Incarnation - Part 1 - Maximum Life

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Incarnation - Part 1

December 1, 2024 • Zach Terry • John 1:1–4, John 1:14

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We begin today by looking at the Philosophical implications of the incarnation from that majestic treatise of the subject in the Prologue to John’s Gospel.

John 1:1–4, 14 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John’s Gospel was the last of the 4 Gospels to be penned. About 70% of John’s narrative is unique to John. So in some ways John is filling in the blanks left by the other Gospel writers.

Also, by the time John wrote - there were two major stream of thought that were influencing the Church, Hebrew and Greek.

The concept of WORD, or LOGOS was fundamental to both groups.

Hebrew Thought

The concept of logos was extremely important to the Hebrews.

They traced their roots back to a man named Abraham to whom God spoke the Word directly.

They believed that the Universe was created via the Word (Logos) of God.

According to Isaiah the Word (Logos) would not return to God void.

In Hebrew thought Logos was the God spoken Word of God. It was separate from God but it came from God.

They thought the Logos/Word was the key to life itself.

Remember Jesus said in John 5:39 (NASB95)

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;

The Greek Thought

Greeks in John’s day outnumbered the Hebrews 100,000 to 1.

Heraclitus was the Father of Greek Philosophy and thought. Heraclitus was to the Greeks what Abraham was to the Hebrews.

He taught that the universe is operated according to a set of constant principles. The term he gave to that ordered set of principles was “Logos.”

This idea became prevalent throughout practically all Greek Philosophers, whether it was Plato or Aristotle… that the Logos was the one overarching principle that, if rightly understood, could make absolute sense of life.

*You see, the Greeks debated at the Philosophical level what every thinking person has thought about at the informal level, and that is this – What am I living for? What is life for? Out of their debates came different schools of thought – stoics, epicureans.

The problem was there was not an authoritative way to comprehend or communicate Logos. It was unknowable. So there were eternal principles, and there was meaning to life, but you can’t know it, so why bother?

So John is writing to that world comprised of Hebrew Thought and Greek thought, both valuing the concept of Logos or Word.

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, (Logos) – the point to human life, the logic to human life.

Everyone would agree that the logos preceded human history it was eternal.

1b. and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Greeks believe in a multiplicity of gods, and Hebrews viewed Logos as separate from God. But John says that the LOGOS was GOD.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

A God with God? John introduces the concept of the Trinity.

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

John presents logos, as an agent in the creation

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Everything up to this point is roughly familiar to the Hebrews and the Greeks. Logos is eternal, it is powerful, it is complicated, but notice what John does in verse 4 - he gives logos a personal pronoun.

IN HIM WAS LIFE. Logos is a person a man. Not only that - Logos is not just some mysterious concept that exist up in Heaven… He has come into our world. He has shown in the darkness.

THINK OF IT - the very reason for your existence has come down to earth. That is incredible news! You can know and understand why you were created.

John will sum up the LOGOS as being the AUTHOR of life and the AUTHORITY of life.

---

Maximum Life is the Media Ministry of Pastor Zach Terry.

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Incarnation - Part 4

December 22, 2024 • Zach Terry • Matthew 2:1–12

In this study, we have looked so far at the incarnation of Christ from three perspectives - the PHILOSOPHIC as we studied that grand prologue in John’s Gospel, then two weeks ago, the HISTORIC as we surveyed the sweeping promise of prophecy, specifically from the writings of Daniel. Last week, we will look at the incarnation from a DOCTRINAL perspective as Paul presented it in Philippians 2. Today, we are looking at the incarnation from the PRACTICAL perspective. In other words, “so what?” What now - Christ has stepped out of eternity into time - He has taken on the suit of Adam, He has shown us the very Glory of God, conquering death and sin, and has ascended to the right hand of the Father… what difference does that make on any given Tuesday? As a springboard text - I want to look at Matthew 2:1–12 (ESV) We are told that this band of Magi came from the East to pay homage to the one who had been born King of the Jews. 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. These wise men, followed a star and found a stable, what they saw in that manger changed them forever - they could not go back the way they came, they could no longer cooperate with Herod. They went home another way. When we genuinely encounter the Christ of Christmas - it will inevitably change us. We can’t leave the way we came. --- Maximum Life is the Media Ministry of Pastor Zach Terry. Facebook https://http://www.facebook.com/maximumlifewithzachterry Instagram https://http://www.instagram.com/maximumlifezach Website http://http://www.zachterry.org/ Twitter https://twitter.com/zachterry

