We all love a good story. Stories make life more interesting. The dull can appear delightful when told the right way, and we all know someone who’s great at turning the mundane events of their life into a creative narrative of humour and fun.
Jesus is the world’s best storyteller, often communicating Kingdom principles in short stories, or parables. For us today, one of the most famous “Jesus stories” is the Nativity, told to one another each December for 2000+ years!
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:1-3, 14)
16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6)
30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
(John 19:30)
19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
(John 21:19)
Pastor Jonny brought today’s message from the Gospel of John.
The Gospel writers were also master storytellers too, with each Gospel structured with a beginning, middle and end, like all the best stories do. Looking at the Gospel of John , we can see it has a beginning, middle and end, it has a love interest, it’s designed to draw the reader in, and most importantly, it’s 100% true!
Chapter 1 explains that Jesus was there, along with the other two Persons of the Trinity at the start of creation in Genesis.
The middle of the Gospel of John is all about Jesus’ teachings who He is, and His signs, wonders and miracles.
Then the end of the story is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus died on a cross so that we might have eternal life if we place our faith in Him, trusting Him as our Lord and Saviour. His death on the cross becomes the punishment for our sins, and we inherit His eternal life as though we have never sinned. Every human to have walked this earth has sinned against God and deserves eternal punishment, except Jesus, who went His entire life without sinning. When we become a Christian, God looks on us and treats us as though we have also lived that same sinless life that Jesus lived. Jesus conquered death and was resurrected, and all Christians will one day be resurrected to eternal life when Jesus returns in the future to set up the New Heavens and New Earth, a world where Christ’s people will live and dwell for eternity. This is all explained in the book of Revelation, also written by the same John who wrote the Gospel. Basically, Jesus wins, and the war is already won! So this is why when Jesus says “Follow me”, that we should take His words very seriously.
Have you turned to Jesus yet? Take an opportunity to think on spiritual things this Christmas, to work out where you stand with God. Jesus is God’s gift to us so that we can inherit eternal life. That eternal life can start today, and it means that you can know and experience the love of God, and live the rest of your life filled with the love, joy, hope and peace that comes from God the Holy Spirit dwelling within your heart.