John Chapter 1

Scott Wilson

John Chapter 1 • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Lamb of God

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He Sent His Word and Healed Them; and Delivered Them From Their Destructions.

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John Chapter 1

John 1 - The Lamb of God

In a Nutshell

John wastes no time in introducing Jesus to his readers as the Word of God, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God. Unlike the writers of the three Synoptic Gospels, John introduces Jesus at the age of thirty and includes no information about his birth.

In the first eighteen verses of his book, John introduces the Lord. He begins by proclaiming that Jesus reveals God the Father and tells us that when he came to earth, God's Son showed the human race what the Father was like—eternal, personal, and the source of all life. The word life appears no fewer than thirty-six times in this Gospel along with several other key words. We could say that life establishes the central theme for the book.

We need only read the first verse of the Bible (Gen. 1:1) to understand the central issue of life, and it centers on the reality of God. If there is a God (and there is), and if that God has spoken in history (and he has), then the most important thing in the world is to find out what he has said.

The Gospel of John is a loved and familiar book, but many who can quote important verses from its pages have a less-than-satisfactory grasp of its important theology. Yet John wasted no time in introducing the key question: "Who is Jesus Christ?"

In his presentation of Jesus as the Son of God, John started out with creation. Everything that was ever made was made through him; and without him, nothing has ever been created. Jesus was the source of power in the original physical creation and in the spiritual creation by which people are brought to new life in Christ.

Do not forget that key word life. John used it frequently in his Gospel, and he also used it thirteen times in his first epistle and seventeen more times in Revelation. Here in this Gospel we have more than twenty-five percent of all New Testament references to life. John wanted to make sure that everyone knew life is possible only through the Son of God.

II. Commentary

The Lamb of God

MAIN IDEA: Jesus Christ is the heart and core of the gospel. Christianity is not a philosophy of life; it centers in a person who is the core of everything Christians believe.

A. Revelation of the Lamb (1:1-5)

SUPPORTING IDEA: Like his heavenly Father, Jesus reveals eternality, personality, deity, creativity, life, and light.

Holman New Testament Commentary - John.

John 1:1 (KJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 (MSG) 1 The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God,

John 1:1 (NLT2) 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 (PassionNTPsa) with notes

1 In the very beginning [a] The first eighteen verses of John are considered by most scholars to be the words of an ancient hymn or poem that was cherished by first-century believers in Christ. - the Living Expression [b] The Greek is logos, which has a rich and varied background in both Greek philosophy and Judaism. The Greeks equated logos with the highest principle of cosmic order. God’s logos in the Old Testament is his powerful self-expression in creation, revelation, and redemption. In the New Testament we have this new unique view of God given to us by John, which signifies the presence of God himself in the flesh. Some have translated this rich term as “Word.” It could also be translated “Message” or “Blueprint.” Jesus Christ is the eternal Word, the creative Word, and the Word made visible. He is the divine self-expression of all that God is, contains, and reveals in incarnated flesh. Just as we express ourselves in words, God has perfectly expressed himself in Christ. - was already there. And the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God. [c] The Living Expression (Christ) had full participation in every attribute of deity held by God the Father. The Living Expression existed eternally as a separate individual but essentially the same, as one with the Father.

The moment we pick up John's gospel we are aware that it is different from the others. There is no genealogy, no manger scene, no boyhood, no baptism, no temptation, no mount or transfiguration, no Gethsemane. There are only a few special miracles chosen by John as "signs." We have the famous I AM sayings of Jesus and many discourses found nowhere else. There are no scribes, no lepers, no publicans, and no demoniacs. There are no parables. It would almost seem, as others have pointed out, that John sits with a copy of Luke's gospel open before him, deliberately leaving out things Luke puts in and putting in things Luke leaves out (W. Graham Scroggie, A Guide to the Gospels, London: Pickering and Inglis, 1962). Luke had written to show that Jesus was the Son of man; John is writing to show that Jesus is the Son of God.

John's language is Greek but his thoughts are Hebrew. His language is simple, his vocabulary small. There are about six hundred words in John's vocabulary. It is the vocabulary of a seven-year-old child (a child adds about a hundred words to his or her vocabulary every year). But if John's "coins" are few, their denomination is large; they are golden coins, royal sovereigns, the kind one would find in a rich man's purse. The word John uses most is Father (121 times) with the companion expression my Father (35 times). He is fond of the word believe (99 times). Other common words are world (79 times), Jews (71 times), know (oida 61 times and ginosko 56 times), abide (41 times), life (36 times), light (23 times), love (in its various forms and cognates, 57 times), truth (and its cognates, 66 times).

John's gospel begins with a prologue (John 1:1-18), runs through a threefold view of the Lord Jesus—the signs (John 1:19-12:50), the secrets (John 13:1-17:26), and the sorrows (John 18:1-20:31) of God's Son—and ends with an epilogue (John 21:1-25). The basic structure is simple, but John surprises us. He says the simplest things, uses the simplest words, puts together the simplest phrases and sentences—and at once plunges us into mysterious, mystical, mind-staggering concepts.

The prologue can be divided into three parts, revolving around three of John's favorite words. We have the divine life in essence (John 1:1-5), the divine light in evidence (John 1:6-13), and the divine love in experience (John 1:14-18). We begin with the first of these introductory passages. Immediately John whirls us away into the eternal ages to confront one who was from everlasting to everlasting, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

John Phillips Commentary Series, The - Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary.

1:1 In the beginning. In contrast to 1Jn 1:1 where John used a similar phrase ("from the beginning") to refer to the starting point of Jesus' ministry and gospel preaching, this phrase parallels Ge 1:1 where the same phrase is used. John used the phrase in an absolute sense to refer to the beginning of the time-space-material universe.

was. The verb highlights the eternal pre-existence of the Word, i.e., Jesus Christ. Before the universe began, the Second Person of the Trinity always existed; i.e., He always was.

This word is used in contrast with the verb "came into being" in Jn 1:3 which indicates a beginning in time.

John 1:2 (KJV) 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

John 1:2 (MSG) 2 in readiness for God from day one.

John 1:2 (NLT2) 2 He existed in the beginning with God.

John 1:2 (PassionNTPsa) 2 They were together—face-to-face, in the very beginning.

