Text: John 1:18
Theme: Knowing the Invisible God Through Jesus Christ
“No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed Him.” — John 1:18»
Introduction.
There are many things we cannot see but know are real.
We cannot see the wind, but we see the trees moving.
We cannot see electricity, but we see its effects.
We cannot see love with our physical eyes, but we can experience its power.
In the same way, God is invisible to human eyes, yet He is absolutely real.
John 1:18 gives us one of the most profound truths in Scripture: the invisible God has made Himself known through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Human beings have always wanted to know God. We search through religion, philosophy, nature, traditions, and human wisdom. But our greatest discovery is not that we found God—it is that God chose to reveal Himself to us.
Jesus is God's revelation to humanity.
1. THE INVISIBLE GOD.
John begins by saying:
“No man has seen God at any time.”
This reminds us that God is beyond the limitations of our physical senses.
God is Spirit. He is eternal, invisible, and infinite. Human eyes cannot contain the fullness of His glory.
Moses once asked to see God's glory, but God told him:
“You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” — Exodus 33:20.
The problem is not that God is hiding because He does not love us. Rather, God's glory is greater than human beings can naturally comprehend.
Imagine trying to pour the ocean into a small cup. The problem is not with the ocean; the problem is with the capacity of the cup.
Our minds are finite. God is infinite.
Our vision is limited. God is unlimited.
Our knowledge is partial. God knows all things.
Yet the wonderful message of the Gospel is this:
The God whom we cannot see has made Himself known.
2. JESUS IS THE REVELATION OF GOD.
John says:
“The only begotten Son... has revealed Him.”
The word translated “revealed” carries the idea of explaining, making known, or bringing something into clear understanding.
Jesus came to explain God to humanity.
If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.
Jesus said:
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” — John 14:9
When Jesus showed compassion, He revealed the compassion of God.
When Jesus forgave sinners, He revealed the mercy of God.
When Jesus welcomed the rejected, He revealed the heart of God.
When Jesus confronted hypocrisy, He revealed the holiness of God.
When Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb, He revealed the tenderness of God.
When Jesus went to the cross, He revealed the sacrificial love of God.
Jesus did not merely speak about God; He demonstrated God's character.
3. JESUS BRINGS THE UNKNOWN GOD CLOSE TO US.
John describes Jesus as being:
“in the bosom of the Father.”
This speaks of intimate relationship, closeness, and perfect fellowship.
Jesus knows the Father perfectly because He comes from the Father's presence.
Think about the difference between hearing stories about someone and actually knowing that person.
Someone may tell you about a man you have never met. You may learn his occupation, his character, his history, and his habits. But when you finally meet him personally, your knowledge becomes firsthand.
Jesus came so that humanity would not have to remain satisfied with merely hearing about God.
Jesus brings us into the knowledge of God.
Christianity is therefore not merely a religion of information. It is an invitation to relationship with God through Christ.
4. GOD'S GREATEST REVELATION IS A PERSON.
God could have written His message across the sky.
He could have sent an angel every morning.
He could have spoken from the clouds every day.
But God chose something more personal:
He sent His Son.
John 1:14 says:
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.”
The eternal Word entered human history.
•God came near.
•He walked among ordinary people.
•He touched the sick.
•He ate with sinners.
•He spoke with the rejected.
•He welcomed children.
•He comforted the brokenhearted.
•He confronted evil.
•He ultimately died on the cross.
What an astonishing truth:
The God we could not reach came down to reach us.
5. JESUS REVEALS BOTH THE LOVE AND HOLINESS OF GOD.
Sometimes people want a God who is only loving but never holy.
Others imagine a God who is only judgmental and never merciful.
But Jesus reveals the perfect balance of God's character.
At the cross, we see God's holiness because sin could not simply be ignored.
At the same cross, we see God's love because God provided the sacrifice Himself.
Romans 5:8 declares:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The cross therefore tells us:
-God takes sin seriously, but He takes sinners seriously too.
-He hates sin, yet He loves the sinner.
-He calls us to repentance, yet He offers forgiveness.
-He exposes our guilt, yet He provides grace.
6. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD, COME TO JESUS.
There are people searching everywhere for God.
✓Some search in wealth.
✓Some search in philosophy.
✓Some search in human achievements.
✓Some search in religious traditions.
✓Some search through signs and wonders.
✓But John points us to Christ.
Jesus is not merely one road among many roads to knowing God. He is God's appointed revelation of Himself.
Jesus said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6.
If you want to know the Father's heart, look at the Son.
If you want to understand God's love, look at the cross.
If you want forgiveness, come to Christ.
If you want eternal life, believe in Christ.
If you want to see what God is like, study Jesus.
7. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER GOD HAS REVEALED HIMSELF.
God has revealed Himself.
The question is:
°Have you received His revelation?
°It is possible to know facts about Jesus without knowing Jesus.
°It is possible to attend church without encountering Christ.
°It is possible to read the Bible without surrendering to its message.
°It is possible to talk about God while living far from God.
The purpose of revelation is not merely to increase our information.
Revelation demands a response.
When God reveals His love, we must respond with faith.
When God reveals our sin, we must respond with repentance.
When God reveals Christ, we must respond by receiving Him.
Conclusion::
LOOK AT JESUS.
John 1:18 gives us a beautiful picture.
The God we cannot see has revealed Himself.
The invisible has become known.
The distant has come near.
The mystery has been explained.
The Father has been revealed through the Son.
Jesus is God's message in human form.
So when life becomes confusing, look at Jesus.
When you wonder whether God loves you, look at Jesus.
When you feel unworthy, look at Jesus.
When you need forgiveness, look at Jesus.
When you want to know God's heart, look at Jesus.
When you cannot understand what God is doing, hold on to what God has already revealed in Christ.
ALTAR CALL:
A man once stood outside a church building looking at a stained-glass window. From the outside, he could see only darkness and broken pieces of color.
Then he entered the building.
From inside, the same pieces became a beautiful picture.
Sometimes life feels like that. From our limited perspective, we see confusion, suffering, disappointment, and unanswered questions.
But when we come to Christ, we begin to see the greater picture.
Jesus is the window through which we see the heart of God.
We may not see God with our physical eyes today, but God has not left us without a revelation.
He has given us Jesus.
Therefore, do not merely search for God.
Look to Christ.
Do not merely study the revelation.
Receive the Revealer.
And when you see Jesus by faith, you begin to understand the God whom humanity could never see with physical eyes.
Closing Prayer.
Father, thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Jesus Christ. Open our eyes to see Your character, Your love, Your holiness, and Your mercy in Christ. Help us not merely to know about Jesus but to know Him personally. Let His life transform our lives, His love soften our hearts, and His sacrifice lead us to repentance and faith. May we reflect the Christ we have received so that others may also come to know You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
-Kunle Solomon.
Minister.
SheepGate Evangelical Ministry. Join us on our WhatsApp page: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BsioVIQmwKW4jX6n6PcKGm?mode=gi_t
Or call +2347051874707
Email: sheepgateevangelicalministry@gmail.com
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