Columbiana County Jail Scripture Commentary (2)
Notes
Transcript
John 1:1-18
John 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This first verse in the Gospel of John establishes these facts. First, It introduces an important term (Logos). Jesus is referred to as “the Word”, from the Greek word logos. Christ is the Logos. This means He is the definition, the meaning, and the “Word” of God. This is the first of John’s seven names for Jesus. John’s gospel is his attempt to prove this through various forms of evidence. He especially will emphasize Jesus’ miracles.
Although John is countering many false beliefs about God, this verse establishes an important fact. John states the universe had a beginning, contrary to the idea that the universe is eternal. John also states the fact and the truth that God has existed since the beginning. The truth simply put is God is the One that created all that exists. This verse also states that Jesus is identical to the Creator. You see this in “the Word was God.” This begins to establish the Trinity. The Trinity is a word describing God as one being in three distinct persons.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
This verse continues to introduce Jesus. This verse also is countering many false views of spirituality. John has already described Jesus as the Logos, meaning “the Word” of God. Jesus is a living message. He is the definition of God the Father. John also specifies that Jesus did not become God , as well as the fact that He did not rise to the level of God. Why? Jesus Christ has always been God from the beginning. In our last verse, it was clearly stated “the Word was God.” Jesus was not separate from God.
This has always been the truth from the start. Jesus was not a created being, nor a separate being. He was and is God. This is a claim that Jesus Himself will make later in this gospel.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Jesus claims to speak what He has directly heard from the Father.
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jesus not only claims to have existed before Abraham, He refers to Himself using the name of God, “I am”.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In this verse, the role of Creator is established here. The universe is not a product of mindless matter, but the intended product of an intelligent Creator. Now we know that Jesus is God. The reason John is establishing this fact is for an important purpose. That purpose is He wants to counter all other concepts of what is God and what is not God.
Now we read that nothing in the universe was created apart from Jesus. Why is this important? There are several reasons. First, it proves Jesus is not an angel, a man, or some other formed being.
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; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Second, it implies a difference between things which begin to exist, and the One who has always existed. That means , in other words, there is one thing that did not “begin to exist” which did not “come into being.” Logically, if we think about it, cause and effect must have an uncaused beginning. This one and only thing is God.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Here John proclaims Christ’s role as the giver of eternal life. This verse refers to Jesus using the second of John’s seven names fro Jesus, “the Light”. To a Hebrew, :light” was the ultimate value. Why? All good things are said to be “light” and evil was “darkness”.
Light is revealing. Jesus not only exposes our own sinfulness, but He illuminates a way to be saved from it. Light implies knowledge and awareness. Darkness is ignorance. For some, darkness is a deliberate choice. They know what they do is wrong, so they prefer to hide from the truth. Light guides and comforts. It can be infuriating to someone who wants to stay in darkness. The light, in this case, is specifically for mankind. Look at this verse
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.
Jesus is [proclaiming Himself “the light of the world.”
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Jesus’ light came into the world during a dark time. Mankind obviously did not respond very well. Since the light is associated with knowledge, this means Jesus was not and is not understood by the world. Many people who reject the gospel normally do so because they misunderstood it. The inability to see Jesus for what He truly is has more to do with a person’s stubbornness than with their intellect.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
The evidence is there, however those who prefer darkness will not see it for what it is.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
This verse introduces John the Baptist as a messenger of God.
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
John the Baptist is Jesus’ cousin. He is the son of Elizabeth.
57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
John the Baptist was the first person to react to the presence of the Messiah, even though he was an unborn child.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
John the Baptist would become a spiritual powerhouse. He called Israel to “repent”. Repent , of course, means to turn around. Baptism was already being practiced in this region as a sign of repentance. It was also sometimes used by those converting to Judaism. That created an issue when John the Baptist started baptizing Jews. It made his ministry controversial. His role was a simple one. He was to prepare the way for the Promised One.
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, Even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
We tend to forget that John the Baptist was only 5 to 6 months older than Jesus yet he began his preaching ministry much earlier.
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 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.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
John the Baptist’s role as a witness was central to this statement. He was sent to tell other people about the coming of Jesus. Light was the standard for Israel’s worldview. Everything that was good was said to be “light” and evil was “darkness.” This distinction not only implies good and evil, but also knowledge and darkness.
Examples of lights pointing to Jesus would be Moses, the Old Testament law, and the temple. They all were tiny lights pointing to Jesus. Just like that, John the Baptist was a tiny light leading to the One True Light. This leading is not merely to make people see but so they would believe as well.
John’s ministry was heavily revolved around baptism.
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.
This was already known to the Jews of that time. As I wrote earlier, they sometimes used baptism for people who wanted to convert to Judaism. But John the Baptist was converting Jews. This is one reason he was interrogated by local religious leaders.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
They wanted to know why God’s chosen people needed to repent and convert.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Scripture clearly states that John the Baptist was not the Messiah. He was only a witness.
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John the Baptist was not interested in fame or fortune. His only desire in life was to point others to Christ. Later, in his ministry, John the Baptist was happy to see his followers leave him to follow Christ.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
His repentance ministry was to soften hearts prior to Jesus emerging on the scene.
John the Baptist would claim that Jesus is far more worthy and he was not fit to untie His sandals.
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
This is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah which speaks of a single voice , crying out in the desert making a straight path for God.
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.
Previous signs pointing towards God such as the law of Moses and the tabernacle were meant to lead people to this point.
