God above us / God with us / God within us

Introduction (0:00 - 12:42)

Reading John 19:1-5

1 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. 4 Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” 5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”

God above us (12:42 - 14:52)In the Scripture, you read about how God and man walked side by side in the garden, in unity. There is God and Adam meeting in this place and having communion. But then, Adam chooses sin over God. He chooses his wife over God and he falls into sin. With that, there is a separation between God and man. Now God is far from man, He was above us.

God with us (14:52 - 27:39)

In Jesus, God is now with us.

It’s important to realize that Jesus is not in the manger anymore – he became a Man.

John 5:30

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

John 17:20-24

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

God within us (27:39 - 34:26)Jesus did not remain in the manger.

He did not remain on the cross.

He rose again, conquered death and the grave, so that you and I can have life.