1:1-2. Some interpreters have translated the opening phrase of this Gospel, "Before there was a beginning, the Word had been." Indeed, the familiar repetition of Genesis 1:1 almost looks as if John wrote a Gospel of two beginnings—a creation account that parallels physical birth and spiritual rebirth. But it is important to notice that we are dealing with two beginnings, not creations. The central focus of this verse is eternality. Like his heavenly Father, Jesus always was and therefore existed at the beginning of time.

It is interesting that John should call Jesus the Word rather than some other name to introduce his book—interesting, but not surprising since the Jews often referred to God in such terminology. The doctrine at stake here is the deity of Christ. Jesus is God, and John wanted to make that point immediately. In fact, this prologue (vv. 1-18) begins and ends with a strong statement of this doctrine.

The term Word (logos) would have been familiar to the Greeks as well. Their understanding centered on ultimate reason or the rationale of the universe rather than the personal God revealed to Abraham and his descendants. John claimed that the God of creation, the ultimate mind of the universe, had taken on human form; he had become incarnate.

The Bible allows no place for atheism and no room for doubt about how God has spoken—through the Word. Before there was a beginning, the Word had been coequal with God throughout all eternity. But what did the apostle mean by with God? The Greek word is pros which literally means "toward," implying a face-to-face relationship. John would have neither atheism nor unitarianism. He told us later in his Gospel that the Godhead consists of a trinity, but here in verse 1 we learn plurality.

So Jesus, the Word, is eternal and personal. Nothing can separate the heavenly Father from his Son. Verse 2 merely emphasizes verse 1. I like the way Gary Vanderet puts it: "John intends that the entire book be read in light of this verse. The deeds and the words of Jesus are the deeds and words of God" (Vanderet, Prelude to Deity).

Holman New Testament Commentary - John.

John 1:3 (NLT2) 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

John 1:3 (KJV) 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:3 (PassionNTPsa) 3 And through his creative inspiration this Living Expression made all things, for nothing has existence apart from him!

John 1:3 (MSG) 3 Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him.

1:3. Unlike the Gospel writers before him, John tells us that Jesus participated in creation and again states his case twice for emphasis. Surely this is a deliberate link with Genesis, and it sets the stage for other New Testament Scriptures which show us Jesus' involvement in creation: "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him" (Col. 1:16). "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe" (Heb. 1:1-2).

Creation is a foundational doctrine of the Christian faith. Virtually every other aspect of theology rests upon our understanding of God as the origin of all life and of the role Jesus Christ, the Word, in creation. John could hardly say it more clearly: without him nothing was made that has been made— everything from subatomic particles to galaxies. Only God who created all things can redeem them. Creation is the foundation stone of the gospel. Christ could not have been created, for he created all things. There was a "historical Jesus," but this terminology refers only to his thirty-three years on earth. His life had no beginning, and it will have no end.

Holman New Testament Commentary - John.

DEEPER STUDY #1 (1:1-5) The Word— Jesus Christ, Son of God DEEPER STUDY #1 (1:1-5) The Word— Jesus Christ, Son of God: the Word (logos PWS: 4405) is Jesus Christ. John faced a serious problem in writing to the Gentiles, that is, the non-Jewish world. Most Gentiles had never heard of the Messiah or Savior who was expected by the Jews. The idea was foreign to them. However, the Messiah was the very center of Christianity. How was John going to present Christ so that a Gentile could understand? The answer lay in the idea of the Word, for the Word was understood by both Gentile and Jew. 1. The Jews saw a word as something more than a mere sound. A word was something active and existing. It was power—it possessed the power to express something, to do something. This is seen in the many Old Testament references where The Word of God was seen as the creative power of God, the power that made the world and gave light and life to every man.

Colossians 1:16 (KJV) 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Colossians 1:16 (MSG) 16 For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.

Colossians 1:16 (NLT2) 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:16 (PassionNTPsa) 16 For through the Son everything was created, both in the heavenly realm and on the earth, all that is seen and all that is unseen. Every seat of power, realm of government, principality, and authority—it was all created through him and for his purpose! He existed before anything was made, and now everything finds completion in him.

Psalm 107:20

(KJV) 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 107:20

(NLT2) 20 He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

Psalm 107:20

(PassionNTPsa) 20 God spoke the words “Be healed,” and we were healed, delivered from death’s door!

Psalm 107:20

(MSG) 20 He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death. 107:20-22. God saved the people by sending forth his word. He sent a saving message and healed them. God rescued them from the grave. "Grave" (a derivative of shachah, to fall down in troubles, to sink down in despair, to bow down) means to be plummeted down in trials and pain. Once saved and delivered from their troubles, their hearts should overflow with praise and thanks to God for his wonderful deeds. They should sacrifice thank offerings to God for his works of deliverance, accompanied by songs of joy.

Holman Old Testament Commentary

1:4. Here we find the first appearance of our key word—life.

The revelation of the Lamb was also the revelation of life.

No fewer than thirty-six times in John, we find the word zoe.

Jesus Christ the Creator provides physical life; Jesus Christ the Redeemer provides spiritual life; and Jesus Christ the Savior provides eternal life. In verse 4 John also introduced another key word— light. The life becomes the light of men. Notice these positive terms. What a wonderful contrast to death and darkness.

In the Word, God's person and power were revealed to humanity. Here again we see a reference to creation since, in the Genesis account, light was the first evidence of God's creative work. God is always the source of light and life. Christ the Son, the Creator, provides life and light to humanity. He alone is the life-giver and the light-bearer. John is getting ready to write new lyrics to an old melody, "With you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light" (Ps. 36:9).

Holman New Testament Commentary - John.

John 1:5 (KJV) 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:5 (MSG) 5 The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out.

John 1:5 (NLT2) 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:5 (PassionNTPsa) 5 And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom —

the Light that darkness could not diminish!

A. Jesus the Living Word: The First Witness of John the Apostle, 1:1-5

(1:1-5) Introduction: This passage is one of the summits of Scripture. In fact, it probably reaches the highest of human thought. What is the thought that reaches the height of human concepts? It is this: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is...

• the Word of God

• the Creator of Life

• the Very Being and Essence of Life.