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;
Now the time has come to repent of sins and accept the Light of the world.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Light is used in the Bible as a symbol of life, knowledge, and goodness. Here, we are reminded Jesus is the “true Light.” The word true here is from the Greek word (alethinos). This means sometimes equal in every possible respect, sharing the same nature and reality. Why do I tell you that? Well, it means Christ is the one and only, absolutely perfect, true and real light. This is something Jesus will claim in a later verse.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is the one and only way to heaven. Unlike the law of Moses, which was given to only the people of Israel, this light is given to everyone.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Not everyone will choose to accept the Light, some will deliberately choose to stay in darkness.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Not only was Jesus the light, but He was also the Creator. God was physically on the earth through the incarnation of Christ. But the people of the world didn’t recognize Him. Think of it like this. Not only did people reject the knowledge brought by Christ, but they also ran from Christ where the knowledge comes from.
This world is a fallen, sinful system of thinking. The mindset is to reject God, His knowledge. and His Word. This is why repentance is a core aspect of the gospel. One must be willing to turn away from the darkness and turn to Christ.
Jesus later points out that God has given many reasons for mankind to believe in Him.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
For those who want to know, there is enough evidence to make the right choice. However people continue to reject Him out of pride and arrogance.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Jesus came for everyone as a Savior. This was established with His sacrificial death and resurrection.
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
However, during His human life, He came specifically to the people of Israel. If any culture on earth would be able to recognize the Messiah, it ought to have been Israel, God’s chosen people. Israel had been given God’s word, which included many prophecies of a Messiah. Israel should have been looking for the Promised One. They should have been eager to welcome Him.
And yet, He was rejected, hated, and eventually killed by those very people.
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.
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
The one group of people who should have welcomed Him were the ones who called for His death. This is part of the gospel message. Even when we claim to be seeking God’s will, we tend to turn away from it in order to go our own way.
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
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:
This verse is an excellent summary of the gospel. All who receive Christ, through faith, become children of God. Spiritual honors are given to all believers, simply for being part of that family. However, this also implies the power to do something. So becoming a child of God doesn’t simply result in privileges, but spiritual power. Faith in the name of Jesus means trust in His person, His sacrifice, and His salvation.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
This verse specifies that this power , or right, is only extended to those who receive Him.
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This is John’s first mention of being born into the kingdom of God. when a child is born, virtually all of the energy, effort and pain is endured by the mother, not the child. The mother changes very little, however the child experiences a great deal of change.
Salvation is much the same. God’s pain and effort result in our benefit. God does not change at all in the process, but we who are saved change greatly. Saying “not of blood” means not of natural occurence. Saying “nor of the will of the flesh” means it is not a matter of human decisions. The rebirth is entirely the work of God.
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Our salvation is not dependent on anything in our human nature.
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.
This verse mentions the the third of John’s seven names for Jesus. “the only begotten of the Father”. A critical facet of the gospel is the fact that Jesus is truly, fully, physically human.
The first eighteen verses was not only to introduce Jesus, but to counter false spiritual beliefs. One of these false beliefs is the idea that Jesus was only a mirage, or an illusion. This of course is not true. Christ was an authentic human being. John makes this especially clear using the name “the Word” while saying directly that He “was made flesh” living among human beings “dwelt among us”. This means Jesus was a real, living, breathing person. As a result, He could claim to have experienced everything we do as mortal people.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus was with us and among us , in human form, much as God was among His people in the tabernacle.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
“Only begotten” means Jesus is of the exact same stuff as God.
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;
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.
John the Baptist was sent to tell the people about Jesus. This fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah. , which describes a single voice in the wilderness making a path for God. John the Baptist also emphasizes the fact that Jesus is the focal point of his ministry, not personal ambition. John the Baptist’s testimony is that Jesus is the Promised One, the Messiah. This is the figure the Jews have been longing after for centuries. Unfortunately, most people assumed the savior would be a political or military leader. Jesus spends a great deal of time correcting the misinterpretation through His teachings.
John the Baptist will also make a point of referring to Jesus’ eternal existence.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Although John the Baptist was born several months before Jesus was, the Baptist clearly says that Jesus existed before he did.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
The ultimate expression of God’s love for mankind is grace. Grace is something given to you that you do not deserve. Mercy is different from grace. Mercy is not being given what you deserve, such as punishment. The term “grace for grace” implies a constant overflowing gift.
As believers we are constantly being inundated with the grace of God, because of Jesus Christ. This begins with God reaching out to us to provide salvation.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
God acted out His love by sending His Son to keep us from dying in our sins.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Beyond that, He continually makes us more and more like Him.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
As children of God, we are not only rescued, but we are honored and changed.
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
No matter how much we need , God keeps making us increasingly like Him.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
This explains an important difference between the ministries of Moses and Jesus. Moses’ ministry brought the knowledge of the law. But the law could only show us how sinful and broken we were.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
It was never intended as the final means of our salvation.
31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.
Rather than only bringing truth, Jesus also brought us grace. Instead of telling us we were broken, Jesus gave us a way to fix what was wrong. Human efforts always fall short and everyone is corrupted with sin.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Instead of leaving us to face that uncomfortable truth alone, Jesus provided a way for us to experience forgiveness.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Merely doing good deeds can never save us, only God’s grace , through faith, can do that.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
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.
This is a statement affirming Jesus’ divinity. Here “seeing God” is meant in a physical literal sense of perceiving God the Father, in person, with one’s eyes. God chose to reveal Himself in certain forms in the past,
1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
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;
but He is essentially a Spirit.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John describes Jesus as the “Word “ of God. Jesus is the message, or the definition, of God. Words are tangible symbols of ideas for our eyes and ears.
The fact that God came in human form is critical. Jesus is a human being who experiences our struggles.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus is the one whom we can relate. Jesus is a message from God, in a language we all understand, relationship. Jesus explains God to us in a way we could never understand otherwise. John also repeats the claim that Jesus is God.
