Living Words
"Living Words" is a weekly podcast that explores the transformative power of scripture across a diverse range of Biblical books, guided by insightful devotionals from the author's own works. Each episode seeks to deepen faith and understanding, connecting listeners with the enduring wisdom and relevance of the Bible in their daily lives.
Living Words
In His Footsteps Week 1: Introduction to the Gospel of John
The inaugural episode of the "Living Words Podcast" by Charles Vance embarks on a year-long journey through the "In His Footsteps" devotional series, with an aim to deepen the spiritual connection of listeners with God. The series isn’t structured as a traditional study but as a devotional, emphasizing the importance of heart knowledge over head knowledge. Focusing on the Gospel according to John, particularly John 1:1-18, Vance discusses the essence of Jesus Christ as God incarnate, using the passage to explore foundational Christian beliefs about Jesus's divinity, his relationship with humanity, and his role as the light of the world.
Vance utilizes the King James Version of the Bible, advocating its use due to its historical acceptance and the wealth of resources available for study. He delves into the passage’s themes, such as the divinity of Christ, the concept of eternal life through belief in Jesus, the significance of signs and miracles performed by Jesus as a basis for faith, the new commandment of love, and the promise of the Holy Spirit as a guide and teacher for believers.
Throughout the episode, Vance provides commentary on the selected verses, emphasizing the preexistence and divine nature of Christ, the concept of incarnation, and the reception and rejection of Christ by the world. He also discusses the transformative power of embracing Jesus’s teachings and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers towards truth and righteousness.
In addition to the theological discussion, Vance offers prayers for understanding, witnessing, and gratitude, encouraging listeners to reflect on their relationship with Jesus and to live out the gospel in their daily lives. He concludes with a call to continue exploring these themes in their personal study and reflection, promising to delve deeper into the identity of Christ in the upcoming episodes.
This episode sets the tone for the devotional series, presenting a comprehensive overview of key Christian doctrines and inviting listeners to engage in a personal and transformative journey of faith over the next 52 weeks.
The Devotional "In His Footsteps" can be found on Amazon at this link.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYQD2N8Z
Hello, I'm Charles Vance. Welcome to Living Words Podcast, and this is the first week for the In His Footsteps devotional. Now this devotional is going to be a 52-week study in the. Actually, it's not a study, it's a devotional. So it's designed to get you in touch with the Spirit of God within, not so much as a learning experience. We're not interested in head knowledge. This is about heart knowledge, and we're looking to John because John is the beloved of Jesus and he's the one that shares with us the fact that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. The text that we're going to be working with this week is John 1, verses 1 through 18.
Speaker 1:Now you can use any translation you like. I am going to use the King James Version because it's the most commonly accepted. It's been around for hundreds of years and there are many, many concordances that are aligned with it. So it's easier to study from and to do word studies out of, but you're more than welcome to use any other translation that you're comfortable with.
Speaker 1:So, beginning with John 1.1, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made. That was made In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. The same came for a witness to bear witness of the light that all men, through him, might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light, and that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own and his own received him not, but as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bare witness of Him and cried, saying this was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me and of his fullness have all we received and grace for grace, for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is the bosom of the Father. He hath declared him. Let's pray, abba. Father, we just come before you now in praise of your name. We thank you for this glorious Sabbath that you've given us, this seventh day to dedicate to you, to cease from our efforts and our work and our strivings and to settle into the word and to let it soak into us and to be transformed by the renewing of the washing of the water of the word. We just pray, father, for blessings upon all who listen, that they would receive the Spirit of God and that this word would be open to their eyes and their ears and they would perceive it in their heart. We ask this in the name of Yeshua, jesus Christ, amen. Before we get started, I wanted to remind you if you want to purchase a copy of In His Footsteps Devotional, there's a link to the Amazon page where you can purchase that in the show notes Now.
Speaker 1:The passage of John 1, 1-18 is a profound and foundational text in the New Testament, often referred to as the prologue of the gospel according to John, this section lays the theological and philosophical groundwork for understanding the identity of Jesus Christ and his relationship to God and to humanity. The text is rich in symbolism and meaning, drawing from both Jewish and Hellenistic thought, and has been the subject of extensive theological reflection through the centuries. Here's a brief commentary on the passage, breaking it down into key themes and verses. The Word was God verses 1-5. This shows the divinity of the Word. The opening verses In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God establish the eternal existence and divine nature of the Word, the Logos. This echoes the opening of Genesis, emphasizing that the Word is both distinct from and yet fully God.
Speaker 1:Next, creation through the Word. Everything was made through the Word, underlining the creative power and authority of the Word. Through the Word, everything was made through the Word, underlining the creative power and authority of the Word in the cosmos. This also highlights the Word's role in the source of life and light, themes that recur throughout John's Gospel. Finally, victory over darkness. The imagery of light shining in darkness and the darkness not overcoming it speaks to the triumph of divine truth and life over ignorance and evil.
