John: Chronicles of the God-Man

I. Introduce Series

a. I am excited about this series

b. I am excited to preach through the book of John verse by verse

II. Introduce Sermon

Today I want you to walk away knowing two things:

1. Who was John?

2. Why did he write his gospel?

III. Introduce John

a. John was Jesus’ best friend

i. John was part of the inner circle (Peter, James, & John)

ii. John is referred to as “the one whom Jesus loved”

iii. John dropped everything to follow Jesus

iv. John was there when Jesus was crucified, Jesus looked John and asked him to care for his mother

b. John’s testimony is true

i. John outlived all the disciples, he watched them die one by one, he watched them be martyred for the progress of the gospel

ii. John himself was boiled alive, survived, and exiled to a desert island

iii. John wrote 5 books of the new testament, more than any other author except Paul

iv. 1 John 1:1-3

1 John 1:1–3 ESV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

c. John’s Gospel

i. There are 4 gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John

1. MML share 60% of their content

2. John is 90% unique

ii. John doesn’t contradict the other gospels. He just takes a completely different approach to telling the story.

iii. All of the gospels are trying to explain the significance of this man, Jesus. At some level, they’re all trying to deal with the question, “Who was Jesus?”

iv. But for John’s gospel, that’s almost the only question that he’s trying to answer. The other gospels spend a lot of time on Jesus’ teaching about discipleship. They spend a lot of time explaining certain practices of the church, like the Lord’s Supper. John just skips most of that stuff.

v. John’s gospel has a laser focus on one question only, “Who is Jesus?” He won’t let us get away from that question. You must deal with it. “Who is Jesus?”

IV. Introduce the God-Man

a. John’s approach is brilliant. John starts out by giving away his conclusion.

i. John starts off by saying, “Let me tell you who Jesus is.” And then he proceeds to give a beautiful declaration of faith in the beginning of chapter 1. The rest of the book is nothing more than an explanation for why we should believe that what he says in these first 18 verses is true.

ii. John gives us the conclusion, and then he walks us through the story to see how he arrived there.

John 1:1–2 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

The Word

Greek concept: order, logic, reason

Hebrew concept: the “Word of God” is connected with God’s powerful activity in creation, revelation, and deliverance.

- We’re told in Ps 33:6 that it was “by the word of the Lord” that the heavens were made.

- We’re told in Ps 55:11 that the word of the Lord brings about deliverance and judgment.

9 Truths about the Word

The Word was with God AND the Word was God

John 1:1–2 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

- Since the Word was “with” God, we can point out that the Word is separate from God.

- You might also be able to say that there is some kind of relational closeness there, but John doesn’t explain that relationship at this point so we’ll just keep it basic.

- Now let me just point out that John hasn’t even finished his first sentence, and he’s already said something radical.

- He just said that the Word was with God, but now he says the Word was God.

- Now let me jump ahead for a moment. John is going to tell us in v.14 that the Word became a human being, and that this human being is Jesus Christ.

- So the point John starts out with is that the Son of God existed before time, He existed separate from God the Father, and yet somehow He is God.

- This is a bold statement that John is making. It was such a radical concept to the Jews that they killed Jesus because of it. Ultimately they killed him because of blasphemy (claiming to be God).

Christianity is the only religion in the world that teaches this radical truth.

1. 2 category, maker, made, creator, created

a. Mormon – Jesus is a man

b. Jehovah’s Witness – Jesus is an angel

c. Muslim – Jesus is a prophet

d. Ekart Tolle – Jesus was enlightened

2. You were created by him, you were created for him, you will give an account to him

The Word is eternal

John 1:1–2 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

The Word created all things

John 1:3 ESV

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

For by him 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 and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The Word is the source of life

John 1:4–5 ESV

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

- Throughout his gospel, John will bring up these themes of Life and Light again and again.

- As the Creator, Jesus is the Source of Life. But, he’s not just the Source of physical life as we know it, he’s also the source for a new, eternal life that John will talk about later.

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Mark Driscoll says “light” has 3 primary functions: exposes, brings growth, shows a path

The Word is the one all the prophets point to

John 1:6–9 ESV

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

The Word invites us to his family

John 1:10–13 ESV

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word became flesh

John 1:14–15 ESV

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. (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.’ ”)

Every other religion is trying to build a way back to God, Christianity is unique that God came to us

Christianity is the only religion whose founder makes this claim

The Word offers grace

John 1:16–17 ESV

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

This is also the first time “Jesus” is mentioned in case there is any doubt or confusion

The Word reveals God to us

John 1:18 ESV

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