These three truths have to be deeply thought about to understand their meaning. A quick reading of this passage leaves a person disinterested, not even close to understanding what is being said. However, the importance of the truths lie at the very foundation of life. They cannot be overstated, for they determine a man's destiny. If Jesus Christ is the Word of God, then men must hear and understand that Word or else be lost forever in ignorance of God Himself.

1. Christ is eternal (v.1-2).

2. Christ is the Creator (v.3).

3. Christ is Life (v.4-5).

DEEPER STUDY #1 (1:1-5) The Word— Jesus Christ, Son of God

DEEPER STUDY #1

(1:1-5) The Word— Jesus Christ, Son of God: the Word (logos PWS: 4405) is Jesus Christ. John faced a serious problem in writing to the Gentiles, that is, the non-Jewish world. Most Gentiles had never heard of the Messiah or Savior who was expected by the Jews. The idea was foreign to them. However, the Messiah was the very center of Christianity. How was John going to present Christ so that a Gentile could understand?

The answer lay in the idea of the Word, for the Word was understood by both Gentile and Jew.

1. The Jews saw a word as something more than a mere sound. A word was something active and existing. It was power—it possessed the power to express something, to do something. This is seen in the many Old Testament references where The Word of God was seen as the creative power of God, the power that made the world and gave light and life to every man.

Genesis 1:3,

Genesis 1:3 (NLT2) 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:3 (KJV) 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Genesis 1:3 (MSG) 3 God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared.

Gen1:6,

Genesis 1:6 (NLT2) 6 Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”

Genesis 1:6 (KJV) 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

Genesis 1:6 (MSG) 6 God spoke: "Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!"

Gen 1:11;

Genesis 1:11 (NLT2) 11 Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened.

Genesis 1:11 (KJV) 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

Genesis 1:11 (MSG) 11 God spoke: "Earth, green up! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants, Every sort of fruit-bearing tree." And there it was.

Gen 1:6;

Genesis 1:6 (NLT2) 6 Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”

Genesis 1:6 (KJV) 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

Genesis 1:6 (MSG) 6 God spoke: "Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!"

Psalm 107:20;

Psalm 107:20 (KJV) 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 107:20 (NLT2) 20 He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

Psalm 107:20 (PassionNTPsa) 20 God spoke the words “Be healed,” and we were healed,

delivered from death’s door!

Psalm 107:20 (MSG) 20 He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death.

107:20-22. God saved the people by sending forth his word. He sent a saving message and healed them. God rescued them from the grave. "Grave" (a derivative of shachah, to fall down in troubles, to sink down in despair, to bow down) means to be plummeted down in trials and pain. Once saved and delivered from their troubles, their hearts should overflow with praise and thanks to God for his wonderful deeds. They should sacrifice thank offerings to God for his works of deliverance, accompanied by songs of joy.

Holman Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 76-150.

C. Israel Was Like a Person Lying On a Deathbed (107:17-22)

Again we have that fourfold analysis: a desperate condition, a dismal confession, a dramatic conclusion, and a determined conviction.

"Fools [the perverse, those who depend on their own wisdom which is foolishness with God] because of their trangression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death... Then they cry unto the Lord... He saveth... He sent His Word, and healed them."

Sin had brought the nation to its deathbed. The economic physicians, the political and social and religious physicians, the liberal and conservative and scholastic physicians, all tried their hand at doctoring the patient (just as they are all trying their hand at doctoring the ills of the world today), but the nation's case grew steadily worse. Sin was at the root of the trouble, and none of those doctors could diagnose or prescribe for that.

The nation was brought near to extinction. Indeed, it had already been pronounced dead by the watching world powers. But then God stepped in with new life: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing." How was it done? He "sent His Word, and healed them." It was brought about by a spiritual awakening—one with messianic implications. Here we have a prophetic anticipation of the Lord Jesus, the living Word of God sent forth to heal human sicknesses and the soul's diseases.

The psalmist has one more illustration for those celebrating the revival of the nation.

John Phillips Commentary Series, The - Exploring Psalms, Volume Two: An Expository Commentary.

Psalm 147:15;

Psalm 147:15 (NLT2) 15 He sends his orders to the world— how swiftly his word flies!

Psalm 147:15 (KJV) 15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

Psalm 147:15 (PassionNTPsa) 15 He sends out his orders throughout the world;

his words run as swift messengers, bringing them to pass.

Psalm 147:15 (MSG) 15 He launches his promises earthward— how swift and sure they come!

Psalm 11

Psalm 11:1-7 (NLT2) 1 I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! 2 The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right. 3 The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?” 4 But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. 5 The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. 6 He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds. 7 For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.

Psalm 11:1-7 (KJV) 1 In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

Psalm 11:1-7 (MSG) 1 A David psalm I've already run for dear life straight to the arms of GOD. So why would I run away now when you say, "Run to the mountains; 2 the evil bows are bent, the wicked arrows Aimed to shoot under cover of darkness at every heart open to God. 3 The bottom's dropped out of the country; good people don't have a chance"? 4 But GOD hasn't moved to the mountains; his holy address hasn't changed. He's in charge, as always, his eyes taking everything in, his eyelids Unblinking, examining Adam's unruly brood inside and out, not missing a thing. 5 He tests the good and the bad alike; if anyone cheats, God's outraged. 6 Fail the test and you're out, out in a hail of firestones, Drinking from a canteen filled with hot desert wind. 7 GOD's business is putting things right; he loves getting the lines straight, Setting us straight. Once we're standing tall, we can look him straight in the eye.

Celebrate God’s Greatness

Psalms 111 (PassionNTPsa)

111 Shout hallelujah to Yahweh! May every one of his lovers hear my passionate praise to him, even among the council of the holy ones. 2 For God’s mighty miracles astound me! His wonders are so delightfully mysterious that they leave all who seek them astonished. 3 Everything he does is full of splendor and beauty! Each miracle demonstrates his eternal perfection. 4 His unforgettable works of surpassing wonder reveal his grace and tender mercy. 5 He satisfies all who love and trust him, and he keeps every promise he makes. 6 He reveals mighty power and marvels to his people by handing them nations as a gift. 7 All God accomplishes is flawless, faithful, and fair, and his every word proves trustworthy and true. 8 They are steadfast forever and ever, formed from truth and righteousness. 9 His forever-love paid a full ransom for his people so that now we’re free to come before Jehovah to worship his holy and awesome name! 10 Where can wisdom be found? It is born in the fear of God. Everyone who follows his ways will never lack his living-understanding. And the adoration of God will abide throughout eternity!