Speaker 1:Next, john the Baptist testimony verses 6-8. The Witness John the Baptist is introduced as a witness sent from God to testify about the light, the word, so that through him all might believe. This sets the stage for John's role in the gospel as the forerunner who points others to Christ. The true light verses 9-13. Reception of the light. These verses contrast the world's rejection of the word with the embrace by those who believe. The word is the true light that gives light to everyone, suggesting a universal offer of divine revelation and salvation.
Speaker 1:Right to become children of God. Believers are given the right to become children of God, born not of natural descent. Children of God Believers are given the right to become children of God, born not of natural descent but of God. This introduces a key theme of John the new birth, into a living relationship with God through faith in Jesus. Next, the Word became flesh verse 14.
Speaker 1:This is the incarnation, perhaps the most quoted verse, of this passage. It declares the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. This affirms the incarnation of Christ, emphasizing God's initiative in revealing Himself and dwelling among humanity full of grace and truth. It was an eyewitness testimony. John testifies to having seen the glory of the incarnate Word, a glory that reveals the only Son from the Father. And finally, grace and truth through Christ verses 15 through 18. The fullness of grace and truth. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. In this contrast, the revelation received through Moses, with superior revelation of God's nature and will through Jesus. Through Moses, with superior revelation of God's nature and will through Jesus, unique Revelation of God. Jesus is uniquely qualified to reveal God, being the one who is closest to the Father's heart. He makes the unseen God known, offering the fullest expression of God's character and intentions towards humanity.
Speaker 1:John 1, 1-18 introduces major themes of John's gospel the preexistence and divinity of Christ, the incarnation, the reception and rejection of Christ and the new birth into a living relationship with God. It presents Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God, the source of truth and grace and the light shining in the darkness, inviting readers into a transformative encounter with Him. While there are many lessons that can be drawn from this passage, and indeed from John in general, we're going to talk about five today, and those five are the divinity of Christ. John emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus Christ. He presents Him as the preexistent Word, who became flesh in John 1.14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. The glory is of the only begotten, of the Father, full of grace and truth. There can be no doubt that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. He's not just a prophet, he's the prophet. He's the prophet that Moses spoke of, who would appear that you must obey. Jesus isn't just some teacher or some ascended master equal with Buddha or Muhammad. Jesus is God. He's God incarnate and he is the creator of the universe. Everything that has been made was made by him, period.
Speaker 1:The next theme is belief in eternal life. The next theme is belief in eternal life. A central theme is the belief that Jesus, as the Son of God, grants eternal life to believers, in John 3.16,. So not only is Jesus Christ God incarnate, he grants you the right to be his child and to live with him in eternity, if we go back in the passage to verse 12,. But as many as received him. To them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. So not only is he God, but he gives you the power to be his child. When it says sons of God, it doesn't mean you're going to be a God, it means that you're going to be with him as he is, in eternity forever, with a glorified body.
Speaker 1:All right, the next theme is signs and miracles. So John highlights seven miracles that reveal the divine authority and serve as the basis for faith. So in John 2, 11, this beginning of signs did he in the kingdom of Galilee and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. Now, turning water to wine, it in him. Now turning water to wine. I guess it shows that he has superiority over nature. But it's much more than that. There's a story there that if you understand the context of the Jewish culture, you know that those pots that he turned the water to wine in were purification pots. This was a Pharisee wedding, so what he did was essentially violate the Jewish takkanot, the oral Torah, and enrage the Jewish leaders. So it was really more about him showing he has authority over them as well. Then the other miracles, where he opens the eyes of man, of a, the eyes of a man born blind. That was a fulfillment of prophecy from isaiah. So all of these miracles he did were there to, to show his authority over sickness, over death, over you know, and that he was the, the prophetic prophet who had been foretold of, you know, by Moses, and also in Isaiah.
Speaker 1:The new commandment, jesus teaching on love as the fundamental commandment for his followers In John 13, 34,. A new commandment I give you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. And I think in one place Jesus actually does say that there's two things. There's love your God with all your heart, mind, mind, strength and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. And you've fulfilled all of the commandments. So it's very important to love one another. All right.
Speaker 1:Then there's the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Holy Spirit who will guide, teach and empower believers after Jesus' departure, john 14, 26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. The Holy Spirit, the Ruach HaKadosh, is the most important element of the Godhead to us today. He's the present power in our universe, in our living world. Yeshua, jesus Christ, is at the right hand of God, the Father seated in heaven, but the Holy Spirit is here on this earth, inside the believers. He's empowering us, fulfilling us, renewing us, teaching us, guiding us. So that Spirit is what we should really focus on in any effort for transformative study or to get closer to God is to understand. Don't grieve the Spirit. That's where you want to do things. Don't do things that will go against that small still voice inside. That is the Holy Spirit guiding you and directing you into truth.
