Text: John 1:1
The gospel of John was written to teach people about Jesus. The first chapter introduces Jesus to us. It is a good place to go to learn, be reminded, or teach others about Jesus.
Jesus is the Word (v. 1)
- Suggests an announcement – revelation of what otherwise would not have been known (Hebrews 1:2)
- Includes doctrine – teaching that man must obey (Matthew 17:5; 28:18-20)
- Implies a direction – a way that we should follow (John 14:6)
Jesus is Eternal (v. 1-2)
- Though Jesus was “born of a woman” at a particular time (Galatians 4:4), the Spirit of Christ existed long before that (John 1:30; 8:56-58; Hebrews 9:14)
- “In the beginning with God” (v. 2; cf. Hebrews 7:3) – not a created being
Jesus is God (v. 1)
- Not just a good man, teacher, or prophet (Isaiah 9:6)
- “With God, and…was God” – one of three persons of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Titus 1:4; 2:13; Acts 5:3-4)
Jesus Gives Life (v. 3-4)
- Physical life – instrumental in Creation (v. 3); sustains life (Colossians 1:15-17)
- Spiritual life – hope of eternal life for those who are born again (John 3:3-5, 16; Romans 6:23)
Jesus is the Light (v. 4-5)
- “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12) – tied to the word (Psalm 119:105)
- Revelation, knowledge, direction (John 12:35-36, 45-46)
Jesus Became Flesh (v. 14)
- Part of the plan from the beginning (Genesis 3:15) – body prepared by the Father (Hebrews 10:4-5)
- Became flesh without surrendering His deity (Colossians 2:9)
Jesus Explained the Father (v. 18)
- In Jesus, the Son of God, we see the Father (John 14:8-11)
- Shows the unity between the Father and Son (John 10:30) – we cannot accept one and not the other (Luke 10:16)
Jesus is the Lamb of God (v. 29, 36)
- He was called a Lamb because He would be sacrificed (John 3:14; 12:32-33; Matthew 20:28; Isaiah 53:5-8)
- Yet His death was not for His own sins – He had none (Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 2:21-24); He made atonement for our sins (Romans 5:8-11)