|
John wrote this book for both the Jews and the Gentiles, his aim was to present Jesus as the Son of God. Because John was writing to both he often had to explain the Jewish words and customs for the Greek readers. John examines and explains the events in the life of Jesus. The main theme of the book is that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah and the Son of God and that He was in the world.
The Glory of God had occupied the Tabernacle, and the Temple but Israel had turned away from God, very sorry that the glory had left.
Now a wonderful thing was happening, God had come back but as a God-Man. The Gospel of John and the other Gospels are showing the world the Messiah, born to save Mankind.
To the Jews, John’s Gospel emphases that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and all that their worship revealed and the meaning of these events.
In this first chapter, John shows seven names and titles which shows that He is the eternal God.
The Word.
|
John 1:1-3.
"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." |
Verses 1,2: Jesus is the Eternal Word. He existed, not because He was created but because He is eternal, He is God and was eternally part of God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
John 14:9. " he that hath seen me hath seen the Father."
Jesus is the last word that God will give to mankind, Hebrews 1:1-3.
"1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
Verse 3: Jesus was also the Creation Word, "God said, Let there be...." Genesis 1. He spoke and it was done. Creation is finished it is not an ongoing operation, The word "made" shows a "completed act" in the Greek.
The "Word made flesh" through a miracle virgin birth, Mary was the mother, God was the father.
Isaiah 7:14:
"14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
See :-Matthew 1;18-25. and Luke 1:26-38. for the record of the birth.
The Light.
Light is essential for humanity, without the sun, life would soon disappear from the earth. Jesus is the light of the world and our source of light. Through Him we have the source of life.
|
John 1:4-14.
"4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." |
Verse 4: God is light, without light we would die, He is the Light of Life and the Light of the world, John 8:12
"12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Verse 5: Darkness and light appear throughout the Gospel of John, Satan is the "darkness" God is the "Light." It is impossible for the "darkness" overcome the "light." Mankind just cannot understand the light of Christ because of our sin nature.
Some people prefer the darkness, John 3:19,20.
"19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
But those who are in Christ are "the children of light," John 12:35,36.
"35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them."
Nothing can overcome the glorious light of God. " And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." Throughout the Gospel we find people who do not understand the words of Jesus so object to His words and actions. Often the spiritual words of Jesus were only understood as material or physical knowledge. For example John 2;19-21.
"19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body."
Verses 6-11: The exposure of the "light" to the world starts with the birth of John the Baptist. John was sent as a witness to Jesus, preparing the way. John was the witness, lighting the way to the true Light, verse 8. The Jewish Nation was very religious and very full of religious traditions, many being based upon the instructions of God, but were blind (in the dark) to the reason for the instructions and how they were connected to the Messiah (Jesus) coming to the earth. They had the copies of the "Light," the law, the temple, the sacrifices but just could not link them to what the people saw in the actions and works of Jesus. The people heard His words but they rejected Him because they could not understand. They were looking for a Messiah to save them but did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah they were looking for. They knew all about Moses, the law, the temple, the words of the prophets but did not realized that they pointed to Jesus the "light of the world."
Thankfully there were a few who did understand and "become the sons of God."
Verses 12,13: Shows the reason for His coming, this was God"s plan from the beginning, a great promise for anyone who will receive the gift of life through Jesus.
Verse 14: He is the Incarnate Word, God reveals Himself, His purity, His love and His glory to the world by becoming a perfect man, a God-Man. John emphasizes the Deity of Jesus but makes it clear that Jesus was also a true man, God came to the earth as a man with all the human natures, therefore the God-man was subjected to all of the human nature, desires etc. but He was a sinless God-Man.
To prove that Jesus was very much a human, John emphasizes that Jesus became thirsty, was weary, was very sad, wept, bled and died. And after His resurrection He still had a real body, but glorified. He has that glorified body for eternity.
Who Jesus was.
|
John 1:14-18.
"14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." |
John the Baptist is mentioned over eighty times in the New Testament, so we must consider him an important person. He brought the message to the Jewish nation that they must prepare themselves, to repent of their sins. He was preparing the nation for the coming Messiah.
Jesus came to where John the Baptist was preaching. When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him he made this wonderful announcement to the people around him, "Behold the Lamb of God."
Our sin has put everyone under the sentence of death, the physical death and spiritual death - the separation from God. In the Old Testament times God accepted the death of an animal in place of the punishment for their sins of the person. This had to happen regularly, it needed repeated sacrifices of the animals. Jesus, who was a God-man and therefore sinless, was to die once and for all people, a perfect sacrifice. Not like the lambs which were sacrifice by the priests for all the sins of the Jewish nation each year.
What did John have to say about Jesus?
Verse 15: Jesus was eternal. John the Baptist was born about 6 months before Jesus, Luke 1:36
"36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren."
Verses 15,16: John the Baptist announced that "Jesus was before me." John is referring to the pre existance of the Lord, not his earthly birth.
Verses 16,17: Full of Grace and Truth. Grace is God’s gift of love and favour to those who do not deserve it and cannot earn it. If God treated us according to His Truth we would not survive, we would be condemned. Each sacrifice of the animals in the place of sinful man showed the grace and love of God.
Verse 18: Jesus reveals God to us. God is invisible to us,
1 Timothy 1:17.;
"17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
We cannot see God, but Jesus is the image of Him, Colossians 1:15-17.
"15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
Hebrews 1:3.
"3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; "
God is revealed in nature, Romans 1:20.
