John
1:1-18
Lesson 164
1:1-18
Lesson 164
"The Gospel According to Saint John"
"Christ, the Son of God."
Authorship:
The last of the four Gospels, "The Gospel According to Saint John" was written in Ephesus around AD 85 by the apostle John though the Holy Spirit. One of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. They probably knew each other from childhood. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family, had "hired servants" (Mark 1:19-20), was well connected, and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned about Jesus from John the Baptist. Since John was a cousin to Jesus, he would have also been related to John the Baptist. He captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Christ to Calvary, witnessed the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death. After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Late in his life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, witnessed the suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Purpose and Theme:
While the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke focus on Jesus' Galilean ministry, "The Gospel According to Saint John" emphasizes Jesus' Judean ministry. Unlike the other three Gospels, John is not a biography of Christ. It doesn't repeat the details of Jesus' birth, childhood, or recite any of His parables. But it does supply information not found in the other Gospels. St. John reports on many conversations between Jesus and His disciples and some miracles not covered in the other Gospels. It also gives more details about Lazarus and Nicodemus and Jesus' trial, death, and resurrection. Plus, we learn more about the disciples Philip, Andrew, and Thomas. Frequently called the "spiritual Gospel," or "God's love letter to the world," John is more theological than the other Gospels and "lays out a strong and methodical case that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God, and "the light" of mankind sent to save us from our sins. Jesus tells us sixteen times in John that He is the Son of God. The word "believe" is found 98 times and almost half of John's Gospel is devoted to the last week of Jesus' life.
Perhaps the key verse of the entire Gospel is...
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that, believing, ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31).
John was written for both Jew and Gentile. It is an excellent Gospel for beginners to study, yet Bible scholars find fresh revelations with each read. In his book "The Gospel According to John" (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; page seven), Leon Morris likens "John's Gospel to a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant can swim." Over eighty percent of John is unique material. By furnishing us with four Gospels penned by four different authors, God has offered us a deeper understanding of Jesus and His divinity.
The last of the four Gospels, "The Gospel According to Saint John" was written in Ephesus around AD 85 by the apostle John though the Holy Spirit. One of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. They probably knew each other from childhood. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family, had "hired servants" (Mark 1:19-20), was well connected, and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned about Jesus from John the Baptist. Since John was a cousin to Jesus, he would have also been related to John the Baptist. He captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Christ to Calvary, witnessed the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death. After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Late in his life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, witnessed the suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Purpose and Theme:
While the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke focus on Jesus' Galilean ministry, "The Gospel According to Saint John" emphasizes Jesus' Judean ministry. Unlike the other three Gospels, John is not a biography of Christ. It doesn't repeat the details of Jesus' birth, childhood, or recite any of His parables. But it does supply information not found in the other Gospels. St. John reports on many conversations between Jesus and His disciples and some miracles not covered in the other Gospels. It also gives more details about Lazarus and Nicodemus and Jesus' trial, death, and resurrection. Plus, we learn more about the disciples Philip, Andrew, and Thomas. Frequently called the "spiritual Gospel," or "God's love letter to the world," John is more theological than the other Gospels and "lays out a strong and methodical case that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God, and "the light" of mankind sent to save us from our sins. Jesus tells us sixteen times in John that He is the Son of God. The word "believe" is found 98 times and almost half of John's Gospel is devoted to the last week of Jesus' life.
Perhaps the key verse of the entire Gospel is...
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that, believing, ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31).
John was written for both Jew and Gentile. It is an excellent Gospel for beginners to study, yet Bible scholars find fresh revelations with each read. In his book "The Gospel According to John" (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; page seven), Leon Morris likens "John's Gospel to a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant can swim." Over eighty percent of John is unique material. By furnishing us with four Gospels penned by four different authors, God has offered us a deeper understanding of Jesus and His divinity.
John is broken down into three parts:
1) Prologue/Introduction - Jesus is God (1:1-18); John the Baptist and the first disciples (1-19-51); The first miracle (2:1-12).
2) The ministry - Some believe, some don't, four more miracles (2:13-6:40); Opposition grows (6:41- 7:53); The coming judgment (8:21-30); Jesus heals the blind man (9:1-41); Jesus is rejected (10:1-39); Jesus raises the dead (11:1-44); The Pharisees can stand no more (11:45-57); Jesus is anointed, The triumphal entry (12:1-19).
