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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 1, NUMBER 13, APRIL 29, 2001 ONE VERSE SERMONS
There are within the scriptures certain verses that stand out like a clap
of thunder. They rivet our attention
by virtue of the tremendous truths they teach.
Sometimes they will be doctrinal, other times they can give us a glimpse
into the character and personality of Jesus; but every time they cause us to
marvel at the incredible depth of the Word of God.
Let’s look at a few of those verses in this article.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
(Genesis 1:1) In my estimation this is one of the most remarkable statements ever made. That includes all literary genres, not just the scriptures. In its ten short words there is so much explained and so much refuted. Consider the following: “In the beginning God” - This denies “Atheism”, with its doctrine of no God. At the same time it denies “Polytheism” with its doctrine of many gods.
“In the beginning God created”
- Here is a denial of
“Fatalism” with its belief that all things come about by chance.
There is also the denial of “Evolution” as
“God created the heavens and the earth”
- With these words
“Pantheism”, which makes God and
the universe identical, is denied. Genesis 1:1 answers the question, “What was the beginning of things?” The phrase “In the beginning”, refers to the absolute beginning of created things. As far as the universe in which we live is concerned, it had not existed prior to this time. He who did this work “in the beginning”, was “God”, or “Elohim”. This Hebrew name is derived from a root found in the Arabic meaning “to fear” or “to reverence”. It conceives of God as one who by His nature and His works causes man’s fear and reverence. It is used 2, 570 times in the scriptures.
While discussing “Elohim”, it is important to mention a
few additional points. “Elohim”
is a plural term and many have taken that to see a reference to the Trinity
contained in it. To see in the word
a specific reference to the Trinity is to go too far.
“Elohim” indicates the potentialities of divinity
without fully revealing it. It
allows for the doctrine of “three-in-one”, but does not have specific
reference to it. “In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
(John 1:1) My first inclination when considering John 1:1, is to simply say, “WOW!”, but that wouldn’t make for much of an article. We might ask, “What beginning?” The answer is the beginning of creation, the beginning of time. At “the beginning”, The Word already was. The significance of that is that the essential elements of time are a beginning and an ending. With the Word already existing at the beginning of time, it is an inescapable conclusion that the Word must have been “timeless”. The Word had no beginning. The Word existed at the beginning of creation and hence was not created. The Word is eternal. Not only was the Word eternal, “the Word was with God”. The phrase, “with God”, involves a great deal more than simple co-existence, it conveys the idea of active communication and sharing. By affirming that the Word was “with God”, at least three things are shown. They are: (1) The Word was co-existent with God in a personal way, as the presence of one person with another. (2) The separate personality of the Word and God is emphasized. (3) The inseparable relationship of Christ with God is emphasized. Yet another point is brought out in verse 1. Not only was the Word eternal and co-existent with God in a personal way, “the Word was God”. Notice that John does not say that the Word was “a god”. Nor does he say that the Word was “the” God. He says “the Word was God”, with no definitive article. The significance of that is tremendous. The Word was eternal, co-existent with God, and “was” God. That affirms his absolute Deity, but also recognizes separate personalities. It also affirms that the Word was God in His nature and His being, having all the power and attributes of Deity. Let us not forget the use of the title “Word”. What does that mean, what is its significance? According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the basic meaning of “logos” or “Word” is “the expression of thought – not the mere name of an object – (a) as embodying a conception or idea…” As it relates to Jesus, the title “logos” or “word” would imply the “personal manifestation, not of a part of the Divine nature, but of the whole Deity.”
Again, my inclination is to end a discussion of John 1:1 by saying,
“WOW!”
“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) This
statement was made when Jesus had come to the city of What we are privileged to witness in John 11:35 is human sympathy. Jesus knew that He was going to raise Lazarus. He knew that soon the tears and sorrow of Mary and Martha, as well as that of the other friends who had gathered, would be turned to joy. Yet the thought of the death of His friend, the anguish of Mary and Martha, and the tears of the others who had come to share their grief, moved our Lord to tears of sympathy and empathy. He was truly man.
But do the tears of Jesus simply show us His humanity?
No! They also show us His
deity, in that Jesus came to show God’s love and mercy.
How tenderly God cares for us and feels our suffering!
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are
doing.” (Luke 23:34) Having been brutally beaten, mocked and ridiculed, and lacking the strength to carry the crossbeam of the cross to the site of His crucifixion, Jesus was stripped of His clothing and thrown down upon the rugged piece of wood. His arms were stretched out, with care being taken to allow some flexibility to prolong the agony, and heavy wrought iron nails were driven through the small indentations at the front of His wrists. Then the crossbeam was raised into place with Jesus suspended from it. The Lord’s feet were placed one on top of the other, again with care being taken to allow some flexibility, and another wrought iron nail was driven through His arches into the wood of the upright. Jesus was thus crucified with a criminal on His right and a criminal on His left. Either during the process or immediately after it was completed, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” I am here to tell you that I do not understand that kind of love. I am trying to, but I am not there yet. I read that statement and I am ashamed. I am ashamed of myself for not always being ready to forgive and for holding a grudge. I am ashamed for some of my brethren. Over the years I have seen and heard brethren who gossiped about each other, became loud and angry with each other over things that didn’t amount to a hill of beans. I have seen brethren refuse to talk to each other, but that didn’t keep them from saying mean and hurtful things about the person they wouldn’t talk to. With His blood dripping from His hands and feet, and very likely obscuring His vision as it dripped from His thorn-torn brow, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Please help me, Father, to learn that kind of love!
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