John - That you may Beleive

“In The Beginning”

— I’d like to go on a little journey with you.

— We are going to back to the late first century

— To about the year 90

— Most scholars put the Gospel of John at 85AD to 105AD

— The Temple was over run and destroyed by the Romans in 70AD

— There is a war raging between Rome and the Jews. This war is eventually won by Rome

— They won by surrounding the city and literally starving the Jews out.

THE GOSPELS

— John is the 4th Gospel.

— Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the synoptic Gospels.

— The synoptic Gospels share MUCH of the same information.

— The 4th Gospel, the Gospel of John shares some events with the other Gospels

— But in most respects, John is unique!

— It is called the Spiritual Gospel.

— John work mentions and gives us insight in the person and work of Holy Spirit as the others DO NOT.

— There is much symbolism and lots of uniquely first century language that John uses.

— I will do my best to present John’s Gospel in a way that is informative and encourages us to continue our walk with Christ through the workings of the Holy Spirit.

So… What was John’s purpose in writing a Gospel.

— Did he just sit down one day and say I’m going to write a gospel… No

— God chose John to be Jesus forerunner.

— To prepare the world to hear from the Messiah.

— The words were written and I believe given by the Holy Spirit to John. Who answered the call and wrote them down.

From one the early church fathers… “John, perceiving that the bodily facts had been made plain in the gospel … composed a spiritual gospel” — Clement of Alexandria

— John’s is most concerned with to impart a adequate understanding of the person, words and deeds of Jesus the Christ and Son on God.

— John says it himself, clear at the end of His Gospel.

John 20:30–31 ESV

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

— V.30 There literally could have been volumes written of the number of miracles that Jesus did… There were not.

— We are given many, many of those but not all of them are written for us.

— V.31 The whole reason for John to write this Gospel is that you may believe that He, Jesus is the Christ… And then the most important little phrase here

“… That by believing you may have life in his name.”

— John had a bit of a problem, when he came, his aim was to prepare the way for Jesus.

— Many thought that he was “The Christ” or that he was one of the prophets coming back to life.. Of course he was neither...

— What he was, was sent by God to prepare, prepare and prepare the world for the Christ, the Messiah.

— Some 2000 years later I think the message of John about Jesus is as clear as it’s going to get, this side of Heaven.

— If someone is willing… when you get to Heaven could you ask the gatekeeper to enlighten us down here on earth as to what the whole big picture is about.

— I have a feeling hypothetically that John is going to point us back to his writing and tell us its all here… we just have to understand it and do it.

— I will say… that’s frustrating for us and gives a million different interpretations of John’s work.

John’s work speaks of “the Jews” in their opposition to Jesus.

— Probably John is railing against the Jewish Leaders who become the representatives of the “godless.”

— These godless people have come to represent everything that stands in opposition to God.

— The Roman Catholic Church for literally centuries officially blamed the Jews for the death of Jesus.

— Well that sure didn’t make any easier for the Jews.

— In fact, the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope stood by with information about the Jewish Holocaust at the hands of Nazi Germany and did nothing..

— The church has since distanced themselves from these comments.

— I hope this discussion was helpful… I’ll try to provide context as things come up and where it will be helpful.

Open your Bibles or apps to The Gospel of John. Chapter 1, Verse 1 (Page 886 in the pew Bibles)

— The first 18 verses that we are going to look at today is often called the “prologue.”

— Prologue - a separate introductory section of a literary or musical work.

— So… let’s take a look!

John 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Vs. 1 - The “Word” here is Logos… Which means “The Christ.”

The “Word” was at the beginning, the “Word” was with God and the “Word was God.”

Paul uses much of the same language in his letter to the Colossians.

Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV)

15 He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

16 For by him [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him [Jesus]and for him[Jesus].

17 And he [Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

— PRAISE GOD!!! We live in a terribly chaotic world, with nothing that looks like the Kingdom of God that he desires for us.

— Paul is stating what he knows about the Christ and who he knows Jesus to be.

— That should be enough right..? It’s not....

— You see we believe that the scriptures are true, we find great comfort and a fair amount of challenge in reading the bible.

— But our lives are often about making choices and decisions. Some of those choices are Godly and follow what God would want

— Sometimes we know what’s “right” and godly and we simply ignore it and go our own way. And probably suffer the consequences for those decisions.

— Let’s move on

John 1:4–5 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

— V.4 “In Him...” this should remind us of Paul’s much used formula, “In him was life and that life was the light of men.”