2. The Gentiles or Greeks saw the Word more philosophically.

a. When they looked at the world of nature, they saw that things were not chaotic, but orderly. Everything had its place and moved or grew in an orderly fashion, including the stars above and the vegetation below. Therefore, the Greeks said that behind the world was a mind, a reason, a power that made and kept things in their proper place. This creative and sustaining mind, this supreme reason, this unlimited power was said to be the Word.

b. The Word was also seen as the power that enabled men to think and reason. It was the power that brought light and understanding to man's mind and enabled him to express his jumbled up thoughts in an orderly fashion.

c. More importantly, the Word was the power by which men came into contact with God and expressed their feelings to God.

3. John grabbed hold of this common idea of the Jews and Gentiles. He proclaimed that Jesus Christ was the Word. John saw that a word is the expression of an idea, a thought, an image in the mind of a person. He saw that a word describes what is in the mind of a person.

Thus, he proclaimed that in the life of Jesus Christ, God was speaking to the world, speaking and demonstrating just what He wanted to say to man. John said three things.

a. God has given us much more than mere words in the Holy Scriptures. God has given us Jesus Christ, The Word. As The Word, Jesus Christ was the picture, the expression, the pattern, the very image of what God wished to say to man. The very image within God's mind of the Ideal Man was demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the perfect expression of all that God wishes man to be. Jesus Christ was God's utterance, God's speech, God's Word to man. Jesus Christ was the Word of God who came down to earth in human flesh to bring man into a face to face relationship with God (cp. John 1:1-2). Jesus was the Word of God who came to earth to live out the written Word of God.

b. Jesus Christ is the Mind, the Reason, the Power that both made and keeps things in their proper order. He is the creative and sustaining Mind, the Supreme Reason, the unlimited Power (cp. John 1:3).

c. Jesus Christ is the Light, the Illumination, the Power that penetrates the darkness of the world. He, theLife and Light of the world, is what makes sense of the world and enables men to understand the world (cp. John 1:4-5).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - John.

1. (1:1-2) Jesus Christ, Son of God— Eternal— Preexistent— Revelation: Christ is eternal.

Note three profound statements made about Christ, the Word.

1. Christ was preexistent. This means He was there before creation. He had always existed.

a. "In the beginning [En archē PWS: 2124]" does not mean from the beginning. Jesus Christ was already there. He did not become; He was not created; He never had a beginning. He "was in the beginning with God" (cp. John 17:5; John 8:58).

John 17:5 (MSG) 5 And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor, The very splendor I had in your presence Before there was a world.

John 17:5 (NLT2) 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

John 17:5 (KJV) 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

John 17:5 (PassionNTPsa) with note 5 So my Father, restore me back to the glory that we shared together when we were face-to-face

before the universe was created.” [a] The Aramaic is translated “before the light of the universe.”

John 8:58 (MSG) 58 "Believe me," said Jesus, "I am who I am long before Abraham was anything."

John 8:58 (NLT2) 58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!”

John 8:58 (KJV) 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

John 8:58 (PassionNTPsa) 58 Jesus said to them, “I give you this eternal truth: I have existed long before Abraham was born, for I AM!”

b. The word "was" (ēn PWS: 4258) is the Greek imperfect tense of eimi which is the word so often used for deity. It means to be or I am. To be means continuous existence, without beginning or origin. (See Deeper Study #1—John 6:20.)

DEEPER STUDY #1

(John 6:20) "It is I" (egō eimi PWS: 2195): this is one word in the Greek, eimi, which is simply "I AM" (John 18:6).

John 18:6 (NLT2) 6 As Jesus said “I AM he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!

John 18:6 (KJV) 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

John 18:6 (PassionNTPsa) with note

6 And the moment Jesus spoke the words, “I am he,” the mob fell backward to the ground! [a] This was a stunning event as the great I Am spoke his name before those who sought to seize him. It is obvious in the text that they did not trip over each other in surprise, for every one of these strong men fell backward to the ground by the power of God. Jesus was in charge that night as the captain of the host of the Lord. They could not seize him unless he permitted them to do so. What a wonderful Savior who willingly submitted to the hands of cruel men to bring us the gift of salvation.

Jesus was saying, "I AM" has come—fear not. He was reminding the disciples who He was, the Son of God Himself. He possessed all power; therefore, there was no need to fear.

This was the same message that God gave to Moses at the burning bush, "I am that I am!" (Exodus 3:13-15,

Exodus 3:13-15 (MSG) 13 Then Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, 'The God of your fathers sent me to you'; and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What do I tell them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, 'I-AM sent me to you.' " 15 God continued with Moses: "This is what you're to say to the Israelites: 'GOD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.' This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.

Exodus 3:13-15 (NLT2) 13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

Exodus 3:13-15 (KJV) 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Especially. Exodus 3:14). Above

It was the same message that Jesus used as a defense against the religionists, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). Above

It is the same message that Col. 1:15-17 claims for Him.

The Supremacy of Christ

Col 1:15-17 (Passion NTPsa)

15 He is the divine portrait, the true likeness of the invisible God, and the first-born heir of all creation.

16 For through the Son everything was created, both in the heavenly realm and on the earth, all that is seen and all that is unseen. Every seat of power, realm of government, principality, and authority—it was all created through him and for his purpose!

17 He existed before anything was made, and now everything finds completion in him.

and it is the same message that is proclaimed by the book of Revelation, "He that is, and was, and is to come" (Rev. 1:4, 8; Rev. 11:17; Rev. 16:5). (See note—•John 1:1-2.)

There are several "I Am's" claimed by Christ.

⇒ I Am the Messiah (John 4:26).

John 4:26 (PassionNTPsa)

26 Jesus said to her, "You don't have to wait any longer, the Anointed One is here speaking with you--I am the One you're looking for." (a) Or "I am the I AM who speaks to you."

John 4:25-26. So the woman had faith after all; like most Samaritans, she waited the coming of the Messiah who would finally put an end to all bickering and confusion about the spiritual life. And since only the Messiah could straighten out religious confusion, there was no further point in talking about husbands or worship or any such complicated questions. But she was hardly prepared for the next statement—the only occasion of New Testament record other than his trial on which Jesus claimed to be the Christ. The literal translation of the Greek text is, "I am the one speaking to you."

