Who is Jesus? -John 1

At the start of his gospel, John wants to make it crystal clear to us who Jesus Christ is. Why? Because it's the key to knowing Him and loving Him. And it stops us from dismissing Him as a man, eccentric or unusual as He may be.

For Jesus, John claims, was no mere man, but the Word, who was with God and who was God through all eternity (1-2). Jesus created the universe with God the Father (3); He is the source of life (4), and He humbled Himself to come to the earth He created, and suffered rejection there (10-11).

'Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God' (12). Why did Jesus, the mighty Creator of the universe, bother to come down to earth? To make it possible for YOU to become a child of God. It's not our natural status- we are children of sin. But Jesus was prepared to endure rejection by some, in order to give life to others who would accept Him.

What a cost it was, for the glory of the Son of God to be transformed and hidden in human flesh (14). And He didn't come down for a sinister purpose- to 'catch us out'- but offering grace and truth (14). Jesus came to make God known to us (18). That's so incredible, showing such amazing love and compassion, that it provokes us to stop, look and love Jesus. If you were in His position, would YOU have come to earth to save one like yourself? Ugly with sinful selfish thoughts and behaviour? Think long and hard. The answer is: 'probably not'.