Incarnation - Part 3

December 15, 2024 • Zach Terry • Philippians 2:5–11

We began last week by looking at the majestic prolouge to John’s Gospel as we studied the Incarnation of Jesus Christ from a Philosophical point of view. As the Divine Logos becomes flesh - Jesus comes to the world as both the Author and the Authority of all reality. He is the object of the most significant gravitas in our solar system of thoughts. He is the ultimate reason for existence, and nothing in our lives will make ultimate sense apart from Him. Today, we are looking at the historical framework of the Incarnation. You see all of history has been proclaiming the Advent of the Son of God since the very beginning. READ - Remember, before the world's creation - The Godhead - Father, Son, and Spirit, in infinite wisdom and understanding, authored a saga that would produce the highest conceivable glory for the Triune God. You must understand that is the point of all things, the Glory of God. The sending of the Son was no dramatic pivot, it was no plan B - it was plan A all along. God knew that Lucifer Satan would rebel, then tempt man, and death would spread throughout the race of image-bearers - humanity. God knew that the remedy for their fall would require the Son to descend into the ranks of man and die a sacrificial death on their behalf. So, in reality, we can know that the advent of Jesus Christ was conceived in eternity past long before a new star shown over Bethlehem, even before any star shown in the heavens, even before there were heavens. So root yourself there - this was the plan of God. Then notice how it was whispered, then spoken, then shouted throughout history - Maximum Life is the Media Ministry of Pastor Zach Terry. Facebook https://http://www.facebook.com/maximumlifewithzachterry Instagram https://http://www.instagram.com/maximumlifezach Website http://http://www.zachterry.org Twitter https://twitter.com/zachterry

Incarnation - Part 2

December 8, 2024 • Zach Terry • Genesis 3, Daniel 9

We began last week by looking at the majestic prolouge to John’s Gospel as we studied the Incarnation of Jesus Christ from a Philosophical point of view. As the Divine Logos becomes flesh - Jesus comes to the world as both the Author and the Authority of all reality. He is the object of the most significant gravitas in our solar system of thoughts. He is the ultimate reason for existence, and nothing in our lives will make ultimate sense apart from Him. Today, we are looking at the historical framework of the Incarnation. You see all of history has been proclaiming the Advent of the Son of God since the very beginning. READ - Remember, before the world's creation - The Godhead - Father, Son, and Spirit, in infinite wisdom and understanding, authored a saga that would produce the highest conceivable glory for the Triune God. You must understand that is the point of all things, the Glory of God. The sending of the Son was no dramatic pivot, it was no plan B - it was plan A all along. God knew that Lucifer Satan would rebel, then tempt man, and death would spread throughout the race of image-bearers - humanity. God knew that the remedy for their fall would require the Son to descend into the ranks of man and die a sacrificial death on their behalf. So, in reality, we can know that the advent of Jesus Christ was conceived in eternity past long before a new star shown over Bethlehem, even before any star shown in the heavens, even before there were heavens. So root yourself there - this was the plan of God. Then notice how it was whispered, then spoken, then shouted throughout history - --- Maximum Life is the Media Ministry of Pastor Zach Terry. Facebook https://http://www.facebook.com/maximumlifewithzachterry Instagram https://http://www.instagram.com/maximumlifezach Website http://http://www.zachterry.org/ Twitter https://twitter.com/zachterry