A Message by Pastor Katsumasa Hirota,


2nd Sunday, Oita Evangelical Christ Church on December 14th, 1997

John 1:1-18 - "God's Truth!"

Today's the third week of Advent. When we light up the fourth candle, it will finally be Christmas; the day we celebrate Jesus' birth.

You should know today's verses well, for they're one of the famous holy verses of Christmas. This passage also happens to remind us of the first chapter of Genesis; when God created this world!

The world was created through God's Word. Before coming down to this world, Jesus was the Son of God, name or called the "Word". Literally, Jesus is the Word of God who speaks to us. As you all know, words are the means of expressing what is on our minds. So, Jesus shows and reveals what (who) God really is, for Jesus is the Word. Now look at verse 18, Jesus, the Son of God who had been beside God the Father, allowed Himself to be incarnated as a human being to reveal God to us, and redeem us. By experiencing what humans suffer in life, Jesus can truly be said to understand us. As God, He also gives us His grace -- which enables us to accept any kind of troubles. Remember the words that He said right before His death: "Father forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing."

Since we have flesh, we are humans, we have some sides. Once in a while, we are good enough to be called "angels". However, at other times we are so evil. Living in this material world, we can never be completely seperated from the reign of Satan. But, with the grace given to us by Jesus Christ through His cross, we are accepted and forgiven by God the Father; as if we were Jesus. This is such a great message that if we just repent, or say sorry, we are forgiven. King David said in the Bible that "it's not my joy to be king, but my forgiveness from God is my happiness.

Through this living among us, Jesus was also able to grant us the ability to live forever. We do die, but beyond death, we can live eternally -- this is one of the graces He has given us. Jesus also showed us the "Truth", which is contrary to grace that accepts anything. The Truth is always true [; it is never relative]. One plus one equals two -- this never changes. Jesus called Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This is SO true that it never changes. Some say that all religions are the same; there are many paths to the top (God), so it's your choice which way to go. But there is only one single way to get to the top (God). This truth never changes. When Jesus was born, the true light had come in to the world. Kings felt fear. They were so afraid of the true king that some tried to get rid of Him. See John 3:18-21. This passage also applies to today! Living in this age of history, everyone is confused and puzzled. We have no measures by which we can judge others. Though I had a good and happy time at my daughter's wedding, on the way home, I was hurtful to my wife! My measure of judgement was completely inappropriate!

Read Romans 12:2. We need to search and know as those who know "truth"; knowing what is good and what is bad. We have our own measures for judging, but these often lead us to make bad judgements. There is only one Truth. The God of the Word incarnated, who came down here to give us grace and truth, He is the Truth. In the times of the Roman Empire, lots of kings persecuted Christians. St. Paul was among them. St. Paul also persecuted Christians at first! He believed that Christians were the seeds of evil. But when the strong power of God fell upon him, Paul's understanding was opened up spiritually. We are also to be opened spiritually, so that we can be constantly in His truth.


Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
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