The Life of Christ: The Harmony of the Gospels Part. 1: Luke 1:1-4 and John 1:1-18

 

A few years ago, my pastor started a study on the life of Christ, called "The Harmony of the Gospels," wherein, he was expositing the four Gospel accounts chronologically. While events coincided so that he had to lay aside that particular study, I continued studying the life of Christ on my own and have been doing so for the past few years. In an effort to encourage other women in studying Scripture and perhaps give a little help to their studies, after discussing it with my husband, I have decided to share my studies here. 

First, let me clarify a little bit of information before I continue, so that you and I are on the same page. This study is a chronological study through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, following the chronological reading plan designed by John MacArthur. I will be referencing different study books to help me in my study, and I intend to put a list of those resources up soon so you can obtain them for yourselves. This study I have primarily done from the ESV (English Standard Version) translation of the Bible, and where I reference other versions of the Bible, I will note it. I am copying the actual Scripture passages from Biblegateway.com.

Secondly, I am not infallible in my studies, nor am I accredited with any sort of  theological degree or teaching certificate. I am simply seeking to be faithful to share what I have learned. I welcome any dialogue or comments, and welcome you to join me in these studies and share your own insights. 

And now, without further ado:

Luke 1:1-4 

"1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught."

-Luke was writing to Theophilus to give him certainty of the things he had been taught. This applies to us as well. We also need certainty. 

-Was Theophilus a person? John MacArthur raises this question. Was he an actual person, or was this simply a term for a person who loves God? "Theo" is the Greek term for god (any type of god), and "Philus" is a form of love, so, 'lover of god.' However, according to John MacArthur, the greeting of "most excellent" could indicate that he was a governor. Regardless of the recipient, we can still learn from this. 

John 1:1-18

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. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

 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. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

-vs 1. These opening lines, "In the beginning," mimic Genesis. This speaks of the creation of the world and Jesus' pre-existence. The Word is Jesus. 

John MacArthur states that the use of the term "Word" or "Logos" comes from both

"the vocabulary of the Old Testament, but also from Greek philosophy, in which the term was essentially impersonal, signifying the rational principle of 'divine reason,' 'mind,' or even 'wisdom.' John [the author of the Gospel of John], however, imbued the term entirely with Old Testament and Christian meaning... and made it refer to a person, i.e. Jesus Christ."

 Not only that, but there is a theme in Genesis of God's creative act of speaking, and of His self-revelation to us in speaking. Jesus is the fullness of the revelation of God to us (Col. 1:15-16 &19). He is God incarnate. 

-vs 2-3. Being "in the beginning with God," shows the Triune nature of God. Between Genesis chapter 1, and John chapter 1, we see God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit present and involved in creation. 

-vs 4. In Him, that is, in Christ, is life. Not only through His work of creation, but also in the sense of Him alone being the source of eternal life. 

-vs 5. This world is spiritually dark and dead, blinded by Satan, but Christ's light, that is, truth, shines even in this darkness. And the darkness, be it our blindness, our sin, this world's system that is opposed to God, or even Satan, cannot overcome, silence, or conceal it. The light of the truth is still here and it has not been overcome. 

-vs 6-8. John the Baptist's whole purpose was to point to Jesus. Even from the womb (Luke 1:15-17, 41-44), he rejoiced at Christ. What must that have been like, to rejoice from the womb at being near Jesus? And to grow up with a clearly divinely appointed ministry? I wonder if there were moments that he rejected his mission. John certainly wasn't perfect by any means, as he was still just a man, but a unique man, for sure. He was a prophet and the one who prepared the way for Christ, but he was still just a man, though he was filled with the Holy Spirit as the prophets in the Old Testament were. In the Old Testament, being filled with the Holy Spirit was only for certain roles, and not for the average man or woman. 

-vs 9. When Christ came into the world, He brought eternal life with Him, and was Himself, the good news and the heart of the Gospel. (The word "Gospel" literally means "good news.") Now all men, everywhere, have a chance to hear the Gospel. 

-vs 10. The irony and the tragedy of the very Creator of the world being wholly unrecognized by His creation, and even more heart-rending, when He is not even recognized or received by the people had called out to be a special possession for Himself: Israel. 

[In light of these present events, it is important to note that while Israel did reject their Messiah, make no mistake, they are still loved by God. In Romans 11:1 it says,  "I [Paul] ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin." God has not rejected His people, and He still treasures Israel as the apple of His eye, and He will still bless those who bless them, and curse those who curse them (Gen 12:2-3)]

-vs 11-13. For those of us who believe and trust in His finished work on the cross, it is our divinely given right to become Children of God. And this right does not proceed from man's edict or decrees, or of noble birth, or of bloodlines, but entirely, wholly, and completely by the will of God. This right is for those who wholly lean on Jesus' work, placing all their trust in Him. 

-vs 14. God, in an additive act, not laying aside His divinity, took on human flesh to live with sinful man. Jesus, being of the same nature of God, and being God Himself, has the same glory as the Father. And He came to us, full of grace, that is, unmerited favor towards sinful man. 

As far as truth, God does not, and cannot lie, and is the sole author of truth. So when Jesus appeared, He came not only bearing truth, but as the sole Giver of truth, and one who has never lied, nor ever could lie. 

-vs 15. John the Baptist acknowledges Jesus' pre-existence and His greatness and pre-eminence.

-vs 16. Through Jesus, we have received abundant, unmerited favor from God. 

-vs 17. The Law was given through Moses, and through the Law, we saw our sin (Romans 3:20). Through Jesus came unmerited favor, mercy, and truth from God. 

-vs 18. Jesus has made God known to us. 

"No one has ever seen God..." Is that referring specifically to God the Father? Does that mean every time God has been seen, that it has been a Christophany? Even when Moses saw His back, was that also a Christophany, that is, a time when Jesus was seen before the incarnation (Christ taking on flesh to become a man)? The Trinity is such a mystery in so very many ways. 

And that is part one of our study. It's going to be a long study, and I hope you will join me in studying the life of Christ. It has been life-altering for me, and I hope studying Christ Himself will be the same for you.