writing of Paul, identify Jesus as being unique and alone in His sonship.   He alone proceeded forth from the Father. In eternity He was with the Father, He came into the world and has now returned to the Father.
Jesus is never called a child of God - that would have implied a beginning.  As the Son, He is the vital expression of the character of God ( not by adoption as with us), but He by being Himself expressed the heart of God in purpose and compassion etc.
       His word's were God's words. His actions were God's actions.  Being the Son brings to the fore, a relationship with God unknown before.  This is the glory that convinced John the apostle of His Sonship. His link with the Father was unclouded, intimate, effective and  publicly declared.
  Sadly, those he came to, did not receive Him. But to those who did and do receive Him, He extends the relationship to include such in the family of God (John1.12)

This of course is the subject of John's Gospel
-----rejoice in Him as you read
Who is this man ?    well, I could continue for a long  time  -  call again for more!

John McKee      comments welcome

John

The writings of John the apostle are most significant.
       It has been popular in recent times to promote the Gospel of Mark - short, concise, action packed story of God's servant Jesus. Then so many draw their own conclusions as to who Jesus really was.

The significance of John's writings are several:
1 He was an eye witness  of the life of Jesus.
2 He was a Jew with inside connections  ( giving rise to the conflict between the religion of the Jews and the more open-heartedness of Jesus ).
3 His writings come after years of consideration, years of testing if this is the true Messiah risen from the dead, years of study of the Old Testament and its correlation  with the voice and inspiration of the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven on the day of pentecost.

        John is not so much occupied with the historical  story  -  Matthew, Mark and Luke had  done that well.   John is convinced and would  convince his readers that  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.     ----  so much convinced that he would die for it !!!

   To read this Gospel is not leaving us to form our  own ill informed assessment of Jesus, but it is an authoritative  statement from one so close to Jesus.  John being led by the Holy Spirit, teaches us who He really was and is.   In the 1st letter of John, he outlines the implications of knowing this truth   -   light.   life.   love.

        So as we begin to read, let us watch out, not  for history, but for the moral glories of the Son of God and the doctrinal implications of knowing who Jesus is.  I trust all my readers know Him as Thomas did  -  "My Lord and my God"

John McKee

Faith working through Love

Faith may seem an inactive mental assent to facts or maybe go beyond fact, to believe the unprovable,  but in reality, real faith generates action.
              I worked with a man who had great faith in a new Prime Minister who had been elected to power in Australia. Previously he was known for laziness, but once  'his man was in', he rose up and worked harder than everyone else!

              So it is with the true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in Him motivates believers to 'be......' and to 'do........'  -  not on the demands of any law or system, but because of His love.  His love to us , begets  His love in us and His love is us is not cold or self centred. Just like God's love, it seeks the best and eternal good of others.
           The natural person ( flesh ), is self seeking and finds law keeping and rituals, self promoting.

Love gives, love sacrifices, love rejoices for and in others, love sees beyond the present to the future  etc...


John McKee   meditations from Galations

Liberty

How blessed are those who know the true Gospel.

'When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying "Abba Father"

              Let us rejoice to see God at work!

                    Observe, not the reinstatement of law!

                          God's objective is relationship - sons !

                                 Our acceptance is by virtue of His Son!

                                      New life springs forth by His Spirit to connect with God as Father !

As God has done for 6000 years, he gives a promise and the blessing comes to those who believe it, and live by it. Human nature wants to work it all out independent of God ( and then wonder why it all goes wrong ) .

Let me give an example of relevant promises:-

       John 1.12 'but to as many as received HIM, to them gave He power to become the children of God"

       Hebrews 13.5  " I will never leave you nor forsake you"

       2 Peter 3.13   "But according to His promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

       Revelation 22.12  " Behold I am coming soon, bringing My recompense with Me... "

May God deliver us all from the slavery of law keeping, the deception of religious ritual, the falsity of human effort and the lie of denying who Jesus  really is - the Son of God revealed from heaven.

J.McKee

What is a christian

What is a christian

The Bible

The Bible does not equal religion

        Religion does not equal the Bible