— “Life” and “Light” are the two most used terms in John’s Gospel, in the Old Testament, in creation and salvation.

— V.5 “The light shines in the darkness.” Not a clearer think could be said about The Christ!

— Jesus is “The Light,” He shines brightest in the darkness.

— The “darkness” represents everything evil. It could be satan, it could be his minions. The darkness will NOT overcome the light. satan or his minions will NOT overcome Jesus.

John 1:6–8 ESV

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

— John’s only job was to bear witness about the Christ. Yes, he was in tune with the Holy Spirit, listened and obeyed when he heard the Saviors voice.

— We could learn alot from John. We seem to be partially deaf and unable to read what is clear. That will NOT serve us well as the end-times comes.

John 1:9–11 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

— V.9 John implies that there have been many “false lights” that have come into the world.

— Many, many have come before Jesus and claimed to be the Messiah. Yet, There is only one… The One that defeated satan at satan’s own game.

— The light that I’m talking about will if we give him space, “gives light to everyone.”

NO ONE THAT’S AN ENEMY OF CHRIST IS SO “DARK” THAT THE “LIGHT” OF CHRIST, IF LET IN, CANNOT SAVE.

— That’s how I feel about everyone. I don’t care where you are, what you have done, Jesus in knocking at your door and wants to come in and save you.

— If you don’t turn from “darkness” you will get swallowed up in “darkness.”

John 1:10–11 ESV

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

— We began even that long ago, began worshipping the creation; while at the same time ignoring the creator. — A VERY BIG MISTAKE!

— Even the Jews, who knew the Old Testament very well turned their collective back to Jesus, whom the prophets unconditionally prophesied about — A VERY BIG MISTAKE!

— That makes me think… maybe it was more than the light and the darkness and the Kingdom of God.

— Jesus threaten every part of the status quo...

— The Jews, the Pharisee’s and Saduccees, had a great deal on the line. Money, power and control were all threatened by the coming of Jesus.

— They may have one the first round but the game is already decided. Jesus wins!

John 1:12–13 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

— V.12 BUT… You see there is an answer. The answer is to receive the Christ, become a child God, learn from our great Shepherd and become CHILDREN OF GOD you and your families

— V.13 We were delivered from satan and sin by the power of, and the testimony, of Jesus Christ.

— A life we can see, evaluate and copy. That is the person and the work of Jesus.

John 1:14–18 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

— V.14 If we needed any more encouragement… The Word, The Christ came down to earth. Not as a conquering King but as a servant. He dwelt among us, He was tempted as we were, yet was sinless.

— V.16 Is linked not with V.15 but is linked with V.14.

Literally, John1.14

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [and immediately following Vs.16.] John 1.16 “16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

— V.17 John reminds the 1st century reader of the connection between Jesus and Moses. The law was supposed to be enough to drive people to God… It was’t not so John upped the ante… By giving Grace and Truth.

John 1:18 (ESV)

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

- The phrase No one has ever seen God shows that being invisible is a basic feature of God in the Old Testament, so it is in the New Testament.

— This is why God must reveal himself.

— The Bible is full of God making himself known to humans

— Little can be learned of God without his special revelation to us.

Romans 1:20 (ESV)

20 “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world...”

— His will, has to be disclosed by revelation from God (1 Cor. 2:11).

1 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV)

11 “...no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

— The very same Spirit that was given to all believers first at Pentecost and now when you accept Christ.

— God gave and He removed the Holy Spirit according to His will throughout the Old Testament.

— In the New Testament, God in the form of Jesus, His only begotten son, brought God’s Kingdom to the earth

He defeated satan at his own game! PRAISE GOD! PRAISE GOD! PRAISE GOD!

— Because of the classic beat down that satan received at the resurrection of Christ, his influence in the world is only what we GIVE him.

— We have been beaten down, marginalized, and removed from the public square. We have ben called weak, narrow-minded, homophobic relics of the “way it used to be.”

— We have given “the world” and given satan access to our hearts, minds, our very souls.

— Some have won that battle with satan… But many, many have been lost...

— I’m going to leave you with final scripture… It’s from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV84)

58 Therefore, my dear brothers [and sisters], stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

— This is how we get assurances, the one’s given and guaranteed by Jesus death, burial and resurrection.

LIVE free and GIVE your whole selves to God. In doing so you will defeat satan and honor Jesus and his life.