3) The crucifixion and resurrection - Jesus teaches, the Last Supper (13:1-16:33); Jesus prays for believers (17:1-26); Arrested, tried, crucified (18:1-19:42); Resurrected (20:1-31); Victory, Post resurrection sightings, another miracle (21:1-25).
1) Prologue/Introduction - Jesus is God (1:1-18); John the Baptist and the first disciples (1-19-51); The first miracle (2:1-12).
2) The ministry - Some believe, some don't, four more miracles (2:13-6:40); Opposition grows (6:41- 7:53); The coming judgment (8:21-30); Jesus heals the blind man (9:1-41); Jesus is rejected (10:1-39); Jesus raises the dead (11:1-44); The Pharisees can stand no more (11:45-57); Jesus is anointed, The triumphal entry (12:1-19).
3) The crucifixion and resurrection - Jesus teaches, the Last Supper (13:1-16:33); Jesus prays for believers (17:1-26); Arrested, tried, crucified (18:1-19:42); Resurrected (20:1-31); Victory, Post resurrection sightings, another miracle (21:1-25).
Miracles in John:
Jesus turns water into wine (2:1-11).
Jesus heals a young boy (4:46-54).
Heals the lame man (5:1-9).
Feeds five thousand people (6:1-14).
Walks on water (6:15-21).
Heals the blind man (9:1-41).
Raises the dead (11:1-44).
Great catch of fish, after the resurrection (21:1-14).
Jesus turns water into wine (2:1-11).
Jesus heals a young boy (4:46-54).
Heals the lame man (5:1-9).
Feeds five thousand people (6:1-14).
Walks on water (6:15-21).
Heals the blind man (9:1-41).
Raises the dead (11:1-44).
Great catch of fish, after the resurrection (21:1-14).
Who was -
John the Baptist -
John the Baptist was the son of the Jewish priest Zacharias and mother Elizabeth (Luke 1:8-13; 3:2). Elizabeth was the Virgin Mary's cousin (Luke 1:34-36), making John and Jesus distant cousins. John was a prophet of the Old covenant
sent by God to preach repentance (Matthew 3:2), to bridge the gap between the Old and New Testaments, and to prepare
"the way" for the Messiah's arrival (Luke 1:17; 1:76-77), a mission so important it is mentioned in all four Gospels
(Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:2-5; Luke 3:4-11; John 1:19-27). Jesus Himself said that there was never a person born greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28). John was the first prophet in four hundred years and a lifetime Nazarite (Luke 1:15). To honor God, Nazarite Jews made religious offerings, took periodic vows not to drink alcohol or cut their hair, and avoided contact with the dead. These vows lasted anywhere from thirty to one hundred days. Only three men in the Bible were under lifetime Nazarite vows, Samson (Judges 13:2-7), Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11), and John. All three men were set aside by God to perform extraordinary missions. John's purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah, as prophesied in Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, and 4:5-6. King Herod Antipas eventually beheaded him for denouncing Herod's marriage to his niece and brothers ex-wife, Herodias, and the other "evils" he had committed (Luke 3:19-20). To learn more about Nazarite vows, read Numbers 6:1-21.
John the Baptist -
John the Baptist was the son of the Jewish priest Zacharias and mother Elizabeth (Luke 1:8-13; 3:2). Elizabeth was the Virgin Mary's cousin (Luke 1:34-36), making John and Jesus distant cousins. John was a prophet of the Old covenant
sent by God to preach repentance (Matthew 3:2), to bridge the gap between the Old and New Testaments, and to prepare
"the way" for the Messiah's arrival (Luke 1:17; 1:76-77), a mission so important it is mentioned in all four Gospels
(Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:2-5; Luke 3:4-11; John 1:19-27). Jesus Himself said that there was never a person born greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28). John was the first prophet in four hundred years and a lifetime Nazarite (Luke 1:15). To honor God, Nazarite Jews made religious offerings, took periodic vows not to drink alcohol or cut their hair, and avoided contact with the dead. These vows lasted anywhere from thirty to one hundred days. Only three men in the Bible were under lifetime Nazarite vows, Samson (Judges 13:2-7), Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11), and John. All three men were set aside by God to perform extraordinary missions. John's purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah, as prophesied in Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, and 4:5-6. King Herod Antipas eventually beheaded him for denouncing Herod's marriage to his niece and brothers ex-wife, Herodias, and the other "evils" he had committed (Luke 3:19-20). To learn more about Nazarite vows, read Numbers 6:1-21.
