Introduction Just as Jesus from Word became flesh and dwelt amongst men so we as his followers should also transform our words to become flesh and dwelt amongst those with whom we live and move and have our being. There are three realities that we must realize in order to enflesh our words of love amongst men. We need to transform the world despite the opposition of the world (John 1:10-11) We can only transform the world when we face the realism of opposition. Although the world was made through him and for him, the world refuses to recognize him. He even came to live amongst his own and even then his own rejected him. This is really the undercurrent of much of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He started with great reception but ended being killed by his own people. Christmas ended in Good Friday. Jesus was tempted to play to the tune of the world. These temptations were recorded in Matthew 4. These temptations if granted would make Jesus a very powerful figure in the world. He would have wealth. He would have divine power to bring about whatever he so desired. One of the main reasons is that the world has a different way of looking at popularity. A popular person cannot be rejected by other people. A popular person cannot be suffering and worst still a popular person cannot be killed by his own. Why? Popularity depends on popular support of the masses. If the masses rejected you, you are on your way out. But Jesus did not. He based his work on something totally different from that of the world. He only wants to bring glory to his Father in heaven and that is all that matters. Whether he is well received, well recognized, well-groomed and so on it goes does not bother him the least bit. Jesus is born of God. In the same way, we do not receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour because Jesus was popular. We did not. We know him and make him known to others even though we face opposition. Secondly, we transformed the world because of who we are (John 1:12-13) We cannot change others to what we are not! If we want others to godly, we have to show the way through our lives and not just with lips. According to John 1:12 -13, when we receive Christ we are given the rights to becomes God. We do not become children as though it is a natural thing to be expected. We do not have any rights to become God’s children. The rights were given to us without our deserving it. Because John 1:13 says that we are not born into God’s family as natural descendants. Neither did we make a decision or a matter of will power to becoming God’s children. We are children because we are born of God. This is exactly the way Jesus was born. He came into this world born of God – not due to any inherited rights or by his own decision. This is how we are to take our position spiritually. People in the world will continue to reject us even though we meant well. But because we have earned no rights, our rights are given by God purely. These rights are listed more fully in Ephesians 1:3-14. Let me list some of rights we have.
These are some of the exciting privileges that we have in Christ. With these, we could live out these values so that the world would come to know Christ through you. With these given right, we speak on God’s behalf. And if we are rejected then God is being rejected. We are merely spokesmen and spokeswomen and speak graciously and truthfully. Thirdly, we can transform the world if we speak with grace and truth (John 1:14-18) Even though we face opposition, it does not mean that we should be rude and aggressive in our evangelism as some churches have done. We can speak the truth of God graciously and convincingly. You remember the scene of Jesus’ trials at the hands of the religious leaders. Jesus was not violet. He was accepting and gracious in his reply but Jesus did not dilute the truth of God. He spoke the truth graciously and convincingly. And this is the same way for us. We speak firmly, truthfully, and graciously. John makes it clear that Moses gives the law and grace and truth came through Christ. Sometimes, we are judgemental of others based on the legal interpretation of the law: you did or did not do. It is clear to our minds that they have done or that. That fine as far as it goes. But there is serious lack of grace and truth is interpreted legalistically. Truth coupled with grace could make truth redeeming property more obvious. Truth is to redeem but law is to curse with no redemption. So it is important that we speak in truth and in love or grace if you like. This is the way of Jesus as he had lived it. It is Jesus as John writes ‘the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known. And how Jesus made God known? It is through grace and truth. And we too by following the example of Jesus can do three things
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Church of the Ascension, 13
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