THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

"Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart ev'ry word; Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard. Tell how the angels, in chorus, Sang as they welcomed His birth, 'Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings in earth.' / Fasting alone in the desert, Tell of the days that are past, How for our sins He was tempted, Yet was triumphant at last, Tell of the years of His labor, Tell of the sorrow He bore, He was despised and afflicted, Homeless, rejected, and poor. / Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, Writhing in anguish and pain; Tell of the grave where they laid Him, Tell how He liveth again. Love in that story so tender, Clearer than ever I see; Stay, let me weep while you whisper, Love paid the ransom for me. / Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart ev'ry word; Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard." - A poetic hymn from the pen of Fanny J. Crosby.

The complete story of the Son of God, Jesus Christ the promised Savior of the world, is told in the first four books of the New Testament. Indeed, the words of Fanny J. Crosby's hymn are based on these gospels that depict Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension back into heaven, from whence He came. By inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, these books were written by a tax collector and apostle of Christ named Matthew, a young preacher and fellow servant of Paul and Barnabas named Mark, a physician, helper, and supporter of Paul named Luke, and a fisherman and apostle of Christ named John. Much has been written about the various physical, spiritual, and ethnic backgrounds of these gospel writers. Bible scholars have also written varied opinions about when, where, how, and to whom, these gospel messages were written. Leaving the unknown for others to speculate on, the purpose of these lessons is to harmonize these gospels, as correctly as possible, into one continuous story of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The word "Gospel" means "good news, or glad tidings," and certainly to every child of God, it is both. To the best of my knowledge, the "good news" begins with the lesson text taken from the Gospel of John that tells us of the divinity of our Savior. In the beginning, that is, before creation and the before the beginning of time on earth, the Word existed ...with God, and the Word was God. The Word is truly our Savior, the Son of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ. John assures us of this as it was revealed to him from God, through Christ, by His angel. Jesus is described by John as the righteous Judge, the King of Kings, and crucified Savior, and His name is called The Word of God (Rev. 19:11-13). John also assures us that Jesus Christ and the Word are one and the same when he wrote, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (1 John 5:7).

There can be no doubt that "The Word," as used in the lesson text, is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And the same was in the beginning with God, and, as the apostle John explained in the reference above, they, along with the Holy Spirit, are one unified spiritual body. Not only did Jesus exist in the beginning, but also He existed in this oneness with God before the creation of the universe, the earth, as we know it, mankind, and all other things that inhabit the earth. In this oneness with God, we are assured that all things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. Can I explain these things completely? No! Can anyone explain them? No! Only our Heavenly Father, His Son, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of God know these mysteries. Their true meaning is too deep and far beyond the limited ability of mankind to comprehend or explain. As God's children, and as brothers and sisters of our Lord and Savior, we can only look forward to eternal salvation in Heaven when all things will be made known.

In Him was life. It was by the miraculous power of God and His Son Jesus Christ that the natural, complete beings of men and women were created. The meaning here is not limited to the physical bodies of mankind, but also to their spiritual being - the soul of each man and woman that will live eternally. It is by the Word, Christ Jesus, and only by Him, men and women of the world are able to find eternal life after their physical bodies are destroyed by death. John explained this truth further when he quoteed Jesus, while here on earth, as saying I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25). Also, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 14:6). And finally, the apostle John assures us that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (1 John 5:11).

And the life (of Jesus Christ) was the Light of men. It is the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the gospel of salvation that He ushered in, that enlightens mankind and shows them the pathway to Heaven. Without light it is not possible to comprehend the objects around us - we cannot see them well enough to determine whether they may be beneficial or harmful to our physical well-being. So it is with our spiritual well-being. Jesus is the Light of the world. Without Him to light our pathway of life, all men and women of the world will walk in spiritual darkness! John assured us of this when he quoteed Jesus as saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life (John 8:12), and again, I am come a Light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness (John 12:46).

However, it is also true that unless we all search for, recognize, and accept Jesus Christ as our guiding Light, we will remain in darkness. Although the spiritual light of Christ Jesus shines before the way we travel through life, unless we use it as our guide, we will remain in the darkness of spiritual ignorance - unable to see and understand God's plan of eternal salvation. John closes the lesson text with this assurance: And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. The words "to hear, receive, and understand" are all found in the word "comprehend." The man or woman that rejects God and the plan of salvation He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ, will not allow the rays of spiritual light, that radiate from Christ, to enter and guide their lives. In this impenetrable condition, the light of Christ cannot enable men or women to recognize and avoid the sins that Satan places before them - they will stumble over the obstacles of sin, remain in spiritual darkness, and lose their souls to an eternity of punishment. This has been assured to the world in God's word by His Son, Jesus Christ - the Light of the world.