Speaker 1:Now here's some questions for reflection and discussion. Number one how does John's description of Jesus as the Word affect your understanding of his divinity and mission? Well, to me, it says that not only is he God incarnate, but he's the creator of the universe, he's everything. His description as the word, because the word was with God, the word was God, and we know that everything that was made was made by God, made was made by God. So, to me, calling him the word, it puts him, jesus Christ, in a superior position over all things.
Speaker 1:Now, number two let's reflect on the phrase full of grace and truth. What does this reveal about his character and how can we emulate these qualities, and how can we emulate these qualities? I think full of grace and truth is that he's dedicated to the truth and he's, you know, grace is unmerited favor, so he's full of favor for us and that what we should have is that same nature in our heart toward others and toward ourselves. You know, give yourself a break, because I think we're probably a lot harder on ourselves than others are on us. But by giving ourselves some unmerited favor in light of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can actually approach him and open up our heart to receive his word and his love.
Speaker 1:Number three consider the purpose of John's gospel John 20, 31. And how does this purpose influence your reading of the gospel? Well, the purpose of John's gospel is to reveal the incarnate nature of Christ and his authority. He is revealed as the son of God, god himself actually. So this is all about Yeshua Christ as the creator, and you're actually, when you're in the presence of Jesus Christ, you're in the presence of the creator of the universe.
Speaker 1:Number five discuss the significance of the miracles John chooses to include and how do they contribute to the gospel's purpose. Again, it's laying out the authority, so the turning water to wine. It was showing him his authority over the ritualistic beliefs of the Jewish leadership and then giving sight to the man who was born blind. That is a fulfillment of a scripture and prophecy in Isaiah. And again the telling the man to take up his bed and walk. You know that's on the Sabbath day. So again he's coming against the organized leadership of the church of that day, the Jewish leaders, and showing that he's the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath belongs to him and the Sabbath is for doing good and it's not about ritualistic obedience to rules that have no meaning or foundation in the Word of God, that have no meaning or foundation in the word of God. So now that we've discussed that, let's talk about.
Speaker 1:I have some prayers and again, like I said, you know a lot of people, maybe they're comfortable praying, they have no problem with it, they just would. You know, just like having a conversation with anybody, and that's really what it is. It's really just having a conversation with the creator. And then that's really what it is. It's really just having a conversation with, with the creator, yeshua Jesus. He loves you, he made you, he understands you, he knows you completely. When you talk to him, you just you can. It's like talking to a dear friend and you can also pray to the father. You can pray to the Holy spirit, but some people may have a little anxiety around it and they don't really know where to start. I'm talking to the creator of the universe. How do I begin? What do I say?
Speaker 1:So part of this study, this devotion, is to provide some model prayers for you to pray. So here's a prayer for understanding and embracing the Word. Heavenly Father, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with you and the Word was you. You have revealed your love and your truth to us through your Son, jesus Christ, the true light that gives light to everyone. Open our hearts and minds to understand your Word more deeply each day. Help us to embrace the life and light you offer us so that we may become true children of God, born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of you. May your grace and truth guide us in all ways, amen.
Speaker 1:Now here's a prayer for witnessing and sharing the light. Lord God, just as John the Baptist came as a witness to testify concerning the light so that through him all might believe, inspire us to be faithful witnesses to the light of Christ in our lives. Give us the courage and the words to share your love and truth with those around us, that they may see your glory, full of grace and truth, through our actions and words. May our lives reflect your light in the darkness, drawing others to your eternal hope. Amen, and here's a prayer for gratitude and incarnation.
Speaker 1:Gracious God, we stand in awe of the mystery of the Word becoming flesh and making His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the Word becoming flesh and making His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from you, full of grace and truth. Thank you for the unspeakable gift of Jesus Christ, through whom we have received grace upon grace. Help us to live in that grace, to embody your truth and to extend your love to others. And may we always be grateful for the Incarnation, embracing our calling as your children and living out the truth of the gospel in every aspect of our lives.
Speaker 1:So what have we learned today? We learned that Jesus Christ is God. And not only is he God, but he gives you the power to become His child and to have everlasting life with him, to become a glorified body in eternity. He used signs and miracles, to prove his authority over the leadership of the day, over blindness, death, sickness. He used it to prove his authority as the God who was walking on earth to restore his creation. He made a new commandment to love one another. And, finally and most importantly, he sent his spirit to live within us, to empower us, to guide us, teach us, comfort us in our trials and adversities.
Speaker 1:These are the things that john shows us today. Now it's prayer that you'll be able to take these things with you this week and use them In your daily life To reach back and get that connection and develop a relationship With God himself, as you're his child. Now we're going to be next week. We're going to stay in this same passage. We're going to go into a different topic, though it's more about the identity. We're going to drill more in on the identity, and that will be week two. Again, I just hope that my prayer is that you will benefit from this and I'll see you again next week.
