'Appreciating God's Love'
A) The Word was God
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by Him including the spirit of every child born. Throughout history, He had also made many covenants and promises with men.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
The Word was made Flesh
Mat 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Out of His great love for men, the Word (Jesus) was made flesh and dwelt amongst sinful, revolting and rebellious men, so that he could understand the causes of man's failure in keeping His words.
As a Man, He could experience first hand the constant horrific attacks of Satan against His people by using all types of deceptions and temptations, thus misleading them to reject and disobey His words and commandments.
Having Himself suffered, Jesus is now able to help every born again Christian to overcome the deceptions and temptations of Satan.
Heb 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Jesus Came in God's Glory
John 2:11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
The Word manifested the glory of God so that men can believe Him after having witnessed the power of God in the signs and wonders performed by our Lord Jesus Christ and His constant love and compassion for healing or relieving the sufferings from sorrows, sicknesses, hunger and needs.
Blind Man Glorified God
John 9:24-25, 30 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." ..The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!"
Even the blind man could see the glory of God in our Lord Jesus Christ but the depraved priesthood and Jewish leaders were blinded by their hypocrisy and wickedness.
Jesus the Miracle Man
Acts 2:22-24 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
It was His miracles, signs and wonders that men could believe and accept Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God.
C) The Grace of God
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
When our Lord was in the flesh, He knew of the difficulties faced by the Jews in overcoming the temptations and deceptions of the devil.
He sacrificed Himself on the cross for the remission of sin so that His grace is given to men. Whoever believes in Him and accepts the gospel of grace will be saved.
In time of need, more grace is given to every Christian who humbles himself before His throne of grace.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The Truth of God
John 17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
Our Lord knew that for men to be set free from bondages they must know the truth, which actually sanctifies them from selfishness, wickedness, carnality and worldliness.
Truth leads Christians to holiness. Since God is holy, so every Christian must also be holy. Hence God gave them His words so that whoever abides in them will be set free by the truth.
John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
