Jesus Christ: The Divine and Sovereign Word

John 1:1-5
January 16, 2022
Abraham Hong

Sermon Script

I would like to start with words that may sound basic or boring.

Jesus is awesome. Jesus is wonderful. Our Savior and Lord is glorious and majestic. Everything about him is mind-blowing. There is no one like our Redeemer and King. Jesus Christ. The Word.

And there is nothing basic or boring about the fact that the Word is divine and sovereign.

Dear Highland, let us be in awe of the fact that the Word is divine. John declares that in the beginning was the Word, and that the Word was with God, and that the Word was God. This is amazing and jaw-dropping truth.

First, Jesus was there in the beginning. Jesus eternally existed before creation and the existence of all created things. And so in the beginning was the Word. The Word is divine. Second, Jesus, who is the second person of the Trinity, was with God - that is, God the Father, who is the first person of the Trinity. God the Son was with God the Father before creation. And so the Word was with God. The Word is divine. And third, Jesus is God. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And so the Word was God. The Word is divine. All of this means that Jesus is not a mere human being. And he is certainly not a mere myth. Jesus did not start to exist when he was born of the virgin Mary. He is not a smaller god who is lesser than God the Father. And he is definitely not a created god as the Jehovah’s Witnesses might want to believe. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And dear Highland, let us also be in awe of the fact that the Word is sovereign. John declares that all things were made through the Word, and without him was not any thing made that was made. This too is amazing and jaw-dropping truth.

Jesus created everything that exists in creation. That was him in Genesis 1 - along with God the Father and God the Spirit. Listen to Colossians 1:16-17. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Listen to 1 Corinthians 8:6. For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. And listen to Hebrews 1:1-2. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. And so all things were made through the Word. The Word is sovereign. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Dear Highland, this all amazing truth about who Jesus is. And our lives ought to reflect accordingly.

If Jesus is divine and sovereign, then we are supposed to worship him. We are supposed to live for his purposes and for his glory. Let us not forget that we are mere creatures who must give account to the one who has absolute sovereign authority over us. We were not there in the beginning. We are not God. Who are we to sin and rebel against him? Who do we think we are when we think that our lives revolve around ourselves? Who are we to deny Jesus or forget about him or care not about him? For Jesus is God. He is the Word. We are supposed to worship him.

If Jesus is divine and sovereign, then we ought to be humbled by the fact that he humbled himself. He took on human nature in order to live the life that we were supposed to life. He took on the form of a servant in order to die the death that we were supposed to die. Who are we that Jesus would be mindful of us as creatures and sinners? Who are we that Jesus would do all of this for our salvation? As the sovereign King of Glory, Jesus was under no obligation to save us. He owed us nothing but his justice and his judgment. But he suffered and died for our sins with love and mercy and grace. This truth about Christ is too wonderful for us. Therefore, in the spirit and words of Job, we ought to despise and humble ourselves and repent in dust and ashes. Why do we not look like that sinful woman with the alabaster jar? As she wept at the feet of Jesus? For Jesus is God. He is the Word. Let us be humbled by him.

If Jesus is divine and sovereign, then stop being basic or boring in your life. You are of the royal priesthood. You are a member of the everlasting church and a citizen of the only kingdom on earth that will be left standing at the end. Jesus rose again from the dead and now you who are united with him have unimpeachable, unassailable, and unquestionable resurrection life and victory over sin and over death. You have the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Triune God, dwelling in you. God is with you. And you represent God. You are his ambassador. And you have a lot of work to do for him. Jesus has given you many things for you to do, he has given you many places to go, he has given you many people to see. And we need your participation and your help at church. Who are we to be distracted by this world and the things of it? Who are we to not be excited about the gospel of Christ? Who are we to not love Jesus with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind? What are we doing with our lives, with our numbered days in these last days right before the day? Have you forgotten who Jesus is? Jesus is sovereign. Jesus is awesome. Jesus is wonderful. Our Savior and Lord is glorious and majestic. Everything about him is mind-blowing. There is no one like our Redeemer and King. Jesus Christ. The Word. And there is nothing basic or boring about the fact that the Word is divine and sovereign.

Dear Highland, we are one week close to Jesus’ return. In these last days, let us learn and relearn everything about Jesus and be ready and prepared for him. Let us read our Bibles like there is no tomorrow. Let us meditate upon the gospel of Christ. Let us study the person and the work of Jesus. Let us treasure in our hearts and minds the humiliation and exaltation of our Redeemer and King. And let us get back to the love that we had at first for Jesus.

Come, Lord Jesus! Come soon!

May the grace of Christ be with you all. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria