The Gospel of John Study

Chapter One: Christ is the Word

John is the 4th Gospel in the Bible. The author seems to be the disciple of Jesus who would become the apostle.

Theme: Jesus is the Promised Messiah and Son of God. By believing in Jesus, people can have everlasting life (20:31).

John knows Jesus. John saw, heard, and witnessed the miracles of Jesus. John saw Jesus die and come back from the dead.

Chapter 1:1-3 -The Logos = The Word

Greeks understood the Logos to be an impersonal form or force of Reason/Mind that gives order to the universe.

Jews would have understood it to mean “God’s self-expression.” But Jesus would not have been considered to be “God’s Expressed Self.”

In the beginning was the Word echoes Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” John located Jesus’s existence in eternity past with God. The Word was God: Not only did Jesus exist before creation, he is also the same God who created the heavens and the earth.

John is saying to his audience something profound: Jesus is God and He has come to us in the flesh. He is eternal God. Everything that exists is made by Jesus and for Jesus.

Just as our words reveal our mind and heart, so Christ reveals the mind and heart of God to men. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9, NKJV)

Jesus was in the beginning and was involved with creating all things. Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col. 15).

While God can be known in part through nature and history, He is known in full through His Son (Heb. 1:1–2)

A Difference to Look at: God does communicate by speaking and through written form. We have the Bible, which is God’s Word in written form. The Bible points to the Word of God as a person, Namely Jesus Christ.

How can Jesus forgive the sins of the world if He is not God? He can’t. How can we have “eternal” security in a finite savior? We can’t. We cannot worship Him unless He is God.

Christianity stands or falls on the confession of the deity of Christ and of the Trinity.

Apologetics Time: Since the 200’s, a group of people called “Arians” rose up to teach that Jesus was not God. Today, groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons will teach the same. JW’s will teach Jesus was a god, not the Second Member of the Holy Trinity. This has been condemned as heresy. These are not Christians.

Chapter 1:4-5 - Life, Light, and Darkness

Again, John gives Genesis imagery here. Life. John uses this word 36 times in the book. He gives give to all physical and spiritual things/beings. All things were made by Him, for Him, and through Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all. He makes, defines, and sustains life. He is the Author of life. Life is to glorify Him.

Light: Jesus is the true light, that is, the original light from which all light has its source. In John’s Gospel, you find a conflict between light (God, eternal life) and darkness (Satan, eternal death). This is indicated in 1:5—“And the light shines [present tense] in the darkness, and the darkness has not been able to put it out or lay hold of it” (literal translation).

Jesus is the Light of the World, in that all things give light and received their color from Him. Through Christ, we can see what truly is, spiritually as well.

In a dark world, Jesus, as the light, brings truth, knowledge, wisdom, purity, and holiness that is perfect. He shows the very presence of God, His perfect image, without shadow.

This light and life is known and shared by those who receive Him. Read John 3:19-20; 8:12; 12:46 and 2 Cor. 4:3-6.

When the light comes, the darkness flees. From, the beginning until now, when the light comes, chaos is ordered and life comes into being.

Evil (darkness) flees from the Light of Christ. Those who are filled with darkness does not understand the Light. A life that is filled with light has life and reflects the Light of Christ as reflectors and lovers of the Light.

The Word - Christ = Light

The Word - Scripture = Light (Psalm 119:105)

Who do I say that Christ is?

What does this passage say about Christ, His Work, or power?

What does this say about me, or this world?

What do I need to do in response to this text?