Jesus IS the Good News!

My friends, in addition to preparing for my solo art exhibit later this Summer, I am working on a sermon for an upcoming church service at my work.

Every Wednesday, we host a church service to help encourage, uplift, and edify our chronically homeless guests. In a couple of weeks, I have the privilege of teaching and preaching God’s word.

My message will be coming out of the Gospel of John and will focus on how the Bible reveals to us that Jesus is indeed the Good News.

The passage I will be covering is John 1:1-18.

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 was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
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John 1:1-18 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This profound opening of John 1:1-18 unveils the eternal nature and divine essence of Jesus Christ, setting the stage for understanding how Jesus embodies the Good News.

John 1:1 introduces Jesus as the Word (Logos), signifying His preexistence and divinity. By stating “the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” it affirms the unity of Jesus with God and His divine nature. This foundational truth highlights that Jesus is not merely a messenger of the Good News but is Himself the embodiment of God’s revelation to humanity.

Verses 4-5 speak of the Word as the source of life and light: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Here, Jesus is presented as the bringer of spiritual life and enlightenment, overcoming the darkness of sin and ignorance. This is the essence of the Good News—Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, conquers sin and offers eternal life to all who believe in Him.

John the Baptist’s testimony in verses 6-8 and verse 15 further emphasizes Jesus’ superiority and divine mission. John himself was not the light but came to bear witness to the Light. This distinction clarifies that Jesus, the true Light, is the central figure of God’s redemptive plan.

In verses 9-13, the passage describes the incarnation of the Word: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” Despite the world’s rejection, the offer of becoming children of God through belief in His name underscores the gracious invitation extended to humanity. This is the Good News—God becoming man in Jesus Christ to save and adopt us into His family.

Finally, verses 14 and 18 encapsulate the revelation of God’s glory and grace through Jesus: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus’ incarnation and sacrificial love reveal God to us, bridging the gap between the divine and the human. Through Jesus, we have the fullest expression of God’s nature and His plan for salvation.

Thus, John 1:1-18 powerfully supports the truth is the Good News, unveiling His divine nature, incarnation, mission, and the salvation He offers to all who believe in Him. Jesus is not only the messenger but the very message of hope, life, and light to a world enshrouded in darkness.

Do you believe Jesus is the Good News?

I look forward to hearing what you have to say in the “Comments” down below. 

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May the Lord, our God, bless you and watch over you today and every day. May God alone guide and direct your path in all that you think, say, and do wherever you find yourself worshiping Him today. 

Tell someone about Jesus today!

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™