The use of ego eimi (I am) represents an important theological theme in this Gospel. Usually there is a metaphoric connection such as Bread of Life (6:35) or the Good Shepherd (10:14). But here it becomes what Borchert calls "the shocking reality of a confession of the divine-human presence" (Borchert, p. 209). An absolute declaration of deity. "You are waiting for the Messiah? Then you should be interested in this conversation because I have come and am speaking personally to you."

Bible students know how strongly Jesus linked himself with Yahweh of the Old Testament, notably the references in Isaiah 40-55. The announcement of the arrival of a Messiah represents an enormous fulfillment of promise. Jews and Samaritans had waited centuries to hear what this peasant woman heard from the lips of the Son of God. Westcott reminds us how this serves us even in the present hour:

It cannot have been for nothing that God was pleased to disclose His counsels, fragment by fragment through long intervals of silence and disappointment and disaster. In that slow preparation for the perfect revelation of Himself come in which was most inadequately apprehended till it was finally given, we discern the pattern of His ways. As it was in the case of the first Advent, even so now He is guiding the course of the world to the second Advent. We can see enough in the past, to find a vantage ground for faith; and, when the night is deepest and all sight fails, shall we not still endure, like the men of old time, as seeing the invisible? (Westcott, p. 27) Holman New Testament Commentary - John.

⇒ I Am (It is I); be not afraid (John 6:20).

John 6:20 (NLT2) 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”

John 6:20 (KJV) 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

John 6:20 (MSG) 20 but he reassured them, "It's me. It's all right. Don't be afraid."

3. (6:20-21) Fear— Receiving Jesus: the answer to fear is Jesus Himself. Note three points.

1. The Word of Christ delivers from fear. He proclaimed, "It is I; be not afraid" (see Deeper Study #1, "It is I"—John 6:20).

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18).

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).

2. Receiving the presence of Christ delivers from fear. This is critical to note, for having Christ present and hearing His Word to "fear not" are not enough. A person must "willingly receive" Christ into his life. Deliverance came to the disciples only after they had received Jesus into the ship.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20).

"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" (John 1:12).

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

"Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).

"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46:4).

3. The results of receiving Christ were twofold: deliverance from fear and the calming of the storm. Jesus Christ gives the strength to row through all the storms of life. He has the power to erase fear and calm any storm.

"For which cause [the glory of God] we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day be day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

"And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15).

"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:6).

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9).

"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence" (Psalm 91:3).

"For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling" (Psalm 116:8).

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him" (Isaiah 59:16; cp. Isaiah 63:5).

DEEPER STUDY #1 (6:20) "It is I"

DEEPER STUDY #1

(6:20) "It is I" (egō eimi PWS: 2195): this is one word in the Greek, eimi, which is simply "I AM" (John 18:6). Jesus was saying, "I AM" has come—fear not. He was reminding the disciples who He was, the Son of God Himself. He possessed all power; therefore, there was no need to fear. This was the same message that God gave to Moses at the burning bush, "I am that I am" (Exodus 3:13-15, esp. Exodus 3:14). It was the same message that Jesus used as a defense against the religionists, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). It is the same message that Col. 1:15-17 claims for Him; and it is the same message that is proclaimed by the book of Revelation, "He that is, and was, and is to come" (Rev. 1:4, 8; Rev. 11:17; Rev. 16:5). (See note—•John 1:1-2.)

There are several "I Am's" claimed by Christ.

⇒ I Am the Messiah (John 4:26).

⇒ I Am (It is I); be not afraid (John 6:20).

⇒ I Am the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

⇒ I Am from Above (8).

⇒ I Am the Light of the World (John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:46).

⇒ I Am before Abraham was, I am (eternal) (John 8:58).

⇒ I Am the Door (John 10:7).

⇒ I Am the Good Shepherd (John 10:14).

⇒ I Am the Son of God (John 10:36).

⇒ I Am the Resurrection and Life (John 11:25).

⇒ I Am the Lord and Master (John 13:13).

⇒ I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

⇒ I Am the True Vine (John 15:1).

⇒ I Am Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8).

⇒ I Am the First and the Last (Rev. 1:17).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - John.

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God" (Psalm 90:2).

"I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was" (Proverbs 8:23).

"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was" (John 17:5).

"[Christ Jesus] who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross"

Phil. 2:6-8

Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT2) 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV) 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Example of Jesus Christ

Phil 2:6-8 (PassionNTPsa) with notes

6 He existed in the form of God, yet he gave no thought ot seizing equality with God as his supreme prize. (a) Or "as something to be exploited."

7 Instead he emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He becme human!

8 He humbled himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. (b) See also John 5:19. He was a perfect example, even in his death--a criminal's death by crucifixion! (c) Notice the seven steps Christ took from the throne to the cross in verses vv. 7-8: (1) He emptied himself. (2) He became a servant. (3) He became human. (4) He humbled himself. (5) He became vulnerable and revealed as a Man. (6) He was obedient until his death. (7) He died a criminal's death on the cross.

Philippians 2:6-8 (MSG) 6 He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. 7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! 8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.

Compare

2 Cor. 8:9

2 Cor. 8:9 (PassionNTPsa)

9 For you have experienced the extravagant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was infinitely rich, he impoverished himself for our sake, so that by his poverty, we could become rich beyond measure.

8:9 though He was rich. A reference to the eternality and pre-existence of Christ. As the second person of the Trinity, Christ is as rich as God is rich. He owns everything, and possesses all power, authority, sovereignty, glory, honor, and majesty.

(Compare)

Isa 9:6;

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT2) 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting

Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (MSG) 6 For a child has been born—for us! the gift of a son—for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness.

Mic 5:2;

Micah 5:2 (NLT2) 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.

Micah 5:2 (KJV) 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Micah 5:2 (MSG) 2 But you, Bethlehem, David's country, the runt of the litter— From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. He'll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished.