The Gospel According to St. John
The King James Bible
|
John 1:1-18
God became human 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. 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. 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. |
Margin notes:
"The Word." (1:1) - "The Word" is Jesus. "Jesus was God's expression of Himself to mankind. Jesus was God. Jesus was like God. Jesus is God's message to mankind." (From "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 528). Additional note: Many Bible scholars consider Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, and Hebrews 1:1-4 the most majestic opening verses in the 66 books of the Bible. "The same was in the beginning with God." (1:2) - "He was with God from the beginning." Jesus always was and always will be. While Genesis 1:1-31 details the creation of the earth, the opening verses of The Gospel of John begins even before Genesis. Here, John is telling us that Jesus existed before the world was created. Proverbs 8:27-30 tells us the same, and Jesus Himself teaches us that He was there when God created the universe (John 17:5; 17:24). "All things were made by him." (1:3) - Again, the story of creation can be found in Genesis 1:1-31. See also 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:14-19 and Hebrews 1:2. "In him was life." (1:4) - Eternal life comes from Jesus. John will repeat this message in 1 John 5:11. Jesus also tells us in John 8:12. "Darkness comprehended it not." (1:5) - Means, "darkness can not overcome it." "Whose name was John." (1:6) - This is John the Baptist (see biography above). "To bear witness of the Light." (1:7) - "To tell us about the Light (Jesus)." "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (1:9) - Jesus is the light of the world; this vital message is re-emphasized in John 8:12, 9:5, 12:35-36, and 12:46. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (1:11) - "He came to His own people (Jews), and they rejected Him." "To them gave he power to become the sons of God." (1:12) - "He gave them the right to become the children of God," as promised seven hundred years earlier in Isaiah 56:5. This verse tells us that it is our faith in Jesus that saves us. We can not earn salvation through our good deeds. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (1:14) - "Jesus became a man, and lived among us." "The Infinite became finite; the Eternal was conformed to time; the Invisible became visible; the supernatural One reduced Himself to the natural. In the Incarnation, however, the Word did not cease to be God but became God in human flesh." ("The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville Tennessee; page 1346) "Grace and truth." (1:14) - These are the two main traits of God. The words "truth" and "true" appear forty-eight times in John's Gospel. "Preferred before me." (1:15) - "Greater than me." "Grace for grace." (1:16) - "Blessing after blessing." "For the law was given by Moses." (1:17) - "The (Mosaic) Law was given to us by Moses" (Exodus 31:18; 34:28; John 7:19). But the Mosaic Laws impossible standards were not designed to save humanity, only to show us that we needed a savior (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:10-14; 3:21-26). "No man hath seen God at any time." (1:18) - Exodus 33:20. "In the bosom of the Father." (1:18) - "At the side of God." |
New Living Translation
John 1:1-18
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,
7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.
9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him.
11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
13 They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'"
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,
7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.
9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him.
11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
13 They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'"
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Today's Question:
1. Why is Jesus called, "the light of men"? (1:4)
The most critical step in Bible study is applying what you learn to your life.
1. Why is Jesus called, "the light of men"? (1:4)
The most critical step in Bible study is applying what you learn to your life.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Jesus is called "the light of men" because "death brings eternal darkness, and only Christ's eternal life planted in us will keep us alive in his new Kingdom for eternity. Christ is eternally alive because he is God. He came to earth to offer mankind the hope and light of his eternal life. It can't be bought, only received as a gift. But Jesus gives it only to those who want it - those who want to live the way God's citizens will live in his future eternal Kingdom."
(Paraphrased from "The Life Application Study Bible," published by Tyndale House, Carol Stream, Illinois; page 2039)
Application thought for the day:
We can't earn God's grace; it is a gift. God gives us His blessing not because of what we do, but because of His great love. God's grace is based on who He is and not who we are.
1. Jesus is called "the light of men" because "death brings eternal darkness, and only Christ's eternal life planted in us will keep us alive in his new Kingdom for eternity. Christ is eternally alive because he is God. He came to earth to offer mankind the hope and light of his eternal life. It can't be bought, only received as a gift. But Jesus gives it only to those who want it - those who want to live the way God's citizens will live in his future eternal Kingdom."
(Paraphrased from "The Life Application Study Bible," published by Tyndale House, Carol Stream, Illinois; page 2039)
Application thought for the day:
We can't earn God's grace; it is a gift. God gives us His blessing not because of what we do, but because of His great love. God's grace is based on who He is and not who we are.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke