The Crucified Messiah

Jesus is the Greater Tabernacle in which the presence and glory of God dwell and manifest for all men to behold – John 1:14. The  Gospel of John  presents Jesus as the ‘ Logos ’ (λογος), the “ Word made flesh ,” where the glory of God is manifested before all men. The Son of God is the Greater and True Tabernacle in which God’s presence dwells, not the portable tent carried by Israel in the Wilderness or the later Jerusalem Temple “ made with hands .”

The previously hidden mysteries of God are revealed in Jesus, especially in his Death and Resurrection, the turning point of History . The Bible speaks of the “ mysteries ” of God, His ways that are hidden from human wisdom and defy expectations. As Jesus declared, not everyone can understand the “ mysteries of the Kingdom .” It is God who reveals the deep and obscure things to whomever He pleases, and in His Son, He has done so for all men to see.

Jesus is the Living Word in flesh, the true Tabernacle where the Glory of God is revealed. He is the man who reveals God’s Grace and Truth – John 1:14. The Prologue of the  Gospel of John  presents key themes to be expanded in his gospel account. Jesus is the ‘ Logos ’ (λογος), the “ Word that became flesh .” In Christ, Life and Light are revealed to penitent men and women. He is the true “ Tabernacle ” where God’s “ Glory ” resides. John employs imagery from the history of Israel to illustrate what God has provided in His “ only born Son .”

The fullness, grace, and truth of God are found in the Word made Flesh, Jesus of Nazareth, who alone has seen the unseen God – John 1:14-18. The Prologue to the Gospel of John introduces key themes of the Book, including Life , Light , Witness , Truth , Glory , and Grace .  Jesus of Nazareth is the Light of the world, the source of Grace and Truth, the True Tabernacle in whom God dwells, the only born Son of God, and the only one who has seen the Father. The Prologue concludes by declaring that the Son is the only one qualified to interpret God since he alone has seen the Unseen God .

Jesús es la única Luz verdadera del Mundo, brillando más intensamente en la oscuridad; esta Luz significa Vida para el Mundo . La “ Vida ” se encuentra en la “ Palabra ” o ‘ Logos ’, y esta vida es la “ Luz de los hombres .” Está “ brillando en la oscuridad ”, y la oscuridad “ no puede apoderarse ” o suprimirla. Esta misma “ Palabra ” se ha convertido en la Palabra Viva del Padre en Jesús de Nazaret. En él, la gloria y la vida de Dios se manifiestan plenamente- (Juan 1:1).

Jesus is the one who unveils the mysteries of God, and only he is qualified to reveal the “ unseen God .” In him, all the promises of God find their substance. He is the interpretive key that unlocks the Hebrew Scriptures and provides the correct understanding of Bible prophecy. The proclamation of “ Christ Crucified ” is the “ power and wisdom of God ,” and there is no knowledge of the Father apart from him.

God has spoken His definitive word in His Son. All previous words given by the prophets were preparatory, promissory, and partial . God has spoken His supreme Word in His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah who “ achieved the purification of sins ” through his “ once and for all ” sacrifice for sins. To now return to the Levitical system with its rituals and repeated animal sacrifices would mean disregarding and dishonoring this Supreme Word and Christ’s sacrifice. By doing so, we invite severe punishment.

Jesus is the True and Final Sanctuary where the glory of Yahweh dwells, the substance foreshadowed by the old Temple .  In the second chapter of John, the disciples discover that Jesus is the True and Final Temple of God. The era in which God “ dwelt ” in portable tents and stone buildings came to an end with the resurrection of the Messiah from the dead. No longer does God dwell in structures “ made-by-hand ,” nor can His presence be contained within physical walls or geographical boundaries that keep His people separated from His presence.

The  Gospel of John  begins by introducing key themes that are expanded in the body of the book -  Life ,  Light ,  Witness ,  Truth , and  Grace . Jesus is the Light of the World, the source of Grace and Truth, the True Tabernacle, and the only born Son of God who dwells in the “ bosom of the Father .” The Prologue concludes by declaring that he is qualified to interpret the unseen God since he alone has seen Him.

The Bible speaks of the “ mysteries ” of God, His ways which are hidden from human wisdom and defy humanity’s expectations. In his teachings, Jesus declared that not everyone could understand the “ mysteries of the kingdom .” It was God who revealed the deep and obscure things to whomever He pleased. However, in His Son, He has unveiled them for all who have “ eyes that can see ” to behold.

In the Gospel of John , Jesus is the Logos, the “ Word become flesh ” in whom the “ Glory of God ” resides. He is the Greater Tabernacle foreshadowed by the Tent that Israel carried in the wilderness, the place where the Glory of Yahweh was manifested. John’s declaration anticipates his later passages that link him to the Father. Jesus is the true and full manifestation of the Glory of the Living God who created all things.

Only Jesus is the Light of the World, the expression of God, and the source of truth, life, and salvation, and he alone reigns supreme . From time immemorial, presidents, kings, dictators, and religious deceivers have claimed to be humanity’s best hope for peace and prosperity, self-proclaimed bulwarks of order who hold back the darkness that threatens to overwhelm society. Today, this plague of pretenders is worse than ever,  especially in our churches and the political arena .

The  Gospel of John  identifies Jesus as the  Logos , the “ Word ” through which God made the Universe. This theme is prominent in the  Gospel of John . It builds on traditional ideas from the Hebrew Bible about how God created the world, especially life through His spoken Word. Jesus of Nazareth is the ultimate expression of that Word spoken by the Living God.