Jn 1:1;

John 1:1 (NLT2) 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 (KJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 (MSG) 1 The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God,

The Living Expression

John 1:1 (PassionNTPsa with notes)

1 In the very beginning [a] The first eighteen verses of John are considered by most scholars to be the words of an ancient hymn or poem that was cherished by first-century believers in Christ. -the Living Expression [b] The Greek is logos, which has a rich and varied background in both Greek philosophy and Judaism. The Greeks equated logos with the highest principle of cosmic order. God’s logos in the Old Testament is his powerful self-expression in creation, revelation, and redemption. In the New Testament we have this new unique view of God given to us by John, which signifies the presence of God himself in the flesh. Some have translated this rich term as “Word.” It could also be translated “Message” or “Blueprint.” Jesus Christ is the eternal Word, the creative Word, and the Word made visible. He is the divine self-expression of all that God is, contains, and reveals in incarnated flesh. Just as we express ourselves in words, God has perfectly expressed himself in Christ. - was already there.

John 8:58;

John 8:58 (PassionNTPsa) 58 Jesus said to them, "I give you this eternal truth: I have existed long before Abraham was born, for I AM!" (a) Proper English grammar would be "Before Abraham was born, I Was." However, Jesus identifies himself with the "I AM that I AM" of Ex. 3:14, when Yahweh appeared to Moses in the flames of the sacred shrub.

John 10:30

John 10:30 (KJV) 30 I and my Father are one.

John 10:30 (MSG) 30 I and the Father are one heart and mind."

Now Jesus points them to the witness of his words (John 10:30). "I and my Father are one," he said. They are one in mind, thought, heart, will, purpose, and action. True, but it goes beyond that. In the Greek the word one is neuter—"I and the Father are one"—not in person, but in essence. The statement springs directly from the claim, just made by Jesus, to equality of power with the Father ("my hand, my Father's hand"). Infinite power, thus claimed by Jesus, is an attribute of God.

This is the climax of the Lord's claim to oneness with the Father (John 10:18, John 10:25,John 10:28, John 10:29). His answer was more than they bargained for. He was not just the Christ of messianic expectation; he claimed identity of substance with God. That was his answer to their question.

Jesus' outright claim to be of the same essence as God provoked from the Jews their response to his challenge (10:31-42). We note their determination (10:31-39) to get rid of him. They made two moves against him. The first move (10:31-38) is in two parts. Note what they attempted (10:31-33). "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him" (10:31). They had done this once before when he had announced himself as the I AM (8:58-59). The word translated "took up" here describes something borne as a heavy weight rather than something seized. Evidently they hauled their ammunition from the work site of the temple. This time they intended to make an end of him. They understood his unequivocal claims to be God, the most blatant blasphemy to their minds. But they did not hurl those stones. His time was not yet come, nor must he die in that way. A restraining hand held them back. Perhaps, too, the Lord's soft answer gave them pause, and the stones were dropped.

"Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?" Do you stone me because I gave sight to a man born blind? Do you stone me because I healed a man at the pool of Bethesda who had been ill for thirty-eight years? Do you stone me because I have cleansed lepers and raised the dead and cast out evil spirits and made the dumb speak and the deaf hear and the lame walk? Do you stone me because I fed your hungry multitudes? He pointed to his good works, works of almighty power, as the credentials to back his claim. He was fully accredited.

They were not the least bit interested in proof of his power. Back they came with their angry accusation. "The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God" (10:33). It was not simple blasphemy, they said, a man making derogatory statements about God. He had gone far beyond that. He, a man, had assumed prerogatives belonging to God alone. And so he had. But he was not just a man. He was God manifest in flesh.

John Phillips Commentary Series, The - Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary.

He became poor. A reference to Christ's incarnation (cf. Jn 1:14; Ro 1:3; 8:3; Gal 4:4; Col 1:20; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 2:7). He laid aside the independent exercise of all His divine prerogatives, left His place with God, took on human form, and died on a cross like a common criminal (Php 2:5-8).

that you... might become rich. Believers become spiritually rich through the sacrifice and impoverishment of Christ (Php 2:5-8). They become rich in salvation, forgiveness, joy, peace, glory, honor, and majesty (cf. 1Co 1:4, 5; 3:22; Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3, 4). They become joint heirs with Christ (Ro 8:17). The MacArthur Study Bible.

The testimony of John is that Jesus Christ was the Word, the One who had always existed. He was the Son of the living God.

See outline—• Phil. 2:5-8

See notes—• Phil. 2:5-8.)

2. Christ was coexistent. He was and is face to face with God forever. The word "with" (pros PWS: 4367) has the idea of both being with and acting toward. Jesus Christ (the Word) was both with God and acting with God. He was "with God": by God's side, acting, living, and moving in the closest of relationships. Christ had the ideal and perfect relationship with God the Father. Their life together—their relationship, communion, fellowship, and connection—was a perfect eternal bond. This is exactly what is said: "The same was in the beginning with God" (John 1:2).

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)" (1:1-2).

The testimony of John was that Jesus Christ was the Word, the One who had always co-existed with God. Jesus Christ was the Son of the living God.

3. John did not say that "the Word" was the God (ho theos). He says "the Word" was God (Theos PWS: 1711). He omits the definite article. John was saying that "the Word," Jesus Christ...

• is of the very nature and character of God the Father, but He is not the identical person of God the Father.

• is a distinct person from God the Father, but He is of the very being and essence (perfection) of God the Father.

When a man sees Christ, he sees a distinct person, but he sees a person who is of the very substance and character of God in all of His perfect being.

"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" (Hebrews 1:3).

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" (John 14:9).

"Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever" (Romans 9:5).

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature" (Col. 1:15).

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9)."And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Tim. 3:16).

"Which in his [Jesus Christ] times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting" (1 Tim. 6:15-16).

"And he [Jesus Christ] hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev. 19:16).

The testimony of John was that Jesus Christ was the Word, self-existent and eternal, the Supreme Majesty of the universe who owes His existence to no one. Jesus Christ was the Son of the living God.

Thought 1. Jesus Christ is eternal. This says several critical things about Christ.

1) Christ reveals the most important Person in all the universe: God. He reveals all that God is and wants to say to man. Therefore, Christ must be diligently studied, and all that He is and says must be heeded to the utmost (cp. John 5:24).

2) Christ reveals God perfectly. He is just like God, identical to God; therefore, when we look at Christ we see God (see Deeper Study #1—John 14:6, Deeper Study #2—John 14:6, Deeper Study #3—John 14:6. Cp. John 14:9.)

