CD - The Second Article - John 1:1-18

I believe in Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, God’s Son, begotten from eternity. Many questions come to mind when humans try to understand the Person, Christ Jesus. As we read in John, Jesus always was. He was in the beginning at creation. As we read in Genesis 1: “Let Us make man in Our Own image” (emphasis added.) Jesus was with the Father and the Holy Spirit at creation. Jesus is true God.

Jesus is also true man. He was conceived in perfection although He was conceived of the Virgin Mary, who was a sinner like you and I (contrary to the belief of some), by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus, true God, became Jesus, true man. The words John uses are very beautiful and poetic, “The Word became flesh.” Jesus, the Word of prophecy, the Word the Scriptures talked about, became a human being. We say He became incarnate, not to be confused with reincarnated. He became in the carnal, that is, in the flesh.

Jesus’ mission was to live, suffer, die and rise for us. Each of these four things He did for us because we could not do them ourselves. Jesus lived for us. He lived a perfect life, never sinning, not even once. He resisted even Satan’s direct temptations and overcame them for us, in our place.

Jesus suffered and died the most cruel form of punishment and death for us, not because He had done anything wrong, for He had not, He was perfect. He did what He did because of His great love for us. After three days, He did indeed rise from the grave, after He had descended into hell and proclaimed His victory over Satan. His resurrection is very important, for, if He had not risen, our hope would be in vain. By faith we are witnesses to His resurrection. Because of His love for us, we can love Him, and we are no longer afraid of death. Perfect love casts out all fear, the Bible tells us (1 John 4:18).

It was only because Jesus was perfect that He could do these things for us. If He was only a really good person, He would have been just like you and me. It is sort of like (and all human illustrations are valid only to a point) if you and I each got a traffic ticket, and I had enough money to pay either my fifty dollar ticket or yours. I could offer to pay yours, but the judge would not let me pay yours because I must first pay mine. Because Jesus did not owe anything, He could give everything, His life, and He did for us.

The most profound concept of Jesus as often noted by great Bible scholars is the words of the song, “Jesus loves me / This I know / For the Bible / Tells me so / Little ones / To Him belong / They are weak / But He is strong.”

Dear Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for mine. Forgive me when I sin and help me to resist temptation. Help me to live my life in such a way that others may see my faith in You and that through my witness others may come to know You, to the praise and glory of Your Holy Name. For Your Name sake. Amen.