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John 1:14 – The Gospel Story
The Gospel is not just words, parables, philosophies, or platitudes; although the gospel is told in all those forms. The gospel is flesh (John 1:14; Titus 2:11-14), lived in the flesh, suffered and triumphed in the flesh; the purpose to be ultimately imitated by us in our flesh.
That is the real transforming power of the gospel. God did not send a prophet or story teller only. God did not send just a teacher or philosopher. God sent God. The Father sent the Son in a form foreign to Himself to teach us how to live contrary to ourselves. And in living contrary to ourselves, the paradoxical truth is learned that in such living we live truly to ourselves. In denying ourselves we find ourselves. We learn to live like Jesus lived; and to die like Jesus died.
The weakness found in so many Christians’ lives is that the gospel is learned but not led; understood but not undertaken. To truly be a Christian, we must be Christ-like. Power is found in not just telling the story of the woman caught in adultery, but to be that woman, and to be the Christ who forgave her. Supremacy above self is discovered by not just seeing ourselves as the Pharisee who did not wash Jesus’ feet, but to become the woman who covered His feet with her tears. The weakness in so many of us is that we know the gospel story intellectually but fail to see the heart of it. The gospel is not just about knowing who Jesus is, but why Jesus came. It is more than just coming to save me, but encompasses coming to lead me to save others.
Too many Christians live weak lives because they fail to see the power in how the gospel story is told. It is told by being lived; and retold in us by being imitated to where the imitation becomes our reality. We become the gospel.
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