3) Christ reveals that God is the most wonderful Person. God is far, far beyond anyone we could have ever dreamed. He is loving and caring, full of goodness and truth; and He will not tolerate injustices: murder and stealing, lying and cheating of husband, wife, child, neighbor, brother, sister or stranger. God loves and is working and moving toward a perfect universe that will be filled with people who choose to love and worship and live and work for Him (cp. John 5:24).

Thought 2. The very nature of Christ is...

• to exist eternally.

• to exist in a perfect state of being, knowing nothing but eternal perfection.

• to exist in perfect communion and fellowship eternally (cp. John 1:3).

Note: it is the very nature of Christ that shall be imparted to believers; therefore, all three things will become our experience.

"At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you" (John 14:20).

"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" (Romans 8:29).

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).

"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Phil. 3:21).

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4).

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - John.

John 1:2 (NLT2) 2 He existed in the beginning with God.

John 1:2 (KJV) 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

John 1:2 (PassionNTPsa) 2 They were together—face-to-face, in the very beginning.

John 1:2 (MSG) 2 in readiness for God from day one.

John 1:3 (NLT2) 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

John 1:3 (KJV) 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:3 (PassionNTPsa) 3 And through his creative inspiration

this Living Expression made all things,

for nothing has existence apart from him!

John 1:3 (MSG) 3 Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him.

Jesus is unique in:

1. His Power of Creation (1:3)

"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." All things. The Greek word panta refers to all things individually, all things separately. It is a reference to the infinite detail of creation. The scientist takes his or her telescope and focuses it on the reaches of space. Out there are distances so vast that a special unit of measure is needed with which to express those concepts. The astronomer's yardstick is a light year: the distance light travels in one year (at 186,273 miles per second—the equivalent of encircling the earth at the equator seven and a half times). In round numbers, that is about six trillion miles. Our sun, by that yardstick, is eight light minutes away. But out there in space are suns and stars believed to be billions of light years away. Nor can we count the stars or guess how many billions there are.

Some stars are large beyond all thought. The star Antares, for instance, could hold sixty-four million suns the size of ours. In the constellation Hercules is a star that could contain one hundred million stars the size of Antares. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is 100,000 light years in diameter. It is revolving at a speed of two hundred miles an hour. It takes two million years to complete one revolution on its axis.

Not only are we awed by the size of space and the prodigality with which the creator has strewn it with stars, but we are overwhelmed by the precision with which all these vast orbs pursue their appointed paths. Our planet, for instance, does not travel in a true circle. It travels in three directions at the same time. It revolves on its axis, it travels around the sun, and its path is deflected by other planets. Yet it does not lose more than one one-hundredth of a second every one hundred years.

Let us turn from the world of the infinitely large to the world of the infinitely small. The building block of the universe is the atom, an entity so small that each one is less than one hundred fifty millionth of an inch in diameter. If the molecules of a single drop of water could be converted into grains of sand, there would be enough sand to build a concrete highway half a mile wide and one foot thick all the way from New York to San Francisco.

That is the world of inanimate things. When we turn to living things the complexities that confront us on every hand are incredible. Each cell in a living creature contains two hundred billion molecules of atoms. The nucleus of a cell (a complex life factory) is less than four ten-thousandths of an inch in diameter. The membrane that encloses the cell's component parts is only one half of that, or one-millionth of an inch thick.

Jesus made it all. "Without him," says the Holy Spirit through the inspired apostle, "was not anything made that was made." The form of the text in Greek is even more emphatic: "not even one thing."

John Phillips Commentary Series, The - Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary.

Holman New Testament Commentary - John.

2. (1:3) Jesus Christ, Creator: Christ is the Creator. Note several things.

1. "All things" (panta PWS: 113) mean every detail of creation—not creation as a whole, but every single detail. Each element and thing, each being and person—whether material or spiritual, angelic or human—has come into being by Christ.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him" (Col. 1:16).

2. The words "were made" (egeneto PWS: 4318) mean came into being or became. Note what this is saying. Nothing was existing—no substance, no matter whatsoever. Matter is not eternal. God did not take something outside of Himself, something less than perfect (evil) and create the world. Christ, the Word, took nothing but His will and power; and He spoke the Word, and created every single thing out of nothing (ex nihilo).

3. Christ was the One who created all things—one by one. Among the Godhead, He was the active Agent, the Person who made all things. Creation was His function and work (cp. Col. 1:16 above).

"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him" (1 Cor. 8:6).

"[God] 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" (Hebrews 1:2).

4. Note that two statements of fact are made.

⇒ The positive statement of fact: "All things were made by Him."

⇒ The absolute statement of fact: "Without Him was not anything made that was made."

a. Christ was actively involved in the creation of every single thing: "Without Him was not anything made."

b. The words "not anything" (oude hen PWS: 2681) mean not even one thing, not a single thing, not even a detail was made apart from Him.

Thought 1. Note a critical point for man. The world is God's; He made it, every element of it, one by one. This means several things.

1) God is not off in some distant place far removed from the world, unconcerned and disinterested in what happens to the world. God cares about the world. He cares deeply, even about the most minute detail and smallest person. He cares about everything and every person in the world.

2) The problems of the world are not due to God and His attitude. The problems of the world are due to sin, to the attitude and evil of man's heart.

3) The answer to the world's problems is not man and his technical skill. The answer is Christ: for men to turn to Christ, surrendering and giving their lives to know Christ in the most personal and intimate way possible. Then, and only then, can men set their lives and world in order as God intends.

3. (1:4-5) Jesus Christ, Life—Light: Christ is life (see Deeper Study #2—John 1:4).

1. Christ is the source of light. Note the statement: "The life [Christ] was the light of men." From the very beginning man was to know that life, to know God personally and intimately. The knowledge of the life of Christ was to be the light of men, the beam that was to...

• give real life to man, both abundant and eternal life.

• infuse energy and motivation into men so that he might walk and live as they should.

There is another way to say this. From the very beginning, the life (Christ) was to be the light of man's...

• quality of being

• essence of being

• power of being

• force of being

• energy of being

• principle of being

The life (Christ) was to be the light of man's purpose, meaning and significance upon earth.

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).