"20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"
Verse 18: This is the first time John refers to Jesus as the "Son." The words "only begotten" means "unique," the only one, Jesus is the eternal God.
John’gospel refers to Jesus as being the "Son of God over nine times." We must also remember that because the God head is three in one, Jesus is also "God the Son."
Examination.
|
John 1:19-28.
"19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing." |
The Priests; The Pharisee.
Verse 19-23:The Jewish leaders sent priests and Levite"s to investigate John to see what effect his ministry was upon the people. As they were responsible for the faith they had every right to check up on John and his teaching.
They also knew all the prophecies concerning the future Messiah so they started from there. They asked John, "Who are you?" "Are you the Messiah?" "Are you Elijah?" John replied "I am not."
Elijah was supposed to come as a forerunner before the Messiah came. I
Malachi 4:5.
"5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:"
It is more probable that this prophecy is referring to the second coming of Jesus, "great and dreadful day of the LORD."
Isaiah 40:1-3.
"1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Many people had come to hear and be baptized by John and they would have all been wondering who he was as well.
Verse 23: John replied "No I am the one preparing the way for the Lord."
Verses 25,26: Having found that John the Baptist did not represent one of the people prophesied, the religious leaders now want to know "by whose authority do you do this?" John the Baptist does not respond to that question because he was commissioned by God.
Luke 1:5-25.
Matthew 21:23-27.
"Why are you baptizing?" Baptizing was done to a Gentile who wanted to adopt the Jewish faith but not the Jews. John was calling for the Jews to repent of their sins and then be baptized to show that they meant that they had repented. The religious leaders, who were suppose to be responsible for the religious behaviour of the people, wanted to know "By what authority are you doing this?" Just as they did with Jesus, Matthew 21:23-27.
"23 And when Jesus was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."
Verse 26,27:John points out that his baptism was with water but the Messiah, when He appears, will baptize with a spiritual baptism. John repeats that he was not trying to exalt himself (make out that he is important). His task on earth, as instructed by God, was to point to the coming Messiah.
The Lamb of God.
|
Verse John 1:29-34.
"29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." |
A day later Jesus comes to where John the Baptist is baptizing the people. When John sees Jesus this time he must have some how realized who Jesus was and turning to the people, John, now point to Jesus, this time he refers to Him as "the Lamb of God" The Bible’s message is centered upon this one fact and it will end in the worship of the Lamb in Revelation 5:12.
"12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
The people of Israel were very familiar with the religious act of a sacrificed lamb for sins. At the religious celebration called the Passover each family had to have a perfect lamb which was killed and eaten, see Exodus 12:1-27.
In the temple, two lambs were sacrificed everyday plus all the personal sacrifices. These were sacrifices made by a man in place of another persons sins. These lambs could not take away the sin of each person, just cover the sin through their death in place of the person. But Jesus was destine to be God’s final and total sacrifice for all the sins of all Mankind.
Verse 33: John did not know who the Messiah was until Jesus came to him by the Jordan. God had told him what to look for,Matthew 3:13-17.
"13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. "
This action reveals the Trinity, God the Father speaks, God the Holy Spirit appears and God the Son is present on earth.
Why did Jesus request to be baptized by John the Baptist as the reason for John’s baptism was as a sign of repentance? Jesus was pure and holy, therefore it was not neccessary. It is felt that it was a sign of the future as baptism, by total immersion, is a picture of death, burial and resurrection, the act done by John the Baptist on Jesus was a picture of the future death on the cross as the sacrificial Lamb, burial and the resurrection with a glorified body.
The Messiah has arrived.
|
John 1:35-42.
"35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted Master,) where dwellest thou?
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw here he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." |
The Jewish leaders were confused as to what the Messiah would do when He came, some saw Him as the suffering sacrifice,
Isaiah 53:1ff.
"1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Others saw a king who would lead and save them.
Isaiah 9:6ff.
"6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
Isaiah 11:1-10.
"1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."
Both are in fact right but the Jewish religious leaders did not appreciate or understand that the first one, which was a sacrifice, must come before the second, which was a world leader and king.
Verse 35: The disciples who were with John the Baptist were probably John, the gospel writer, and his brother Andrew. John the Baptist on seeing Jesus, goes and tells the disciples who this man Jesus really was, so these disciple then left John to follow Jesus. John was not hurt as he knew that Jesus must increase and he, John the Baptist decrease. John had done his job, to prepare the Jewish nation for the coming of the Messiah, see verse 30, " This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me."
The Disciples follow Jesus.
Verse 38: Jesus asks the followers of John, "what are you looking for?" He knew their minds but wanted them to say why they were following Him.
Were they looking for a leader to drive out the Romans or what? They responded by asking Jesus "Where do you live?" possibly checking how friendly Jesus was to strangers, Jesus invites them home. It was in the afternoon, the TENTH HOUR is 4-5 P.M.. They must have been impressed by what Jesus told them because later Andrew goes off to find his brother Simon (who was later to be called Peter).
Jesus calls first followers.
|
John 1:43-51.
"43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." |
Verse 43: He calls Philip.
Verses 45-51: Philip brings Nathaniel. Nathaniel was following a Jewish custom of meditating the scriptures under a tree. From what Jesus said to him Nathaniel may have been thinking about Jacob’s dream of a stairway to heaven.
Genesis 28:12.
"12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."
Verse 49: Because Jesus knew all about him Nathaniel realized and acknowledges who Jesus is. |
