Jesus did not start at His birth! Think about it. John 1:1,2 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God. He was in the beginning with God." The word, 'word' is actually translated Christ.
All things came into being by Him and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being! The Word became FLESH and dwelt among us, PRAISE GOD! And we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth!
The Lord even gave John Holy Spirit knowledge of Jesus and he then bore witness of Jesus and His ministry. Verse 12 says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." This means that you can believe in Jesus without actually receiving Him. You must do both. Then "For of His fulness we HAVE all received and grace upon grace.For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ". Thank God that grace is not just a lovely word, it is actually a person, the person of Jesus Christ! Grace has already been provided and therefore we ALL can receive everything that grace affords us. The law showed us that we need grace and Jesus gave it to us when He took our place at the cross!
Verse 18 teaches us that in order to know the very nature of God, we only need to look to Jesus' life while on the earth. He is the most perfect representation of His Father. We never have to wonder what our Father God is like or what His intentions toward us are. We only need to read that everywhere Jesus went, the Word says, He went about doing good, teaching, preaching and healing ALL who were oppressed! This is still God's heart today and the mandate all believer's need to carry on; for while we are in the earth, WE are His body!
Awesome post! Great encouragement!!
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