God Came Near

John 1:14-18

Jesus became fully human and we get to see…

…the awesomeness of God. (14b)

…eyewitnesses affirm his identity. (15)

…God’s grace-filled plan on display. (16-17)

…God in-person. (18)

What does the incarnation prove to us?

1. Read verse 14. What do you learn about the Word in this verse? Why do you believe these truths are significant? Does Jesus’ physical presence on earth 2,000 years ago help you to believe that God is present in your life now? Why or why not? How can we see and experience both grace and truth in Jesus?

2. Read verse 15. In verses 6-8 it is established that John the Witness/Baptizer came to bear witness about the Light. Why do you think it is mentioned in this verse again that John the Witness is bearing witness about Jesus? We know that John the Witness is a few months older than Jesus and that John’s public ministry began before Jesus’ ministry. How then did Jesus come “before” John? How is this same concept about Jesus established in verses 1-2?

3. Read verse 16-17. Verses 16-17 provide two key reasons (as indicated by the two “for” prepositions) why Jesus “ranks before” John the Witness. What are these reasons? How have you experienced “grace upon grace” in your life? How does the law given through Moses contrast with the grace and truth provided through Jesus (see also Galatians 3:23-26)?

4. Read verse 18. How does this verse summarize what we have learned earlier in verses 1-17? (take a moment to read out loud verses 1-18) What does the author communicate about Jesus here and why do you think he states this fact to close out the prologue (verses 1-18) of this Gospel?

5. So what? Do you believe that you fully grasp the significance of the truths about Jesus communicated in this passage? What could you do to be more impressed with the reality of Jesus as God in the flesh? What keeps you from being more excited about this reality? What is one thing you are taking away from this passage that will impact your life?