2. Christ is the answer to darkness.

a. Christ's life did shine in the darkness (see Deeper Study #2, Darkness—John 8:12). Very simply, since man had brought darkness into the world (by sin), the life of Christ was the light of man, the beam that showed man the way, the truth and the life (see Deeper Study #3—John 1:5, Deeper Study #4—John 1:5; Deeper Study #2—John 8:12; Deeper Study #1—John 14:6, Deeper Study #2—John 14:6, Deeper Study #3—John 14:6).

⇒ Christ showed man the way God intended him to live.

⇒ Christ showed man the truth of life, that is, the truth about God and man and the truth about the world of man.

⇒ Christ showed man the life, that is, how to save his life and avoid the things that can cause him to stumble and lose his life.

"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" (8:12).

"Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth" (John 12:35).

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46).

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6).

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" (Ephes. 1:18-19; cp. Ephes. 5:14).

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10).

"Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth" (1 John 2:8).

"And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons" (Acts 20:18).

b. Christ's life (the Light) cannot be overcome (see Deeper Study #3—John 1:5).

DEEPER STUDY #2 (1:4) Life— Jesus Christ, Life

DEEPER STUDY #2

(1:4) Life— Jesus Christ, Life: the simple statement "in Christ was life" means at least three things.

1. Life is the quality and essence, the energy and power, the force and principle of being. Christ is life; He is...

• the very quality of life

• the very essence of life

• the very energy of life

• the very power of life

• the very force of life

• the very principle of life

Without Christ, there would be no life whatsoever. Life is in Him, within His very being. All things exist and have their being (life) in Him.

2. Life is purpose, meaning, and significance of being. Christ is life; He is...

• the very purpose of life.

• the very meaning of life.

• the very significance of life.

3. Life is perfection. Life is all that a man must be and possess in order to live perfectly. This is what is meant by life. Life is completeness of being, absolute satisfaction, the fulness of all good, and the possession of all good things. Life is perfect love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control (cp. Galatians 5:22-23).

Whatever life is and all that life is, it is all in Jesus Christ. Even the legitimate cravings of man that are sometimes entangled with evil—such as power, fame and wealth—are all included in the life given by Jesus Christ. Those who partake of His life shall reign forever as kings and priests (see note, Rewards—• Luke 16:10-12). This is the very thing that is distinctive about life—it is eternal. It lasts forever and it is rewarding. It will eventually exalt the believer to the highest life and place and position. (Cp. Rev. 21:1f.)

Jesus Christ is the source of life: He is the way to life and He is the truth of life. He is the very substance of life, its very being and energy (John 5:26; 1 John 1:2). (See Deeper Study #1—John 10:10; Deeper Study #1—John 17:2-3).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - John.

DEEPER STUDY #3 (1:5) Light

DEEPER STUDY #3

(1:5) Light: light reveals, strips away (John 3:19-20), routs the chaos (cp. Genesis 1:2-3), and guides (John 12:36, 46). It shows the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - John.

DEEPER STUDY #4 (1:5) Darkness

DEEPER STUDY #4

( 1:5) Darkness: darkness does not understand the light, does not overcome the light, does not extinguish the light (see Deeper Study—John 8:12).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - John.

John 1:4-5 (NLT2) 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:4-5 (KJV) 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:4-5 Passion NTPsa

4 Life came into being [a] The Aramaic reads “In him were lives” (plural)—not only multiple human lives, but also spiritual life, eternal life, and life in every form. - because of him, for his life is light for all humanity. [b] As translated from the Aramaic, which can also be translated “the spark of human life.” Jesus Christ brings the light of eternal life and the full revelation of God. The Gospel of John is easily divided into three sections: life (chs. 1–7), light (chs. 8–12), and love (chs. 13–21).

5 And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom [c]— Or “keeps on shining through.” - the Light that darkness could not diminish! [d] The Greek has a double meaning here. Darkness could not diminish this Light, nor could it comprehend it. The darkness can also be a metaphor for the sons of darkness.

John 1:4-5 (MSG) 4 What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. 5 The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out.

1:4. Here we find the first appearance of our key word—life. The revelation of the Lamb was also the revelation of life. No fewer than thirty-six times in John, we find the word zoe. Jesus Christ the Creator provides physical life; Jesus Christ the Redeemer provides spiritual life; and Jesus Christ the Savior provides eternal life. In verse 4 John also introduced another key word— light. The life becomes the light of men. Notice these positive terms. What a wonderful contrast to death and darkness.

1:5. In this verse John picked up a common first-century theme, the symbols of light and darkness representing good and evil. The word understood might be rendered "overcome." All the forces of Satan tried to prevent life and extinguish the light—but they could not.

These five verses tell us that Jesus came to the world with a message of hope, and he came from heaven where he had lived eternally with the Father.

Often I find myself humming the theme of the television miniseries Winds of War which aired in the mid 1980s. Based on the Herman Wouk book, the series ran for a total of eighteen hours. This theme played over and over again—in the key of D minor. John's key words are like that, especially "life" and "light." The word rendered "understood" in the NIV is translated "seizes" in Mark 9:18 and "overtakes" in John 12:35. God sent his light into the world, but mankind did not understand it, could not grasp it. But the world will never be able to defeat it.

Holman New Testament Commentary - John.

3. (1:4-5) Jesus Christ, Life—Light: Christ is life (see Deeper Study #2—John 1:4).

1. Christ is the source of light. Note the statement: "The life [Christ] was the light of men."

From the very beginning man was to know that life, to know God personally and intimately.

The knowledge of the life of Christ was to be the light of men, the beam that was to...

• give real life to man, both abundant and eternal life.

• infuse energy and motivation into men so that he might walk and live as they should.

There is another way to say this. From the very beginning, the life (Christ) was to be the light of man's...

• quality of being

• essence of being

• power of being

• force of being

• energy of being

• principle of being

The life (Christ) was to be the light of man's purpose, meaning and significance upon earth.

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).

2. Christ is the answer to darkness.

a. Christ's life did shine in the darkness (see Deeper Study #2, Darkness—John 8:12).

Very simply, since man had brought darkness into the world (by sin), the life of Christ was the light of man, the beam that showed man the way, the truth and the life (see Deeper Study #3—John 1:5, Deeper Study #4—John 1:5; Deeper Study #2—John 8:12; Deeper Study #1—John 14:6, Deeper Study #2—John 14:6, Deeper Study #3—John 14:6).