John 1v14-18 "Grace and Truth"

John 1:14–18 | Phase 1: Come and See (What is God like?) | Week 3 | “Grace and Truth”Big Idea: In Jesus, God has come near, given Himself and made Himself known.OPENRead John 1:14–18Every worldview answers: is God distant or near?v.1–5 → Who is Jesus | v.6–13 → How does humanity respond | v.14–18 → What is God likeAnswer isn't a doctrine — it's a Person.________________________________________________________________________________1. GOD COMES NEAR — v.14a"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."Word = God, uncreated, eternal → became flesh (sarx = ordinary, mortal body)Not humanity climbing to God — God descending to usBabel (up) vs. Bethlehem (down)"Dwelling" = eskēnōsen = "tabernacled" / pitched His tentEden → Tabernacle → Temple → ChristMessage paraphrase: "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood"Truth: Not distant — present. Immanuel.Illustration: Love that never shows up isn't love. God didn't send a letter — He sent Himself.Apply:Stop searching for a far-off GodJesus entered our weakness (Heb 4:15)Your wilderness → Emmanuel is already thereTransition → He didn't just show up. He opened Himself completely...2. GOD GIVES HIMSELF — v.14b–17"Full of grace and truth... we have all received grace upon grace.""We have seen his glory" — glory revealed through ordinary/suffering, not despite it"Grace and truth" = echo of Exodus 34:6 — God's own self-description to Moses (hesed/emet) → OT's summary of God's character now has a facev.16 — "grace upon grace" = wave after wave, never runs dryv.17 — Law (Moses) vs. Grace & Truth (Christ)The greater Moses (prophet) has arrived [Deuteronomy 18:18-19]Not law vs. grace as enemies — Law was gift tooMoses delivered a message. Jesus is the message.Key Truth: Jesus doesn't just tell us what God is like — He embodies it.Illustration: Road sign vs. Guide — a sign points, a guide walks with you and IS the destination.Apply — ask yourself:Truth without grace? (harsh, weaponized)Grace without truth? (soft, no backbone)Jesus: "Neither do I condemn you" + "Go and sin no more" (John 8:11) — same breathTransition → But John's biggest claim is still ahead...3. GOD MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN — v.18"No one has ever seen God... (the Son) has made Him known."No one has seen God fully — not even Moses (Ex 33:20–23)"Made known" = exēgēsato — exegete, unfold, interpretJesus isn't a spokesperson — He's God's own self-explanationJohn 14:9 — "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father"Key Truth: Want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus.Illustration: Can't stare at the sun directly — but see it perfectly reflected in still water. Jesus = exact reflection (Heb 1:3).Apply — don't build your picture of God from:FearAssumptionsTraditionPainful experienceBuild it from Christ alone.RECAPIncarnation (14) → Testimony (15) → Reception (16) → Fulfillment (17) → Revelation (18) Christ = subject AND substance at every step.ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARYThe God who seemed distant has come near in Jesus, poured out His grace and truth and perfectly revealed Himself; so we could truly know Him.CLOSING INVITATIONCome near — because God already has.Receive — grace upon grace, available now.Look at Jesus — God's final, fullest revelation.Landing line: If you've ever wondered what God is truly like, John answers with one word: Jesus.