The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-01-02
Sunday, January 8, 1887.
Read John :l-5l. Study John

Gospel, the Messiah Is described
as the Word, q title which sets
forth "the function Of Christ to
reveal God" We are told Of his
unbegun existence; of his identi-
ty with God: Of his agency in
creation; Of his embodiment and
ori2ination Of life; Of his mission
as the Light Of men. Yet the in.
finite Word became incarnate and
tnbernacled among US. The union
of deity and humanity in one
Person is perhaps the greatest
mystery Of redemption and the
highest act of God. But the truth
of II stands before us verified in
this chapter by the ministry OF
John the Baptist, the testimony Of
John the Apostle, the enduement
of the Holy Spirit, and the c2a-
version OF his lirst disciples.
THE WORD (Verses l.5)
The Person Of Incarnation was
divine. CD He was God. That is
expressly stated. Iyis repeated for
emphasis. Without it the entire
scheme of redemption would fall
TO the ground. (2) He possessed
and exhibited the traits Of deity.
lie was God eternal, for he ante
dated creation. But he was God
manifest. for as the divine Word
he embodied in himself not only
the thought Of God but also the
expression Of God. Moreover, he
was God associate, for he was
with God even in the beginning
as q distinct personality. At the
same time he was God unified,
being inseparably with God from
eternity's dawn. (3) lie perform
ed the works which were possible
to deity alone. He was God ere.
alive. for all things were made
by him. He was God sustaining.
for he is not only the. source OF
life but also, We are kept by his
unfailing providence. Finally, he
was God ,redeeming, for rs the
light Of men he is the source and
gracious giver OF .. knowledge,
Righteousness, and happiness here
and hereafter. Steadily and mer-
cifully the light shines in the
darkness though not appreciated
by some, yet .wondrously effective
in the salvation Of others.
THE WORK (yerses 6-I4)
The Purpose Of the incarnation
was merciful.>lt involved three
things: (D The first was revela-
ton. That is the mission Of light.
Nations may sit in darkness but
there is joy when the Light arises
upon them. To that Light the
great forerunner bore faithful
testimony. Some Of his hearers
thought that he was the Messiah
but he was true to his mission.
Jesus alone was the true light
shining upon every person born
into the world. ~ The second ell.
ement in the purpose Is salvation.
Christ ~ in the world that he
made by his own power. Yet when
he came in the flesh his World did
not recognize him. Even though
he came TO his own land and re-
vealed himself 10 his own people
they turned the deaf ear and the
cod shoulder and the icy heart.
Aud men are doing that to this
day. Yet many receive him with
penitence for their sins and faith
in his power and mercy. To them
ne gave the privilege of becoming
his children. So 1t was that they
were born not by lineal descent
or natural generation or human
wisdom and effort, but through
the grace and power of God. (3)
The divine purpose Of the incar-
nation leads finally to association
with God. The flesh in which he
tabernacled was not sinful, but II
was susceptible to temptation. The
incarnation, therefore, brought
Jesus into the most intimate touch
with men. He tabernacled among
meh dwelling in his body rs a
shepherd lives In his tent. Never
theiess the divine glory shone up
on him and round about him. The
Apostle John and others with him
beheld that glory as upon the
Mount of TRANSPORTATION and in
his resurrection body. ,.
THE WITNESS (Verses 1919
The Proofs of the Incarnation
were convincing. CD There was
the witness of John the Baptist.
The fearless forerunner pointed
out Jesus as the Lamb of God
who taketh away the sin Of the
world. He saw in Jesus one in.
finitely greater than himself and
the only begotten Of God who
could save men from their sins.
(2) There was the witness of the
Apostles and the early disciples.
They received grace abundant
and grace unceasing and grace
overlooking in its divine fulness
until with glad lips and sacrificial
lives they testified to the fact Of
the incarnation. (3) There was
the witness of Moses who trans
mitted from God to men the law
with its command to do right, its
conviction of wrongdoing and its
condemnation of sin forever. But
in the contrast between law and
love Christ embodied grace with
it's pardou for sin and Of growth
in character; and also he was full
/ of truth which men need in order
to live right here and be. happy
hereafter. (G Above oil. there Is
the witness Of the Father. No
man hath seen God in his infinite
glory and majesty. But Jesus saw
him in the intimacy of divine Som
ship which admitted him in eter-
nifty past to the very bosom Of the
Father. So Jesus alone was quail
fled to declare, to men the Father
hood Of Gcd.
1.-THE SON OF GOD IS OUR
| cAVI0lJR AND LORD